Series hybrid traction assembly and vehicle comprising such an assembly

• US 5,927,417 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SMH Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: SMH Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Brunner, Raphael, Apter, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/912,851
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 180/374, 180/375
• US Class Current: 180/65.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

The series hybrid traction assembly comprises an electric generator set, a static converter and at least one tandem traction set intended to drive two driving wheels of a vehicle. The traction set (1) comprises two back-gear motors each comprising an electric motor (4, 14) and a reducing gear (7, 17) which drives the wheel by means of a transmission shaft. The two reducing gears are adjacent to a median plane (24). The motor driving the wheel situated on one side of the median plane is on the other side of such plane, so that each driving line preferably has a Z-shaped outline and the axial space requirement of the traction set is reduced. The assembly also comprises a generator set (40) formed of a heat engine (41) and a generator (42), this set being arranged facing one (4) of the electric motors, on the other side of the median plane. A very compact assembly results.

Claims

1. A series hybrid traction assembly for a motor vehicle, said assembly comprising an electric generator set, at least one traction set comprising two electric motors driving respective second shafts respectively aligned with each other and respectively coupled to a left wheel and a right wheel of the vehicle, and at least one static converter connected in series between said generator set and said traction set, wherein said traction set comprises two back-gear motors each comprising one of the electric motors and a reducing gear provided with one of said second shafts and a respective first shaft coupled to a rotor of said electric motor, the first shaft of each reducing gear being parallel to the second shaft thereof and at a distance from the latter, said two reducing gears being arranged respectively either side of a median plane and adjacent to each other in the region of said second shafts, and wherein, in at least one of said back-gear motors, the electric motor extends entirely on the other side of said median plane with respect to the reducing gear, said two electric motors not being aligned with each other, and wherein said generator set arranged substantially facing one of said electric motors, on the other side of said median plane with respect to such motor.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said two reducing gears are fixed to each other in the region of their second shafts.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said two electric motors are situated on different sides of said median plane, respectively.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said two back-gear motors are substantially identical.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a first plane, passing through said first and second shafts of one of said reducing gears, is substantially perpendicular to a second plane passing through said first and second shafts of the other reducing gear.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said first plane is substantially horizontal and said second plane is substantially vertical.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said generator set is formed of a heat engine and an electric generator coupled to an output shaft of said heat engine, and wherein said generator and said electric motor arranged facing the latter are substantially at the same level as said second shafts of said reducing gears.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said static converter extends above said generator.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said two electric motors are situated on the same side of said median plane.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a series hybrid traction assembly, said traction assembly comprising an electric generator set, at least one traction set comprising two electric motors driving respective second shafts respectively aligned with each other and respectively coupled to a left wheel and a right wheel of the vehicle, and at least one static converter connected in series between said generator set and said traction set,

wherein said traction set comprises two back-gear motors each comprising one of the electric motors and a reducing gear provided with one of said second shafts and a respective first shaft coupled to a rotor of said electric motor, the first shaft of each reducing gear being parallel to the second shaft thereof and at a distance from the latter, said two reducing gears being arranged respectively either side of a median plane and adjacent to each other in the region of said second shafts, and wherein, in at least one of said back-gear motors, the electric motor extends on the other side of said median plane with respect to the reducing gear, said two electric motors not being aligned with each other, and wherein said generator set is arranged substantially facing one of said electric motors, on the other side of said median plane with respect to such motor.

11. A motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said traction set is coupled to rear wheels of the vehicle and wherein said static converter is placed at the front of the vehicle and connected to an electric accumulator battery situated between said converter and said traction set.

12. A motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said generator set is formed of a heat engine and an electric generator coupled to an output shaft of said heat engine, and wherein said generator and said electric motor arranged facing the latter are substantially at the same level as said second shafts of said reducing gears.