ELECTROMOTIVE DRIVES

• US 20170072782A1
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Donald C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,950,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/73 Planetary gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/65 with axle and driving shaft arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/40 in which two members co-operative by means of balls, or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/503 in which two members co-operate by means of balls or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/52 in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6644 dependent on control input parameters other than ambient conditions or driver's choice
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6649 characterised by the means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/10 Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/06 Control effected upon clutch or other mechanical power transmission means and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

A transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The transmission provides multiple powerpaths and can be combined with electrical components to provide motor/generator functionality, which reduces the overall size and complexity of the motor and transmission compared to when they are constructed separately. In one embodiment, rotatable components of a continuously variable transmission are coupled separately to an electrical rotor and to an electrical stator so that the rotor and stator rotate simultaneously in opposite directions relative to one another. In other embodiments, an electrical rotor is configured to transfer torque to or from a disc that is in contact with a plurality of speed adjusters, while an electrical stator is configured to transfer torque to a shaft that is operationally coupled to the speed adjusters via an idler.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an input power source; and

an electromotive device comprising;

a plurality of power adjusters arranged angularly about an axis and in contact with an idler positioned between the plurality of power adjusters and coaxial with the axis, each power adjuster rotatable about a respective tiltable axle,

a first disc in contact with the plurality of power adjusters, the first disc configured to receive an input torque from the input power source and to transfer the input torque to the plurality of power adjusters,

a second disc in contact with the plurality of power adjusters and configured to transfer an output torque to a mechanical device, the mechanical device being one of an output shaft and a rotatable hub shell, wherein the first and second discs are positioned relative to one another on opposite sides of the plurality of power adjusters,

an electrical stator coupled to one of the first disc, the second disc, and the idler, and

an electrical rotor coupled to another one of the first disc, the second disc, and the idler.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electrical stator is coupled to the idler, and wherein the electrical stator and the electrical rotor rotate in opposite directions.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the input power source comprises an engine.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first disc comprises magnetic steel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electromotive device comprises:

a hollow shaft coincident with the axis; and

a set of wires for routing electric power out of the electromotive device via the hollow shaft.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the hollow shaft comprises:

a first bore adapted to receive at least one electrical conductor;

a second bore adapted to house an electrical receptacle that couples to the at least one electrical conductor;

at least one slot, in communication with the first bore, that allows passage of the at least one electrical conductor to an external side of the hollow shaft; and

a first plurality of axial grooves adapted to receive a plurality of bearings.

7. A system comprising:

an input shaft for receiving power;

a plurality of power adjusters arranged angularly about and in contact with an idler positioned around and coaxial with an axis of the system, each power adjuster rotatable about a respective tiltable axle;

a first disc in contact with the plurality of power adjusters, the first disc configured to receive an input torque from the input power source and to transfer the input torque to the plurality of power adjusters;

a second disc in contact with the plurality of power adjusters and configured to transfer an output torque to a mechanical device, the mechanical device being one of an output shaft and a rotatable hub shell, wherein the first and second discs are positioned on opposite sides of the plurality of power adjusters;

an electrical stator coupled to one of the first disc, the second disc, and the idler; and

an electrical rotor coupled to another one of the first disc, the second disc, and the idler.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the input shaft is coupled to an internal combustion engine.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system comprises a drive train.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the electrical stator is coupled to the idler, and wherein the electrical stator and the electrical rotor rotate in opposite directions.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the system comprises:

a hollow shaft coincident with the axis; and

a set of wires for routing electric power out of the system via the hollow shaft.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hollow shaft comprises:

a first bore adapted to receive at least one electrical conductor;

a second bore adapted to house an electrical receptacle that couples to the at least one electrical conductor;

at least one slot, in communication with the first bore, that allows passage of the at least one electrical conductor to an external side of the hollow shaft; and

a first plurality of axial grooves adapted to receive a plurality of bearings.