ACCESSORY DRIVE SYSTEM
The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to supply power to one or more of the belt driven accessories of a hybrid electro-mechanical vehicle while the engine is off. Additionally, the power may be provided to multiple accessories with a single electric motor thereby saving the cost associated with manufacturing and installing a separate electric motor for each accessory. The apparatus includes an electric motor, a motor clutch, an engine clutch, and an accessory drive belt. When the engine is on, the accessory drive belt transfers torque from the engine crank shaft to the belt driven accessories. When the engine is off, the accessory drive belt transfers torque from the electric motor to the belt driven accessories.
1 . A drive system adapted to power one or more vehicle accessories comprising:
a motor configured to generate power for said one or more accessories;
an accessory drive belt operatively connected with said motor, said accessory drive belt configured to transfer the power generated by the motor to said one or more accessories; and
a motor clutch operatively connected with said motor and said accessory drive belt, said motor clutch configured to selectively couple the motor to the accessory drive belt such that power is transferable from the motor to the accessories, said motor clutch further being configured to selectively decouple the motor from the accessory drive belt such that the accessory drive belt may be driven by an alternate power source without incurring an efficiency loss attributable to backdriving the motor.
2 . The drive system of claim 1 further comprising an engine clutch configured to selectively couple an engine to the accessory drive belt such that power is transferable from the engine to the accessories, said engine clutch further being configured to selectively decouple the engine from the accessory drive belt such that the accessory drive belt may be driven by the motor without incurring an efficiency loss attributable to backdriving the engine.
3 . The drive system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of transfer pulleys operatively connected with said accessory drive belt and said accessories, said plurality of transfer pulleys each adapted to transfer rotational motion from the accessory drive belt to one of the vehicle accessories.
4 . The drive system of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of tension pulleys operatively connected with said accessory drive belt, said plurality of tension pulleys adapted to maintain tension is said accessory drive belt such that energy is transferable through the accessory drive belt in an efficient manner.
5 . The drive system of claim 4 further comprising a motor clutch pulley attached to the motor clutch, said motor clutch pulley configured to facilitate the transfer of energy from the motor to the accessory drive belt.
6 . The drive system of claim 5 further comprising an engine clutch pulley attached to the engine clutch, said engine clutch pulley configured to facilitate the transfer of energy from the engine to the accessory drive belt.
7 . A drive system adapted to power one or more vehicle accessories comprising:
a motor configured to generate power for said one or more accessories;
an accessory drive belt operatively connected with said motor, said accessory drive belt configured to transfer the power generated by the motor to said one or more accessories;
a motor clutch operatively connected with said motor and said accessory drive belt, said motor clutch configured to selectively couple the motor to the accessory drive belt such that power is transferable from the motor to the accessories, said motor clutch further being configured to selectively decouple the motor from the accessory drive belt such that the accessory drive belt may be driven by an alternate power source without incurring an efficiency loss attributable to backdriving the motor; and
an engine clutch in communication with an engine and said accessory drive belt, said engine clutch configured to selectively couple the engine to the accessory drive belt such that power is transferable from the engine to the accessories, said engine clutch further being configured to selectively decouple the engine from the accessory drive belt such that the accessories may be driven by the motor without incurring an efficiency loss attributable to backdriving the engine.
8 . The drive system of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of transfer pulleys operatively connected with said accessory drive belt and said accessories, said plurality of transfer pulleys each adapted to transfer rotational motion from the accessory drive belt to one of the vehicle accessories.
9 . The drive system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of tension pulleys operatively connected with said accessory drive belt, said plurality of tension pulleys adapted to maintain tension is said accessory drive belt such that energy is transferable through the accessory drive belt in an efficient manner.
10 . The drive system of claim 9 , further comprising a motor clutch pulley attached to the motor clutch, said motor clutch pulley configured to facilitate the transfer of energy from the motor to the accessory drive belt.
11 . The drive system of claim 10 , further comprising an engine clutch pulley attached to the engine clutch, said engine clutch pulley configured to facilitate the transfer of energy from the engine to the accessory drive belt.
12 . A drive system adapted to power one or more vehicle accessories comprising:
a motor configured to generate power for said one or more accessories;
an accessory drive belt operatively connected with the motor, said accessory drive belt configured to transfer the power generated by the motor to said one or more accessories;
a motor clutch operatively connected with said motor and said accessory drive belt, said motor clutch configured to selectively couple the motor to the accessory drive belt such that power is transferable from the motor to the accessories, said motor clutch further being configured to selectively decouple the motor from the accessory drive belt such that the accessories may be driven by an alternate power source without incurring an efficiency loss attributable to backdriving the motor.
an engine clutch in communication with an engine and said accessory drive belt, said engine clutch configured to selectively couple the engine to the accessory drive belt such that power is transferable from the engine to the accessories, said engine clutch further being configured to selectively decouple the engine from the accessory drive belt such that the accessory drive belt may be driven by the motor without incurring an efficiency loss attributable to backdriving the engine;
a motor clutch pulley attached to the motor clutch, said motor clutch pulley configured to facilitate the transfer of energy from the motor to the accessory drive belt; and
an engine clutch pulley attached to the engine clutch, said engine clutch pulley configured to facilitate the transfer of energy from the engine to the accessory drive belt.
13 . The drive system of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of transfer pulleys operatively connected with said accessory drive belt and said accessories, said plurality of transfer pulleys each adapted to transfer rotational motion from the accessory drive belt to one of the vehicle accessories.
14 . The drive system of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of tension pulleys operatively connected with said accessory drive belt, said plurality of tension pulleys adapted to maintain tension is said accessory drive belt such that energy is transferable through the accessory drive belt in an efficient manner.