Power transmission system and operation method therefor

• US 7,086,978 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Aikawa, Masashi, Yamazaki, Nobushi
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US10/772,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 475/5, 475/200, 475/206, 746/06.R, 180/247, 180/65.2, 180/65.6
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/02 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
• 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 17/165 provided between independent half axles B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• 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 6/387 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 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• 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 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 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/20 : involving more than two intermeshing members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 : comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/22 : using friction clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/30 : using externally-actuatable means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 903/912 : Drive line clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/913 : One way
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/952 : Housing details

Abstract

Between a speed reducing mechanism (15, 17, 19) for speed-reducing drive power of an electric motor and a differential apparatus (7) for distributing speed-reduced drive power to axle ends is disposed a clutch (5) configured for interruptive transmission of drive power.

Claims

1. A power transmission system for vehicles including a main drive wheel and an auxiliary drive wheel, the system comprising:

a main power transmission system configured to transmit main drive power to the main drive wheel via a first train of torque transmitters; and

an auxiliary power transmission system configured to transmit auxiliary drive power from an electric motor to the auxiliary drive wheel via an interruptive second train of torque transmitters including;

a differential;

a combination of a plurality of reduction gears and a clutch disposed between the electric motor and the differential;

a casing configured to accommodate the differential, a plurality of gear stages of the plurality of reduction gears and the clutch; and

a seal disposed between the casing and a power transmission member provided through the casing,

wherein the clutch is disposed in opposition to the electric motor relative to the plurality of reduction gears.

2. A power transmission system for vehicles including a main drive wheel and an auxiliary drive wheel, the system comprising:

a main power transmission system configured to transmit main drive power to the main drive wheel via a first train of torque transmitters; and

an auxiliary power transmission system configured to transmit auxiliary drive power from an electric motor to the auxiliary drive wheel via an interruptive second train of torque transmitters including;

a differential;

a combination of a plurality of reduction gears and a clutch disposed between the electric motor and the differential;

a casing configured to accommodate the differential, a plurality of gear stages of the plurality of reduction gears and the clutch; and

a seal disposed between the casing and a power transmission member provided through the casing,

wherein the electric motor and the clutch are disposed at a front gear stage and a rear gear stage of the plurality of reduction gears, with a rotation shaft of the plurality of reduction gears in between.