Methods and devices for altering the transmission ratio of a drive system

• US 20050014600A1
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luke W. Clauson
• Original Assignee: Luke W. Clauson
• Inventors: Clauson, Luke W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,101,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/724 using external powered electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The transmission ratio between a first motor and an output shaft is varied by changing the speed of a second motor. The first and second motors are coupled to the output shaft with a planetary gear set. The first and second motors may both add power to the drive system.

Claims

1-16. -16. Canceled

17. A method of varying the transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft using a second motor, comprising the steps of:

providing a first motor, a second motor, an output shaft and a planetary gear set including a ring gear, a sun gear and a carrier which supports at least one planet gear;

coupling the first motor, the second motor, and the output shaft each to one of the ring gear, sun gear and carrier;

producing a rotary output at the output shaft, wherein the transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft is varied by varying the speed of the second motor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the speed of the output shaft increasing when the speed of the second motor increases when the speed of the first motor is held constant.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the transmission ratio being controlled by the second motor based upon an output torque demand on the engine.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the first motor being a heat engine and the second motor is an electric motor.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the heat engine being an internal combustion engine.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the first motor being coupled to the sun gear, the second motor being coupled to the ring gear, and the output shaft being coupled to the carrier.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the first motor being coupled to the sun gear, the second motor being coupled to the carrier and the output shaft being coupled to the ring gear.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the providing step is carried out with a synchronizer for synchronizing the rotation of the first motor and the output shaft.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

synchronizing the rotation of the first motor, second motor and output shaft using the synchronizer.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the producing step is carried out in a manner which operates the first motor within a desired performance range by varying the transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the producing step is carried out by varying the rotating speed of the second motor so that the first motor operates at a speed within the desired performance range.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the desired performance range being a range of less than 2000 rpm for the first motor while the power output increases 50% of a peak power output.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the desired performance range being a range of less than 1000 rpm for the first motor while the power output increases 50% of a peak power output.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the producing step is carried out by combining a power of the first motor with a power of the second motor when the output shaft is initially not rotating.

31. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

stopping the second motor to provide a fixed speed ratio between the first motor and the output shaft.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

synchronizing rotation of first motor and the output shaft, wherein a power of the first motor is combined serially with the power of the second motor to provide power to the output shaft.

33. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

generating electrical energy with the second motor, the second motor being an electrical motor;

storing the electrical energy in a power storage device.

34-52. -52. Canceled

53. A method of combining the power of a first motor and a second motor, comprising the steps of:

providing an output shaft, a first motor, a second motor, and a planetary gear set having a ring gear, a sun gear and a carrier having at least one planet gear, the first motor, second motor and output shaft being coupled to at least one of the ring gear, sun gear and carrier; and

varying the transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft by varying the speed of the second motor, wherein the speed of the output shaft increases when the speed of the second motor is increased while the speed of the first motor is constant.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the transmission ratio being controlled by the second motor based upon an output torque demand.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the first motor being a heat engine and the second motor is an electric motor.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the heat engine being an internal combustion engine.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the first motor being coupled to the sun gear, the second motor being coupled to the ring gear, and the output shaft being coupled to the carrier.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the first motor being coupled to the sun gear, the second motor being coupled to the carrier and the output shaft being coupled to the ring gear.

59. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

the providing step is carried out with a synchronizer for synchronizing the rotation of the first motor and the output shaft.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of:

synchronizing the rotation of the first motor, second motor and output shaft using the synchronizer.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the producing step is carried out in a manner which operates the first motor within a desired performance range by varying the transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the producing step is carried out by varying the rotating speed of the second motor so that the first motor operates at a speed within the desired performance range.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the desired performance range being a range of less than 2000 rpm for the first motor while the power output increases 50% of a peak power output.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein:

the producing step is carried out with the desired performance range being a range of less than 1000 rpm for the first motor while the power output increases 50% of a peak power output.

65. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the producing step is carried out by combining a power of the first motor with a power of the second motor when the output shaft is initially not rotating.

66. The method of claim 53, further comprising the step of:

stopping the second motor to provide a fixed speed ratio between the first motor and the output shaft.

67-85. -85. Canceled

86. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:

a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a least one planet gear;

a first motor coupled to at least of the sun gear, ring gear and carrier

a second motor coupled to at least one of the sun gear, ring gear and carrier; and

an output shaft coupled to at least one of the sun gear, ring gear and carrier;

wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft, the speed of the output shaft increasing when the speed of the second motor increases and the speed of the first motor is constant.

87-95. -95 Canceled