Hybrid power transmission with power take-off apparatus

• US 5,669,842 A
• Filed: 04/29/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Michael Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, KHOI QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/638,664
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 475/3, 475/5, 180/65.2, 180/65.6, 180/65.8, 180/69.6, 74/15.06, 74/15.84, 74/15.86
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/28 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0873 with switching, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0806 with a plurality of driving or driven shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0813 with only one input shaft differentials for four wheel drive vehicles B60K17/346
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means

Abstract

A power transmission has an internal combustion engine and motor/generators which are combined through a summing planetary gearing. The planetary gearing cooperates with downstream gearing to provide a hybrid power transmission. A plurality of auxiliary or power take-off (PTO) shafts are included to permit the operation of auxiliary devices, such as main hydraulic pumps, air conditioners or power steering pumps. A fluid operated clutch is incorporated between the engine and the gearing so that the motor/generators can drive the PTO shafts independently of the engine. The main pump fluid output can be directed to engage the clutch when the engine input is desired. The motor/generators are controlled to provide output speed resulting in one member of the gearing being driven at a speed equal to the idle speed of the engine, such that the clutch can be synchronously engaged.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical hybrid drive and accessory drive comprising:

an electrical power and storage source;

a first motor/generator;

a second motor/generator;

control means for selectively connecting said power and storage source with said first and second motor/generators for controlling their respective operation thereof;

an internal combustion engine prime mover having an idle speed;

a planetary gear arrangement having a first member drivingly connected with said first motor/generator, a second member drivingly connected with said second motor/generator, and a third member drivingly connected with a plurality of accessory drive shafts, one of which is drivingly connected with a hydraulic power source;

a hydraulically operated clutch which is selectively engageable to connect said prime mover with said third planetary member; and

said first and second motor/generators being operable through said planetary gear arrangement to operate said hydraulic power source and to control the speeds of the first and second members to rotate said third member of said planetary gear arrangement at a speed proportional to said idle speed when said clutch is disengaged to permit selective engagement of said clutch at a speed synchronous with said idle speed.

2. The electro-mechanical hybrid drive and accessory drive defined in claim 1, wherein said first member is a ring gear, said second member is a sun gear and said third member is a planet carrier.

3. The electro-mechanical hybrid drive and accessory drive defined in claim 1, wherein the speed of the second member is zero when the third member is proportional to said idle speed.