Abstract: The invention is a combined motor that combines or integrates electric and hydraulic power producing technologies into a single compact motor by means of common or shared rotor and stator elements. The invention allows optimized power, torque, performance and energy usage in electric and electric-hybrid vehicles and offers reduced weight and lower production costs due the use of common or shared components. The combined motor's electric and hydraulic power producing elements are preferably coaxial and coplanar, permitting axial compactness and enabling efficient space utilization in the vehicle. In typical electric vehicle drive cycles disproportionately large energy losses occur during the launch acceleration and brake energy recovery modes of vehicle torque demand. The combined motor increases overall efficiency by substituting high-efficiency hydraulic torque for low-efficiency electric torque during these modes.

Abstract: A kinetic energy recovery and electric drive system for automotive vehicles comprises an electric pancake motor-generator having its stator housing coupled, combined or integrated with the gearbox housing of a gearbox or final drive mechanism and its rotor shaft oriented vertically and perpendicular to the drive-shaft or drive axle of the vehicle. In certain embodiments the pancake motor rotor may be fitted or integral with a perpendicular peripheral stiffening flange in which is located a plurality of equally spaced permanent magnets of alternating polarity that electromagnetically engage with electromagnets of the pancake motor-generator stator. To facilitate retrofitting to existing vehicles the system may include an autonomous hybrid controller that includes at least one sensor to detect motion of the vehicle and/or motor without requiring any interface or integration with the vehicle's subsystems.

Abstract: The invention is a combined motor that combines or integrates electric and hydraulic power producing technologies into a single compact motor by means of common or shared rotor and stator elements. The invention allows optimized power, torque, performance and energy usage in electric and electric-hybrid vehicles and offers reduced weight and lower production costs due the use of common or shared components. The combined motor's electric and hydraulic power producing elements are preferably coaxial and coplanar, permitting axial compactness and enabling efficient space utilization in the vehicle. In typical electric vehicle drive cycles disproportionately large energy losses occur during the launch acceleration and brake energy recovery modes of vehicle torque demand. The combined motor increases overall efficiency by substituting high-efficiency hydraulic torque for low-efficiency electric torque during these modes.

Abstract: A kinetic energy recovery and electric drive system for automotive vehicles comprises an electric pancake motor-generator having its stator housing coupled, combined or integrated with the gearbox housing of a gearbox or final drive mechanism and its rotor shaft oriented vertically and perpendicular to the drive-shaft or drive axle of the vehicle. In certain embodiments the pancake motor rotor may be fitted or integral with a perpendicular peripheral stiffening flange in which is located a plurality of equally spaced permanent magnets of alternating polarity that electromagnetically engage with electromagnets of the pancake motor-generator stator. To facilitate retrofitting to existing vehicles the system may include an autonomous hybrid controller that includes at least one sensor to detect motion of the vehicle and/or motor without requiring any interface or integration with the vehicle's subsystems.

Abstract: A kinetic energy recovery and electric drive system for automotive vehicles comprises an electric pancake motor-generator (11, 211) having its stator housing (14, 214) coupled, combined or integrated with the gearbox housing (18, 218) of a gearbox (216) or final drive mechanism (16) and its rotor shaft (12, 212) oriented vertically and perpendicular to the drive-shaft (21, 234) or drive axle (20) of the vehicle. In certain embodiments the pancake motor rotor (10, 110, 210) may be fitted or integral with a perpendicular peripheral stiffening flange (113A, 113B, 213) in which is located a plurality of equally spaced permanent magnets (32, 132) of alternating polarity that electromagnetically engage with electromagnets (128A, 128B) of the pancake motor-generator stator.

Abstract: A kinetic energy recovery and electric drive system for automotive vehicles comprises an electric pancake motor-generator (11, 211) having its stator housing (14, 214) coupled, combined or integrated with the gearbox housing (18, 218) of a gearbox (216) or final drive mechanism (16) and its rotor shaft (12, 212) oriented vertically and perpendicular to the drive-shaft (21, 234) or drive axle (20) of the vehicle. In certain embodiments the pancake motor rotor (10, 110, 210) may be fitted or integral with a perpendicular peripheral stiffening flange (113A, 113B, 213) in which is located a plurality of equally spaced permanent magnets (32, 132) of alternating polarity that electromagnetically engage with electromagnets (128A, 128B) of the pancake motor-generator stator.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for driving the front wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, including front wheel transmission to transmit drive from the drive sprocket to the front wheel including a first chain drive to transmit drive to a first drive element positioned on the frame of the vehicle adjacent a rotatable front wheel support fork, a second chain drive mounted on the support fork to transmit drive from a second drive element to the front wheel hub and drive coupling to transmit drive from the first to the second drive element, wherein the first and second drive elements are spaced from each other along the direction of the support fork and the drive coupling includes a flexible drive shaft coupled to each drive elements by a drive assembly. The drive assemblies permit the ends of the flexible drive shaft to pivot within predetermined limits in substantially vertical planes to accommodate steering movements and be substantially unstressed even at extreme steering positions in use.