Electric motor drive system

• US 5,427,196 A
• Filed: 07/06/1993
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Original Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Inventors: Miyaishi, Yoshinori, Yamaguchi, Kozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US08/085,934
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.6, 180/165, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 74/847, 74/665 B, 188/18 R
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/383 One-way clutches or freewheel devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2081 for drive off on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 20/40 : Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18118 : Hill holding
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/913 : One way
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

A structure for regulating the rotational direction of the output shaft of a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The structure comprises a torque generating means for driving a drive wheel; a gear assembly unit including a first to a third element, the first element being adapted to receive a rotation from the torque generating means and the second element being adapted to transmit the rotation to an output shaft connected to the drive wheel; a case to house the gear assembly unit therein; and a rotation regulation means including a first coupler and a one-way clutch, the coupler and the one-way clutch being connected to the third element of the gear assembly unit, either of the coupler and the one-way clutch being disposed between the third element and the case, the other being disposed between the third element and a different one of the elements, so that the output shaft is only allowed to rotate in one direction when the coupler is coupled.

Claims

1. An electric motor drive system, comprising:

a torque generating means for driving a drive wheel;

a gear assembly unit including a first to a third element, the first element being adapted to receive a rotation from said torque generating means and the second element being adapted to transmit the rotation to an output shaft connected to the drive wheel;

a case to house said gear assembly unit therein; and

a rotation regulation means including a first coupler and a one-way clutch, the coupler and the one-way clutch being connected to the third element of said gear assembly unit, either of the coupler and the one-way clutch being disposed between the third element and said case, the other being disposed between the third element and a different one of the elements, so that the output shaft is only allowed to rotate in one direction when said coupler is coupled.

2. The electric motor drive system according to claim 1, wherein said gear assembly unit is a planetary gear unit consisting of a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear.

3. The electric motor drive system according to claim 1, further comprising a second coupler in a parallel state to the one-way clutch.

4. The electric motor drive system according to claim 1, wherein said torque generating means is an internal combustion engine connected to the first element of said gear assembly unit.

5. The electric motor drive system according to claim 4, further comprising an electric motor for the output shaft to rotate the drive wheel.

6. The electric motor drive system according to claim 1, wherein the torque generating means is an electric motor.

7. The electric motor drive system according to claim 1, wherein the torque generating means consists of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine.

8. The electric motor drive system according to claim 2, wherein the first to third elements of said planetary gear unit are a carrier, a ring gear and a sun gear, respectively, the first coupler being disposed between the sun gear and said case, the one-way clutch being disposed between the sun gear and the carrier.

9. The electric motor drive system according to claim 2, wherein the first to third elements of said planetary gear unit are a ring gear, a carrier and a sun gear, respectively, the one-way clutch being disposed between the sun gear and said case, the first coupler being disposed between the sun gear and the carrier.

10. The electric motor drive system according to claim 9, wherein the first coupler is disposed between the sun gear and said case.

11. The electric motor drive system according to claim 2, wherein the first to third elements of said planetary gear unit are a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear, respectively, the one-way clutch being disposed between the ring gear and said case, the first coupler being disposed between the ring gear and the carrier.

12. The electric motor drive system according to claim 11, wherein the second coupler is disposed between the ring gear and said case.

13. The electric motor drive system according to claim 2, wherein the first to third elements of said planetary gear unit are a carrier, a sun gear and a ring gear, respectively, the one-way clutch being disposed between the ring gear and the carrier, and the first coupler being disposed between the ring gear and said case.

14. The electric motor drive system according to claim 13, wherein the second coupler is disposed between the ring gear and the carrier.

15. The electric motor drive system according to claim 2, wherein the first to third elements of said planetary gear unit are a carrier, a ring gear and a sun gear, respectively, the first coupler being disposed between the sun gear and said case, and the one-way clutch being disposed between the sun gear and the ring gear.

16. The electric motor drive system according to claim 15, wherein the second coupler is disposed between the sun gear and the ring gear.

17. The electric motor drive system according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor to detect the vehicle speed and a controller to effect the first coupler when the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed.