Hybrid vehicle

• US 6,817,432 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Uchida, Masaaki, Kikuchi, Toshio, Kaneko, Yutaro, Hattori, Noboru, Kitada, Shinichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US10/132,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20020170757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 477/3, 477/27, 606/98, 607/19, 290/47, 290/48
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• 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 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/952 Housing details

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is provided that lowers the cost of series hybrid vehicles in order to make it easier for series hybrid vehicles to gain popularity. A hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine, a first rotary electric machine and a second rotary electric machine. The first rotary electric machine is coupled to the output shaft of the engine, while the second rotary electric machine is electrically coupled to the first rotary electric machine and coupled to the drive wheels of the vehicle. The maximum generated electric power of the first rotary electric machine is substantially equal to the maximum output power of the second rotary electric machine.

Claims

1. A group of hybrid vehicles comprising:

a first hybrid vehicle model including

a first engine having a first output shaft,

a first input rotary electric machine with a first maximum generated electric power operatively coupled to the first output shaft,

a first output rotary electric machine with a first maximum output power electrically coupled to the first input rotary electric machine and operatively coupled to a drive wheel of the first hybrid vehicle model, the first output rotary electric machine and the first engine being configured and arranged in a non-connectable arrangement with the first output rotary electric machine being configured to be driven only by electricity generated by the first input rotary electric machine, the first maximum generated electric power of the first input rotary electric machine being substantially equal to the first maximum output power of the first output rotary electric machine, and

a first electric storage device with a first maximum output electric power operatively coupled to the first output rotary electric machine and configured in a non-charging arrangement with the first input rotary electric machine such that electric power generated by the first input rotary electric machine is transferred to the first output rotary electric machine without being stored; and

a second hybrid vehicle model including

a second engine having a second output shaft,

a second input rotary electric machine with a second maximum generated electric power that is identical to the first maximum generated electric power, the second input rotary electric machine being operatively coupled to the second output shaft,

a second output rotary electric machine with a second maximum output power that is identical to the first maximum output power, the second output rotary electric machine being electrically coupled to the second input rotary electric machine and operatively coupled to a drive wheel of the second hybrid vehicle model, the second output rotary electric machine and the second engine being configured and arranged in a non-connectable arrangement with the second output rotary electric machine being configured to be indirectly driven only by electricity generated by the second input rotary electric machine, and

a second electric storage device with a second maximum output electric power that is larger than the first maximum output electric power, the second electric storage device being operatively coupled to the second input rotary electric machine and the second output rotary electric machine to store electric power generated by the second input rotary machine before transferring the electric power to the second output rotary electric machine.

2. The group of hybrid vehicles as recited in claim 1 wherein

the first electric storage device has a first electric capacity, and

the second electric storage device has a second electric capacity that is larger than the first electric capacity.

3. The group of hybrid vehicles as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first input rotary electric machine and the first output rotary electric machine are housed inside a single first casing, and

the second input rotary electric machine and the second output rotary electric machine are housed inside a single second casing that is identical to the first casing.