Automated range-change transmission in a motor vehicle and method for operation of same

An automated range-change transmission for a motor vehicle having a hybrid drive unit with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, comprising:

• a main transmission having a main shaft and at least one lay shaft;
• a pre-shift group drivingly connected upstream of the main transmission, the pre-shift group configured as a split group;
• an input shaft configured for coupling to the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle;
• an output shaft configured for coupling with a drive axle of the motor vehicle;
• a planetary transmission for coupling the electric motor to the pre-shift group;
• the planetary transmission having a first element coupling the electric motor to the planetary transmission, the first element being a sun gear;
• the planetary transmission having a second element directly coupled to an input shaft of the pre-shift group without an intervening coupling element, whereas the input shaft of the pre-shift group corresponds to the input shaft of the range-change transmission, the second element being a ring gear;
• the planetary transmission having a third element coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group via an idler gear of the pre-shift group mounted coaxially to the input shaft of the pre-shift group, the output shaft of the pre-shift group corresponds to the lay shaft of the main transmission, the third element being a planetary carrier;
• and
• further comprising a shift packet through which the first element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the electric motor in a first shift position of the shift packet.

An automated range-change transmission for a motor vehicle having a hybrid drive unit with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, comprising:

• a main transmission having a main shaft and at least one lay shaft;
• a pre-shift group drivingly connected upstream of the main transmission, the pre-shift group configured as a split group;
• an input shaft configured for coupling to the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle;
• an output shaft configured for coupling with a drive axle of the motor vehicle;
• a planetary transmission for coupling the electric motor to the pre-shift group;
• the planetary transmission having a first element coupling the electric motor to the planetary transmission, the first element being a sun gear;
• the planetary transmission having a second element coupled to an input shaft of the pre-shift group, whereas the input shaft of the pre-shift group corresponds to the input shaft of the range-change transmission, the second element being a ring gear;
• the planetary transmission having a third element coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group via an idler gear of the pre-shift group mounted coaxially to the input shaft of the pre-shift group, the output shaft of the pre-shift group corresponds to the lay shaft of the main transmission, the third element being a planetary carrier;
• and
• further comprising one of (a) a first shift packet through which the second element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the input shaft of the range-change transmission in a first shift position of the first shift packet, or (b) a second shift packet through which the third element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the output shaft of the pre-shift group in a first shift position of the second shift packet, and wherein in a second shift position of the first or second shift packet, a respective one of the second or third elements of the planetary transmission is coupled to the first element of the planetary transmission so that the planetary transmission is bridged in a block cycle.

An automated range-change transmission for a motor vehicle having a hybrid drive unit with an internal combustion, engine and an electric motor, comprising:

• a main transmission having a main shaft and at least one lay shaft;
• a pre-shift group drivingly connected upstream of the main transmission, the pre-shift group configured as a split group;
• an input shaft configured for coupling to the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle;
• an output shaft configured for coupling with a drive axle of the motor vehicle;
• a planetary transmission for coupling the electric motor to the pre-shift group;
• the planetary transmission having a first element coupling the electric motor to the planetary transmission, the first element being a sun gear;
• the planetary transmission having a second element directly coupled to an input shaft of the pre-shift group without an intervening coupling element, whereas the input shaft of the pre-shift group corresponds to the input shaft of the range-change transmission, the second element being a ring gear;
• the planetary transmission having a third element coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group via an idler gear of the pre-shift group mounted coaxially to the input shaft of the pre-shift group, the output shaft of the pre-shift group corresponds to the lay shaft of the main transmission, the third element being a planetary carrier;
• and
• further comprising a third shift packet through which the first element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the electric motor in a first shift position of the third shift packet, and wherein in a second shift position of the third shift packet, the electric motor is coupled to the third element of the planetary transmission.

