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US 6,648,785 B2Granted
Transfer case for hybrid vehicle
AssigneeNew Venture Gear, Inc.
InventorFred C. Porter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid drive system for a four-wheel drive system arranged to supply motive power to a primary output shaft of a transfer case from an internal combustion engine and to a secondary output shaft from an electric motor/generator. The transfer case is comprised of a planetary gearset having an input driven by the motor/generator and an output directing drive torque to the secondary drivelines. This hybrid drive arrangement permits use of a modified transfer case in place of a conventional transfer case in a traditional four-wheel drive driveline.
Claims31
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having an engine and first and second drivelines, comprising:
- a housing;
- a first output shaft rotatably supported by said housing and adapted for connection between the engine and the first driveline;
- a second output shaft rotatably supported by said housing and adapted for connection to the second driveline;
- a gearset having a sun gear, a ring gear fixed to said housing, and pinion gears meshed with said ring gear and said sun gear, said pinion gears are rotatably supported on a pinion carrier which is fixed to said second output shaft;
- and
- an electric motor for selectively driving said sun gear.
3 more elements
A hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including an internal combustion engine and a transmission;
- a first driveline including a first differential connecting a pair of first wheels;
- a second driveline including a second differential connecting a pair of second wheels;
- a transfer case including a first output shaft driven by said powertrain and operably connected to said first differential, a second output shaft operably connected to said second differential, a planetary gearset having a sun gear, a fixed ring gear, and pinion gears meshed with said ring gear and said sun gear, said pinion gears are rotatably supported on a pinion carrier which is fixed to said second output shaft, and an electric motor for selectively driving said sun gear;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said electric motor to define an electric operating mode, a hybrid operating mode, and an engine operating mode.
3 more elements
A hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including an internal combustion engine and a transmission;
- a first driveline including a first differential connecting a pair of first wheels;
- a second driveline including a second differential connecting a pair of second wheels;
- a transfer case including a first output shaft driven by said powertrain and operably connected to said first differential, a second output shaft operably connected to said second differential, a planetary gearset having a sun gear, a fixed ring gear, and pinion gears meshed with said ring gear and said sun gear, said pinion gears are rotatably supported on a pinion carrier which is fixed to said second output shaft, a transfer unit coupled to said second output shaft, a mode clutch operable in an engaged mode to couple said transfer unit to said first output shaft and in a released mode to disengage said transfer unit from coupled engagement with said first output shaft, and an electric motor for driving said sun gear;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said mode clutch and said electric motor to define an electric operating mode, a hybrid operating mode, and an engine operating mode.
3 more elements
A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a transmission driven by said engine;
- a front driveline including a pair of front wheels, a front axle assembly driving said front wheels, and a front propshaft driving said front axle assembly;
- a rear driveline including a pair of rear wheels, a rear axle assembly driving said rear wheels, and a rear propshaft driving said rear axle assembly;
- a transfer case having a rear output shaft driven by said transmission and driving said rear propshaft, a front output shaft connected to said front propshaft, a planetary reduction gearset having an input member and an output member driving said front output shaft, and an electric motor driving said input member;
- sensors for detecting operational characteristics of the vehicle;
- and
- a controller operable to receive sensor signals from said sensors and control actuation of said electric motor, wherein an electric two-wheel drive mode is established when said electric motor drives said front output shaft to deliver drive torque to said front wheels while said engine is shut-off such that no drive torque is delivered to said rear wheels.
5 more elements
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having an engine and first and second drivelines, comprising:
- a housing;
- a first output shaft rotatably supported by said housing and adapted for connection between the engine and the first driveline;
- a second output shaft rotatably supported by said housing and adapted for connection to the second driveline;
- a gearset having a sun gear, a ring gear fixed to said housing, and a carrier fixed for rotation with said second output shaft and rotatably supporting pinion gears meshed with said sun gear and said ring gear;
- an electric motor for selectively driving said sun gear;
- and
- a mode clutch for selectively coupling said first output shaft to said second output shaft.
4 more elements
A hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including an internal combustion engine and a transmission;
- a first driveline including a first differential connecting a pair of first wheels;
- a second driveline including a second differential connecting a pair of second wheels;
- a transfer case including a first output shaft driven by said powertrain and operably connected to said first differential, a second output shaft operably connected to said second differential, a mode clutch for selectively coupling said first output shaft to said second output shaft, a planetary gearset having a sun gear, a fixed ring gear, and pinion gears meshed with said ring gear and said sun gear, said pinion gears are rotatably supported on a pinion carrier which is fixed to said second output shaft, and an electric motor for selectively driving said sun gear;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said electric motor and said mode clutch.
3 more elements
A hybrid motor vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including an internal combustion engine and a transmission;
- a first driveline including a first differential connecting a pair of first wheels;
- a second driveline including a second differential connecting a pair of second wheels;
- a transfer case including a first output shaft driven by said powertrain and operably connected to said first differential, a second output shaft operably connected to said second differential, a planetary gearset having a sun gear, a fixed ring gear, and pinion gears meshed with said ring gear and said sun gear, said pinion gears are rotatably supported on a pinion carrier which is fixed to said second output shaft, a transfer unit coupled to said second output shaft, a mode clutch operable in an engaged mode to couple said transfer unit to said first output shaft and in a released mode to disengage said transfer unit from coupled engagement with said first output shaft, and an electric motor for driving said sun gear;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said mode clutch and said electric motor to define an electric operating mode, a hybrid operating mode, and an engine operating mode.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.