HYBRID ARCHITECTURE INCORPORATING THREE MOTOR GENERATORS AND BRAKES

• US 20080045365A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Usoro, Patrick B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• 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 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/101 Power split variators with one differential at each end of the CVT
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2007 with two sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2033 with one engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2035 with two engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2038 with three engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first and second differential gear sets, a battery, three electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators and up to three brakes. The three motor/generators are operable in a coordinated fashion to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse). One of the brakes enables series hybrid operation.

Claims

1. An electrically variable transmission comprising:

an input member to receive power from an engine;

an output member;

first, second and third motor/generators;

first and second differential gear sets each having first, second and third members;

said input member being continuously connected with a member of said first gear set, and said output member being continuously connected with a member of said second gear set;

an interconnecting member continuously connecting said first member of said first gear set with said first member of said second gear set;

a brake selectively connecting a member of said first or second gear set with a stationary member for enabling series hybrid reverse operation in the electrically variable transmission;

said first motor/generator being continuously connected with a member of said first gear set;

said second motor/generator being continuously connected with a member of said second gear set;

said third motor/generator being continuously connected with another member of said first or second gear set;

wherein said first, second and third motor/generators are operable in a coordinated fashion to provide an electrically variable transmission with a continuously variable range of speed ratios between said input member and said output member.

2. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1, wherein said first and second differential gear sets are planetary gear sets.

3. The electrically variable transmission of claim 2, wherein carriers of each of said planetary gear sets are single-pinion carriers.

4. The electrically variable transmission of claim 2, wherein at least one carrier of said planetary gear sets is a double-pinion carrier.

5. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1, further comprising:

a second brake selectively connecting a member of said first or second gear set with said stationary member.

6. The electrically variable transmission of claim 5, further comprising:

a third brake selectively connecting another member of said first or second gear set with said stationary member.

7. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1, wherein at least one of said motor/generators is connected with said gear sets through a fixed or variable speed ratio device, such as conventional gear set, belt drive, chain drive or combinations thereof.

8. An electrically variable transmission comprising:

an input member to receive power from an engine;

an output member;

first, second and third motor/generators;

first and second differential gear sets each having first, second and third members;

said input member being continuously connected with a member of said first gear set, and said output member being continuously connected with a member of said second gear set;

an interconnecting member continuously connecting said first member of said first gear set with said first member of said second gear set;

a brake selectively connecting a member of said first or second gear set with a stationary member for enabling series hybrid reverse operation in the electrically variable transmission;

said first, second and third motor/generators being continuously connected with members of said gear sets;

wherein said first, second and third motor/generators are operable in a coordinated fashion to provide an electrically variable transmission with a continuously variable range of speed ratios between said input member and said output member.

9. The electrically variable transmission of claim 8, wherein said first and second differential gear sets are planetary gear sets.

10. The electrically variable transmission of claim 8, wherein carriers of each of said planetary gear sets are single-pinion carriers.

11. The electrically variable transmission of claim 8, wherein at least one canter of said planetary gear sets is a double-pinion carrier.

12. The electrically variable transmission of claim 8, further comprising:

a second brake selectively connecting a member of said second gear set with said stationary member.

13. The electrically variable transmission of claim 12, further comprising:

a third brake selectively connecting a member of said first or second gear sets with said stationary member.

14. The electrically variable transmission of claim 8, wherein at least one of said motor/generators is connected with said gear sets through a fixed or variable speed ratio device, such as conventional gear set, belt drive, chain drive or combinations thereof.