# US 7,611,432 B2 · Hybrid powertrain > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,432 B2 - Document ID: US7611432B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/463,054 - Filed: 2006-08-08 - Published: 2008-02-14 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-08 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Joel M. Maguire; Norman K. Bucknor; Madhusudan Raghavan; Paul M. Najt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611432B2 ## CPC - B60W 20/30: Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio {(control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H)} - B60K 6/20: the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs - B60K 6/36: characterised by the transmission gearings - B60K 6/365: with the gears having orbital motion - B60K 6/40: characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components - B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type - B60L 15/2054: {by controlling transmissions or clutches} - 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 - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators - B60W 10/115: with planetary gears - B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} - F16H 3/728: {with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing} - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60L 2240/486: Operating parameters - B60L 2240/507: Operating parameters - B60W 2710/105: Output torque - F16H 2037/0886: {with switching means, e.g. to change ranges} - 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 - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - 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 ## Abstract A powertrain is provided, comprising: an internal combustion engine and an electro-mechanical transmission. The internal combustion engine has two torque output nodes operatively connected to two torque input nodes of the electro-mechanical transmission. The transmission comprises first and second electrical machines operatively connected to first and second planetary gear sets that are selectively operative to transmit torque to an output shaft. The two torque output nodes of the engine comprise an engine block comprising a cylinder with a pair of opposed pistons inserted therein, and each piston operatively connected to one of a first and a second crankshaft. The first and second crankshafts are operatively connected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Powertrain, comprising: an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes comprising first and second crankshafts directly connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input shafts of an electro-mechanical transmission; and, the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second electrical machines, the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets operatively connected to the corresponding ones of the first and second torque input shafts and selectively operatively connected to an output shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the first torque input shaft is directly connected to a sun gear of the first planetary gear set. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the first torque input shaft is directly connected to a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second torque input shaft is directly connected to a sun gear of the second planetary gear set. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1: wherein the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets comprise the second crankshaft operatively connected with the second planetary gear set operatively connected to the output shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising: a first rotational brake device operatively connected to elements of the first planetary gear set; and, a second rotational brake device and a clutch device operatively connected to elements of the second planetary gear set. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising: a rotational brake device operatively connected to an element of the first planetary gear set. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine including the non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes comprising the first and second crankshafts comprises: an engine block comprising a cylinder, a pair of opposed pistons inserted in the cylinder; and, each piston operatively connected to one of the first and second crankshafts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The powertrain of claim 2, wherein the first and second crankshafts are rotationally operatively connected to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The powertrain of claim 9, wherein the rotationally operatively connected first and second crankshafts are selectively controllable to effect a variable compression ratio in the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The powertrain of claim 10, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises one of a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition engine, a two-stroke compression-ignition engine, and, a stratified-charge engine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a rotational brake device operatively connected to one of the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, the powertrain operative in a continuously variable ratio. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of clutch devices operatively connected to the planetary gear sets. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, further comprising a clutch device operatively connected to one of the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets and at least one additional rotational brake device operatively connected to the other of the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The powertrain of claim 15, the powertrain operative in an underdrive fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the rotational brake devices. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The powertrain of claim 15, the powertrain operative in an overdrive fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the rotational brake devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The powertrain of claim 15, the powertrain operative in a reverse fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the rotational brake devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The powertrain of claim 15, the powertrain operative in a direct drive fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the clutch device. ### Claim 20 Powertrain, comprising: an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes comprising first and second crankshafts directly connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input shafts of an electro-mechanical transmission; the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second electrical machines rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second planetary gear sets selectively operatively connected to an output shaft; and, a plurality of control modules operative to control the internal combustion engine and the electro-mechanical transmission to control magnitude of torque transmitted to the output shaft. ### Claim 21 Powertrain, comprising: an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input nodes of an electro-mechanical transmission; and, the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second electrical machines, the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets operatively connected to the corresponding ones of the first and second torque input nodes and selectively operatively connected to an output shaft, first and second rotational brake devices operatively connected to elements of the first planetary gear set; and, a rotational brake device and a clutch device operatively connected to elements of the second planetary gear set. ### Claim 22 Powertrain, comprising: an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input nodes of an electro-mechanical transmission; and, the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second electrical machines, the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets operatively connected to the corresponding ones of the first and second torque input nodes and selectively operatively connected to an output shaft, and a rotational brake device and first and second clutch devices operatively connected to elements of the second planetary gear set.