Motor integrated parallel hybrid transmission

• US 20030199352A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory A. Schultz, Lung-Wen Tsai
• Original Assignee: Gregory A. Schultz, Lung-Wen Tsai
• Inventors: Schultz, Gregory A., Tsai, Lung-Wen
• Granted Patent: US 6,837,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

Disclosed is a motor-integrated transmission mechanism for use in parallel hybrid electric vehicles. The transmission can provide five basic modes of operation that can be further classified into sixteen sub-modes: one electric motor mode, four engine modes, four engine/charge modes, three power modes and four regenerative braking modes. Each of these sub-modes can be grouped into like clutching conditions, providing the functional appearance of a conventional 4-speed automatic transmission, with electric launch, engine-only, engine/charge, power-assist, and regeneration capability. CVT capability is provided with one of the engine/charge modes. The transmission can be incorporated in front-wheel drive and in rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Claims

1. A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;

a first power source;

a second power source;

an electrical energy storage device in electrical communication with said second power source;

a compound planetary gear set;

an output shaft fixedly connected to at least a portion of said compound planetary gear set; and

a plurality of torque transfer devices for selectively operatively connecting said first power source to said compound planetary gear set, and for connecting at least a portion of said planetary gear set to said transmission case, said plurality of torque transfer devices being simultaneously operable to selectively;

(i) sum torque from said first and second power sources and transfer said summed torque to said output shaft;

(ii) split torque from said first power source to simultaneously transfer a first portion of said split torque to said output shaft and a second portion of said split torque to said second power source;

(iii) transmit torque from only a single one of said first and second power sources to said output shaft;

(iv) transfer torque from said output shaft to said first and second power sources; and

(v) transfer torque from said output shaft to either of said first or said second power sources independently;

said compound planetary gear set further comprising;

an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, said input gear train members further comprising;

an input sun gear, an input ring gear, and a plurality of input planetary gears engaging said input sun gear and said input ring gear and being operatively connected to an input planetary gear carrier; and

an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members, said output gear train members further comprising;

an output sun gear, an output ring gear, and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier;

wherein said input sun gear is conjoined with said output sun gear, and said input ring gear is conjoined with said output planetary gear carrier and said output shaft.

2. The transmission of claim 1, said first power source further comprising a first drive shaft, and said second power source further comprising a second drive shaft, wherein:

said first drive shaft is selectively operatively attached to said input planetary gear carrier, said input and output sun gears, and both said input planetary gear carrier and said input and output sun gears simultaneously;

said second drive shaft is fixedly attached to said input sun gear and said output sun gear.

3. The transmission of claim 1, said first power source further comprising a first drive shaft, said second power source further comprising a second drive shaft, and said plurality of torque transfer devices further comprising:

a first clutch selectively operatively connecting said first drive shaft to said input planetary gear carrier;

a second clutch selectively operatively connecting said first drive shaft to each of both said input sun gear and output sun gear;

a third clutch selectively operatively connecting said output ring gear to a transmission case; and

a fourth clutch selectively operatively connecting said input sun gear and said output sun gear to said transmission case.

4. The transmission of claim 3, wherein said third and fourth clutches comprise band clutches.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein said first power source comprises a heat engine, and said second power source comprises a combined electric motor and generator.

6. The transmission of claim 5, said plurality of torque transfer devices being further simultaneously operable to selectively transfer torque from said electric motor and said output shaft to said heat engine when said heat engine is in a non-operational state in order to start operation of said heat engine.

7. A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;

a first power source;

a second power source;

an electrical energy storage device in electrical communication with said second power source;

a compound planetary gear set;

an output shaft fixedly attached to at least a portion of said compound planetary gear set; and

a plurality of torque transfer devices for selectively operatively connecting said first power source to said compound planetary gear set, and for connecting at least a portion of said planetary gear set to said transmission case, said plurality of torque transfer devices being simultaneously operable to selectively;

(i) transfer torque only from said first power source to said output shaft;

(ii) transfer torque only from said second power source to said output shaft;

(iii) transfer combined torque from each of said first and second power sources to said output shaft;

(iv) transfer torque from said first power source to said output shaft and said second power source to direct electrical energy from said second power source to said electrical energy storage device;

(v) function simultaneously as a continuous variable transmission and charger for said electrical energy storage device;

(vi) transfer torque from said output shaft to said second power source to direct electrical energy from said second power source to said electrical energy storage device;

(vii) transfer torque from said output shaft to said first power source to provide engine braking; and

(viii) transfer torque to said first and second power sources simultaneously;

said compound planetary gear set further comprising;

an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, said input gear train members further comprising;

an input sun gear, an input ring gear, and a plurality of input planetary gears engaging said input sun gear and said input ring gear and being operatively connected to an input planetary gear carrier; and

an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members, said output gear train members further comprising;

an output sun gear, an output ring gear, and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier;

wherein said input sun gear is conjoined with said output sun gear, and said input ring gear is conjoined with said output planetary gear carrier.

