Hybrid vehicle

• US 20070163823A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kimura, Hideo, Abe, Noriyuki, Hasebe, Tetsuya, Fuchino, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.230
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/04 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• 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: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is provided in which, since the driving force of a generator/motor (M1) disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an input shaft (16) of a transmission (T) is transmitted to an output shaft (17) of the transmission (T) via an endless chain (78), it is possible to carry out the so-called leg shaft drive, in which transmission of the driving force between the generator/motor (M1) and the output shaft (17) is carried out without going through an engine (E) and the input shaft (16), thus reducing power consumption and enhancing energy recovery efficiency during regenerative braking. Furthermore, since a crankshaft (15) of the engine (E) and the input shaft (16) of the transmission (T) are disposed coaxially, and the generator/motor (M1) is disposed at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T), it is possible to employ the same layout for the generator/motor (M1) as for a conventional sandwiched generator/motor, and the leg shaft drive system can be employed without greatly modifying the design of the transmission (T).

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine (E) having a crankshaft (15);

a transmission (T) that has an input shaft (16) joined coaxially to the crankshaft (15) and an output shaft (17) disposed in parallel to the input shaft (16), and is capable of changing the gear ratio between the input shaft (16) and the output shaft (17);

a generator/motor (M1) that is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an axis (L) of the input shaft (16) at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T); and

power transmission means (78) for transmitting the driving force of the generator/motor (M1) to any position of a power transmission pathway between the output shaft (17) and a differential gear (19);

the vehicle being capable of traveling by means of either one or both of the driving force of the engine (E) and the driving force of the generator/motor (M1),

wherein

the generator/motor (M1) is disposed coaxially with the axis (L), and

a starter motor (M2) is joined to an end part of the input shaft (16) on a side opposite to the engine (E).

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine (E) having a crankshaft (15);

a transmission (T) that has an input shaft (16) joined coaxially to the crankshaft (15) and an output shaft (17) disposed in parallel to the input shaft (16), and is capable of changing the gear ratio between the input shaft (16) and the output shaft (17);

a generator/motor (M1) that is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an axis (L) of the input shaft (16) at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T); and

power transmission means (78) for transmitting the driving force of the generator/motor (M1) to any position of a power transmission pathway between the output shaft (17) and a differential gear (19);

the vehicle being capable of traveling by means of either one or both of the driving force of the engine (E) and the driving force of the generator/motor (M1), wherein

the generator/motor (M1) is disposed coaxially with the axis (L), and

a starter motor (M2) disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the axis (L) at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T) is joined to the crankshaft (15) or the input shaft (16).