Hybrid-vehicle power train

• US 7,246,672 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Equos Research
• Original Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Inventors: Shirai, Hisanori, Hasebe, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/705,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 477/3, 477/6, 477/8, 475/5, 475/1, 903/910, 903/918
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/06 of change-speed gearing B60K17/10 - B60K17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• 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 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 2510/02 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/02 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/785 Geared neutral
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/088 Power split variators with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0846 : CVT using endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable

Abstract

A hybrid-vehicle power train connected to an engine comprises a motor, a CVT unit, a planetary gear unit having at least two input elements, namely, first and second input elements and an output element, a first clutch for engaging/disengaging the first input element with/from a final shaft of the power train, and a second clutch for engaging/disengaging the output element with/from the final shaft of the power train. An input shaft of the CVT unit is connected to the engine and is drivingly connected to the second input element. An output shaft of the CVT unit is connected to the first input element. The motor is connected to the output shaft of the CVT unit. According this configuration, motor torque is amplified and transmitted to the final shaft when the first clutch is engaged, while motor torque is transmit directly to the final shaft when the second clutch is engaged.

Claims

1. A hybrid-vehicle power train connected to an engine, comprising:

an input shaft;

a final shaft;

a motor;

a planetary gear unit with at least three elements comprising;

first and second input elements, and an output element;

a first clutch for engaging/disengaging the first input element of the planetary gear unit with/from the final shaft of the hybrid-vehicle power train;

a second clutch for engaging/disengaging the output element with/from the final shaft of the hybrid-vehicle power train, and

a CVT unit having an input shaft and a output shaft, the input shaft is connected to the engine and is drivingly connected to the second input element of the planetary gear unit, the output shaft is connected to the first input element;

wherein the motor is connected to the output shaft of the CVT unit.

2. The hybrid-vehicle power train according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third clutch for engaging/disengaging the hybrid-vehicle power train with/from the engine, wherein the third clutch is arranged, and connected between the input shaft of the hybrid-vehicle power train and the engine.

3. The hybrid-vehicle power train according to claim 1, wherein the motor is disposed coaxially on the output shaft of the CVT unit.

4. The hybrid-vehicle power train according to claim 1, wherein the motor is drivingly connected to the output shaft of the CVT unit and is disposed on a shaft different from the output shaft of the CVT unit.

5. The hybrid-vehicle power train according to claim 1, wherein the CVT unit is disposed between the motor and the planetary gear unit.

6. The hybrid-vehicle power train according to claim 1, wherein the motor is disposed between the CVT unit and the planetary gear unit.

7. The hybrid-vehicle power train according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a motor-generator that also has a function of generating electricity.