8. The transmission of claim 7, said first power source further comprising a first drive shaft, and said second power source further comprising a second drive shaft, wherein:

said first drive shaft is selectively operatively attached to said input planetary gear carrier, said input and output sun gears, and both said input planetary gear carrier and said input and output sun gears simultaneously;

said input sun gear and said output sun gear are fixedly attached to said second drive shaft.

9. The transmission of claim 7, said first power source further comprising a first drive shaft, said second power source further comprising a second drive shaft, and said means for selectively and operatively connecting said first power source to said compound gear set and at least a portion of said compound gear set to said transmission case further comprising:

a first clutch selectively operatively connecting said first drive shaft to said input planetary gear carrier;

a second clutch selectively operatively connecting said first drive shaft to said input and output sun gears;

a third clutch selectively operatively connecting said output ring gear to a transmission case; and

a fourth clutch selectively operatively connecting said input sun gear and said output sun gear to said transmission case.

10. The transmission of claim 9, wherein said third and fourth clutches comprise band clutches.

11. The transmission of claim 7, wherein said first power source comprises a heat engine, and said second power source comprises a combined electric motor and generator.

12. The transmission of claim 11, said plurality of torque transfer devices being simultaneously operable to selectively transfer torque from said electric motor and said output shaft to said heat engine when said heat engine is in a nonoperational state in order to start operation of said heat engine.

13. A transmission comprising:

an engine having an engine drive shaft;

an electric driving mechanism selectively operable as an electric motor and as a generator, said electric driving mechanism having a motor drive shaft;

an electric energy storage device in electrical communication with said electric driving mechanism;

a compound planetary gear set, said compound planetary gear set further comprising an input planetary gear train having a plurality of input gear train members, and an output planetary gear train having a plurality of output gear train members;

an output shaft fixedly connected to at least a portion of said compound planetary gear set;

a first torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said engine drive shaft to a first input gear train member;

a second torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said engine drive shaft to a second input gear train member and first output gear train member;

a third torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said second output gear train member to a transmission case; and

a fourth torque transfer device positioned to selectively operatively connect said one of each of said second input gear train member and first output gear train member to said transmission case;

wherein said first input gear train member comprises an input planetary gear carrier operatively connected to a plurality of input planetary gears, said input gear train members further comprising an input sun gear and an input ring gear, each of said input sun gear and said input ring gear engaging said plurality of input planetary gears, and said second output gear train member comprising an output ring gear, said output gear train members further comprising an output sun gear and a plurality of output planetary gears engaging said output sun gear and said output ring gear and being operatively connected to an output planetary gear carrier.

14. The transmission of claim 13, wherein said input sun gear is conjoined with said output sun gear, and said input ring gear is conjoined with said output planetary gear carrier.

15. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said third clutch and disengaging said first, second, and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as an electric motor, transfers torque only from said electric driving mechanism to said output shaft.

16. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said second and third clutches and disengaging said first and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as an electric motor, transfers torque from said engine and said electric driving mechanism to said output shaft.

17. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and third clutches and disengaging said second and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as an electric motor, transfers torque from said engine and said electric driving mechanism to said output shaft.

18. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and second clutches and disengaging said third and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as an electric motor, transfers torque from said engine and said electric driving mechanism to said output shaft.

19. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said second and third clutches and disengaging said first and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said engine to said output shaft and said electric driving mechanism.

20. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and third clutches and disengaging said second and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said engine to said output shaft and said electric driving mechanism.

21. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and second clutches and disengaging said third and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said engine to said output shaft and said electric driving mechanism.

22. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first clutch and disengaging said second, third, and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said engine to said output shaft and said electric driving mechanism.

23. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said second and third clutches and disengaging said first and fourth clutches, and not driving said electric driving mechanism, transfers torque only from said engine to said output shaft.

24. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and third clutches and disengaging said second and fourth clutches transfers torque only from said engine to said output shaft.

25. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and second clutches and disengaging said third and fourth clutches, and not driving said electric driving mechanism, transfers torque only from said engine to said output shaft.

26. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and fourth clutches and disengaging said second and third clutches transfers torque only from said engine to said output shaft.

27. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said second and third clutches and disengaging said first and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said output shaft to said engine and said electric driving mechanism.

28. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and third clutch and disengaging said second and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said output shaft to said engine and said electric driving mechanism.

29. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said first and second clutches and disengaging said third and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said output shaft to said engine and said electric driving mechanism.

30. The transmission of claim 13, wherein engaging said third clutch and disengaging said first, second, and fourth clutches, and operating said electric driving mechanism as a generator, transfers torque from said output shaft only to said electric driving mechanism.