Vehicle drive device

• US 7,395,888 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Daisuke, Tahara, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US11/065,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20050190524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/233, 180/248
• US Class Current: 180/65.29
• 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 6/42 characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/606 Axle differential or center differential features related thereto
• 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: 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: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A vehicle drive device comprises an actuator located between an electric motor and axles for driving the vehicle, a built-in power source for supplying electric power to the actuator, and a control means for controlling the drive of the actuator. The built-in power source can be consisted of a battery, and the actuator can be consisted of an electromagnetic clutch. Here, the vehicle drive device further comprises a boost means, such as a DC-DC converter, for boosting voltage of the built-in power source such as the battery. The output voltage of the boost means is supplied electric power to the actuator such as the electromagnetic clutch. The output voltage of the boost means can be also supplied the electric power to the field coil of the electric motor.

Claims

1. A vehicle drive device comprising

an electromagnetic clutch used for driving the vehicle,

a built-in power source for supplying electric power to said actuator, and

a control means for controlling the drive of said actuator,

said vehicle drive device further comprising

a boost means for boosting the output voltage of said built-in power source, wherein

the electric power boosted by said boost means is supplied to said actuator, and

a high-output driving generator driven by an internal combustion engine and

an electric motor driven by the output voltage supplied by said high-output driving generator, wherein

said electromagnetic clutch is located between said electric motor and axles, and the electric power boosted by said boost means is supplied to a field coil of said high-output driving generator and a field coil of said electric motor.

2. A vehicle drive device comprising

an actuator used for driving the vehicle,

a built-in power source for supplying electric power to said actuator, and

a control means for controlling the drive of said actuator,

said vehicle drive device further comprising

a boost means for boosting output voltage of said built-in power source,

a high-output driving generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and

an electric alternating current motor driven by the output voltage supplied by said high-output driving generator, wherein

the electric power boosted by said boost means is supplied to a field coil of said high-output driving generator and a field coil of said electric alternating current motor.

3. A vehicle drive device comprising

an actuator used for driving the vehicle,

a built-in power source for supplying electric power to said actuator, and

a control means for controlling the drive of said actuator,

said vehicle drive device further comprising

a boost means for boosting output voltage of said built-in power source,

a high-output driving generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and

an electric motor driven by the output voltage supplied by said high-output driving generator, wherein,

the electric power boosted by said boost means is supplied to a field coil of said high-output driving generator and a field coil of said electric motor.

4. A vehicle drive device comprising:

a high-output driving generator driven by an internal combustion engine which drives either one wheel of a front-wheel axle or rear-wheel axle;

an electric alternating current motor driven by output power from the high-output driving generator, and drives another one wheel axle of the front-wheel axle or rear-wheel axle, and

a boost means for boosting the voltage of a auxiliary battery which is a power source for an actuator used to drive the vehicle;

wherein

an electric power boosted by said boost means is supplied to a field coil of said high-output driving generator and a field coil of said electric alternating current motor.

5. A vehicle drive device comprising:

a high-output driving generator driven by an internal combustion engine which drives either one wheel of a front-wheel axle or rear-wheel axle;

an electric motor driven by output power from the high-output driving generator, and drives another one wheel axle of the front-wheel axle or rear-wheel axle, and

a boost means for boosting the voltage of a auxiliary battery which is a power source of an actuator used to drive the vehicle;

wherein

an electric power boosted by said boost means is supplied to a field coil of said high-output driving generator and a field coil of said electric motor.

6. The vehicle drive device according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is an electromagnetic clutch.

7. The vehicle drive device according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is an electromagnetic brake.

8. The vehicle drive device according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is an electromagnetic limited-slip differential gear.