DUO-FLEX COMPACT ELECTRICAL PLATFORM FOR MOTORCYCLES

Abstract

A duo-flex compact electrical platform for motorcycles which allows to obtain a mechanical power supply system for electric motorcycles with increased energy efficiency allied to an optimized mechanical power and torque delivery. The proposed platform has two electric motors horizontally arranged within a series of arrangements that also allow to obtain a kinematic solution with self-sufficiency that recharges itself through the use of one of the motors without overloading the other one.

Claims

1. A mechanical power supply system (1) for electric motorcycles, comprising: an electrical motor A (11) and an electrical motor B (12), and a battery pack; a single transmission (13), connected to both the electrical motor A (11) and the electrical motor B (12), the single transmission (13) connected to a gearbox (15) and to a clutch (14) through mechanical means, wherein each of the electrical motor A (11) and the electrical motor B (12), comprises independent bottom end shafts, and wherein each of the bottom end shafts comprises a primary transmission control pinion (131, 132), the primary transmission control pinions are mechanically connected to the single transmission (13).

2. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical motor A (11) and the electrical motor B (12) comprise the same power production output.

3. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical motor A (11) comprises superior power production output than the electrical motor B (12).

4. The mechanical power supply system (1) according claim 1, wherein both primary transmission control pinion (131, 132) of each of the bottom end shafts comprise the same transmission ratio.

5. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the primary transmission control pinion (131) of the bottom end shafts of electrical motor A (11) comprises a higher transmission ratio than the primary transmission control pinion (132) of the bottom end shafts of electrical motor B (12).

6. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the primary transmission control pinions (131, 132) of the bottom end shafts of electrical motor A (11) and electrical motor B (12) comprise epicycloidal gearboxes.

7. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a software control system adapted to determine which of the electrical motor A (11) or electrical motor B (12) will operate, or both simultaneously.

8. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the software control system comprises configuration and customization operating modes.

9. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an additional internal charging motor adapted to recharge the battery pack when the system (1) is in deceleration.

10. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical motor A (11) or the electrical motor B (12) is configured to operate as an energy regenerator to recharge the battery pack when the system (1) is in deceleration.

11. The mechanical power supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical motor A (11) and the electrical motor B (12) comprise liquid cooled brushless motors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] For better understanding of the present application, figures representing preferred embodiments are herein attached which, however, are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.

[0029] FIG. 1—discloses an illustration of the overall invention, in a side section cut perspective, where the reference numbers are related to: [0030] 1. duo-flex compact electrical platform for electric motorcycles/mechanical power supply system.

[0031] FIG. 2—represents the platform (1), in a upper view perspective, where the reference numbers are related to: [0032] 11—motor A; [0033] 12—motor B; [0034] 13—mechanical transmission; [0035] 14—hydraulic control clutch; [0036] 15—gearbox with shift and gears.

[0037] FIG. 3—represents one embodiment of the platform (1), in a horizontal cut upper view perspective, where the reference numbers are related to: [0038] 11—motor A; [0039] 12—motor B; [0040] 131—primary transmission control pinion on motor A; [0041] 132—primary transmission control pinion on motor B; [0042] 14—hydraulic control clutch; [0043] 15—gearbox with shift and gears.

[0044] FIG. 4—represents other embodiment of the platform (1), in a horizontal cut upper view perspective, where the reference numbers are related to: [0045] 11—motor A; [0046] 12—motor B; [0047] 131—primary transmission control pinion on motor A; [0048] 132—primary transmission control pinion on motor B; [0049] 14—hydraulic control clutch; [0050] 15—gearbox with shift and gears.

[0051] FIG. 5—represents other embodiment of the platform (1), in a horizontal cut upper view perspective, where the reference numbers are related to: [0052] 11—motor A; [0053] 12—motor B; [0054] 131—primary transmission control pinion on motor A; [0055] 132—primary transmission control pinion on motor B; [0056] 14—hydraulic control clutch; [0057] 15—gearbox with shift and gears.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0058] With reference to the figures, some embodiments are now described in more detail, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

