US 6,592,484 B1Granted

Transmission gearbox for parallel hybrid electric vehicles

AssigneesGregory A. Schultz, Lung-Chu Tsai, David Holloway

InventorsLung-Wen Tsai, Gregory A. Schultz

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Disclosed is a novel parallel hybrid transmission that transmits torque from two power sources to the drive wheels of a vehicle. The transmission functions with a single heat engine and a single electric motor/generator. Through the use of a compound planetary gear train and four automatically controlled clutches, the transmission is able to (i) sum torque from the two power sources to drive the vehicle; (ii) split torque from the heat engine to drive the vehicle and charge the batteries; (iii) transmit torque individually from either of the two power sources; and (iv) operate as a one- or two-degree-of-freedom mechanism. The configuration of clutches and the compound planetary gear train enable thirteen modes of operation, namely, one motor-only mode, three combined motor and engine modes, one continuous variable transmission/charging mode, four engine-only modes, and four regenerative braking modes. Because the design is based on conventional automatic transmission components, the design is simple, compact, efficient, and reliable.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A transmission comprising:

an engine having an engine drive shaft;
an electric driving mechanism selectively operable as an electric motor and as a generator, said electric driving mechanism having a motor drive shaft;
an electric energy storage means in electrical communication with said electric driving mechanism;
a compound planetary gear set, said compound planetary gear set further comprising an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, and an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members;
an output shaft operatively connected to said compound planetary gear set;
a first clutch positioned to selectively operatively connect said engine drive shaft to a first input gear train member;
a second clutch positioned to selectively operatively connect said engine drive shaft to a first output gear train member;
a third clutch positioned to selectively operatively connect said first output gear train member to a transmission case;
and
a fourth clutch positioned to selectively operatively connect said motor drive shaft and one of each of said input gear train members and said output gear train members to said transmission case;
said first input gear train member comprising an input planetary gear carrier operatively connected to a plurality of input planetary gears, said input gear train member further comprising an input sun gear and an input ring gear, each of said input sun gear and said input ring gear engaging said plurality of input planetary gears;
and
said first output gear train member comprising an output ring gear, said output gear train members further comprising an output sun gear and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier.

10 more elements

A transmission comprising:

an engine having an engine drive shaft;
an electric driving mechanism selectively operable as an electric motor and as a generator, said electric driving mechanism having a motor drive shaft;
an electric energy storage device in electrical communication with said electric driving mechanism;
a compound planetary gear set, said compound planetary gear set further comprising an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, and an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members;
an output shaft operatively connected to said compound planetary gear set;
a first torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said engine drive shaft to a first input gear train member;
a second torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said engine drive shaft to a first output gear train member;
a third torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said first output gear train member to a transmission case;
and
a fourth torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said motor drive shaft and one of each of said input gear train members and said output gear train members to said transmission case;
wherein said first input gear train member comprises an input planetary gear carrier operatively connected to a plurality of input planetary gears, said input gear train members further comprising an input sun gear and an input ring gear, each of said input sun gear and said input ring gear engaging said plurality of input planetary gears, and said first output gear train member comprising an output ring gear, said output gear train members further comprising an output sun gear and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier.

8 more elements

A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;
a first power source;
a second power source;
an electrical energy storage device in electrical communication with said second power source;
a compound planetary gear set;
an output shaft operatively connected to said compound planetary gear set;
and
a plurality of torque transfer devices for selectively operatively connecting said first power source to said compound planetary gear set, and for connecting said second power source and at least a portion of said planetary gear set to said transmission case, said plurality of torque transfer devices being simultaneously operable to selectively:
(i) sum torque from said first and second power sources and transfer said summed torque to said output shaft;
(ii) split torque from said first power source to simultaneously transfer a first portion of said split torque to said output shaft and a second portion of said split torque to said second power source;
and (iii) transmit torque from only a single one of said first and second power sources to said output shaft;
said compound planetary gear set further comprising:
an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, said
input gear train members further comprising:
an input sun gear, an input ring gear, and a plurality of input planetary gears engaging said input sun gear and said input ring gear and being operatively connected to an input planetary gear carrier;
and
an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members, said output gear train members further comprising:
an output sun gear, an output ring gear, and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier;
wherein said input sun gear is conjoined with said output sun gear, and said input ring gear is conjoined with said output planetary gear carrier.

16 more elements

A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;
a first power source;
a second power source;
an electrical energy storage device in electrical communication with said second power source;
a compound planetary gear set;
an output shaft operatively connected to said compound planetary gear set;
and
a plurality of torque transfer devices for selectively operatively connecting said first power source to said compound planetary gear set, and for connecting said second power source and at least a portion of said planetary gear set to said transmission case, said plurality of torque transfer devices being simultaneously operable to selectively:
(i) transfer torque only from said first power source to said output shaft;
(ii) transfer torque only from said second power source to said output shaft;
(iii) transfer combined torque from each of said first and second power sources to said output shaft;
(iv) function simultaneously as a continuous variable transmission and charger for said electrical energy storage device;
(v) transfer torque from said output shaft to said second power source to direct electrical energy from said second power source to said electrical energy storage device;
(vi) transfer torque from said output shaft to said first power source to provide engine braking;
and (vii) transfer torque to said first and second power sources simultaneously;
said compound planetary gear set further comprising:
an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, said
input gear train members further comprising:
an input sun gear, an input ring gear, and a plurality of input planetary gears engaging said input sun gear and said input ring gear and being operatively connected to an input planetary gear carrier;
and
an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members, said output gear train members further comprising:
an output sun gear, an output ring gear, and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier;
wherein said input sun gear is conjoined with said output sun gear, and said input ring gear is conjoined with said output planetary gear carrier.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/635,315Filed 9 Aug 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 9 Aug 1999
Granted: 15 Jul 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B60W 20/20
Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles: control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between…
B60K 6/365
Characterised by the transmission gearings: with the gears having orbital motion
B60K 6/48
Characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle: parallel type
B60W 10/02
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function: including control of driveline clutches