Power combining apparatus for hybrid electric vehicle
First Claim
1. A vehicle transmission system adapted for receiving inputs from variable and constant power sources for driving an output shaft comprising:
- a combining planetary gear arrangement having a plurality of members and operatively coupled to a rotatable shaft of said variable power source, a rotatable shaft of said constant power source, and to said output shaft;
a torque transmitting arrangement coupled to a member of said combining planetary gear arrangement and responsive to said variable power source for influencing rotation of said output shaft according to rotation of said shaft of said variable power source; and
a clutch for selectively connecting the constant power source with another member of the combining planetary gear arrangement for establishing a drive path between said constant power source and said combining planetary gear arrangement for influencing rotation of the output shaft according to rotation of the constant power source shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power combining apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle comprises a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear, a ring gear connected to an output shaft, a plurality of planet gears, and a carrier assembly rotatably supporting the plurality of planet gears journaled with the sun and ring gears. A torque transmitting arrangement is coupled to the sun gear and to the shaft of the variable power source for influencing rotation of the sun gear according to the rotation of the variable power supply shaft for causing rotation of the sun gear, thereby influencing rotation of the ring gear and the output shaft. The carrier assembly of the planetary gear arrangement is selectively connectable to the constant power source for selectively influencing rotation of the carrier assembly of the planetary gears and the ring gear, to thereby influence rotation of the output shaft.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle transmission system adapted for receiving inputs from variable and constant power sources for driving an output shaft comprising:
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a combining planetary gear arrangement having a plurality of members and operatively coupled to a rotatable shaft of said variable power source, a rotatable shaft of said constant power source, and to said output shaft;
a torque transmitting arrangement coupled to a member of said combining planetary gear arrangement and responsive to said variable power source for influencing rotation of said output shaft according to rotation of said shaft of said variable power source; and
a clutch for selectively connecting the constant power source with another member of the combining planetary gear arrangement for establishing a drive path between said constant power source and said combining planetary gear arrangement for influencing rotation of the output shaft according to rotation of the constant power source shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle transmission system comprising:
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a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear, a ring gear connected to an output shaft, a plurality of planet gears, and a carrier assembly rotatably supporting the plurality of planet gears journaled with said sun and ring gears; and
a torque transmitting arrangement coupled to said sun gear and to the shaft of said variable power source for influencing rotation of said sun gear according to the rotation of said variable power supply shaft for causing rotation of said sun gear, thereby influencing rotation of said ring gear and said output shaft;
wherein the carrier assembly of said planetary gear arrangement is selectively connectable to said constant power source for selectively influencing rotation of said carrier assembly of said planetary gears and said ring gear, to thereby influence rotation of said output shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle transmission system having a drive shaft which can be driven continuously or at varying speeds and operable in a first mechanical mode, a second electrical mode, or a third combined mode of operation, comprising:
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a combining planetary gear arrangement having a plurality of members and operatively coupled to a rotatable shaft of a variable power source, a rotatable shaft of a constant power source, and to said output drive shaft;
a clutch and brake mechanism operable in said first and third modes for connecting said constant power source with a member of said combining planetary gear arrangement for establishing a drive path between said combining planetary gear arrangement and said constant power source for influencing rotation of said output shaft according to a rotation direction of the constant power source shaft, and in said second mode for grounding said member of said combining planetary gear arrangement for preventing rotation of said output drive shaft from being influenced by the constant power source; and
a torque transmitting arrangement coupled to another member of said combining planetary gear arrangement and responsive to said variable power source for influencing rotation of said output shaft according to a rotation direction of said shaft of said variable power source in said second and third modes of operation, and in said first mode of operation, for producing sufficient torque to prevent rotation of said another member for preventing rotation of said output drive shaft from being influenced by the variable power source. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification