The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1996
Bernd Falkenmayer, Schwieberdingen, DE;
Peter Antony, Lorch, DE;
Mercedes-Benz AG, , DE;
Abstract
The hybrid drive arrangement according to the invention has a thermal engine that can be operated on a fuel containing hydrocarbons and capable of generating hydrogen. A storage device is provided for the fuel, with an energy storage device for the energy generated by the thermal engine. A drive motor is supplied, depending on the operating state, by the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, as well as a method for operation thereof. A hydrogen-generating unit connected to receive fuel from the fuel storage and generates hydrogen from the fuel. The thermal engine is designed for optional operation on the fuel that can be supplied from the storage device or on the hydrogen that is generated. According to the method, the thermal engine is operated in a higher driving load range on the fuel containing the hydrocarbons and on the hydrogen in a lower driving load range, as well as during starting and warmup, at a stationary emission-minimizing operating point, with any remaining power requirement being covered by the energy storage device.