Electro-mechanical powertrain

• US 5,935,035 A
• Filed: 06/24/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Michael Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUND, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/103,851
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 475/5, 477/2, 477/3, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.6, 180/65.7
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• 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 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2037/104 Power split variators with one end of the CVT connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/72 with a secondary drive, e.g. regulating motor, in order to vary speed continuously
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

An electro-mechanical powertrain has two motor/generator (m/g) units disposed in concentric coaxial arrangement with a plurality of planetary gearsets and a pair of friction brakes. An input shaft is driven by a prime mover through a selectively engageable clutch. The motor/generator units are controlled in combination with the planetary gearset, the prime mover and an electrical source (batteries) to provide a two-mode, input split powertrain.

Claims

1. An input split hybrid electromechanical transmission comprising:

an input member for receiving power input from a prime mover power source;

an output member for delivering power from the transmission;

a first motor/generator;

a second motor/generator coaxially aligned with said first motor/generator;

energy storage means for interchanging electrical power with said first and second motor/generators;

control means for regulating the electrical power interchange between said storage means and said first and second motor/generators and also regulating electrical power interchange between said first and second motor/generators;

a planetary gear arrangement including first, second, third and fourth coaxial aligned planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set including first, second and third members comprising a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a planetary carrier assembly member, said planetary gear arrangement being coaxial with and radially inward of said first and second motor/generators;

said first member of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with said input member;

said first member of said second planetary gear set being continuously connected with said second motor/generator;

said first member of said third planetary gear set and said second member of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with said first motor/generator;

said third member of said first planetary gear set, said second member of said second planetary gear set and said first member of said fourth planetary gear set being continuously connected;

said second member of both said third planetary gear set and said fourth planetary gear set being continuously connected with said output member;

said third member of both said third planetary gear set and said fourth planetary gear set being connected with respective selectively actuated brake mechanisms; and

said third member of said second planetary gear set being continuously held stationary.

2. An input split hybrid electromechanical transmission comprising:

an input member for receiving power input from a prime mover power source;

an output member for delivering power from the transmission;

a first motor/generator;

a second motor/generator coaxially aligned with said first motor/generator;

energy storage means for interchanging electrical power with said first and second motor/generators;

control means for regulating the electrical power interchange between said storage means and said first and second motor/generators and also regulating electrical power interchange between said first and second motor/generators;

a planetary gear arrangement disposed radially inward of and coaxially aligned with said first and second motor/generators, said planetary gear arrangement including first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set comprising a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a carrier assembly member;

said ring gear member of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with said input member;

said sun gear member of said second planetary gear set being continuously connected with said second motor/generator;

said sun gear member of said third planetary gear set and said sun gear member of said first planetary gear set being continuously connected with said first motor/generator;

said carrier assembly member of said first planetary gear set, said carrier assembly member of said second planetary gear set and said sun gear member of said fourth planetary gear set being continuously connected;

said carrier assembly member of both said third planetary gear set and said fourth planetary gear set being continuously connected with said output member;

said ring gear member of both said third planetary gear set and said fourth planetary gear set being connected with respective selectively actuated brake mechanisms; and

said ring gear member of said second planetary gear set being continuously held stationary.