Power unit

• US 20090038866A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kitami, Yasuo, Akutsu, Shigemitsu, Abe, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.700
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/12 of electric gearing of electrically-actuated clutches B60K17/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0061 the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/001 control systems B62D11/183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/364 using electric or hydraulic motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/10 with orbital spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/36 characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/00 : Machines with more than one rotor or stator machines for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; permanent magnet machines with multiple rotors or stators relatively rotated for vectorially combining the excitation fields or the armature voltages H02K21/029
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 51/00 : Dynamo-electric gears, i.e. dynamo-electric means for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/006 : Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A power unit which makes it possible to attain the reduction of the size and manufacturing costs thereof, and improve turnability. A power unit drives left and right rear wheels. A first rotating machine and a second rotating machine are configured to be capable of inputting and outputting energy. A first and a second planetary gear units are disposed between the first and second rotating machines and the left and right rear wheels, respectively, for transmitting energy between the first rotating machine and the left and right rear wheels and between the second rotating machine and the same. The first rotating machine, the left rear wheel, the right rear wheel, and the second rotating machine are in a collinear relationship in rotational speed, and are in a line in this order in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship.

Claims

1. A power unit that drives left and right driven parts for propelling a transport machine such that the transport machine in a manner capable of travelling in a line and turning, comprising:

a first energy input and output device configured to be capable of inputting and outputting energy;

a second energy input and output device configured to be capable of inputting and outputting energy; and

an energy transmission device provided between said first energy input and output device and said second energy input and output device, and the left and right driven parts, for transmitting energy between said first energy input and output device and the left and right driven parts, and between said second energy input and output device and the left and right driven parts,

wherein said first energy input and output device, the left driven part, the right driven part, and said second energy input and output device are in a collinear relationship in respect of rotational speed, and are in a line in this order in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship.

2. A power unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an energy storing and releasing device configured to be capable of storing and releasing energy, and connected to said first energy input and output device and said second energy input and output device.

3. A power unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second energy input and output devices are connected to each other in a manner capable of mutually giving and receiving energy therebetween.

4. A power unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said energy is electrical energy.

5. A power unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second energy input and output devices are rotating machines.

6. A power unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy transmission device comprises:

a first energy transmission device having a first element, a second element, and a third element, said first to third elements having respective rotational speeds satisfying a collinear relationship, and configured such that said first to third elements are in a line in order in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship; and

a second energy transmission device having a fourth element, a fifth element, and a sixth element, said fourth to sixth elements having respective rotational speeds satisfying a collinear relationship, and configured such that said fourth to sixth elements are in a line in order in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship,

wherein said first and fifth elements are connected to the right driven part,

wherein said second and fourth elements are connected to the left driven part,

wherein said third element is connected to said first energy input and output device, and

wherein said sixth element is connected to said second energy input and output device.

7. A power unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first energy transmission device is a first planetary gear unit having a first sun gear, a first ring gear, and a first carrier rotatably supporting a first planetary gear in mesh with said first sun gear and said first ring gear, and

wherein one and the other of said first element and said third element are said first sun gear and said first ring gear, and said second element is said first carrier, and

wherein said second energy transmission device is a second planetary gear unit having a second sun gear, a second ring gear, and a second carrier rotatably supporting a second planetary gear in mesh with said second sun gear and said second ring gear, and

wherein one and the other of said fourth element and said sixth element are said second sun gear and said second ring gear, and said fifth element is said second carrier.

8. A power unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first element is said sun gear, said third element is said first ring gear, said fourth element is said second sun gear, and said sixth element is said second ring gear.

9. A power unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first energy input and output device is a first stator for generating a first rotating magnetic field, said first stator being immovable, and

wherein said energy input and output device is a second stator for generating a second rotating magnetic field, said second stator being immovable,

wherein said energy transmission device comprises a first rotor comprising magnets and disposed in a manner opposed to said first stator, a second rotor comprising soft magnetic material members and disposed between said first stator and said first rotor, a third rotor comprising magnets and disposed in a manner opposed to said second stator, and a fourth rotor comprising soft magnetic material members and disposed between said second stator and said third rotor, and

wherein said first stator, said first rotor, and said second rotor are configured to input and output energy via magnetic circuits formed between said first stator, said first rotor, and said second rotor according to generation of the first rotating magnetic field, and in accordance with input and output of the energy, the first rotating magnetic field, said first rotor and said second rotor rotate while maintaining a collinear relationship in respective rotational speed therebetween, and

wherein said second stator, said third rotor, and said fourth rotor are configured to input and output energy via magnetic circuits formed between said second stator, said third rotor, and said fourth rotor according to generation of the second rotating magnetic field, and in accordance with input and output of the energy, the second rotating magnetic field, said third rotor and said fourth rotor rotate while maintaining a collinear relationship in respective rotational speed therebetween,

wherein said first and second rotors are connected to the right driven part, and

wherein said second and third rotors are connected to the left driven part.