Method and system for improving the efficiency of 2-wheeled and 3-wheeled motor vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016177906-A1
Application number	US-201514670998-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and system of improving the efficiency of 2-wheeled and 3-wheeled motor vehicles includes stopping an engine of a motor vehicle system if the motor vehicle system is immobile for more than a predetermined period of time, according to one embodiment. The method and system includes starting the engine with a magneto system, in response to one or more vehicle conditions, such as operation of a throttle, operation of a clutch, and/or operation of a brake lever, according to one embodiment.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle system, comprising:
an engine having a rotor that rotates during a combustion cycle within the engine; a magneto system operably coupled to the rotor, the magneto system including one or more inductive coils and one or more permanent magnets; a voltage converter electrically coupled to the magneto system to receive voltage from the magneto system if the magneto system is driven by the engine, and to provide voltage to the magneto system to cause the magneto system to start the engine; and a controller communicatively coupled to the voltage converter and configured to cause the voltage converter to start the engine through a selective application of a battery voltage to the one or more inductive coils of the magneto system, in response to one or more motor vehicle conditions.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a throttle, a clutch, and a break lever, wherein the one or more motor vehicle conditions include an operation of the throttle, an engagement of the clutch, and at least a partial release of the break lever.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to terminate operation of the engine, in response to detection of a zero mile per hour or a zero kilometer per hour speed of the two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle system, and in response to detection of at least a partial engagement of a break lever.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inductive coils include three inductive coils having a “Y” coil configuration.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inductive coils include three inductive coils having a delta coil configuration.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine is configured to rotate the rotor to generate at least one of at least 18 volts, at least 6 amps, and at least 78 watts.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the engine is configured to rotate the rotor to generate at least one or between 18-220 volts, between 6-20 amps, and between 78-260 watts.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine is one of a 100 cc engine and a 200 cc engine.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the voltage converter includes at least 6 transistors configured as an H bridge to selectively apply the battery voltage to the one or more inductive coils to provide the voltage to the magneto system to cause the magneto system to start the engine.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least 6 transistors include are power MOSFETs.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least 6 transistors are integrated gate bipolar transistors.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the voltage converter includes 6 diodes, wherein each of the at least 6 diodes is coupled in electrical parallel to a corresponding one of the at least 6 transistors, wherein the 6 diodes enable current to flow from ground through the magneto system and to the battery, if the engine rotates the rotor.

13 . A method of improving fuel efficiency of a two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle system, comprising:
stopping an engine of the motor vehicle system if the motor vehicle system is immobile for more than a predetermined period of time; and starting the engine with a magneto system, in response to one or more vehicle conditions, wherein starting the engine with the magneto system includes selectively applying a battery voltage to one or more inductive coils in the magneto system with two or more solid-state switches to apply torque to a rotor, wherein the rotor is operably coupled to the engine.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately 5 seconds.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more vehicle conditions include an operation of a throttle, an engagement of a clutch, and at least a partial release of a break lever.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein stopping the engine includes determining a speed of the two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle system, and stopping the engine in response to determining that the speed is a zero miles per hour or a zero kilometers per hour speed.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more inductive coils include three inductive coils having a “Y” coil configuration.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more inductive coils include three inductive coils having a delta coil configuration.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the engine is configured to rotate the rotor to generate at least one of at least 18 volts, at least 6 amps, and at least 78 watts.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein selectively applying the battery voltage to the one or more inductive coils includes applying the battery voltage at least partially based on a switching sequence for the two or more solid-state switches.

Assignees

• St Microelectronics Int Nv

Inventors

• Perier Laurent

Classifications

• H02M7/00

  Conversion of AC power input into DC power output; Conversion of DC power input into AC power output · CPC title

• F02B61/02

  for driving cycles · CPC title

• H02P9/48

  Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle (H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• F02N2200/103

  Clutch pedal position · CPC title

• F02N2200/0801

  Vehicle speed · CPC title