Modular hybrid transmission
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSteven Anatole Frait, Steven Gerald Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disconnect clutch and motor of a parallel type hybrid electric vehicle are repositioned within the wet zone of an automatic transmission to compactly and efficiently reconfigure a drive line using a motor and transmission assembly. A drive shell is provided interposed between the engine output and the disconnect clutch input which surrounds the torque converter enabling the torque converter to move independent to the engine output shaft. The resulting structure is compact and provides good structural support and cooling for the disconnect clutch and motor.
Claims23
An assembly comprising:
- a housing enclosing a disconnect clutch, a motor and a gear train;
- and
- a drive shell surrounding a torque converter, the drive shell including an input attached to an engine, a tubular output connected to a disconnect clutch input, the disconnect clutch and the motor located between the torque converter and gear train.
A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- an engine, a disconnect clutch, a motor, a torque converter and a transmission;
- and
- a drive shell interposed between the engine and the disconnect clutch partially enclosing the torque converter, the disconnect clutch and the motor located within the transmission .
A drive shell for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- an annular drive shell body forming an internal cavity to receive a torque converter therein;
- a plurality of annularly spaced fasteners located on an axially forward portion of the drive shell body for attachment to an engine mounting plate;
- and
- a tubular output connected to an axially rearward portion of the drive shell body.
A mounting plate for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- a circular disc having a first array of holes formed adjacent the disc center for attachment to an output member of an engine and a second outboard array of holes for attachment to a drive shell;
- and
- a bearing member mounted about the disc center for radially supporting a bearing member on a torque converter and limiting relative axial movement.
A torque converter, comprising:
- an annular shell having an interior surface supporting an input impeller and enclosing an output turbine and a stator;
- a splined tubular input hub coaxially connected to a rearward side of the annular shell;
- a load bearing member projecting forwardly from the shell center;
- and
- a thrust bearing mounted about the center of the shell interior surface for engaging a transmission input shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.