Counter-Rotation Electric Machine

• US 20130065718A1
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Munoz, Alfredo R., Degner, Michael W., Berhan, Michael T., Knowles, Shaun G., McGinn, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US13/227,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0695 Inertia
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/65 Reduce shocks on mode change, e.g. during engine shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19051 Single driven plural drives

Abstract

A motor vehicle powertrain includes an engine, a motor/generator including a rotor, gearing including an input driveably connected to the engine, and an output secured to the rotor and driven in a rotary direction opposite to that of the input.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle powertrain, comprising:

an engine;

a motor/generator including a rotor;

gearing including an input driveably connected to the engine, and an output secured to the rotor and driven in a rotary direction opposite to that of the input.

2. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the output is overdriven relative to the speed of the input.

3. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the gearing includes:

a sun gear connected to the output;

a ring gear connected to the input;

a planet carrier secured against rotation; and

planet pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear.

4. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the output is underdriven relative to the speed of the input.

5. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the gearing includes:

a sun gear connected to the input;

a ring gear connected to the output;

a planet carrier secured against rotation; and

planet pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear.

6. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising:

a traction motor;

driven wheels of the vehicle; and

a gearbox including a second output connected to the driven wheels, the gearbox producing a range of forward ratios of a speed of the traction motor divided by a speed of the second output and reverse drive.

7. A motor vehicle powertrain, comprising:

an engine including;

a motor/generator including a rotor;

planetary gearing including an input driveably connected to the power source, and an output secured to the rotor and driven at a speed different from a speed of the engine and in a rotary direction opposite to that of the input.

8. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein the output is overdriven relative to the speed of the input.

9. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein the planetary gearing includes:

a sun gear connected to the output;

a ring gear connected to the input;

a planet carrier secured against rotation; and

planet pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear.

10. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein the planetary gearing includes:

a sun gear connected to the output;

a ring gear connected to the input;

a planet carrier that rotates; and

planet pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear.

11. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein the output is underdriven relative to the speed of the input.

12. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein the gearing includes:

a sun gear connected to the input;

a ring gear connected to the output;

a planet carrier secured against rotation; and

planet pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear.

13. The powertrain of claim 7, wherein the gearing includes:

a sun gear connected to the input;

a ring gear connected to the output;

a planet carrier that rotates; and

planet pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear.

14. The powertrain of claim 7, further comprising:

a traction motor;

driven wheels of the vehicle; and

a gearbox including a second output connected to the driven wheels, the gearbox producing a range of forward ratios of a speed of the traction motor divided by a speed of the second output and reverse drive.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising holding against rotation a component of the gearset such that the output and rotor rotate at a greater speed than a speed of the engine.

15. A method for resisting a rolling moment produced by rotary acceleration and deceleration, comprising:

(a) connecting an engine to an input of a planetary gearset;

(b) connecting an output of said gearset to a rotor of a motor/generator;

(c) holding against rotation a component of the gearset such that the output and rotor rotate in a direction opposite to the rotary direction of the engine.