US 10,457,131 B2Granted

Transmission for energy storage device, energy storage device and method for controlling the transmission

AssigneePunch Flybrid Limited

InventorsAndrew Deakin, Ernesto Zedan

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Abstract

A transmission for an energy storage and recovery system is disclosed. A variable slip transmission and a clutch arranged to transmit drive while slipping. The level of torque transmitted through the slipping clutch is dependent on the clutch force but is independent of the clutch slip speed. Preferably the clutch is provided by a plurality of clutches connected in parallel in a range extender. When drive is transferred between clutches in parallel, the clutch forces of both clutches are controlled to maintain the total torque transmitted by the clutches. This reduces torque fluctuations at the energy source/sink during clutch transfer. Where there are two slipping clutches in series, one clutch is controlled to provide the required torque and the other clutch is controlled in response to a clutch slip speed. This helps to control the speed of rotation of the mass between the clutches.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An energy storage and recovery system comprising an energy storage device coupled to a transmission for transmitting torque between the energy storage device and an energy source and/or sink, the transmission comprising a clutch control system and a transmission ratio adjuster, the transmission ratio adjuster including a first clutch and a second clutch in parallel with one another, each of the first and second clutches being arranged to transmit torque while slipping substantially continuously during a respective period when the other of the first and second clutches is not transmitting torque;

and
the clutch control system being arranged to control the first and second clutches so as to transfer drive from one of the first and second clutches to the other by reducing the torque transmitted by said one of the first and second clutches at the same time as increasing the torque transmitted by the other of the first and second clutches so that there is a period of time in which both of the first and second clutches transmit torque while slipping, and controlling the first and second clutches so as to keep the total torque transmitted to the energy source/sink by the first and second clutches substantially at a predefined level or within a predetermined range throughout the said period of time in which both of the first and second clutches transmit torque while slipping.

A method of controlling a transmission of an energy recovery and storage system, the energy recovery and storage system comprising the transmission and an energy storage device and the transmission being coupled between the energy storage device and an energy source and/or sink, the transmission comprising a first clutch and a second clutch in parallel with one another, the method comprising;

controlling each of the first and second clutches to transmit torque while slipping substantially continuously during a respective period when the other of the first and second clutches is not transmitting torque;
transferring drive from one of the first and second clutches to the other by reducing the torque transmitted by said one of the first and second clutches at the same time as increasing the torque transmitted by the other of the first and second clutches so that there is a period of time in which both of the first and second clutches transmit torque while slipping;
and
controlling the first and second clutches so as to keep the total torque transmitted to the energy source/sink by the first and second clutches substantially at a predetermined level or within a predetermined range throughout the said period of time in which both of the first and second clutches transmit torque while slipping.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/556,753Filed 1 Mar 2016
Priority: GB 1504232.812 Mar 2015
Published: US 2018/0056773 A11 Mar 2018
Granted: 29 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B60K 6/105
By means of a chargeable mechanical accumulator, e.g. flywheel: the accumulator being a flywheel
F16D 21/08
Systems comprising a plurality of actuated clutches: serially-arranged clutches interconnecting two shafts only when all the clutches are engaged
F16D 48/062
Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure: of a clutch system with a plurality of fluid actuated clutches
F16D 2500/30407
Clutch slip: clutch slip change rate