Power transmitting apparatus for a hybrid vehicle

• US 5,755,303 A
• Filed: 11/19/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yoshio, Chubachi, Katsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US08/753,043
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 180/69.4, 180/205, 180/206, 180/165, 477/46, 477/2, 477/3, 474/84, 474/88
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/107 with endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66259 using electrical or electronical sensing or control means
• 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 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/909 : Gearing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A power transmitting mechanism for use in a hybrid vehicle includes first and second continuously variable transmissions connected to an output shaft of a vehicle'"'"'s engine. The first continuously variable transmission causes left and right wheels to rotate via a starting clutch, differential gear and vehicle'"'"'s axle. The second continuously variable transmission drives a generator/motor and also drives pulleys that are provided for actuating auxiliaries such as an air-conditioning compressor and power-steering compressor. In acceleration of the vehicle, the generator/motor operates as an electro motor so that the axle can be driven by a combination of the output power of the engine and generator/motor. In deceleration of the vehicle, the generator/motor operates as a power generator so as to effectively collect, from the axle, decreasing energy of the vehicle. In this case, a transmission ratio of the second continuously variable transmission can be chosen to be a substantial reciprocal of a transmission ratio of the first continuously variable transmission such that the generator/motor achieves a highest possible operating efficiency. As a result, irrespective of variations in the number of rotations of the engine, the generator/motor can operate efficiently, which allows the engine, generator/motor and auxiliaries to operate in respective optimum conditions.

Claims

1. A power transmitting apparatus for use in a hybrid vehicle including an engine having an output shaft and a generator/motor, said power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a first continuously variable transmission connected to the output shaft of the engine for causing an axle of the hybrid vehicle to rotate at a variable speed;

a second continuously variable transmission connected to the output shaft of the engine for driving said generator/motor; and

a control unit for, when said generator/motor is used as an electro motor, causing output power of said motor to be transmitted to the axle of the hybrid vehicle sequentially through said second continuously variable transmission, output shaft of the engine and first continuously variable transmission.

2. A power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein auxiliaries are connected to said second continuously variable transmission.

3. A power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a transmission ratio of said second continuously variable transmission is chosen to be a substantial reciprocal of a transmission ratio of said first continuously variable transmission.

4. A power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises at least one other continuously variable transmission and said auxiliaries are connected to said other continuously variable transmission.