A method for operating a motor vehicle having an automated range-change transmission and a hybrid drive unit with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, the automated range-change transmission having:

• a main transmission with a main shaft and at least one lay shaft;
• a pre-shift group drivingly connected upstream of the main transmission, the pre-shift group configured as a split group;
• an input shaft configured for coupling to the internal combustion engine;
• an output shaft configured for coupling with a drive axle of the motor vehicle;
• a planetary transmission for coupling the electric motor to the pre-shift group, the planetary transmission having:
• a first element coupling the electric motor to the planetary transmission, the first element being a sun gear;
• a second element directly coupled to an input shaft of the pre-shift group without an intervening coupling element, whereas the input shaft of the pre-shift group couples to the input shaft of the range-change transmission, the second element being a ring gear;
• and
• a third element coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group via an idler gear of the pre-shift group mounted coaxially to the input shaft of the pre-shift group, the output shaft of the pre-shift group couples to the lay shaft of the main transmission, the third element being a planetary carrier;
• the method comprising:
• decoupling the internal combustion engine from the input shaft of the range-change transmission for pure electric driving of the motor vehicle by engaging the pre-shift group and the main transmission;
• and
• operating the pre-shift group in a high gear ratio step and the main transmission in a first gear.

A method for operating a motor vehicle having an automated range-change transmission and a hybrid drive unit with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, the automated range-change transmission having:

• a main transmission with a main shaft and at least one lay shaft;
• a pre-shift group drivingly connected upstream of the main transmission, the pre-shift group configured as a split group;
• an input shaft configured for coupling to the internal combustion engine;
• an output shaft configured for coupling with a drive axle of the motor vehicle;
• a planetary transmission for coupling the electric motor to the pre-shift group, the planetary transmission having:
• a first element coupling the electric motor to the planetary transmission;
• a second element coupled to an input shaft of the pre-shift group, whereas the input shaft of the pre-shift group couples to the input shaft of the range-change transmission;
• and
• a third element coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group, the output shaft of the pre-shift group couples to the lay shaft of the main transmission;
• the method comprising:
• decoupling the internal combustion engine from the input shaft of the range-change transmission for pure electric driving of the motor vehicle by engaging the pre-shift group and the main transmission;
• operating the pre-shift group in a high gear ratio step and the main transmission in a first gear;
• for electrodynamic driving or starting the motor vehicle with the internal combustion engine coupled to the input shaft of the range-change transmission, operating the pre-shift group in neutral and engaging a gear in the main transmission, and for providing a drive moment, supporting, by the electric motor, the drive moment the internal combustion engine provides;
• and
• for providing additional traction power, bringing a starting clutch between the internal combustion engine and the input shaft of the range-change transmission into slip, synchronizing the pre-shift group, and engaging the pre-shift group in order to start through the internal combustion engine and the starting clutch.

A method for operating a motor vehicle having an automated range-change transmission and a hybrid drive unit with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, the automated range-change transmission having:

• a main transmission with a main shaft and at least one lay shaft;
• a pre-shift group drivingly connected upstream of the main transmission, the pre-shift group configured as a split group;
• an input shaft configured for coupling to the internal combustion engine;
• an output shaft configured for coupling with a drive axle of the motor vehicle;
• a planetary transmission for coupling the electric motor to the pre-shift group, the planetary transmission having:
• a first element coupling the electric motor to the planetary transmission, the first element being a sun gear;
• a second element coupled to an input shaft of the pre-shift group, whereas the input shaft of the pre-shift group couples to the input shaft of the range-change transmission, the second element being a ring gear;
• and
• a third element coupled with an output shaft of the pre-shift group, the output shaft of the pre-shift group couples to the lay shaft of the main transmission, the third element being a planetary carrier;
• the method comprising:
• decoupling the internal combustion engine from the input shaft of the range-change transmission for pure electric driving of the motor vehicle by engaging the pre-shift group and the main transmission;
• operating the pre-shift group in a high gear ratio step and the main transmission in a first gear;
• wherein the range-change transmission further comprises:
• a first shift packet through which the second element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the input shaft of the range-change transmission in a first shift position of the first shift packet,
• a second shift packet through which the third element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the output shaft of the pre-shift group in a first shift position of the second shift packet, or
• a third shift packet through which the first element of the planetary transmission is coupled with the electric motor in a first shift position of the third shift packet;
• the method further comprising:
• for switching a respective one of the shift packets under load while engaging the pre-shift group, reducing a load at the electric motor by absorption of a load with the internal combustion engine so as to make a shift element to be disengaged in the respective shift packet load-free;
• subsequently disengaging the shift element;
• and
• synchronizing and subsequently engaging another shift element to be engaged in the respective shift packet by rotational speed control of the electric motor.