Hybrid vehicle

• US 7,506,710 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kimura, Hideo, Hasebe, Tetsuya, Fuchino, Masayuki, Abe, Noriyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/567,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20070163823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 180/65.8, 903/903, 903/905, 903/906, 903/910, 477/3, 477/5
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/04 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• 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 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is provided in which, since the driving force of a generator/motor (M1) disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an input shaft (16) of a transmission (T) is transmitted to an output shaft (17) of the transmission (T) via an endless chain (78), it is possible to carry out the so-called leg shaft drive, in which transmission of the driving force between the generator/motor (M1) and the output shaft (17) is carried out without going through an engine (E) and the input shaft (16), thus reducing power consumption and enhancing energy recovery efficiency during regenerative braking. Furthermore, since a crankshaft (15) of the engine (E) and the input shaft (16) of the transmission (T) are disposed coaxially, and the generator/motor (M1) is disposed at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T), it is possible to employ the same layout for the generator/motor (M1) as for a conventional sandwiched generator/motor, and the leg shaft drive system can be employed without greatly modifying the design of the transmission (T).

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine having a crankshaft;

a transmission that has an input shaft joined coaxially to the crankshaft, an output shaft disposed in parallel to the input shaft, a drive member provide on said input shaft, and a driven member provided on the output shaft, and is capable of changing the gear ratio between said drive member and said driven member;

a generator/motor that is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an axis of the input shaft at a position sandwiched between the engine and the transmission; and

power transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the generator/motor to any position of a power transmission pathway between the output shaft and a differential gear;

the vehicle being capable of traveling by means of either one or both of the driving force of the engine and the driving force of the generator/motor,

wherein the generator/motor is disposed coaxially with the axis, and

wherein a starter motor is joined to an end part of the input shaft on a side opposite to the engine.

2. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine having a crankshaft;

a transmission that has an input shaft joined coaxially to the crankshaft, an output shaft disposed in parallel to the input shaft, a drive member provide on said input shaft, and a driven member provided on the output shaft, and is capable of changing the gear ratio between said drive member and said driven member;

a generator/motor that is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an axis of the input shaft at a position sandwiched between the engine and the transmission; and

power transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the generator/motor to any position of a power transmission pathway between the output shaft and a differential gear;

the vehicle being capable of traveling by means of either one or both of the driving force of the engine and the driving force of the generator/motor,

wherein the generator/motor is disposed coaxially with the axis, and

wherein a starter motor disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the axis at a position sandwiched between the engine and the transmission is joined to the crankshaft or the input shaft.

3. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine having a crankshaft;

a transmission that has an input shaft joined coaxially to the crankshaft, an output shaft disposed in parallel to the input shaft, a drive member provide on said input shaft, and a driven member provided on the output shaft, and is capable of changing the gear ratio between said drive member and said driven member;

a generator/motor that is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of an axis of the input shaft at a position sandwiched between the engine and the transmission; and

power transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the generator/motor to any position of a power transmission pathway between the output shaft and a differential gear;

the vehicle being capable of traveling by means of either one or both of the driving force of the engine and the driving force of the generator/motor,

wherein the generator/motor is disposed coaxially with the axis.