Vehicle transmission system with variable speed drive

• US 5,508,574 A
• Filed: 11/23/1994
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alexander Vlock
• Original Assignee: Alexander Vlock
• Inventors: Vlock, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWON, TAI CHOON
• Application Number:
  US08/344,163
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 475/1, 475/5, 475/149, 475/150, 475/151, 475/153, 477/3, 310/83, 310/68 B, 310/75 R, 310/58, 310/54, 310/60 A, 310/113
• US Class Current: 310/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• 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 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0076 relating to braking
• 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: B60L 7/006 Dynamic electric braking by reversing current, i.e. plugging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2510/12 : Differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/088 : Power split variators with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0422 : by an electric machine, e.g. by accelerating or braking the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/095 : with means for ensuring an even distribution of torque between the countershafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/12 : with means for synchronisation not incorporated in the clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/126 : using an electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 51/00 : Dynamo-electric gears, i.e. dynamo-electric means for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts
• 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 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

A vehicle transmission system is described which employs a split power path design to achieve continuously variable speed ratios. A motor-generator unit is provided for converting a fraction of the input power into electrical power, and a second motor-generator and differential gear mechanism are employed to re-combine the two power components before transmitting the mechanical power through a gearbox. Electrical power dissipation means allows the transmission system to provide slippage when accelerating a load from rest, and it also assists in shifting and in braking. An electronic motor controller coordinates feedback signals from various sensors and controls the dynamic performance of the entire system. The motor-generators are integrated with the housing of the transmission and have water jackets to assist in heat dissipation. The motor-generator pair and the power dissipation elements are all cooled by a circulating fluid which transfers heat from these components to an external heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A transmission system comprising:

a first permanent-magnet motor-generator comprising a first rotor and a first stator, said first rotor containing the permanent magnets and said first stator containing electrical windings, said first stator having an outer diameter larger than its width, and said first rotor being operably connected to input shaft of transmission;

a second permanent-magnet motor-generator comprising a second rotor and a second stator, said second rotor containing permanent magnets and said second stator containing electrical windings, said second stator having an outer diameter larger than its width;

torque transmitting means including at least one differential gear mechanism wherein said differential gear mechanism has at least three rotating elements, a first element of which is operably connected to first motor-generator, a second element of which is operably connected to second motor-generator;

a housing surrounding the stators of the motor-generators which contains an integrated cooling passage; and

means for sensing motion of at least one of the rotating elements of the differential gear mechanism.

2. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein a third element of the differential gear mechanism is operably connected to a multispeed gearbox.

3. The transmission system of claim 2 wherein the mechanical shifting is performed by electromechanical actuators.

4. The transmission system of claim 1 including means for electrical power dissipation.

5. The transmission system of claim 4 wherein means for power dissipation consists of electrically resistive heating elements.

6. A transmission system comprising:

a first permanent-magnet motor-generator comprising a first rotor and a first stator, said first rotor containing permanent magnets and said first stator containing electrical windings, said first stator having an outer diameter larger than its width, and said first rotor being operably connected to input of transmission;

a second permanent-magnet motor-generator comprising a second rotor and a second stator, said second rotor containing permanent magnets and said second stator containing electrical windings, said second stator having an outer diameter larger than its width;

torque transmitting means consisting of at least one planetary gear mechanism having at least three rotating elements, one element of which is operably connected to first motor-generator, a second element of which is operably connected to second motor-generator;

a multispeed gearbox which is operably connected to a third element of the planetary gear mechanism;

a housing surrounding the stators of the motor-generators which contains an integrated cooling passage; and

means for sensing movement of at least one of the rotating elements in the differential gear mechanism.

7. The transmission system of claim 6 wherein the mechanical shifting is performed by electromechanical actuators.

8. The transmission system of claim 7 which includes means for electrical power dissipation.

9. The transmission system of claim 8 wherein means for power dissipation consists of electrically resistive heating elements.

10. The transmission system of claim 6 wherein means for sensing rotational movement includes at least one resolver.

11. A transmission system comprising:

a first permanent-magnet motor-generator comprising a first rotor and a first stator, said first rotor containing permanent magnets and said first stator containing electrical windings, said first stator having an outer diameter larger than its width, said first rotor being operably connected to and coaxial with input shaft of transmission;

a second permanent-magnet motor-generator comprising a second rotor and a second stator, said second rotor containing permanent magnets and said second stator containing electrical windings, said second stator having an outer diameter larger than its width, said second rotor being coaxial with input shaft of transmission;

torque transmitting means consisting of at least one planetary gear mechanism having at least three rotating elements, one element of which is operably connected to first motor-generator, a second element of which is operably connected to second motor-generator;

a multispeed gearbox which is operably connected to a third element of the planetary gear mechanism;

a housing surrounding the stators of the motor-generators which contains an integrated cooling passage;

means for sensing movement of at least one of the rotating elements in the differential gear mechanism; and

a power transducer for controlling the flow of power through motor-generators.

12. The transmission system of claim 11 wherein the mechanical shifting is performed by electromechanical actuators.

13. The transmission system of claim 11 which includes means for electrical power dissipation.

14. The transmission system of claim 13 wherein means for power dissipation consists of electrically resistive heating elements.

15. The transmission system of claim 11 wherein means for sensing rotational movement includes at least one resolver.