Hybrid vehicle
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine for driving an engine output shaft;
a motor for driving a motor output shaft;
a generator driven by torque input to a generator shaft;
a drive shaft for receiving torque from at least one of said engine output shaft and said motor output shaft and for outputting the received torque to vehicle drive wheels;
a differential gear unit including a first rotary element connected to and driven by said engine output shaft, a second rotary element connected to and driving said generator shaft and a third rotary element connecting to said drive shaft;
a casing housing said differential gear unit;
frictional engagement means for directly engaging said engine output shaft with said drive shaft to establish a high load drive mode and for releasing to establish a low load drive mode wherein torque is transferred from said engine to said drive shaft through said differential gear unit;
load detection means for detecting a load demand and for generating a command signal indicative of the load demand; and
control means for determining if the indicated load demand satisfies conditions predetermined for establishment of said high load drive mode, for disengaging said frictional engagement means to establish said low load drive mode when said predetermined conditions are not satisfied and for causing said frictional engagement means to become fully engaged when said predetermined conditions are satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle is capable of complying with a request for immediate acceleration while the vehicle is moving at a low speed and of being powered by a motor small in size so that the vehicle can be small in size and light in weight. The driving force of engine is supplemented by that of a motor. An output shaft is provided between the engine and the motor. A controller responds to a high torque requirement by increasing engine torque. When the vehicle moves normally, the engine is operated in an output range of high efficiency and low-pollution with output to an output shaft shared by a generator and motor, and while the generator generates electric-power, the engine output is combined with the output of the motor to drive the vehicle wheels. On the other hand, when high torque is required, since the electric power generation by the generator is suspended and the engine torque is increased, the output transferred from the engine to the drive shaft 1b is increased in proportion to the increase of the engine speed, with the result that desired driving state of the vehicle is ensured.
173 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine for driving an engine output shaft; a motor for driving a motor output shaft; a generator driven by torque input to a generator shaft; a drive shaft for receiving torque from at least one of said engine output shaft and said motor output shaft and for outputting the received torque to vehicle drive wheels; a differential gear unit including a first rotary element connected to and driven by said engine output shaft, a second rotary element connected to and driving said generator shaft and a third rotary element connecting to said drive shaft; a casing housing said differential gear unit; frictional engagement means for directly engaging said engine output shaft with said drive shaft to establish a high load drive mode and for releasing to establish a low load drive mode wherein torque is transferred from said engine to said drive shaft through said differential gear unit; load detection means for detecting a load demand and for generating a command signal indicative of the load demand; and control means for determining if the indicated load demand satisfies conditions predetermined for establishment of said high load drive mode, for disengaging said frictional engagement means to establish said low load drive mode when said predetermined conditions are not satisfied and for causing said frictional engagement means to become fully engaged when said predetermined conditions are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; an electric motor driving a motor output shaft; a generator driven by torque input through a generator shaft; a differential gear unit comprising first, second and third gear elements, said first gear element being connected with said internal combustion engine and said second gear element being connected with said generator; a casing housing said differential gear unit; first frictional engagement means for engaging said third gear element with said casing; load detection means for detecting a load demand and for generating a command signal indicative of the load demand; and control means for determining if the indicated load demand satisfies conditions predetermined for establishment of a high load drive mode, for releasing said frictional engagement means to establish a low load drive mode when said predetermined conditions are not satisfied and for causing said frictional engagement means to become fully engaged when said predetermined conditions are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification