Hybrid drive system for hybrid electric vehicles
AssigneeBAE Systems Controls Inc.
InventorsFilippo MUGGEO, Derek MATTHEWS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid electric drive system is provided for driving a medium or heavy duty vehicle. The drive system includes an internal combustion engine configured as the primary source of motive power. The engine is coupled to a front-most axle and a first drive shaft in mechanical communication with a middle drive axle. The drive system also includes an electric motor and a clutch assembly; and a second driveshaft in mechanical communication with the electric motor and a rear-most drive axle. When the electric motor is not in active operation, the clutch assembly disengages the electric motor from the rear-most drive axle.
Claims27
A hybrid drive system for a vehicle, the hybrid drive system comprising:
- a primary drive sub-system having:
- a front-most drive axle located at a forward position of the vehicle;
- a middle drive axle positioned at a distance behind the front-most drive axle;
- an internal combustion engine dimensioned for providing the primary source of motive power, the internal combustion engine having an internal coupling to the front-most drive axle;
- and
- a first drive shaft in mechanical communication with the internal combustion engine and the middle drive axle;
- and
- a supplemental drive sub-system electrically and mechanically isolated from the primary drive sub-system, the supplemental drive sub-system having:
- an electric motor dimensioned for providing supplemental motive power;
- an energy storage unit for storing electric energy supplied to the electric motor;
- a clutch assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging the electric motor;
- a rear-most drive axle positioned at a distance behind the middle drive axle;
- and
- a second driveshaft in mechanical communication between the clutch assembly and the rear-most drive axle.
A hybrid drive system for a vehicle having a front drive axle, a middle drive axle and a rear drive axle, the hybrid drive system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a first drive shaft in mechanical communication with the engine and the middle drive axle;
- an electric motor including a clutch assembly;
- a second driveshaft in mechanical communication with the electric motor and the rear drive axle, the rear drive axle and the middle drive axle being mechanically isolated from one another.
A hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle body, having a plurality of drive axles;
- an internal combustion engine;
- a first drive shaft in mechanical communication with the engine and a middle drive axle of the plurality of drive axles;
- an electric motor including a clutch assembly;
- a second driveshaft in mechanical communication with the electric motor and a rear-most drive axle of the plurality of drive axles, the rear-most drive axle and the middle drive axle being mechanically isolated from one another;
- and
- a drive controller for controlling operation of the clutch assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.