Modularly-constructed vehicular transmissions

The assembly of various transmission types from a plurality of modular components, the selection of a particular transmission type being made most effectively to accommodate predetermined operational parameters to which the transmission will be subjected, said modular assembly comprising the steps of:

• providing a tube-like, annular housing having a generally cylindrical interior surface and terminating in first and second end portions, each of which are substantially open;
• providing a partition member having a radially outer, mounting rim and a radially inner, anchor rim;
• securing the radially outer, mounting rim of said partition to the generally cylindrical interior surface in said housing such that said partition member extends transversely of said housing within the medial portion of said housing;
• determining whether the specific transmission type to be assembled employs a medial planetary gear subset to be disposed within the medial portion of said housing and so positioning said medial planetary gear subset, if appropriate;
• securing tapered shrouds to said partition;
• inserting a first motor/generator having a stator and a rotor with a mounting ring attached to said rotor through one substantially open end of said housing to be disposed substantially adjacent to said partition;
• securing the stator of said first motor/generator to the cylindrical interior surface of said housing;
• inserting a second motor/generator having a stator and a rotor with a mounting ring attached to said rotor through the other substantially open end of said housing to be disposed substantially adjacent to the other side of said partition;
• securing the stator of said second motor/generator to the cylindrical interior surface of said housing;
• selecting at least two planetary gear subsets, the number, and at least one structural detail, depending upon the specific transmission type to be assembled;
• each said planetary gear subset having a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a plurality of planet gear members rotatably supported on a carrier simultaneously, and meshingly, to engage said sun and ring gear members;
• providing an input sub-assembly to be received in said first open end portion of said housing;
• said input sub-assembly having a supporting frame with a central aperture;
• positioning an input shaft member through said central aperture in the supporting frame of said input sub-assembly;
• operatively securing the ring gear member of the first planetary gear subset to said input shaft member;
• assuring that a conical stabilizer is secured to said supporting frame in the input sub-assembly;
• securing said input sub-assembly to the first open end of said housing with the conical stabilizer presented therefrom rotatably engaging the mounting ring secured to the rotor of said first motor/generator;
• assuring that the carrier of said first planetary gear subset is splined to said central shaft;
• providing an output sub-assembly to be received in said second open end portion of said housing;
• said output sub-assembly having a supporting frame with a central aperture;
• determining whether the specific transmission type to be assembled employs one or more clutch assemblies and if so, mounting said desired clutch, or clutches, on the supporting frame of said output sub-assembly;
• determining whether the specific transmission type to be assembled employs a planetary gear subset in said output sub-assembly and if so, mounting said desired planetary gear subset on the supporting frame of said output sub-assembly;
• mounting a stabilizer having at least a conical skeleton on the supporting frame of said output sub-assembly;
• selecting a modular output shaft appropriate to the particular transmission being assembled;
• positioning said selected modular output shaft through said central aperture of the supporting frame for said output sub-assembly;
• securing said output sub-assembly to the second open end of said housing with the conical stabilizer secured to the supporting frame of said output sub-assembly engaging the mounting ring secured to the rotor of said second motor/generator and with the modular output shaft directly connected to the carrier of the second planetary gear subset.