Methods and Devices for Altering the Transmission Ratio of a Drive System

• US 20080223640A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 09/18/2008
• 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 8,376,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/69.6
• 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

1-85. -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. The drive system of claim 86, wherein:

the first motor is coupled to the sun gear;

the second motor is coupled to the ring gear; and

the output shaft is coupled to the carrier.

88. The drive system of claim 86, wherein:

the first motor is coupled to the sun gear;

the second motor is coupled to the carrier; and

the output shaft is coupled to the ring gear.

89. The drive system of claim 86, wherein:

the first and second motors combine power.

90. The drive system of claim 86, wherein:

the first motor is a heat engine; and

the second motor is an electric motor.

91. The drive system of claim 86, wherein:

a speed of the second motor is used to vary a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft in response to a torque demand on the output shaft.

92. The drive system of claim 91, further comprising:

a control system which controls operation of the first and second motors, the control system varying the speed of the second motor to vary the transmission ratio in response to a torque on the output shaft.

93. The drive system of claim 86, wherein:

the control system varies the speed of the second motor to vary the transmission ratio to maintain the first motor in a desired operating range.

94. The drive system of claim 93, wherein:

the control system varies the speed of the second motor so that the first motor operates in a desired speed range.

95. The drive system of claim 94, wherein:

the control system varies the speed of the second motor so that the first motor operates within a range of 2000 rpm while the power increases at least 50% of a peak power output.

108-119. -119. (canceled)

125-126. -126. (canceled)