Front end motor-generator system and hybrid electric vehicle operating method
First Claim
1. A method of retrofitting a vehicle with a hybrid electric system, comprising the acts of:
- coupling an engine crankshaft damper of an integrated switchable coupling to a crankshaft at a front end of an internal combustion engine opposite a rear engine flywheel end of the engine;
coupling a first end of a torque transfer gearbox to a pulley of the integrated switchable coupling on a side of the integrated switchable coupling opposite a damper side of the coupling with a selectively-engageable clutch between the pulley and the damper;
coupling a motor-generator to a second end of the torque transfer gearbox at a location laterally offset from a rotation axis of the integrated switchable coupling;
coupling an engine accessory drive arranged to drive at least one engine accessory to the pulley of the integrated switchable coupling;
installing an energy store on the vehicle;
electrically connecting the motor-generator and the energy store such that electrical energy is transferable between the motor-generator and the energy store; and
connecting a front end motor-generator controller to the motor-generator, the energy store and a clutch actuator, the front end motor-generator controller being configured to selectively engage and disengage the clutch between the damper and the pulley.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications in which a motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit therebetween are arranged and positioned in the constrained environment at the front of an engine in applications such as commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles and stationary engine installations. The motor-generator is preferably positioned laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the front end of the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated by the motor-generator when the coupling is engaged. When the coupling is disengaged, the motor-generator may drive the pulley portion of the clutch-pulley-damper to drive the engine accessories using energy returned from the energy store, independent of the engine crankshaft.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of retrofitting a vehicle with a hybrid electric system, comprising the acts of:
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coupling an engine crankshaft damper of an integrated switchable coupling to a crankshaft at a front end of an internal combustion engine opposite a rear engine flywheel end of the engine; coupling a first end of a torque transfer gearbox to a pulley of the integrated switchable coupling on a side of the integrated switchable coupling opposite a damper side of the coupling with a selectively-engageable clutch between the pulley and the damper; coupling a motor-generator to a second end of the torque transfer gearbox at a location laterally offset from a rotation axis of the integrated switchable coupling; coupling an engine accessory drive arranged to drive at least one engine accessory to the pulley of the integrated switchable coupling; installing an energy store on the vehicle; electrically connecting the motor-generator and the energy store such that electrical energy is transferable between the motor-generator and the energy store; and connecting a front end motor-generator controller to the motor-generator, the energy store and a clutch actuator, the front end motor-generator controller being configured to selectively engage and disengage the clutch between the damper and the pulley. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification