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US 7,479,081 B2Granted
Hybrid electrically variable transmission with dual power paths and selective motor connection
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorAlan G. Holmes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrically variable transmission having two motor/generators provides power-split, electrically variable power flow along dual power paths and provides multiple operating modes, including an electrically variable input-split mode. The transmission also includes a differential gear set having five gear elements. A first of the motor/generators is continuously connected to one of the gear elements and a second of the motor/generators is separately selectively connectable to two of the other gear elements. When the second motor/generator is connected to both of the gear elements, a fixed speed ratio can be established; thus, no lock-up clutch is necessary to achieve a fixed speed ratio through the differential gear set.
Claims11
A transmission for a vehicle with an engine comprising:
- an input member adapted for receiving power from the engine;
- an output member;
- a first and a second motor/generator;
- a differential gear set having a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth gear element operatively interconnected with one another, wherein said input member is connected for common rotation with said first gear element and said first motor/generator is connected for common rotation with said second gear element;
- a plurality of intermeshing gears including at least one gear connected for common rotation with said output member;
- a plurality of selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanism, including a first motor clutch selectively engagable to connect said second motor/generator for common rotation with said third gear element, a second motor clutch selectively engagable to connect said second motor/generator for common rotation with said fourth gear element, and output torque-transmitting mechanisms;
- first and second transfer members connected for common rotation with said fourth and fifth gear elements, respectively, and separately operatively connectable with said output member via different ones of said intermeshing gears by engagement of different selected ones of said output torque-transmitting mechanisms, thereby partially forming first and second power paths, respectively, between said input member and said output member;
- and
- wherein the transmission provides multiple operating modes including an electrically variable input-split mode established by engagement of said second motor clutch and one of said output torque-transmitting mechanisms which is engagable to operatively connect said output member to said fourth gear element.
6 more elements
A transmission for a vehicle with an engine comprising:
- an input member adapted for receiving power from the engine;
- an output member;
- a first and a second motor/generator;
- a differential gear set having a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth gear element operatively interconnected with one another;
- wherein said input member is connected for common rotation with said first gear element and said first motor/generator is connected for common rotation with said second gear element;
- a plurality of intermeshing gears including at least one gear connected for common rotation with said output member;
- a plurality of selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanisms, including a first motor clutch selectively engagable to connect said second motor/generator for common rotation with said third gear element, a second motor clutch selectively engagable to connect said second motor/generator for common rotation with said fourth gear element, and output torque-transmitting mechanisms;
- first and second transfer members connected for common rotation with said fourth and fifth gear elements, respectively, and separately operatively connectable with said output member via different ones of said intermeshing gears by engagement of different selected ones of said output torque-transmitting mechanisms, thereby partially forming first and second power paths, respectively, between said input member and said output member;
- and
- wherein the transmission provides multiple operating modes including an electrically variable input-split mode, at least two electrically variable compound-split modes, and at least three fixed speed ratios between said input member and said output member.
7 more elements
A transmission for a vehicle with an engine comprising:
- an input member adapted for receiving power from the engine;
- an output member;
- a first and a second motor/generator;
- a differential gear set having a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth gear element operatively interconnected with one another;
- wherein said input member is connected for common rotation with said first gear element and said first motor/generator is connected for common rotation with said second gear element;
- first and second transfer members connected for common rotation with said fourth and fifth gear elements, respectively;
- a planetary gear set, operatively connected to said first transfer member and to said output member, including first second and third members;
- a plurality of selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanism, including:
- a first torque-transmitting mechanism operatively connected to one of said members of said planetary gear set and selectively engagable to provide a first fixed speed ratio between said first transfer member and said output member;
- a second torque-transmitting mechanism operatively connected to another of said members of said planetary gear set and selectively engagable to provide a second fixed speed ratio between said second transfer member and said output member;
- a first motor clutch selectively engagable to connect said second motor/generator for common rotation with said third gear element;
- and
- a second motor clutch selectively engagable to connect said second motor/generator for common rotation with said fourth gear element;
- wherein engagement of said first motor clutch provides an electrically variable compound-split operating mode through said differential gear set to said first transfer member;
- and wherein engagement of said second motor clutch provides an electrically variable input-split operating mode through said differential gear set.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.