Hybrid vehicle powertrain

• US 5,643,119 A
• Filed: 12/19/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Original Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kozo, Miyaishi, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Khoi Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/574,914
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 74/661, 475/1, 475/5, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/53.5, 123/DIG. 8, 290/4 R
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/08 of mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4833 Step up or reduction gearing driving generator, e.g. to operate generator in most efficient speed range
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/909 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/952 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19014 : Plural prime movers selectively coupled to common output

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is powered by a drive system including an internal combustion engine, a generator and an electric motor. A differential gear unit includes at least three elements, the first connecting to the generator, the second connecting to a first gear and the third connecting the internal combustion engine. A second gear is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor. A counter shaft carries a third gear meshing with the first and second gears and connects to the differential gear unit. The internal combustion engine, differential gear unit and generator are aligned on a first axis, the electric motor is aligned on a second axis parallel to the first axis, the counter shaft is aligned on a third axis parallel to the first and second axes, the differential gear unit is aligned on a fourth axis parallel to the first, second and third axes, and the third axis is disposed inside of a triangle defined by the first, second and fourth axes when viewed on end.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle powertrain, comprising:

an internal combustion engine for driving an engine output shaft and thereby generating mechanical energy;

a generator for converting said mechanical energy into electricity;

an electric motor driven by said electricity to output rotational power at a motor output shaft;

a differential gear unit including at least three elements, the first connecting to said generator, the second connecting to a first gear and the third connecting to said internal combustion engine;

a second gear connected to said motor output shaft; and

a counter shaft connected to an output differential gear unit and having mounted thereon a third gear meshing with the first and second gears; and

wherein said internal combustion engine, differential gear unit and generator are aligned on a first axis, said electric motor is aligned on a second axis parallel to the first axis, said counter shaft is aligned on a third axis parallel to the first and second axes, said output differential gear unit is aligned on a fourth axis parallel to the first, second and third axes, and the third axis is disposed inside of a triangle defined by the first, second and fourth axes viewed on end.

2. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said counter shaft carries a fourth gear for driving said differential gear unit.

3. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said differential gear unit includes a fifth gear meshing with said fourth gear.

4. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third elements of said differential gear unit are, respectively, a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier forming a planetary gear unit.

5. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third elements of said differential gear unit are, respectively, a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear forming a planetary gear unit.

6. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said generator is a magneto generator.

7. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said generator is an excitation generator.

8. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, further comprising a resolver aligned on said first axis on the opposite side of the generator from said internal combustion engine.

9. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein the first and third gears have a gear ratio different from that of the second and third gears.

10. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said engine output shaft has one end rotatably supported by a case housing said differential gear unit, said generator and said electric motor and a second end connected to said generator through said differential gear unit.

11. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said generator is axially aligned with said engine output shaft.

12. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein the first gear connected to the second element is axially aligned with said engine output shaft.

13. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 1, wherein said generator is provided with a brake to regulate the rotation thereof.

14. A hybrid vehicle powertrain according to claim 10, wherein said brake is a wet multiple disk brake.