Drivetrain with infinitely and electrically variable transmission capabilities
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsJeffrey M. David, Travis J. Miller, Mark A. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for an electric drive train of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include operating a first motor of a set of motors in a torque control mode at a first speed while operating a second motor of the set of motors in a speed control mode at a second speed. The second speed may be determined based on the first speed and torque may be summed at an output node of a planetary gear set coupled to each of the set of motors.
Claims20
A method for an electric drive train of a vehicle, comprising:
- operating a first motor of a set of motors in a torque control mode at a first speed;
- operating a second motor of the set of motors in a speed control mode at a second speed, the second speed determined based on the first speed of the first motor;
- summing a first torque generated by the first motor and a second torque generated by the second motor at an output node of a planetary gear set coupled to each of the first motor and the second motor, wherein the first motor and the second motor are coupled to the planetary gear set on opposite sides of the output node of the planetary gear set;
- and
- operating the drive train with one of the first motor or the second motor at or near zero speed to reduce consumption of electrical energy and to reduce mechanical losses at one of the first motor and the second motor.
A drive train for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a planetary gear set;
- a first electric machine coupled to a first input node of the planetary gear set on a first side of an output node of the planetary gear set;
- a second electric machine coupled to a second input node of the planetary gear set, the second input node on a second side of the output node, opposite of the first side;
- and
- a controller configured with executable instructions stored on non-transitory memory which, when executed, cause the controller to:
- operate the first electric machine at a first speed in a torque control mode;
- operate the second electric machine at a second speed in a speed control mode, the second speed selected based on the first speed of the first electric machine, and wherein a first torque generated by the first electric machine and a second torque generated by the second electric machine are summed at the output node of the planetary gear set;
- and
- operate the drive train in a single motor, torque multiplication mode when the first electric machine or the second electric machine is commanded to operate at zero speed.
A method for operating a drive train of an electric vehicle, comprising:
- summing a first torque output of a first motor of the drive train and a second torque output of a second motor of the drive train onto an output node of a planetary gear set coupled to each of the first motor and the second motor;
- responsive to an increase in torque demand,
- operating the drive train in a single motor mode with torque multiplication by commanding operation of one of the first motor and the second motor at zero speed;
- and
- responsive to a decrease in torque demand,
- operating the drive train at a pseudo mechanical point to reduce consumption of electrical energy and to reduce mechanical losses at one of the first motor and the second motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.