US 8,733,480 B2Granted

Power transmission apparatus

AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsTakao Watanabe, Eiji Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Takeshi Kitahata

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Abstract

A rotational difference is generated between a first and a second rotor and a third rotor, which causes an induced current to flow in a first rotor winding. This causes a torque to act between the first rotor and the third rotor. The rotary magnetic field generated by the induced current flowing through a second rotor winding interacts with a second stator, which in turn generates an induced electromotive force in a second stator winding. The induced electromotive force is applied via a phase adjustment circuit to a first stator winding, which generates a rotary magnetic field and causes a torque to act between the first stator and the third rotor. The rotary magnetic field generated by the second rotor winding and the induced current flowing in the second stator winding causes a torque to act between the second stator and the second rotor.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A power transmission apparatus comprising:

a first rotary element having a rotary element conductor that can generate a rotary magnetic field;
a stationary element having a stationary element conductor that can generate a rotary magnetic field;
a second rotary element that can rotate relative to the first rotary element;
and
an engaging apparatus that can mechanically engage one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element with the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element,
wherein a torque acts between the first rotary element and the second rotary element according to the rotary magnetic field generated by the rotary element conductor, and a torque acts between the stationary element and the second rotary element according to the rotary magnetic field generated by the stationary element conductor,
wherein the rotary element conductor can generate the rotary magnetic field when induced current flows according to a rotational difference generated between the first rotary element and the second rotary element,
wherein power of a prime mover is transmitted to one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element and power of the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element is transmitted to a load,
wherein the power transmission apparatus further comprises:
a transmission configured to transmit power from the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element to the load while changing speed,
an electric power transmission unit configured to take out AC power from the rotary element conductor, and
an electric power conversion unit configured to convert the AC power taken out by the electric power transmission unit and supply converted electric power to the stationary element conductor, and
wherein when the power of the prime mover is used to drive the load, a gear ratio of the transmission is changed to a smaller side so that a rotational speed of one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element, to which the power is transmitted from the prime mover, is maintained to be higher than a rotational speed of the other rotary element that transmits the power to the load as a rotational speed of the load becomes higher.

10 more elements

A power transmission apparatus comprising:

a first rotary element having a rotary element conductor that can generate a rotary magnetic field;
a stationary element having a stationary element conductor that can generate a rotary magnetic field;
a second rotary element that can rotate relative to the first rotary element, wherein a torque acts between the first rotary element and the second rotary element according to the rotary magnetic field generated by the rotary element conductor, and a torque acts between the stationary element and the second rotary element according to the rotary magnetic field generated by the stationary element conductor;
and
an engaging apparatus that can mechanically engage one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element with the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element,
wherein the rotary element conductor can generate the rotary magnetic field when induced current flows according to a rotational difference generated between the first rotary element and the second rotary element,
wherein power of a prime mover is transmitted to one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element and power of the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element is transmitted to a load,
wherein the power transmission apparatus further comprises:
a transmission configured to transmit the power from the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element to the load while changing speed,
an electric power transmission unit configured to take out AC power from the rotary element conductor, and
an electric power conversion unit configured to convert the AC power taken out by the electric power transmission unit and supply converted electric power to the stationary element conductor,
wherein the electric power conversion unit includes a rectifier configured to rectify the AC power taken out by the electric power transmission unit, and a DC-DC converter configured to convert a voltage of the electric power rectified by the rectifier into a voltage to be output,
wherein the electric power which voltage is converted by the DC-DC converter is converted by an inverter into an AC electric power to be supplied to the stationary element conductor, and
wherein a voltage conversion ratio of the DC-DC converter is decreased if a rotational speed of one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element is higher than a rotational speed of the other.

11 more elements

A power transmission apparatus comprising:

a first rotary element having a rotary element conductor that can generate a rotary magnetic field;
a stationary element having a stationary element conductor that can generate a rotary magnetic field;
a second rotary element that can rotate relative to the first rotary element, wherein a torque acts between the first rotary element and the second rotary element according to the rotary magnetic field generated by the rotary element conductor, and a torque acts between the stationary element and the second rotary element according to the rotary magnetic field generated by the stationary element conductor;
and
an engaging apparatus that can mechanically engage one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element with the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element,
wherein the rotary element conductor can generate the rotary magnetic field when induced current flows according to a rotational difference generated between the first rotary element and the second rotary element,
wherein power of a prime mover is transmitted to one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element and power of the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element is transmitted to a load,
wherein the power transmission apparatus further comprises:
a transmission configured to transmit the power from the other of the first rotary element and the second rotary element to the load while changing speed,
an electric power transmission unit configured to take out AC power from the rotary element conductor, and
an electric power conversion unit configured to convert the AC power taken out by the electric power transmission unit and supply converted electric power to the stationary element conductor,
wherein the electric power conversion unit includes a rectifier configured to rectify the AC power taken out by the electric power transmission unit, and a DC-DC converter configured to convert a voltage of the electric power rectified by the rectifier into a voltage to be output,
wherein the electric power which voltage is converted by the DC-DC converter is converted by an inverter into an AC electric power to be supplied to the stationary element conductor, and
wherein when the power of the prime mover is used to drive the load, a voltage conversion ratio of the DC/DC converter is reduced to reduce the torque acting between the first rotary element and the second rotary element on the condition that an output voltage of the DC-DC converter is higher than a voltage of an electric storage apparatus.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/675,416Filed 25 Aug 2008
Priority: JP 2007-21929027 Aug 2007
Published: US 2010/0219706 A12 Sep 2010
Granted: 27 May 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification45 codes

B60W 20/15
Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand: control strategies specially adapted for achieving a…
B60K 6/22
The prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs: characterised by apparatus, components or means…
B60K 6/26
Characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs: characterised by the motors or the generators
B60K 6/36
Characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs: characterised by the transmission gearings