Hybrid Transmission for Hybrid Vehicles

• US 20090221390A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana TM4, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tm4 Inc. (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houle, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,752 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 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• 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: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 27/12 Clutch systems with a plurality of electro-magnetically-actuated clutches F16D27/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2005 with one sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• 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 hybrid transmission described herein comprises a planetary gear arrangement and a clutch including two electromagnetic clutch portions used to interconnect an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, an electric motor/generator and driving wheels of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid transmission described herein allows various modes of operation.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive train for a vehicle provided with at least one driving wheel, the hybrid drive train comprising:

an electric traction motor having a rotatable shaft connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle;

an electric motor/generator having a rotatable shaft;

an internal combustion engine having a rotatable shaft;

a planetary gear arrangement including a sun gear associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator, a planet carrier associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine and a ring gear;

a clutch assembly having a first movable element associated with the sun gear of the planetary gear arrangement, a second movable element associated with the ring gear of the planetary gear arrangement and a fixed element associated with the at least one driving wheel;

the first movable element being movable between a first position where the first movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the first movable element is linked with the fixed element;

the second movable element being movable between a first position where the second movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the second movable element is linked with the fixed element.

2. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotatable shaft of the electric traction motor is connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle by a differential arrangement.

3. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator and the rotatable shaft of the traction motor are concentric.

4. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixed element is defined by a plate mounted to the rotatable shaft of the electric traction motor.

5. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1, wherein the clutch assembly is provided with a first actuator so configured and sized as to selectively move the first movable element between the first and second positions.

6. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 5, wherein the first actuator includes an electromagnetic coil and wherein the first movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.

7. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 5, wherein the clutch assembly is provided with a second actuator so configured and sized as to selectively move the second movable element between the first and second positions.

8. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 7, wherein the second actuator includes an electromagnetic coil and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.

9. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1, wherein the clutch assembly further includes a second fixed element associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine;

the second movable element of the clutch assembly being movable between the first, the second and a third position where the second movable element is linked with the second fixed element.

10. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 9, wherein the clutch assembly is provided with a third actuator so configured and sized as to selectively move the second movable element between the first, second and third positions.

11. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 10, wherein the third actuator includes first and second electromagnetic coils and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.

12. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 11, wherein the first electromagnetic coil is associated with the fixed element and the second electromagnetic coil is associated with the second fixed element.

13. A hybrid drive train for a vehicle provided with at least one driving wheel, the hybrid drive train comprising:

an electric traction motor having a rotatable shaft connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle;

an electric motor/generator having a rotatable shaft;

an internal combustion engine having a rotatable shaft;

a planetary gear arrangement including a sun gear associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator, a planet carrier associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine and a ring gear;

a clutch assembly having first and second movable elements associated with the ring gear of the planetary gear arrangement, a first fixed element associated with the at least one driving wheel and a second fixed element associated with rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine;

the first movable element being movable between a first position where the first movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the first movable element is linked with the first fixed element;

the second movable element being movable between a first position where the second movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the second movable element is linked with the second fixed element.

14. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 13, wherein the clutch assembly is provided with a first actuator so configured and sized as to selectively move the first movable element between the first and second positions.

15. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 14, wherein the first actuator includes a first electromagnetic coil and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.

16. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 15, wherein the first electromagnetic coil is associated with the first fixed element.

17. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 14, wherein the clutch assembly is provided with a second actuator so configured and sized as to selectively move the second movable element between the first and second positions.

18. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 17, wherein the second actuator includes a second electromagnetic coil and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.

19. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 18, wherein the second electromagnetic coil is associated with the second fixed element.