Hybrid vehicle powertrain system with power take-off driven vehicle accessory

• US 7,104,920 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Kang, Xiaosong, Hope, Mark E., Bockelmann, Thomas R., Beaty, Kevin D., Zou, Zhanijang, Carpenter, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US10/935,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 477/5, 477/3, 477/6, 475/5, 475/1, 475/6, 180/65.4, 180/65.7
• US Class Current: 477/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/06 from the transmission power take-off transmissions having power-take-off B60K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle powertrain system includes a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven power transmission mechanism having a power take-off adapted to drive a vehicle accessory, and a second prime mover. The second prime mover is operable to drive the power transmission mechanism alone or in combination with the first prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism. The invention further includes methods for operating a hybrid vehicle powertrain system.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle powertrain system, comprising:

a first prime mover;

a first prime mover driven power transmission mechanism having a power take-off adapted to drive a vehicle accessory;

a second prime mover operable to drive the power transmission mechanism alone or in combination with the first prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism; and

a rechargeable energy source, wherein the second prime mover is operable as a generator or pump and the first prime mover is configured to provide power to the generator or pump to recharge the energy source.

2. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 1, wherein the first prime mover is configured to simultaneously drive the generator or pump to recharge the energy source and provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism.

3. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 1, wherein the first prime mover and power transmission are configured to provide power to the power take-off in response to an energy level in the energy source falling below a predetermined level.

4. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 1 further including a clutch positioned between the first prime mover and the power transmission mechanism.

5. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 4, wherein the clutch is adapted to be disengaged when the second prime mover is providing power to the power take-off.

6. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 1, wherein the second prime mover is selectively operable to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism.

7. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory is a hydraulic system.

8. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 1 further including a controller for controlling operation of the vehicle powertrain system and a signaling device operable to provide a signal to the controller authorizing operation of the power take-off driven vehicle accessory and a corresponding activation of the second prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission system.

9. A hybrid vehicle powertrain system, comprising:

a first prime mover;

a first prime mover driven power transmission mechanism;

a rechargeable energy source;

an energy source powered second prime mover operable to drive the power transmission mechanism alone or in combination with the first prime mover, the first prime mover operable to drive the second prime mover to recharge the energy source in response to an energy level in the energy source falling below a predetermined level; and

an energy source powered vehicle accessory.

10. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 9, wherein the power transmission mechanism includes a power take-off adapted to drive a vehicle accessory.

11. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 10, wherein the first prime mover, the second prime mover and the power transmission mechanism are configured to provide power to the power take-off.

12. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 11, wherein the first prime mover is configured to simultaneously drive the second prime mover to recharge the energy source and provide power to the power take-off.

13. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 10 further including a clutch positioned between the first prime mover and the power transmission mechanism.

14. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 13, wherein the clutch is adapted to be disengaged when the second prime mover is providing power to the power take-off.

15. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 10 further including a controller for controlling operation of the vehicle powertrain system and a signaling device operable to provide a signal to the controller authorizing operation of the power take-off vehicle accessory and a corresponding activation of the second prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission system.

16. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 9, wherein the energy source powered vehicle accessory is a hydraulic system.

17. The vehicle powertrain system of claim 9 further including a controller for controlling operation of the vehicle powertrain system and a signaling device operable to provide a signal to the controller authorizing operation of the energy source powered vehicle accessory.

18. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle powertrain system, comprising:

providing a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven power transmission mechanism having a power take-off adapted to drive a vehicle accessory, and a second prime mover operable to drive the power transmission mechanism alone or in combination with the first prime mover;

operating the second prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism; and

providing a rechargeable energy source and operating the second prime mover as a generator or pump to recharge the energy source.

19. The method of claim 18 further including the step of operating the first prime mover to simultaneously drive the second prime mover to recharge the energy source and provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism.

20. The method of claim 18 further including the step of operating the first prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism in response to an energy level in the energy source falling below a predetermined level.

21. The method of claim 18 further including the step of providing a clutch between the first prime mover and the power transmission mechanism and disengaging the clutch when the second prime mover is providing power to the power take-off.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of operating the second prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism further includes operating the second prime mover only when operation of the vehicle accessory is required.

23. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle powertrain system, comprising:

providing a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven power transmission mechanism, a rechargeable energy source, a second prime mover operable to drive the power transmission mechanism alone or in combination with the first prime mover and further operable to recharge the energy source, and an energy source powered vehicle accessory;

operating the vehicle accessory using energy from the energy source; and

operating the second prime mover to recharge the energy source in response to an energy level in the energy source falling below a predetermined level.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the steps of providing a power transmission mechanism power take-off adapted to drive a second vehicle accessory and operating the second prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism.

25. The method of claim 24 further including the step of operating the first prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism in response to an energy level in the energy source falling below a predetermined level.

26. The method of claim 24 further including the steps of providing a clutch between the first prime mover and the power transmission mechanism and disengaging the clutch when the second prime mover is providing power to the power take-off.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing energy from the energy source to the vehicle accessory further includes deactivating the vehicle accessory when operation of the vehicle accessory is not required.