ACCESSORY DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20080099256A1
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: HOLMES, ALAN G., Savagian, Peter J., Grewe, Tim M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.27
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/30 Universal machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides an accessory drive system for a hybrid vehicle. The accessory drive system includes an inverter operatively connected to a direct current battery. The inverter is configured to convert the direct current from the battery into three-phase alternating current. The accessory drive system also includes a transmission having a first motor/generator operable to drive the hybrid vehicle. The first motor/generator is a Y-connected three phase motor/generator that defines a first neutral point. A second motor/generator is connected to an accessory and to the first neutral point. Output from the battery is transferable through the first neutral point to the second motor/generator such that the accessory is driven at a selectable rate.

Claims

1. An accessory drive system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a direct current battery;

an inverter operatively connected to the battery, said inverter configured to convert direct current from the battery into three-phase alternating current;

a transmission operatively connected to the inverter, the transmission including a first motor/generator operable to drive the hybrid vehicle, the first motor/generator being a Y-connected three phase motor/generator that defines a first neutral point; and

a second motor/generator connected to an accessory and to the first neutral point, wherein output from the batter is transferable through said first neutral point to the second motor/generator such that the accessory is driven at a selectable rate.

2. The accessory drive system of claim 1, further comprising a third motor/generator operable to drive the hybrid vehicle, the third motor/generator being a Y-connected three phase motor/generator that defines a second neutral point.

3. The accessory drive system of claim 2, wherein said transmission is an electrically variable transmission;

and said second motor/generator is also connected to the second neutral point.

4. The accessory drive system of claim 2, further comprising a fourth motor/generator operatively connected to a second accessory and the second neutral point, wherein output from the battery is transferable through said second neutral point to the fourth motor/generator such that the second accessory is driven at a selectable rate.

5. The accessory drive system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of motor/generators connected in parallel to one of the second motor/generator and the fourth motor/generator.

6. The accessory drive system of claim 2, further comprising an engine driveably connected to the accessory via a torque transfer apparatus such that the accessory may be selectively driven by the engine or the second motor/generator.

7. The accessory drive system of claim 6, wherein the torque transfer apparatus includes a plurality of pulleys connected by a belt.

8. The accessory drive system of claim 7, further comprising a selectively engageable torque transmitting device configured to interrupt the transmission of torque from the second motor/generator to the engine such that the second motor/generator can be implemented to drive the accessory without also driving the engine.

9. The accessory drive system of claim 8, wherein the selectively engageable torque transmitting device is a one-way clutch.

10. An accessory drive system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine operatively connected to a transmission, the transmission including a first propulsion motor/generator, the first propulsion motor/generator defining a neutral point;

a crankshaft pulley connected to the engine;

a belt coupling the crankshaft pulley with a motor/generator pulley and an accessory pulley;

an inverter operatively connected to a battery and to the first propulsion motor/generator, said inverter configured to convert direct current from the battery into three-phase alternating current;

a first accessory motor/generator operatively connected to the motor/generator pulley and to the neutral point, wherein output from the battery is transferable through said neutral point to run the first accessory motor/generator at a selectable rate; and

an accessory connected to the accessory pulley such that the accessory can be selectively driven by the engine or the first accessory motor/generator.

11. The accessory drive system of claim 10, further comprising a second propulsion motor/generator connected to the inverter, the second propulsion motor/generator defining a second neutral point, wherein:

the transmission is an electrically variable transmission;

the first and second propulsion motor/generators are Y-connected three-phase motor/generators; and

the first accessory motor/generator is also connected to said second neutral point.

12. The accessory drive system of claim 10, further comprising a selectively engageable torque transmitting device configured to interrupt the transmission of torque from the first accessory motor/generator to the engine such that the first accessory motor/generator can be implemented to drive the accessory without also driving the engine.

13. The accessory drive system of claim 12, wherein the selectively engageable torque transmitting device is a one-way clutch.

14. The accessory drive system of claim 10, wherein the battery is a traction system battery.

15. The accessory drive system of claim 10, wherein the accessory pulley includes a plurality of accessory pulleys operatively connected to a corresponding plurality of accessories such that all of the plurality of accessories can be selectively driven by the engine or the first accessory motor/generator.

16. An accessory drive system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a direct current battery;

an inverter operatively connected to the battery, said inverter configured to convert direct current from the battery into at least three phases of alternating current;

a first motor/generator configured to receive power from the inverter such that single-phase alternating current drives the first motor/generator, said first motor/generator being sensitive to one of the frequency and the offset of the voltage of the single-phase alternating current;

a second motor/generator configured to receive power from the inverter and in parallel with the first motor/generator such that single-phase alternating current drives the second motor/generator, said second motor/generator being insensitive to said one of the frequency and the offset of the voltage of the single-phase alternating current;

a first accessory operatively connected to and driven by the first motor/generator; and

a second accessory operatively connected to and driven by the second motor/generator;

wherein the rate at which the first and second accessories are driven is independently selectable by controlling said one of the frequency and the offset of the voltage provided to the first and second motor/generators.

17. The accessory drive system of claim 16, further comprising a terminal on the inverter adapted to provide single-phase alternating current for driving the first and second motor/generators.

18. The accessory drive system of claim 16, further comprising a third motor/generator, the third motor/generator being a Y-connected three phase motor/generator that defines a neutral point, wherein said neutral point provides the single-phase alternating current for driving the first and second motor/generators.

19. The accessory drive system of claim 16, wherein the second accessory includes a plurality of accessories driven by the second motor/generator.

20. The accessory drive system of claim 16, further comprising an engine driveably connected to the first and second accessories via a torque transfer apparatus such that the first and second accessories may be selectively driven by the engine, the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.