Hybrid powertrain system

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft supporting at least two main shaft gears thereon, a first independent countershaft connected to the first prime mover and including at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, a second independent countershaft connected to the second prime mover and having at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, the ratio gears on the first and second countershafts cooperating with the main shaft gears to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, a shift control mechanism that selectively fixes the main shaft for rotation with the first and second countershafts, and a connecting gearset that selectively fixes the first countershaft for rotation with the second countershaft, the connecting gearset including a first connecting gear rotatably supported on the main shaft and connected to one of the first and second countershafts, and a second connecting gear rotatably supported on the first connecting gear and connected to the other countershaft.

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft supporting at least two main shaft gears thereon, a first independent countershaft connected to the first prime mover and including at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, a second independent countershaft connected to the second prime mover and having at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, the ratio gears on the first and second countershafts cooperating with the main shaft gears to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, and a shift rail assembly that selectively fixes the main shaft for rotation with the first and second countershafts, the shift rail assembly including at least two independently moveable, generally transversely spaced and generally longitudinally extending shift rails mounted for axial sliding movement in opposite directions from a neutral position, the shift rails each carrying a shift fork thereon for engagement and disengagement of at least one gear in the transmission, the shift rail assembly also including a shift block member carried by each shift rail, each shift block member defining a pair of longitudinally spaced and opposing generally transversely extending surfaces having a width therebetween sufficient to allow passage of a shift lever in a generally transverse direction, the shift lever operable to engage one of the opposing generally transversely extending surfaces of a shift block to move the corresponding shift rail in an axial direction, the shift block members further defining a generally axially extending channel therebetween having a width sufficient to allow passage of the shift lever in a generally axial direction.

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft supporting at least two main shaft gears thereon, a first independent countershaft connected to the first prime mover and including at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, a second independent countershaft connected to the second prime mover and having at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, the ratio gears on the first and second countershafts cooperating with the main shaft gears to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, a transmission input shaft connecting the first prime mover to the first countershaft, and a shift control mechanism that selectively fixes the main shaft for rotation with the first and second countershafts;
• a main clutch positioned between the first prime mover and the first transmission input shaft;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first and second prime movers is configured to provide a torque break between at least one of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft to facilitate a gear ratio interchange therebetween.

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft supporting at least two main shaft gears thereon, a first independent countershaft connected to the first prime mover and including at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, a second independent countershaft connected to the second prime mover and having at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, the ratio gears on the first and second countershafts cooperating with the main shaft gears to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, a first transmission input shaft connecting the first prime mover to the first countershaft, a second transmission input shaft connecting the second prime mover to the second countershaft, the first transmission input shaft disposed concentrically within the second transmission input shaft, and a shift control mechanism that selectively fixes the main shaft for rotation with the first and second countershafts;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first and second prime movers is configured to provide a torque break between at least one of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft to facilitate a gear ratio interchange therebetween.

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft supporting at least two main shaft gears thereon, a first independent countershaft connected to the first prime mover and including at least two ratio gears supported thereon and meshing with respective main shaft gears, a second independent countershaft connected to the second prime mover and having at least one ratio gear meshing with a respective main shaft gear, the ratio gears on the first and second countershafts cooperating with the main shaft gears to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, and a shift control mechanism that selectively fixes the main shaft for rotation with the first and second countershafts;
• and
• wherein the gears on the main shaft are selectively engaged therewith to provide at least two drive ratios between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft and selectively interchanged by the shift control mechanism to change the drive ratio from a first ratio to a second ratio, and wherein the second prime mover is selectively operable to provide a torque break between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft to facilitate a gear ratio interchange therebetween.

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft, a first torque path defined between the first prime mover and the main shaft for transmitting the rotational output of the first prime mover to the main shaft, and a second torque path defined between the second prime mover and the main shaft for independently transmitting the rotational output of the second prime mover to the main shaft, the first torque path being defined by a first countershaft and the second torque path defined by a second countershaft;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second countershafts support thereon at least one ratio gear that meshes with a respective main shaft gear to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, the gears on the main shaft are selectively engaged therewith to provide at least two drive ratios between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft and selectively interchanged by a shift control mechanism to change the drive ratio from a first ratio to a second ratio, and wherein the second prime mover is selectively operable to provide a torque break between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft to facilitate a gear ratio interchange therebetween.

A powertrain system comprising:

• a first prime mover having a rotational output;
• a second prime mover having a rotational output;
• and
• a change-gear transmission that includes a main shaft, a first torque path defined between the first prime mover and the main shaft for transmitting the rotational output of the first prime mover to the main shaft, and a second torque path defined between the second prime mover and the main shaft for independently transmitting the rotational output of the second prime mover to the main shaft, the first torque path being defined by a first countershaft and the second torque path defined by a second countershaft;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second countershafts support thereon at least one ratio gear that meshes with a respective main shaft gear to provide at least one gear ratio between each of the first and second countershafts and the main shaft, the gears on the main shaft are selectively engaged therewith to provide at least two drive ratios between the second countershaft and the main shaft and selectively interchanged by a shift control mechanism to change the drive ratio from a first ratio to a second ratio, and wherein the first prime mover is selectively operable to provide a torque break between the second countershaft and the main shaft to facilitate a gear ratio interchange therebetween.