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US 10,538,231 B2Granted
Controlling the powertrain of a vehicle
AssigneeProterra Inc.
InventorsMatthew Simonini, Jarred Vallbracht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The vehicle includes a powertrain having an axle having a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. A first gearbox may couple a first power source to the first drive wheel, and a second gearbox may independently couple a second power source to the second drive wheel. And, a controller may be configured to initiate a gear shift in the first gearbox and the second gearbox at different times.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including:
- an axle having a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel;
- a first gearbox coupling a first power source to the first drive wheel;
- a second gearbox independently coupling a second power source to the second drive wheel, wherein the first gearbox and the second gearbox both include at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;
- and
- a controller configured to
- (a) initiate a gear shift in the first gearbox and the second gearbox at different times, and
- (b) adjust a torque output of the second power source to a first torque value when the first gearbox is being gear shifted, and adjust a torque output of the first power source to a second torque value when the second gearbox is being gear shifted, wherein
- (i) the first torque value is equal to about a sum of the torque output of the first power source and the torque output of the second power source prior to when gear shift is initiated in the first gearbox, and
- (ii) the second value is equal to about a product of the first torque value and a function of a ratio of the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio.
7 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including:
- an axle having a left-side drive wheel and a right-side drive wheel;
- a first gearbox coupling a first electric motor to the left-side drive wheel;
- a second gearbox independently coupling a second electric motor to the right-side drive wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to
- (a) select one of the first or the second gearbox to first initiate a gear shift based on an operating condition of the electric vehicle,
- (b) initiate the gear shift in the gearbox selected in step (a) first and then in the other gearbox, and
- (c) adjust a torque output of the second electric motor to a first torque value and decrease the torque output of the first electric motor when the first gearbox is being gear shifted, and adjust a torque output of the first electric motor to a second torque value and decrease the torque output of the second electric motor when the second gearbox is being gear shifted.
6 more elements
A heavy-duty vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including:
- an axle having a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel;
- a first gearbox coupling a first electric motor to the first drive wheel;
- a second gearbox independently coupling a second electric motor to the second drive wheel, wherein the first gearbox and the second gearbox both include at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;
- and
- a controller configured to
- (a) first initiate a gear shift in the first gearbox and then initiate a gear shift in the second gearbox, and
- (b) adjust a torque output of the second electric motor to a first torque value and decrease a torque output of the first electric motor when the first gearbox is being gear shifted, and adjust a torque output of the first electric motor to a second torque value and decrease the torque output of the second electric motor when the second gearbox is being gear shifted, wherein
- (i) the first torque value is equal to about a sum of the torque output of the first electric motor and the torque output of the second electric motor prior to when gear shift is initiated in the first gearbox, and
- (ii) the second value is equal to about a product of the first torque value and a function of a ratio of the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.