Electric machine having at least one clutch

• US 5,773,904 A
• Filed: 10/02/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Schiebold, Stefan, Thieler, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAMAI, KARL I
• Application Number:
  US08/505,340
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 310/92, 310/96, 310/101, 310/76, 310/78, 310/98, 310/102 A, 310/102 R, 310/100, 310/75 D, 310/75 R, 310/103, 310/112, 310/114, 310/67 R, 180/65.2, 180/165, 192/84.1, 477/7, 477/13
• US Class Current: 310/92
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/02 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/262 the motor or generator are used as clutch, e.g. between engine and driveshaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• 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 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/006 Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/108 with friction clutches
• 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 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

An electric machine which can be operated optionally as a motor or generator and in particular can be installed in the drive train of a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive. The machine includes a stator and a rotor of substantially cylindrical shape, The rotor is positioned about the stator to form a circumferential air gap between the stator and the rotor. An integrated switchable clutch is provided for the transmission of torque. The rotor is arranged on the outside (external-rotor machine) of the stator and the clutch is arranged within the stator.

Claims

1. An electric external-rotor machine for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a stator (2) having a pot-shaped housing with an open side;

a substantially cylindrical rotor (1) positioned about and separated from said stator (2) forming an air gap (9) between said rotor (1) and said stator (2), said rotor including an axis extending therethrough;

an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft;

at least one integrated switchable clutch (3,

     4) positioned between said rotor and crank shaft within said stator (2) for transmitting torque to the rotor (1);

a second clutch positioned within said stator, each of said at least one clutch and said second clutch including a face side and being positioned along said axis of said rotor (1) in opposing end regions of said stator (2), said face sides of said at least one clutch and said second clutch opposing each other; and

, a first hub provided with a plurality of recesses therethrough, said first hub being connected to the rotor so as to extend across said rotor and said stator on said open side of the stator housing to seal the air gap.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said machine is a motor.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein said machine is a generator.

4. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a transmission shaft, said at least one clutch being positioned between said rotor and at least one of said crankshaft and said transmission shaft.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein said rotor (1) further includes a plurality of magnets (12) and said machine operates as a synchronous machine with electronic commutation, said first hub being separated from said plurality of magnets so as to define a collecting space therebetween which is accessible through the plurality of recesses in the first hub.

6. The motor of claim 1, wherein said at least one clutch is a magnetic powder clutch.

7. The motor of claim 1, wherein said at least one clutch is one of a multiple disc, hydraulically actuated or pneumatically actuated dry plate clutch.

8. The motor of claim 1, wherein said at least one clutch is positioned within said stator along said axis of said rotor, said at least one clutch at most extending a minimum distance beyond the stator housing.