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US 5,730,676 AGranted
Three-mode, input-split hybrid transmission
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorMichael Roland Schmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electro-mechanical transmission has interconnected simple planetary gear sets having one member connected to each of a pair of motor/generators and another member connectible with an engine through a selectively operable torque transmitting device. Three additional selectively operable torque transmitting devices cooperate with the gear sets, engine and/or the motor/generators to provide three modes of electro-mechanical power transmissions. One of the motor/generators is stationary, at one speed point in each of two modes, thereby providing two high efficiency operating points.
Claims9
An electro-mechanical transmission comprising:
- input means for receiving power from an engine;
- power output means
- first and second motor/generators
- energy storage means for accepting power from, and supplying power to, said first and second motor/generators;
- control means for regulating power flow between said energy storage means and said motor/generators as well as between said first and second motor/generators;
- a first simple planetary gear set having a plurality of members including a ring gear, a sun gear and a carrier assembly having a plurality of pinion gears each meshing with both said sun gear and said ring gear;
- a second simple planetary gear set having a plurality of members including a ring gear, a sun gear and a carrier assembly having a plurality of pinion gears each meshing with both said sun gear and said ring gear;
- said sun gears of said first simple planetary gear set and said second simple planetary gear set being continuously interconnected with each other and with said second motor/generator, said carrier assembly of said first simple planetary gear set being continuously connected with said first motor/generator;
- first means operatively to connect said ring gear of said second simple planetary gear set with said power output means;
- first torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection between said input means and said ring gear of said first simple planetary gear set;
- second torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection to establish a first range power path between said second motor/generator and said power output means in cooperation with said first torque transmitting device;
- third torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection to establish a second range power path between said first motor/generator and said power output means in cooperation with said first torque transmitting device;
- second means including said first means effecting an operative connection to establish a third range power path, in cooperation with said first torque transmitting device, between said input means and said output means.
10 more elements
An electro-mechanical transmission comprising:
- input means for receiving power from an engine;
- power output means;
- first and second motor/generators;
- energy storage means for accepting power from, and supplying power to, said first and second motor/generators;
- control means for regulating power flow between said energy storage means and said motor/generators as well as between said first and second motor/generators;
- first and second simple planetary gear sets each having members including a ring gear, a sun gear and a carrier assembly having a plurality of pinion gears each meshing with both said sun gear and said ring gear;
- means operatively to continuously connect a first member of said first simple planetary gear set with a first member of said second simple planetary gear set and with said second motor/generator;
- means operatively to continuously connect said first motor/generator with a second member of said first simple planetary gear set;
- means operatively to continuously connect a second member of said second simple planetary gear set with said power output means;
- a first torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection between said input means and a third member of said first simple planetary gear set;
- a second torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection between said input means and a third member of said second simple planetary gear set;
- a third torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection between said third member of said second simple planetary gear set and a stationary member;
- a fourth torque transmitting device effecting an operative connection between said first motor/generator and said second member of said simple planetary gear set;
- said first torque transmitting device and third torque transmitting device cooperating to establish a first range of power transmission, said first torque transmitting device and said fourth torque transmitting device cooperating to establish a second range of power transmission, and said first torque transmitting device and said second torque transmitting device cooperating to establish a third range of power transmission.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.