# US 7,607,220 B2 · Method for establishing electrical connections in a hybrid electro-mechanical transmission

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- Number: US 7,607,220 B2
- Document ID: US7607220B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/063,332
- Filed: 2005-02-22
- Published: 2005-09-22
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-03-22
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: William S. Reed; Edward L. Kaiser; Joel E. Mowatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607220B2

## CPC

- H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle}
- B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators
- B60K 6/40: characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
- B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type
- B60L 3/0069: {relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current}
- B60L 15/20: for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
- B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
- B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
- B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage
- H02K 5/06: Cast metal casings
- H02K 5/225: {Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132)}
- B60L 2240/423: Torque
- F16H 2057/02034: {Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines}
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts
- Y10T 29/49895: Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
- Y10T 29/49904: Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly
- Y10T 29/49947: by applying separate fastener
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- F16H: GEARING
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method for establishing electrical communication between a control module and a motor/generator in a hybrid electromechanical transmission includes providing a preassembled terminal subassembly including a first plurality of wire terminals sufficiently interconnected for selective, substantially unitary movement with respect to a transmission housing, aligning the preassembled terminal subassembly with a second plurality of wire terminals affixed with respect to at least one electric motor/generator, and establishing electrical communication between each of said first plurality of wire terminals and a respective one of said second plurality of terminals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of assembling a hybrid electromechanical transmission, the method comprising:
providing a preassembled terminal subassembly module including a first plurality of wire terminals, said terminal subassembly module being selectively movable as a unit with respect to a transmission housing;
aligning the preassembled terminal subassembly with a second plurality of wire terminals affixed with respect to at least one electric motor/generator; and
establishing electrical communication between each of said first plurality of wire terminals and a respective one of said second plurality of terminals;
wherein each of the first plurality of wire terminals defines a respective attachment hole; and wherein the preassembled terminal subassembly farther includes a plurality of conductive rods each having a first end and a second end and defining a respective aperture extending from the first end to the second end; a plurality of threaded fasteners each extending through the attachment hole of one of said plurality of wire terminals and the opening of a respective one of said conductive rods; and at least one insulator member separating said conductive rods to prevent electrical communication between said conductive rods.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein each of the second plurality of wire terminals defines a respective terminal hole; wherein the transmission includes a plurality of nuts each defining a respective threaded nut hole being aligned with the terminal hole of a respective one of the second plurality of wire terminals; and wherein said establishing electrical communication between each of said first plurality of wire terminals and a respective one of said second plurality of terminals includes extending each of said threaded fasteners through the terminal hole of a respective one of the second plurality of terminals and applying torque to said threaded fasteners such that each of said threaded fasteners engages the threaded nut hole of a respective one of said plurality of nuts, thereby causing the first end of each of said conductive rods to contact a respective one of said first plurality of wire terminals and the second end of each of said conductive rods to contact a respective one of said second plurality of wire terminals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one motor/generator includes a first electric motor/generator and a second electric motor/generator; and wherein some of said second plurality of wire terminals are in electrical communication with the first motor/generator and some of said second plurality of wire terminals are in electrical communication with the second motor/generator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the transmission housing defines a housing opening and a cavity; wherein the first and second motor/generators are disposed within the cavity such that said second plurality of wire terminals aligns with the housing opening.