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:
Jan. 13, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2004
Shigeru Ibaraki, Saitama, JP;
Takeo Kiuchi, Saitama, JP;
Tsuneo Endoh, Saitama, JP;
Akihisa Sato, Saitama, JP;
Shigeru Ibaraki, Saitama, JP;
Takeo Kiuchi, Saitama, JP;
Tsuneo Endoh, Saitama, JP;
Akihisa Sato, Saitama, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a motor/generator, and a Rankine cycle system for recovering thermal energy of exhaust gas. The output of the Rankine cycle system is input into a transmission or, alternatively, converted into electric power and used for charging a battery. The Rankine cycle system has temperature setter that sets the temperature of steam at the outlet of an evaporator. A pressure setter is provided for setting steam pressure at the inlet of an expander. A pressure controller is provided for controlling the steam pressure at the inlet of the expander. The evaporator generates steam to be supplied at a pressure that is optimum for the expansion ratio of the expander. The Rankine cycle system is operated when the vehicle is accelerating or cruising and efficiently recovers thermal energy of the exhaust gas and reduces the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine.