MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION WITH AXIS TRANSFER

• US 20100210388A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• 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: Hart, James M., Grochowski, Edwin T., Borgerson, James B., Wittkopp, Scott H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 2037/102 the input or output shaft of the transmission is connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/106 with switching means to provide two variator modes or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Various embodiments of electrically-variable transmissions are provided that have two motor-generators, two planetary gear sets, and two torque-transmitting mechanisms, including a rotating-type clutch and a stationary-type clutch. An input member is connected for common rotation with a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. Carriers of both of the planetary gear sets are connected for common rotation with one another, and with an output member. The first motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set. The second motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set. A drive transfer assembly transfers torque from components establishing the first axis of rotation to components establishing the second axis of rotation.

Claims

1. An electrically-variable transmission for a vehicle, comprising:

an input member, an output member, and a stationary member;

wherein the input member and the output member establish a first axis of rotation;

a first and a second planetary gear set, each having a sun gear, a carrier rotatably supporting pinion gears, and a ring gear, with the pinion gears meshing with both the sun gear and the ring gear;

a first and a second motor/generator;

wherein the first motor/generator is connected for rotation with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the second motor/generator is connected for rotation with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to ground the ring gear of the second planetary gear set to the stationary member;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the sun gear of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

a drive member connected to the output member for rotation therewith;

a driven member;

a gearing arrangement having first, second, and third members;

wherein the first member is connected for rotation with the driven member and the third member is grounded to the stationary member;

a differential having a carrier connected for rotation with the second member of the gearing arrangement and having first and second side gears; and

an endless toque-transfer device operatively connecting the drive member to the driven member;

wherein the driven member, the gearing arrangement and the differential establish a second axis of rotation.

2. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the drive member and the driven member are sprockets.

3. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the gearing arrangement is a planetary gear set having a sun gear, a carrier rotatably supporting pinion gears, and a ring gear, with the pinion gears of the gearing arrangmenet meshing with both the sun gear of the gearing arrangement and the ring gear of the gearing arrangement.

4. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 3, wherein the driven member is connected for rotation with the sun gear of the gearing arrangement, the carrier of the differential is connected for rotation with the carrier of the gearing arrangement, and the ring gear of the gearing arrangement is grounded to the stationary member.

5. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the gearing arrangement is positioned axially between the driven member and the differential.

6. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 5, wherein the drive member is located axially between the first and the second motor/generator.

7. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the driven member is positioned axially between the gearing arrangement and the differential.

8. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the driven member radially surrounds the differential.

9. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the drive member is positioned axially between one of the motor/generators and one of the planetary gear sets.

10. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the endless torque-transfer device at least partially surrounds the gearing arrangement.

11. An electrically-variable transmission for a vehicle, comprising:

an input member, an output member, and a stationary member;

wherein the input member and the output member establish a first axis of rotation;

a first and a second planetary gear set, each having a sun gear, a carrier rotatably supporting pinion gears, and a ring gear, with the pinion gears meshing with both the sun gear and the ring gear;

a first and a second motor/generator;

wherein the first motor/generator is connected for rotation with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the second motor/generator is connected for rotation with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to ground the ring gear of the second planetary gear set to the stationary member;

a second torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engagable to connect the sun gear of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

a drive member connected to the output member for rotation therewith;

wherein the drive member is axially adjacent one of the motor/generators opposite the other motor/generator and the planetary gear sets;

a driven member;

a gearing arrangement having first, second, and third members;

wherein the first member is connected for rotation with the driven member and the third member is grounded to the stationary member;

a differential having a carrier connected for rotation with the second member of the gearing arrangement and having first and second side gears; and

an endless toque-transfer device operatively connecting the drive member to the driven member;

wherein the driven member, the gearing arrangement and the differential establish a second axis of rotation.

12. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 11, wherein the gearing arrangement is positioned axially between the driven member and the differential.

13. The electrically-variable transmission of claim 11, wherein the driven member radially surrounds the differential.