System and method for providing parallel power in a hybrid-electric vehicle

• US 20020144848A1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
• Original Assignee: ISE Research Corporation
• Inventors: Schulte, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 6,644,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention involves a system and method for providing parallel power in a hybrid-electric vehicle. The system includes a compact motor coupled to the input shaft of the vehicle'"'"'s transmission. Advantageously, the compact motor and the engine use the same drivetrain. Both the compact motor and the engine are able to apply power to the portion of the drivetrain from the transmission to the wheels. Since the motor is compact and does not require a separate drivetrain, the parallel power system can be installed in an otherwise conventional vehicle without packaging difficulties.

Claims

1. A parallel hybrid-electric vehicle drivetrain, comprising:

a transmission;

an electric motor connected with the transmission to drive the transmission; and

an internal combustion engine connected with the transmission to drive the transmission,

wherein the electric motor is located between the internal combustion engine and the transmission.

2. The drivetrain of claim 1, further including a coupling to couple the engine with the transmission to drive the transmission, and the electric motor is located between the coupling and the transmission.

3. The drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the a transmission includes an input shaft, the electric motor is connected with the input shaft of the transmission, the internal combustion engine includes an output shaft, the drivetrain further includes a coupling connecting the output shaft of the engine with the input shaft of the transmission, and the electric motor is located between the coupling and the transmission.

4. The drivetrain of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a compact electric motor.

5. A heavy-duty parallel hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a plurality of wheels; and

a parallel hybrid-electric vehicle drivetrain to drive at least two wheels of the plurality of wheels, the parallel hybrid-electric vehicle drivetrain including a transmission, an electric motor connected with the transmission to drive the transmission, and an internal combustion engine connected with the transmission to drive the transmission, wherein the electric motor is located between the internal combustion engine and the transmission.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle has a GVW of at least 10,000 lbs.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is a member from the group consisting of tractor, a tow tractor, a tug, a pull tractor, a push-back tractor, a truck, a class 6 truck, a class 7 truck, a class 8 truck, a dump truck, a semi truck, a bobtail truck, a school bus, a transit bus, a shuttle van, a refuse-collection vehicle, a recycling-collection vehicle, and a tram vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, further including a coupling to couple the engine with the transmission to drive the transmission, and the electric motor is located between the coupling and the transmission.

9. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the a transmission includes an input shaft, the electric motor is connected with the input shaft of the transmission, the internal combustion engine includes an output shaft, the drivetrain further includes a coupling connecting the output shaft of the engine with the input shaft of the transmission, and the electric motor is located between the coupling and the transmission.

10. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the electric motor is a compact electric motor.

11. A method of converting an internal-combustion engine vehicle into a parallel hybrid-electric vehicle, the internal-combustion engine vehicle including an internal combustion and a transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the transmission from the vehicle;

installing an electric motor into the vehicle;

coupling the electric motor to the internal-combustion engine;

installing the transmission into the vehicle so that the electric motor is between the internal combustion engine and the transmission; and

coupling the motor to the transmission.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a heavy-duty vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle has a GVW of at least 10,000 lbs.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a member from the group consisting of tractor, a tow tractor, a tug, a pull tractor, a push-back tractor, a truck, a class 6 truck, a class 7 truck, a class 8 truck, a dump truck, a semi truck, a bobtail truck, a school bus, a transit bus, a shuttle van, a refuse-collection vehicle, a recycling-collection vehicle, and a tram vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric motor is a compact electric motor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric motor includes a first axial length, the internal-combustion engine vehicle further includes a bellhousing, a first driveshaft, and the transmission includes a first input shaft, the method further comprising the steps of:

removing the first driveshaft from the vehicle;

removing the first input shaft from the transmission;

providing a second input shaft, the second input shaft being longer than the first input shaft by an amount corresponding to the first axial length;

installing the second input shaft into the transmission;

installing an electric motor includes installing an electric motor with a with a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is adapted to be mated to the transmission, and the second side is adapted to be mated to the bellhousing, the electric motor further adapted to provide torque to the second input shaft;

mating the electric motor to the bellhousing;

providing a second driveshaft, the second driveshaft being shorter than the first driveshaft by an amount corresponding to the first axial length;

installing the second driveshaft into the vehicle.