Power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle and a method for controlling the apparatus

• US 6,645,105 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kima, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US10/180,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 477/3, 477/5, 475/5, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/38 characterised by the driveline clutches shift clutches within the gearing or transmission B60K6/36 , B60K6/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0422 by an electric machine, e.g. by accelerating or braking the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0433 by torque supply with an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/006 power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/093 with two or more countershafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0437 by using electrical signals F16H61/0403 and F16H61/061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/684 without interruption of drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/909 : Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a power transmission apparatus which enables a shifting with high efficiency and small shock. A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having two driving means; an engine and a motor generator, including; a planetary gear unit including at least a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear; and a counter shaft for transmitting power to driving wheels of a vehicle, wherein the rotor of the motor generator is connected to the sun gear, an engine output shaft and a first main shaft which is capable of transmitting torque to the counter shaft through gears in a plurality of transmission gear ratios are connected to the carrier, and torque of the ring gear can be transmitted through gears to a second main shaft which is capable of transmitting torque to the counter shaft through gears in a plurality of transmission gear ratios.

Claims

1. A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle including two driving means, an engine and a motor generator which has a rotor to rotate supplied with electricity and serves as a power generator supplied with torque, comprising;

a planetary gear unit including at least a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear; and

a counter shaft for transmitting power to driving wheels of the vehicle,

wherein said rotor of the motor generator is connected to said sun gear,

an engine output shaft and a first main shaft which is capable of transmitting torque to said counter shaft through first gears in a first plurality of transmission gear ratios are connected to said carrier, and

torque of said ring gear can be transmitted through second gears to a second main shaft which is capable of transmitting torque to said counter shaft through third gears in a second plurality of transmission gear ratios.

2. A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said engine output shaft and said carrier are connected through a clutch, which is capable of connecting and disconnecting power selectively.

3. A method for controlling the power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of;

when a shifting is performed from a first shifting level to a second shifting level,

synchronizing one of said first and second main shafts with said counter shaft in said second shifting level by controlling a number of revolutions of said motor generator, while the other of said shafts engages with said counter shaft in the said first shifting level; and

performing a transition from said first shifting level to said second shifting level by connecting one of said shafts with said counter shaft while disconnecting the other of said shafts from said counter shaft.

4. A method for controlling the power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, the method comprising the steps of;

when a shifting is performed from a first shifting level to a second shifting level,

synchronizing one of said first and second main shafts with said counter shaft in said second shifting level by controlling a number of revolutions of said motor generator, while the other of said shafts engages with said counter shaft in the said first shifting level; and

performing a transition from said first shifting level to said second shifting level by connecting one of said shafts with said counter shaft while disconnecting the other of said shafts from said counter shaft.