POWERTRAIN WITH DUAL ROTOR MOTOR/GENERATOR

• US 20100207471A1
• Filed: 02/16/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• 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: Hendrickson, James D., Rahman, Khwaja M., Conlon, Brendan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A powertrain is provided that includes an engine as well as a transmission having an input member and an output member. The powertrain also includes a motor/generator that has an energizable stator, a first rotor and a second rotor (i.e., a dual rotor motor). Both of the rotors are rotatable via energization of the stator. A first torque-transmitting mechanism, referred to as the engine clutch, is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with one of the first and the second rotors. A second torque-transmitting mechanism, referred to as the motor clutch, is selectively engagable to connect the first rotor for common rotation with the second rotor. The transmission input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the other of the first and second rotors.

Claims

1. A powertrain comprising:

an engine;

a transmission having an input member and an output member;

a motor/generator having an energizable stator, a first rotor and a second rotor both rotatable via energization of the stator;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with one of the first and the second rotors; and

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the first rotor for common rotation with the second rotor;

wherein the transmission input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the other of the first and second rotors.

2. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the rotors and the stator are concentric;

wherein the first rotor is radially outward of the stator and the second rotor is radially inward of the stator.

3. The powertrain of claim 2, wherein the first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with the first rotor.

4. The powertrain of claim 2, wherein the first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with the second rotor.

5. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the rotors and the stator are coaxial with a centerline of rotation of the rotors and the rotors are not concentric with one another;

and wherein the first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with the first rotor.

6. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a battery operatively connected to the stator;

wherein an electric vehicle operating mode is provided when the first torque-transmitting mechanism is not engaged and the second torque-transmitting mechanism is engaged and in which the battery energizes the stator to cause rotation of the first and second rotors.

7. The powertrain of claim 6, wherein a rotating stator field produced by the energized stator rotates faster than both the first and the second rotors when torque applied to the transmission is relatively high, and rotates faster than the other rotor connected for common rotation with the transmission input member when torque applied to the transmission input member is relatively low.

8. The powertrain of claim 6, further comprising a battery operatively connected to the stator;

wherein battery power is used to start the engine during the electric vehicle operating mode by engaging the first torque-transmitting mechanism and subsequently engaging the second torque-transmitting mechanism when speed of the first rotor is substantially the same as speed of a rotating stator field of the energized stator.

9. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein an electric torque converter operating mode is provided by engaging the first torque-transmitting mechanism and not engaging the second torque-transmitting mechanism when the engine is on and the first rotor generates a stator field of the stator and rotates relative to the stator field of the stator so that the stator field powers the second rotor to drive the transmission.

10. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein an operating mode is provided by engaging both torque-transmitting mechanisms when the engine is on and the battery stator field is controlled so that the battery selectively adds power to the second motor and receives power from the second rotor to accomplish electric assist and regenerative braking modes, respectively.

11. A hybrid vehicle powertrain comprising:

an engine;

a mechanical, non-hybrid transmission having an input member;

a battery;

an inverter;

a motor/generator having;

a stator selectively powered by the battery through the inverter to create a stator field and selectively providing power to the battery through the inverter;

first and second rotors rotatable relative to one another in response to a stator field generated in the stator in response to powering by the battery;

an engine clutch selectively engagable to connect the engine form common rotation with one of the rotors; and

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the rotors for common rotation with one another;

wherein selective engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanisms, and powering of the stator provides an electric-only operating mode, an engine start mode, an electric torque converter mode, an electric assist mode and a regenerative braking mode.

12. A hybrid powertrain comprising:

an engine;

a transmission having an input member and characterized by an absence of any motor/generators;

a motor/generator having a single stator and dual rotors rotatable by the stator;

wherein the motor/generator is positioned between and operatively connectable with the engine and the transmission input member and having dual rotors rotatable by a single stator.

13. The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the rotors and the stator are concentric;

wherein the first rotor is radially outward of the stator and the second rotor is radially inward of the stator.

14. The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with the first rotor.

15. The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with the second rotor.

16. The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the rotors and the stator are coaxial with a centerline of rotation of the rotors and the rotors are not concentric with one another;

and wherein the first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with the first rotor.