# US 2025/0144993 A1 · Flexible hybrid system and gearbox > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0144993 A1 - Document ID: US20250144993A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/939,348 - Filed: 2024-11-06 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-07 - Assignees: Cummins Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Limited - Inventors: Jacob Harris; Neil Graham McNab - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250144993A1 ## CPC - B60K 6/36: characterised by the transmission gearings - B60K 6/387: Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means - B60K 6/40: characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components - B60K 6/405: Housings - B60K 6/442: Series-parallel switching type - B60K 6/48: Parallel type - B60K 2006/4825: {Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft} - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A flexible hybrid system is provided. The flexible hybrid system includes a first power source and a gearbox. The gearbox is removably coupled with the first power source. The gearbox includes a flange with a first interface, the first power source removably coupled with the first interface; a housing coupled with the flange, the housing comprising a second interface; and a clutch system disposed at least partially in the housing, the clutch system comprising a first clutch mechanism and a second clutch mechanism. The flexible hybrid system includes a second power source. The second power source is removably coupled with the second interface, wherein the first clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the first power source to provide power to the flexible hybrid system; and the second clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the second power source to provide power to the flexible hybrid system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible hybrid system for a vehicle, comprising: a first power source; a gearbox removably coupled with the first power source, the gearbox comprising: a flange with a first interface, the first power source removably coupled with the first interface; a housing including the flange, the housing comprising a second interface opposite the first interface; and a clutch system disposed at least partially in the housing, the clutch system comprising a first clutch mechanism and a second clutch mechanism; and a second power source, the second power source removably coupled with the second interface, wherein: the first clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the first power source to provide power to the flexible hybrid system via the first power source; and the second clutch mechanism is configured to selectively engage the second power source to provide power to the flexible hybrid system via the second power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible hybrid system of claim 1, wherein: the first power source comprises one of an engine, a battery, or a fuel cell; and the second power source comprises an electric machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of second power sources including the second power source, wherein the plurality of second power sources are removably coupled with the second interface and are configured to provide a combined power output greater than or equal to a power output of the first power source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the gearbox further comprises: a gear train disposed in the housing, the gear train comprising: a first gear operably coupled with the first clutch mechanism, wherein actuation of the first clutch mechanism causes the first gear to engage or disengage the first power source; and a second gear operably coupled with the second clutch mechanism, wherein actuation of the second clutch mechanism cause the second gear to engage or disengage the second power source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flexible hybrid system of claim 4, wherein the first clutch mechanism and the second clutch mechanism are independently actuatable from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flexible hybrid system of claim 5, wherein the first clutch mechanism and the second clutch mechanism are electromechanical clutch mechanisms configured to actuate responsive to receiving an electrical signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flexible hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of auxiliary components removably coupled with the second interface of the gearbox, the plurality of auxiliary components to be driven by power provided by at least one of the first power source or the second power source. ### Claim 8 A gearbox of a flexible hybrid system of a vehicle, comprising: a housing to removably couple with a first power source and a second power source; a gear train disposed in the housing, the gear train comprising: a first gear; and a second gear operably coupled with the first gear; a first clutch mechanism disposed at least partially in the housing and operably coupled with the first gear to selectively engage the first power source; and a second clutch mechanism disposed at least partially in the housing and operably coupled with the second gear to selectively engage the second power source, the first clutch mechanism and the second clutch mechanism being independently actuatable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gearbox of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of second gears including the second gear, the plurality of second gears to selectively engage a plurality of second power sources including the second power source, wherein the plurality of second power sources are configured to provide a combined power output greater than or equal to a power output of the first power source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The gearbox of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of second clutch mechanisms including the second clutch mechanism, the first clutch mechanism and each of the plurality of second clutch mechanisms being independently actuatable from each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gearbox of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of third gears operably coupled with the first gear, the plurality of third gears to couple with a plurality of auxiliary components of the vehicle, the plurality of auxiliary components to be driven by power provided by at least one of the first power source or the plurality of second power sources. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The gearbox of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises: a first interface to interface with the first power source; and a second interface opposite the first interface, the second interface defining: a main drive connector aligned with the first gear, the main drive connector configured to couple a drive component with the gearbox; a power source mount disposed radially outward from the main drive connector, the power source mount configured to couple the second power source with the gearbox; and an auxiliary mount disposed radially outward from the main drive connector, the auxiliary mount configured to couple an auxiliary component with the gearbox. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The gearbox of claim 8, further comprising: a drive axis, wherein the first gear is centered on the drive axis; and a flange coupled with the housing and centered on the drive axis, the flange comprising a plurality of coupling points disposed adjacent to a perimeter of the flange, the plurality of coupling points disposed substantially equidistant from each other, wherein the flange is configured to rotate about the drive axis to adjust a coupling orientation of the gearbox relative to the first power source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The gearbox of claim 8, wherein the first clutch mechanism and the second clutch mechanism are electromechanical clutch mechanisms configured to actuate responsive to receiving an electrical signal. ### Claim 15 A method of selectively powering a flexible hybrid system via a plurality of power sources, the method comprising: engaging, via a first clutch mechanism, a first power source of the plurality of power sources to provide power to the flexible hybrid system via the first power source; and engaging, via a second clutch mechanism, a second power source of the plurality of power sources to provide power to the flexible hybrid system via the second power source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the flexible hybrid system comprises: a gearbox comprising a first interface and a second interface, the first power source coupled with the first interface and the second power source coupled with the second interface; and an auxiliary component coupled with the second interface of the gearbox; the method further comprising: providing power to the auxiliary component from at least one of the first power source or the second power source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the flexible hybrid system comprises a plurality of second power sources, including the second power source, the method further comprising: engaging the plurality of second power sources to provide a combined power output greater than or equal to a power output of the first power source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the flexible hybrid system comprises a plurality of second power sources, including the second power source, the method further comprising: engaging at least one of the plurality of second power sources to provide a combined power output less than a power output of the first power source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: actuating at least one of the first clutch mechanism or the second clutch mechanism responsive to the at least one of the first clutch mechanism or the second clutch mechanism receiving an electrical signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein actuating the at least one of the first clutch mechanism or the second clutch mechanism comprises actuating the at least one of the first clutch mechanism or the second clutch mechanism independently from each other.