Apparatus and Method for Delivering Power in a Hybrid Vehicle
AssigneeGE Hybrid Technologies, LLC
InventorsJonathan Mong Ling Lo, Jacek Gromadzki, Nicolas Louis Bouchon, Martin Alexander Strange, Victor Woo
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering power to a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes an apparatus for delivering power to a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a powertrain having a power take-off coupling, the powertrain including an engine and a transmission. The apparatus includes an electric motor operable to generate a torque, the motor being coupled to transmit a starting torque through the power take-off of the powertrain for starting the engine.
Claims20
A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
- a planetary gear system;
- an engine coupled to the planetary gear system;
- an electric motor coupled to the planetary gear system;
- a differential coupled to the planetary gear system;
- and
- a braking device coupled to a gear of the planetary gear system to selectively inhibit the rotation of the gear;
- the planetary gear system being configured to allow the electric motor to provide a starting torque to the engine when the gear coupled to the braking device is not inhibited from rotating by the braking device;
- and
- the planetary gear system being configured to allow the electric motor to provide a drive torque to the differential when the gear coupled to the braking device is inhibited from rotating by the braking device.
A method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle including a planetary gear system, an engine coupled the planetary gear system, an electric motor coupled to the planetary gear system, a differential coupled to the planetary gear system, and a braking device coupled to a gear of the planetary gear system, the method comprising:
- selectively not inhibiting the gear coupled to the braking device from rotating to allow the electric motor to provide a starting torque to the engine;
- and
- selectively inhibiting the gear coupled to the braking device from rotating to allow the electric motor to provide a drive torque to the differential.
The method of operating the hybrid electric vehicle of claim 13, wherein the electric motor is a permanent magnet electric motor.
An apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
- a planetary gear system;
- an engine coupled to the planetary gear system;
- an electric motor coupled to the planetary gear system;
- a differential coupled to the planetary gear system;
- and
- a braking device coupled to a gear of the planetary gear system to selectively inhibit the rotation of the gear;
- the planetary gear system being configured to allow the electric motor to provide a starting torque to the engine when the gear coupled to the braking device is not inhibited from rotating by the braking device;
- and
- the planetary gear system being configured to allow the electric motor to provide both a drive torque to the differential and electrical power driven by the engine when the gear coupled to the braking device is inhibited from rotating by the braking device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.