Planetary drive arrangement

• US 7,410,437 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Garnett, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, HA DINH
• Application Number:
  US11/214,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 475/3, 475/5, 180/6.28
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/25 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/411 Bulldozers, Graders
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/14 differential power outputs being effected by additional power supply to one side, e.g. power originating from secondary power source
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/724 using external powered electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/065 with a plurality of driving or driven shafts F16H37/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0806 with a plurality of driving or driven shafts
• 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

Abstract

A drive arrangement for a machine includes a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a first motor, a second motor, and a third motor. The first, second, and third motors are drivingly connected to the first, second, and third planetary gear sets to simultaneously generate fewer than three separate output rotations.

Claims

1. A drive arrangement, comprising:

a first planetary gear set;

a second planetary gear set;

a third planetary gear set;

a first motor;

a second motor; and

a third motor,

wherein the first, second, and third motors are drivingly connected to the first, second, and third planetary gear sets, and the first, second, and third motors simultaneously generate two output rotations to independently transmit power to two traction devices.

2. The drive arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third planetary gear sets each include at least three elements, the at least three elements of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets being connected to form five members.

3. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein at least two elements of each of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets are connected to at least two elements of the other sets of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets.

4. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein each of the five members includes fewer than two elements from any one of the first, second, and third planetary gear set.

5. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein each of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets has fewer than three elements connected to any one other of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets.

6. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set, planet carrier of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and sun gear of the second planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the second planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the sun gear of the third planetary gear set.

7. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

8. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

9. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the second planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

10. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set, ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the second planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

11. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set.

12. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set, planet carrier of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

13. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the second planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set.

14. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set.

15. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the second planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set.

16. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the second planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the second planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

17. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the sun gear of the second planetary gear set.

18. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set and sun gear of the second planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, planet carrier of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

19. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set.

20. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set, ring gear of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the second planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set.

21. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set, the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

22. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set, planet carrier of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the second planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

23. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the ring gear of the first planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the first planetary gear set, planet carrier of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the second planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

24. The drive arrangement of claim 2, wherein:

the at least three elements includes;

a sun gear;

a planet carrier having planet gears; and

a ring gear;

the first of the five members includes the connected ring gear of the first planetary gear set, sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the second of the five members includes the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

the third of the five members includes the connected sun gear of the first planetary gear set and planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the fourth of the five members includes the ring gear of the second planetary gear set; and

the fifth of the five members includes the connected planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and ring gear of the third planetary gear set.

25. A machine, comprising:

a power source operable to generate a power output;

a first traction device;

a second traction device;

a planetary gear arrangement configured to drive the first and second traction devices and having;

a first planetary gear set;

a second planetary gear set; and

a third planetary gear set;

a first motor;

a second motor; and

a third motor,

wherein the first, second, and third motors are drivingly connected by way of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets, and the first, second, and third motors simultaneously generate two output rotations to independently transmit power to each of the first and second traction devices.

26. The machine of claim 25, wherein the first, second, and third planetary gear sets each include at least three elements, the at least three elements of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets being connected to form five members.

27. The machine of claim 26, wherein at least two elements of each of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets are connected to at least two elements of the other sets of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets.

28. The machine of claim 26, wherein each of the five members includes fewer than two elements from any one of the first, second, and third planetary gear set.

29. The machine of claim 26, wherein each of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets has fewer than three elements connected to any one other of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets.