US 2007/0175681 A1 · Vehicle and method of assembling same

Abstract

A parallel hybrid vehicle includes a heat engine, a transmission including an input and an output, and an electrical device. The transmission input is coupled to the engine and the transmission output is coupled to the electrical device such that substantially all of the torque generated by the heat engine is channeled through the transmission to the electrical device, and a differential, the electrical device coupled to the differential such that during a first mode of operation the electrical device functions as a motor to receive substantially all the torque generated by the engine through the transmission, and such that during a second mode of operation the electrical device functions as a generator to receive substantially all the torque generated by the vehicle through the differential. A method of retrofitting a vehicle is also provided.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a heat engine coupled to said frame;
a transmission including an input and an output;
an electrical device, said transmission input coupled to said heat engine and said transmission output coupled to said electrical device such that substantially all of the torque generated by said heat engine is channeled through said transmission to said electrical device;
a differential coupled to said electrical device;
and
a sub-frame coupled to said vehicle frame to support said electrical device.

4 more elements

A method of retrofitting a vehicle that includes a heat engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a differential, and at least one drive shaft coupled between the transmission and the differential, said method comprising:

removing the at least one drive shaft;
and
coupling an electrical device between the transmission and the differential such that during a first mode of operation the electrical device functions as a motor to receive substantially all the torque generated by the engine through the transmission, and such that during a second mode of operation the electrical device functions as a generator to receive substantially all the torque generated by the differential.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/644,175Filed 21 Dec 2006

Priority

18 Jan 2006

Published

2 Aug 2007

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B60K 17/22
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
B60K 6/26
Characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs: characterised by the motors or the generators
B60K 6/48
Characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle: parallel type
B60L 50/16
Using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines: with provision for separate direct…

Vehicle and method of assembling same

Life of this patent

Vehicle and method of assembling same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45