US 10,710,449 B2Granted

Hybrid drivetrain

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsFarzad Samie, Derek F. Lahr, Peter Beller, Chunhao J. Lee

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Abstract

A geartrain for a powertrain system is disposed to transfer mechanical power between an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a driveline. The geartrain includes a flywheel, a torque converter, an off-axis mechanical connection and a transmission gearbox. The off-axis mechanical connection includes a first element rotatably coupled to a second element. The flywheel is coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The torque converter includes a pump, a turbine and a pump hub, and the transmission gearbox includes an input member. The pump of the torque converter is coupled to the flywheel, and the pump hub is coupled to the first element of the off-axis mechanical connection. The second element of the off-axis mechanical connection is coupled to a rotor of the electric machine, and the turbine of the torque converter is coupled to the input member of the transmission gearbox.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A geartrain for a powertrain system, wherein the geartrain is disposed to transfer mechanical power between an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a driveline, the geartrain comprising:

a flywheel, a torque converter, an off-axis mechanical connection, a disconnect clutch, and a transmission gearbox;
wherein:
the off-axis mechanical connection is disposed within a housing of the geartrain and includes a first element rotatably coupled to a second element;
the torque converter includes a pump, a turbine and a pump hub,
the flywheel is coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and coupled to the pump of the torque converter,
the transmission gearbox includes an input member,
the pump hub is coupled to the first element of the off-axis mechanical connection,
the second element of the off-axis mechanical connection is coupled to a rotor of the electric machine,
the turbine of the torque converter is coupled to the input member of the transmission gearbox,
the disconnect clutch is arranged to couple the pump of the torque converter and the pump hub, and
the flywheel is coupled to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and is coupled to the pump of the torque converter via activation of the disconnect clutch.

8 more elements

A powertrain system including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine disposed to transfer mechanical power to a driveline, the powertrain system comprising:

the internal combustion engine including a crankshaft and a starter, the electric machine including a rotor, and a geartrain including a flywheel, a torque converter, an off-axis mechanical connection and a transmission gearbox;
wherein the starter includes a starter gear that meshingly engages gear teeth that are disposed on an outer circumference of the flywheel;
wherein the off-axis mechanical connection is disposed within a housing of the geartrain and includes a first element rotatably coupled to a second element;
wherein the torque converter includes a pump, a turbine and a pump hub;
wherein the flywheel is coupled to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine;
wherein a disconnect clutch is arranged to couple the pump of the torque converter and the pump hub;
wherein the transmission gearbox includes an input member;
wherein the pump hub is coupled to the first element of the off-axis mechanical connection;
wherein the second element of the off-axis mechanical connection is coupled to the rotor of the electric machine;
and
wherein the turbine of the torque converter is coupled to the input member of the transmission gearbox.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/211,681Filed 15 Jul 2016
Published: US 2018/0015817 A118 Jan 2018
Granted: 14 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

B60K 6/50
The prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs: architecture of the driveline characterised by…
B60K 6/30
Characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs: characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
B60K 6/36
Characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs: characterised by the transmission gearings
B60K 6/387
Characterised by the driveline clutches: actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means