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US 10,760,650 B2Granted
Gear mechanism providing passive ratio switching
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorJohn P. O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gearbox includes a first shaft operatively coupled to an output of an engine, with the first shaft having a first longitudinal axis. A second shaft is operatively coupled to a driveshaft of an electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis. The second longitudinal axis is non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis. A geartrain operatively couples the first and second shafts. The geartrain is structured to passively switch between a first gear ratio and a different second gear ratio.
Claims23
A gearbox, comprising:
- a first shaft operatively coupled to an output of an engine, the first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shaft operatively coupled to a driveshaft of an electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
- and
- a geartrain operatively coupling the first and second shafts, the geartrain structured to passively switch between a first gear ratio and a different second gear ratio;
- wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox in a plurality of mounting locations;
- and
- wherein the gearbox includes a first engagement point at a first position on the gearbox, and a second engagement point at a second position on the gearbox, wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox at either of the first engagement point or the second engagement point.
4 more elements
A gearbox, comprising:
- a first shaft operatively coupled to an output of an engine, the first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shaft operatively coupled to a driveshaft of an electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
- a geartrain operatively coupling the first and second shafts, the geartrain structured to passively switch between a first gear ratio and a different second gear ratio;
- a first clutch having a third longitudinal axis;
- and
- a second clutch having a fourth longitudinal axis, the fourth longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the third longitudinal axis;
- wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox in a plurality of mounting locations;
- and
- wherein the gearbox includes a first engagement point at a first position on the gearbox, and a second engagement point at a second position on the gearbox, wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox at either of the first engagement point or the second engagement point.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric machine comprising a driveshaft, the electric machine structured to selectively operate in a starting mode and a generating mode, the starting mode including providing energy, and the generating mode including receiving energy;
- and
- a gearbox, comprising:
- a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shaft operatively coupled to the driveshaft of the electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
- a geartrain operatively coupling the first and second shafts, the geartrain structured to passively switch between a first gear ratio and a different second gear ratio;
- a first clutch having a third longitudinal axis;
- and
- a second clutch having a fourth longitudinal axis, the fourth longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the third longitudinal axis;
- wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox in a plurality of mounting locations;
- and
- wherein the gearbox includes a first engagement point at a first position on the gearbox, and a second engagement point at a second position on the gearbox, wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox at either of the first engagement point and the second engagement point.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric machine comprising a driveshaft, the electric machine structured to selectively operate in a starting mode and a generating mode, the starting mode including providing energy, and the generating mode including receiving energy;
- and
- a gearbox, comprising:
- a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shaft operatively coupled to the driveshaft of the electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
- a first geartrain, comprising:
- a first gear rigidly coupled to the first shaft,
- a second gear in meshed engagement with the first gear, and
- a third gear in meshed engagement with the second gear;
- a second geartrain, comprising:
- a fourth gear,
- a fifth gear in meshed engagement with the fourth gear,
- a sixth gear in meshed engagement with the fifth gear,
- a first passive clutch selectively coupling the third and fourth gears, and
- a second passive clutch selectively coupling the second and the fifth gears or selectively coupling the second and sixth gears.
12 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric machine comprising a driveshaft, the electric machine structured to selectively operate in a starting mode and a generating mode, the starting mode including providing energy, and the generating mode including receiving energy;
- and
- a gearbox, comprising:
- a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shaft operatively coupled to the driveshaft of the electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
- and
- a geartrain operatively coupling the first and second shafts, the geartrain structured to passively switch between a first gear ratio and a different second gear ratio;
- wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox in a plurality of mounting locations;
- and
- wherein the gearbox includes a first engagement point at a first position on the gearbox, and a second engagement point at a second position on the gearbox, wherein the electric machine is selectively mountable to the gearbox at either of the first engagement point and the second engagement point.
7 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric machine comprising a driveshaft, the electric machine structured to selectively operate in a starting mode and a generating mode, the starting mode including providing energy, and the generating mode including receiving energy;
- and
- a gearbox, comprising:
- a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shaft operatively coupled to the driveshaft of the electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
- a first geartrain, comprising:
- a first gear rigidly coupled to the first shaft,
- a second gear in meshed engagement with the first gear, and
- a third gear in meshed engagement with the second gear;
- a second geartrain, comprising:
- a fourth gear,
- a fifth gear in meshed engagement with the fourth gear, and
- a sixth gear in meshed engagement with the fifth gear;
- a first clutch selectively coupling the third and fourth gears;
- and
- a second clutch selectively coupling the second and the fifth gears or selectively coupling the second and sixth gears;
- wherein the second clutch selectively couples the second and sixth gears, and the sixth gear is rigidly coupled to the second shaft;
- wherein the first clutch is engaged so as to couple the third and fourth gears and the second clutch is disengaged so as to decouple the second and sixth gears when the electric machine is operating in the starting mode;
- and
- wherein the second clutch is engaged so as to couple the second and sixth gears and the first clutch is disengaged so as to decouple the third and fourth gears when the electric machine is operating in the generating mode.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.