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Front end motor-generator system and hybrid electric vehicle operating method

  • US 10,220,831 B2
  • Filed: 12/14/2016
  • Issued: 03/05/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A hybrid electric motor-generator system, comprising:

  • an internal combustion engine including an engine crankshaft having a front end opposite a rear end at which an engine flywheel is located, the engine being configured to transfer torque from the rear end of the crankshaft to a torque consumer;

    a front end motor-generator having a motor-generator rotation axis;

    a back end motor-generator on a torque consumer-side of the rear end of the crankshaft;

    a torque transfer segment having a front end motor-generator end configured to receive the front end motor-generator and to transfer torque between the front end motor-generator end and a coupling end of the torque transfer segment; and

    an integrated switchable coupling having a coupling rotation axis and being located co-axially along a crankshaft rotation axis between the coupling end of the torque transfer segment and the front end of the engine crankshaft in a region adjacent to a front end of the engine, the integrated switchable coupling includingan engine-side portion coupled to the engine crankshaft,a drive-side portion coupled to the torque transfer segment coupling end, andan engagement actuator configured to selectively engage the engine-side portion with the drive-side portion, at least a portion of the engagement actuator being concentrically surrounded by the drive portion along the coupling rotation axis;

    an engine accessory drive arranged to be driven by the drive-side portion of the integrated switchable coupling and to drive at least one engine accessory;

    an energy storage system, the energy storage system includingan energy store configured to store electrical energy generated by at least the front end motor-generator and to deliver stored electrical energy to at least the front end motor-generator to generate torque output from the front end motor-generator to the integrated switchable coupling, andan electrical energy conversion and distribution network configured to convert a current type of the electrical energy transferred between the front end motor-generator and the energy store between alternating current and direct current when the electrical energy is transferred from the front end motor-generator to the energy store and between direct current and alternating current when the electrical energy is transferred from the energy store to the front end motor-generator; and

    a front end motor-generator system controller configured to switch the integrated switchable coupling actuator between engaged and disengaged states and control operation of the electrical energy conversion and distribution network during transfer of electrical energy between the front end motor-generator and the energy store,whereina rotation axis of the front end motor-generator is parallel to and laterally offset from the coupling rotation axis, andoperation of the back end motor-generator is controlled by at least one of the front end motor-generator controller and a back end motor-generator controller configured to communicate with the front end motor-generator such that operation of the front end and back end motor-generators are coordinated.

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