Reconfigurable Powersplit Powertrain for an Electric Vehicle

• US 20130035186A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas R., Kuang, Ming L., Ortmann, Walt J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,739 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: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A powertrain includes a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear connected to a countershaft, pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear; a second gearset connectable to an engine, for overdriving a generator; a clutch for releasably connecting the engine and carrier; a second clutch for releasably connecting the sun gear and the generator; and a motor connected to a countershaft. Operation of the powertrain can be readily switched between powersplit mode and series mode.

Claims

1. A powertrain, comprising:

a planetary gearset including an input connected to an engine, a second input connected to a generator, and an output connected to a countershaft;

a second gearset, for overdriving the generator relative to a speed of the engine;

a clutch for releasably connecting the input and the engine;

a second clutch for releasably connecting the second input and the generator;

a motor connected to the countershaft.

2. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a differential for transmitting power between the countershaft and vehicle wheels.

3. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a first pair of meshing gears connecting the motor and the countershaft.

4. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a second pair of meshing gears connecting the output gear and the countershaft.

5. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a third pair of meshing gears connecting the differential and the countershaft.

6. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second gearset includes a second sun gear, a second carrier, a second ring gear and second pinions supported on the second carrier and meshing with the second sun gear and the second ring gear;

the powertrain further comprising a third clutch for releasably connecting the second sun gear and the generator.

7. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second gearset includes a second sun gear, a second carrier, a second ring gear and second pinions supported on the second carrier and meshing with the second sun gear and the second ring gear;

the powertrain further comprising a fourth clutch for releasably connecting the engine and the second carrier.

8. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising:

an electric storage battery;

a DC/DC converter electrically connected to the battery;

an inverter electrically connected to the motor and the converter; and

a second inverter electrically connected to the generator and the converter.

9. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second gearset includes:

a pinion connected to the generator;

a second countershaft;

a gear meshing with the pinion and secured to the second countershaft;

a second pinion secured to the second countershaft;

a second gear connected to the engine and meshing with the second pinion.

10. The powertrain of claim 9, further comprising:

a third clutch for releasably connecting the engine and the second pinion; and

a fourth clutch for releasably connecting the generator and the first pinion.

11. A powertrain, comprising:

a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear connected to a countershaft, pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear;

a second gearset connectable to an engine, for overdriving a generator;

a clutch for releasably connecting the engine and carrier;

a second clutch for releasably connecting the sun gear and the generator;

a motor connected to a countershaft.

12. The powertrain of claim 11, further comprising a differential for transmitting power between the countershaft and vehicle wheels.

13. The powertrain of claim 11, further comprising a first pair of meshing gears connecting the motor and the countershaft.

14. The powertrain of claim 11, further comprising a second pair of meshing gears connecting the ring gear and the countershaft.

15. The powertrain of claim 11, further comprising a third pair of meshing gears connecting the differential and the countershaft.

16. The powertrain of claim 11, wherein the second gearset includes a second sun gear, a second carrier, a second ring gear and second pinions supported on the second carrier and meshing with the second sun gear and the second ring gear;

the powertrain further comprising a third clutch for releasably connecting the second sun gear and the generator.

17. The powertrain of claim 11, wherein the second gearset includes a second sun gear, a second carrier, a second ring gear and second pinions supported on the second carrier and meshing with the second sun gear and the second ring gear;

the powertrain further comprising a fourth clutch for releasably connecting the engine and the second carrier.

18. The powertrain of claim 11, further comprising:

an electric storage battery;

a DC/DC converter electrically connected to the battery;

an inverter electrically connected to the motor and the converter; and

a second inverter electrically connected to the generator and the converter.

19. The powertrain of claim 11, wherein the second gearset includes:

a pinion connected to the generator;

a second countershaft;

a gear meshing with the pinion and secured to the second countershaft;

a second pinion secured to the second countershaft;

a second gear connected to the engine and meshing with the second pinion.

20. The powertrain of claim 19, further comprising:

a third clutch for releasably connecting the engine and the second pinion; and

a fourth clutch for releasably connecting the generator and the first pinion.

21. A powertrain, comprising:

a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear connected to a countershaft, pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear;

a second gearset connected to an engine, including an output overdriven relative to an engine speed;

a clutch for releasably connecting the engine and carrier;

a second clutch for releasably connecting the sun gear and the generator;

a third clutch for releasably connecting the generator and said overdriven output;

a motor connected to a countershaft.

22. A powertrain, comprising:

a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear connected to a countershaft, pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear;

a second gearset connectable to an engine, including an output overdriven relative to an engine speed and connected to the generator;

a clutch for releasably connecting the engine and carrier;

a second clutch for releasably connecting the sun gear and the generator;

a third clutch for releasably connecting the engine and an input of the second gearset;

a motor connected to a countershaft.