Hybrid drive system

• US 6,269,895 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Seiji, Tanuguchi, Takao, Miyagawa, Shoichi, Hara, Takeshi, Tsuzuki, Shigeo, Tsukamoto, Kazumasa, Omote, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/166,958
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.8, 180/65.4, 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 123/348, 123/347, 701/22, 701/51, 742/301.7, 748/66, 746/89, 748/68, 475/211, 474/11
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/383 One-way clutches or freewheel devices
• 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: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• 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 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/107 with endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0846 CVT using endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0025 Supply of control fluid; Pumps therefore
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0028 using a single pump driven by different power sources
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/662 with endless flexible members
• 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 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• 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

In a state a vehicle is stopped at an intersection, an infinitely variable transmission is in a neutral position, a motor/generator rotates with a low speed, an oil pump and an auxiliary equipment are in rotating state. At that time, an input clutch is disengaged, and the internal engine is stopped. When the vehicle is started, a continuously variable transmission performs continuous shift control from the neutral position using hydraulic pressure from an oil pump, and the rotation of the motor/generator is transmitted to drive wheels via a ring gear of a planetary gear. After the vehicle has started driving, the input clutch is engaged and the internal engine is started. The vehicle is driven while the motor/generator assists driving or the motor/generator charges batteries based on operation of the internal engine.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive system, comprising:

an internal engine;

a motor/generator which is rotated and generates electric energy; and

an infinitely variable transmission, which comprises a continuously variable transmission arranged between a primary shaft and a secondary shaft and shifts a torque ratio between these shafts continuously, a planetary gear unit comprising a first rotational element interlocking with a primary side of the continuously variable transmission mounted on the primary shaft, a second rotational element interlocking with a secondary side of the continuously variable transmission mounted on the secondary shaft, and a third rotational element combining rotations of the first rotational element and the second rotational element in a state where torque circulation occurs and the combined rotation is output to driving wheels, the infinitely variable transmission performing a neutral control self-converging in order that the third rotational element is in a neutral position and a shift control shifting continuously from the neutral position to the continuously variable transmission, wherein outputs from at least one of the motor/generator and the internal engine is transmitted to the drive wheels via the infinitely variable transmission.

2. The hybrid drive system according to claim 1, wherein an input clutch is arranged between an output shaft of the internal engine and a rotor of the motor/generator.

3. The hybrid drive system according to claim 2, wherein the rotor of the motor/generator is interlocked with an oil pump.

4. The hybrid drive system according to claim 3, wherein a vehicle is started by a torque from the motor/generator when the input clutch is disengaged, the infinitely variable transmission is moved to the neutral position and the oil pump is driven by the motor/generator when the vehicle is stopped.

5. The hybrid drive system according to claim 3, wherein the oil pump is arranged on a primary shaft.

6. The hybrid drive system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is driven by power of the internal engine upon engagement of the input clutch, and the motor/generator one of provides a power assist to the internal engine and outputs electric current.

7. The hybrid drive system according to claim 2, wherein the input clutch is arranged in a bore side of a rotor of the motor/generator.

8. The hybrid drive system according to claim 2, wherein the rotor of the motor/generator interlocks with an auxiliary equipment.

9. The hybrid drive system according to claim 8, wherein the motor/generator is arranged on the primary shaft, another shaft which interlocks with the auxiliary equipment and different from driving system such as the primary shaft is provided, and the another shaft is drivingly-connected with the primary shaft.

10. The hybrid drive system according to claim 8, wherein a vehicle is started by torque from the motor/generator when the input clutch is disengaged, and the infinitely variable transmission is moved to a neutral position and the auxiliary equipment is driven by the motor/generator when the vehicle is stopped.

11. The hybrid drive system according to claim 1, wherein the motor/generator is arranged on the primary shaft.

12. The hybrid drive system according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary equipment is arranged to interlock with rotational elements of the infinitely variable transmission except the third rotational element.