[0059] The platform (1), or mechanical power supply system, in one of the preferred embodiments based on the disclosure of FIG. 3, comprises two motors, motor A (11) and motor B (12). Both motors (11, 12), in one of the preferred embodiments based on a liquid cooled brushless motors technology, comprise the same specs and same power production capacity, and have their axis arranged over the same matching horizontal plane, with both shaft ends being exactly aligned facing each other. Each shaft end of both motors (11, 12) comprises individual primary transmission control pinions (132, 132), with equivalent ratios, that through the mechanical internal gears of the transmission (13), will provide rotation movement to the gearbox (15). The electrical motors (11, 12) can operate individually in an ON-OFF arrangement, simultaneously, or synchronously coupled in a A-B motor model, with differentiated activation times according to the required output power needed. The transmission (13) is singular and comprises a unique ratio. With the proposed embodiment disclosed on FIG. 3, and comparing with similar electric engines, the platform (1) will allow to achieve lower energetic power consumption and better acceleration due to the half moment of inertia ensured by the mechanical gearbox (15). This platform (1) layout will include a charging motor for recharging the internal batteries when the platform (1) is in deceleration process. The use of liquid cooling on both electric motors (11, 112) allows to increase the stability and the durability of the platform (1), improving its performance and overall reliability over usage time.

[0060] In one of the proposed embodiments for present disclosure, one of the electrical motors (11 or 12), in an alternately manner, can be used as an energy regenerator, while the other motor is working providing power to the platform (1). With this self-recharging solution, it becomes possible to control the operating temperature of the overall platform (1) by always keeping one of the motors (11 or 12) with a low operating temperature since only one of the is really ensuring the mechanical power production.

[0061] Current arrangement also allows to achieve a more symmetrical platform (1), with balanced dimensions and weight distribution, leading to a lower center of gravity when the platform (1) is applied in a motorcycle structure. The use of the double motors (11, 12) with their central axis horizontally aligned and placed in a low position with regard to the overall platform, provide a more balanced power availability depending on the requirements and user request. As it is possible to see under the analysis of FIG. 2, the T shaped platform (1) enables a uniform weight distribution on the motorcycle frame, where both motors (11, 12) are placed along with a central positioning of the transmission (13), supported by the clutch (14) and gearbox (15) that will provide the rotational transmission to the wheels, helping the platform (1) lowering the power absorption. FIG. 1 is also very exemplary on the compactness of the suggested platform (1) that leads to the referred balanced weight distribution.

[0062] With the proposed mechanical arrangement platform (1) applied to a vehicle, it is possible to improve its overall performance with lower and optimized electrical power consumption which will lead to greater autonomy, and consequently, lower power requirement for the battery pack, leading to reducing the overall weight of the motorcycle.

[0063] The motor platform (1) is managed and controlled by a software system configured to operate accordingly to five calibration levels, or modes, comprising ECONOMY, SPORT, RAIN, NORMAL and a customized configuration. The software system will start by default with one operating motor (11), level one setting, and depending on the second selected setting, the platform (1) will intervene, more or less quickly, with the introduction of the second motor (12). Independently of the driving setting, the software will always know in what gear the gearbox (15) of the platform (1) is working on, so it can manage and define the power and acceleration to be applied in each gear. The software system is also responsible for the management of the battery charging procedures, determining the charge available capacity and any associated failures.

[0064] On other possible arrangement of the platform (1), the motors A and B (11, 12) are not equivalent in terms of power production capability. This arrangement is disclosed on FIG. 4, and besides the differentiating characteristics, the primary transmission control pinion (131) of motor A (11), in this layout, comprises a shorter ratio to operate in an ECONOMY mode with free wheel. On the other way, the primary transmission control pinion (132) of motor B (12) comprises an extended ratio to operate in SPORT mode. On this proposed embodiment of platform (1), the two brushless motors A (11) and B (12), different in power production capability, resort to a primary transmission (13) with two different ratios (131, 132) to enhance the mechanical features of the ECONOMY and SPORT modes.

[0065] With this layout, the platform (1) will allow to lower the electric power consumption, increasing acceleration due to the mechanical gearbox (15) with different ratios. As on previous suggested layout, this platform (1) will also include a self-charging motor capability to recharge the internal batteries when the platform (1) is in deceleration process. The use of liquid cooling on both motors allows to increase the stability and the durability of the platform (1), improving performance and overall reliability over usage time.

[0066] On another possible arrangement of the platform (1), pictured on FIG. 5, motors A and B (11, 12) are still not equivalent in terms of power production capability. However, on this proposed layout, the primary transmission control pinion (131) comprises an epicycloidal gearbox to operate in the ECONOMY mode. Similarly, the primary transmission control pinion (132) of motor B (12) comprises an epicycloidal gearbox to operate in SPORT mode. When compared with the previous solution, the use of epicycloidal gearboxes in the primary transmissions (131, 132) group allows obtain differentiated ratios that can operate jointly with the sum or difference of the speeds of the relative reductions to better enhance the ECONOMY and SPORT operating modes.

[0067] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.