Hybrid-vehicle drive system and operation method with a transmission
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hybrid-vehicle drive system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism;
a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism;
a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft;
a transmission located on a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, wherein the transmission has a plurality of forward-drive gear positions and a reverse-drive gear position; and
a controller that selects a reverse driving mode from a first mode in which the transmission is placed in the reverse-drive gear position and a second mode in which the power distribution mechanism is adjusted to drive the vehicle in a reverse direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid-vehicle drive method and system includes an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft, a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism, a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism, a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft, and a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A hybrid-vehicle drive system, comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft; a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism; a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism; a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; a transmission located on a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, wherein the transmission has a plurality of forward-drive gear positions and a reverse-drive gear position; and a controller that selects a reverse driving mode from a first mode in which the transmission is placed in the reverse-drive gear position and a second mode in which the power distribution mechanism is adjusted to drive the vehicle in a reverse direction.
-
-
2. A method of operating a hybrid-vehicle drive system comprising:
- (a) an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
(b) a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism;
(c) a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism;
(d) a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; and
(e) a transmission located on the wheel drive shaft, the method comprising the steps of;setting a gear position of the transmission to a first gear position having a predetermined high-speed gear ratio as a first gear ratio; and maintaining the transmission in the first gear position irrespective of changes in a vehicle speed, as long as the hybrid-vehicle drive system is able to provide a required value of a torque at vehicle axles while the internal combustion engine is operated at a high fuel efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- (a) an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
-
8. A method of operating a hybrid-vehicle drive system including:
- (a) an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
(b) a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism;
(c) a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism;
(d) a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; and
(e) a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, the method comprising;changing a ratio of a first torque produced at vehicle axles by the internal combustion engine to a second torque produced at the vehicle axles by the second electric motor/generator at each gear position of the transmission to a fault ratio of the first torque to the second torque when one of the internal combustion engine and the second electric motor/generator is faulty, from a normal ratio of the first torque to the second torque when both of the internal combustion engine and the second electric motor/generator operate normally. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- (a) an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
-
11. A hybrid-vehicle drive system, comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft; a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism; a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism; a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, the transmission having a plurality of forward-drive gear positions and a reverse-drive gear position, the reverse-drive gear position being established through engagement or disengagement of an engaging device provided in the transmission, the transmission including a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a ring gear, planetary pinions and a carrier; and a controller that selects a reverse driving mode from a first mode in which the transmission is placed in the reverse-drive gear position and a second mode in which the power distribution mechanism is adjusted to drive the vehicle in a reverse direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A hybrid-vehicle drive system, comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft; a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism; a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism; a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, the transmission having a plurality of forward-drive gear positions and a reverse-drive gear position; and a controller that selects a reverse driving mode from a first mode in which the transmission is placed in the reverse-drive gear position and a second mode in which the power distribution mechanism is adjusted to drive the vehicle in a reverse direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A hybrid-vehicle drive system, comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft; a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism; a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism; a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; a transmission located on a connecting line or path between the second electric motor/generator and the wheel drive shaft, wherein the transmission has a plurality of forward-drive gear positions and a reverse-drive gear position; and a controller that selects a reverse driving mode from a first mode in which the transmission is placed in the reverse-drive gear position and a second mode in which the power distribution mechanism is adjusted to drive the vehicle in a reverse direction.
-
-
18. A method of operating a hybrid-vehicle drive system including:
- (a) an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
(b) a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a single power distribution mechanism;
(c) a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the single power distribution mechanism;
(d) a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; and
(e) a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, the method comprising;mutually compensating by the transmission an engine torque by the internal combustion engine and a motor torque by the second electric motor/generator, the engine and motor torques produced at vehicle axles at each gear position of the transmission when one of the internal combustion engine and the second electric motor/generator is faulty.
- (a) an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft;
-
19. A hybrid-vehicle drive system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft; a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism; a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism; a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; and a transmission located on the wheel drive shaft, wherein a gear position of the transmission is set to a first gear position having a predetermined high-speed gear ratio as a first gear ratio; and the transmission is maintained in the first gear position irrespective of changes in a vehicle speed, as long as the hybrid-vehicle drive system is able to provide a required value of a torque at vehicle axles while the internal combustion engine is operated at a high fuel efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A hybrid-vehicle drive system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism; a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism; a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft; and a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft, wherein a ratio of a first torque produced at vehicle axles by the internal combustion engine to a second torque produced at the vehicle axles by the second electric motor/generator at each gear position of the transmission is changed when one of the internal combustion engine and the second electric motor/generator is faulty, from the ratio of the first torque to the second torque when both of the internal combustion engine and the second electric motor/generator operates normally. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
Specification