Four-wheel drive hybrid vehicle
AssigneeMagna Powertrain USA, 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.
Claims20
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having a powertrain and front and rear drivelines, comprising:
- a rear output shaft for transmitting drive torque from the powertrain to the rear driveline;
- a front output shaft connected to the front driveline;
- an electric motor driving said front output shaft for transmitting drive torque to the front driveline;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said electric motor to define an electric operating mode wherein said electric motor transmits drive torque to said front output shaft while no drive torque is delivered by said electric motor to said rear output shaft.
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having a powertrain and front and rear drivelines, comprising:
- a rear output shaft for transmitting drive torque from the powertrain to the rear driveline;
- a front output shaft connected to the front driveline;
- an electric motor for selectively driving said front output shaft for transmitting drive torque to the front driveline;
- a mode clutch for selectively coupling said rear output shaft to said front output shaft;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said mode clutch and said electric motor, said control system establishing a two-wheel electric drive mode and a two-wheel engine drive mode, said two-wheel electric drive mode is established when said mode clutch is released and said electric motor is actuated to drive said front output shaft while no drive torque is transmitted from the powertrain to said rear output shaft, and wherein said two-wheel engine drive mode is established when said mode clutch is released and said electric motor is off and the powertrain transmits drive torque to said rear output shaft.
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having an engine and front and rear drivelines, comprising:
- a rear output shaft for transmitting drive torque from the engine to the rear driveline;
- a front output shaft connected to the front driveline;
- an electric motor that can be selectively actuated for transmitting drive torque only to said front output shaft;
- and
- a control system operable to establish an engine drive mode and an electric drive mode, said engine drive mode is established when the engine drives said rear output shaft and said electric motor is off and said electric drive mode is established when the engine is off and said electric motor drives said front output shaft.
A transfer case for use in a motor vehicle having a powertrain and first and second drivelines, comprising:
- a first output shaft for transmitting drive torque from the powertrain to the first driveline;
- a second output shaft for transmitting drive torque to the second driveline;
- an electric motor that can be selectively actuated for transmitting drive torque only to said second output shaft;
- and
- a control system for controlling actuation of said electric motor in a drive mode and a charging mode, said drive mode is established when electric power is supplied to said electric motor to drive said second output shaft and said charging mode is established when electric power is generated by said second output shaft driving said electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.