# US 10,933,736 B1 · Drive system including a transmission having a plurality of different operating modes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,933,736 B1 - Document ID: US10933736B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/683,412 - Filed: 2019-11-14 - Granted: 2021-03-02 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-14 - Assignees: Means Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Means Industries, Inc. - Inventors: John W. Kimes; Philip B. Woodley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10933736B1 ## CPC - B60K 6/54: Transmission for changing ratio - F16H 3/089: all of the meshing gears being supported by a pair of parallel shafts, one being the input shaft and the other the output shaft, there being no countershaft involved - B60K 6/36: characterised by the transmission gearings - B60K 6/365: with the gears having orbital motion - B60K 6/383: One-way clutches or freewheel devices - B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type - B60K 6/547: the transmission being a stepped gearing - F16H 3/005: {for gearings using gears having orbital motion} - B60K 2006/381: {characterized by driveline brakes} - B60K 2006/541: {without reverse ratio using instead electric reversing} - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - F16H 2057/02034: {Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines} - F16H 2061/6603: {characterised by changing ratio in the mechanical gearing} - F16H 2061/661: {Conjoint control of CVT and drive clutch} - F16H 2200/0043: the gear ratios comprising four forward speeds - F16H 2200/2005: with one sets of orbital gears - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F16H: GEARING - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A drive system having eCVT functionality with AMT cost advantages includes a transmission having a plurality of different operating modes. The system includes a transmission output shaft, a stationary member and a gear set including first, second, and third elements. The first element connects with the transmission output shaft. An output shaft of a non-electric power plant connects with the first element through the second element for driving the first element. A drive shaft of an electric power plant connects with the first element through the third element for driving the first element. The system includes a plurality of non-friction, controllable, coupling assemblies. A first coupling assembly has a first coupling state for grounding the second element to the stationary member, a second coupling state for grounding the third element to the stationary member and an uncoupling state to allow the second and third elements to drive the first element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive system including a transmission having a plurality of different operating modes, the system comprising: a transmission output shaft; a stationary member; a gear set including first, second, and third elements, the first element connecting with the transmission output shaft, an output shaft of a non-electric power plant connecting with the first element through the second element for driving the first element and a drive shaft of an electric power plant connecting with the first element through the third element for driving the first element; a non-friction, controllable, first coupling assembly having a first coupling state for grounding the second element to the stationary member, a second coupling state for grounding the third element to the stationary member and an uncoupling state to allow the second and third elements to drive the first element, the first coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state; a group of gears including fourth and fifth elements connecting with the transmission output shaft; and a non-friction, controllable, second coupling assembly having a first coupling state for coupling the fourth element to the transmission output shaft, a second coupling state for coupling the fifth element to the transmission output shaft, and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the transmission output shaft from the fourth and fifth elements, the second coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear set is a planetary gear set and wherein the first, second and third elements comprise a ring gear, a carrier and a sun gear, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a non-friction, controllable, brake assembly to allow for park and hill hold in the first coupling state of the second coupling assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-electric power plant comprises an internal combustion engine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power plant is an electric motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a three-position linear actuator and a pair of clutches and wherein the actuator controls the pair of clutches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second coupling assembly comprises a three-position linear actuator and a pair of clutches and wherein the actuator controls the pair of clutches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modes comprise an EV mode, a hybrid mode and an ICE mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hybrid mode has a plurality of CVT states when the first coupling assembly is in its uncoupling state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission is an automatic manual transmission (AMT). ### Claim 11 A drive system including a transmission having a plurality of different operating modes, the system comprising: a transmission output shaft; a stationary member; a gear set including first, second, and third elements, the first element connecting with the transmission output shaft, an output shaft of a non-electric power plant connecting with the first element through the second element for driving the first element and a drive shaft of an electric power plant connecting with the first element through the third element for driving the first element; a non-friction, controllable, first coupling assembly having a first coupling state for grounding the second element to the stationary member, a second coupling state for grounding the third element to the stationary member and an uncoupling state to allow the second and third elements to drive the first element, the first coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state; a group of gears including fourth, fifth, six and seventh elements connecting with the transmission output shaft; a non-friction, controllable, second coupling assembly having a first coupling state for coupling the fourth element to the transmission output shaft, a second coupling state for coupling the fifth element to the transmission output shaft, and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the transmission output shaft from the fourth and fifth elements, the second coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state; and a non-friction, controllable, third coupling assembly having a first coupling state for coupling the sixth element to the transmission output shaft, a second coupling state for coupling the seventh element to the transmission output shaft, and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the transmission output shaft from the sixth and seventh elements, the third coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gear set is a planetary gear set and wherein the first, second and third elements comprise a ring gear, a carrier and a sun gear, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a non-friction, controllable, brake assembly to allow for park and hill hold in the first coupling state of the second coupling assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the non-electric power plant comprises an internal combustion engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electric power plant is an electric motor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a three-position linear actuator and a pair of clutches and wherein the actuator controls the pair of clutches. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second coupling assembly comprises a three-position linear actuator and a pair of clutches and wherein the actuator controls the pair of clutches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the third coupling assembly comprises a three-position linear actuator and a pair of clutches and wherein the actuator controls the pair of clutches. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the modes comprise an EV mode, a hybrid mode and an ICE mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hybrid mode has a plurality of CVT states when the first coupling assembly is in its uncoupling state.