Four wheel drive powertrain configurations for two-motor, two-clutch hybrid electric vehicles

• US 10,384,527 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Electrified Power NA Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Electrified Power NA Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frank, Andrew, Lin, Chan-Chiao, Kaufman, Patrick, Razo, Julio
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US13/914,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,262 Days
• Field of Search: 180 65235, 180 65265, 180 6528, 180 65285
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/403 between front and rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

Four Wheel Drive (4WD) powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed herein. One powertrain comprises: a prime mover; an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch; an electric motor, said electric motor mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator via a second clutch; a battery, said battery electrically coupled to said electric motor-generator and said electric motor, said battery capable of supplying electrical energy to said electric motor-generator and said electric motor; and a controller, said controller capable of supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said electric motor such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of operating modes; wherein further said plurality of operating modes comprises one of a group, said group comprising: all electric mode, series mode, series-parallel mode and parallel mode.

Claims

1. A four-wheel powertrain for Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) vehicles, said powertrain comprising:

a first driveshaft, said first driveshaft adapted to be mechanically coupled to a first axle;

a housing;

a first clutch and a second clutch, the first clutch and the second clutch positioned in the housing;

a prime mover, the prime mover mechanically connectable directly to the first clutch;

a first electric motor-generator positioned in the housing, said first electric motor-generator mechanically coupled directly to said prime mover via the first clutch and directly to said first driveshaft via the second clutch;

a second electric motor-generator, said second electric motor-generator adapted to be mechanically coupled to a second axle;

wherein the first and the second electric motor-generators are independently operatable as traction motor-generators;

and

a controller, said controller capable of supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said first electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said second electric motor-generator such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of operating modes.

2. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein said HEV vehicle is one of a group, said group comprising:

a hybrid electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

3. The powertrain of claim 2 wherein said plurality of operating modes comprises one of a group, said group comprising:

all electric mode, high-torque electric mode, series mode, high regeneration mode, series-parallel mode, conventional driving mode and parallel mode.

4. The powertrain of claim 2 wherein said HEV vehicle further comprises an external charger.

5. The powertrain of claim 2 wherein said HEV vehicle further comprises a battery management system.

6. The powertrain of claim 2, wherein said second electric motor-generator comprises:

a first motor, said first motor mechanically coupled to a first wheel on said second axle; and

a second motor, said second motor mechanically coupled to a second wheel on said second axle.

7. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein said second electric motor-generator is mechanically mated to said housing via said bulkhead.

8. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein said second electric motor-generator is mechanically connected to a second driveshaft, and said second driveshaft is mechanically connected to said second axle.

9. The powertrain of claim 8 wherein said second driveshaft is mechanically connected to a differential, said differential is mechanically connected to said second axle.

10. The powertrain of claim 7 wherein said HEV vehicle comprises a multi-axle vehicle, said multi-axle vehicle comprises 3 or more axles.

11. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising the first axle and a first differential driving the first axle, wherein the first electric motor-generator is connected to the first differential by the first driveshaft without a reduction mechanism therebetween driving the first differential.

12. The powertrain of claim 11, wherein the second electric motor-generator is mechanically connected to a second driveshaft, further comprising gearing connected to the second electric motor-generator and driving the second driveshaft.

13. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising the first axle and a first differential driving the first axle, wherein the first electric motor-generator is connected to the first differential by the first driveshaft.

14. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second electric motor-generator is positioned in the housing.