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Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same

  • US 5,903,112 A
  • Filed: 04/26/1996
  • Issued: 05/11/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A power output apparatus comprising:

  • an output shaft for connection to an output of an engine;

    a drive shaft for connection to a load;

    a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors, said first motor applying a first torque to said drive shaft;

    a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

    a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor, said second motor applying a second torque to said drive shaft;

    a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

    a storage device that stores electric power;

    a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

    a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits such that said first motor-driving circuit enables said first motor to regenerate electric power and said second motor-driving circuit enables said second motor to regenerate electric power, with at least part of said regenerated electric power being stored in said storage device, and said controller causes said first motor-driving circuit to cause said first motor to apply said first torque in a direction of rotation of said drive shaft and said second motor-driving circuit causes said second motor to apply said second torque in an opposite direction from said first torque and at approximately the same magnitude as said first torque, when the residual capacity measured by the residual capacity measuring device is less than a predetermined value.

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