Vehicle hybrid propulsion system

• US 7,559,386 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lu, Chun-Hsien, Gu, Huan-Lung, Cheng, Li-Ju, Wei, Tseng-Teh, Huang, Shian-Hsuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/489,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 192/995, 192/84.93, 903/904, 903/905, 903/906, 903/912, 903/913, 903/914, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• 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 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• 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: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0642 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 28/00 Electrically-actuated clutches arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02; clutches actuated directly by means of an electromagnet F16D27/00; automatic clutches F16D43/00 - F16D45/00; external control F16D48/00
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle hybrid propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission, a plate clutch, and at least one electric actuator coupled with the engine and with the transmission for being able to perform one of the operations consisting of generating propulsive forces, generating electric power and idling. A lever mechanism driven by an electric motor is used to control engaging and disengaging of the plate clutch such that connection between the transmission and the engine and/or the electric motor can be established or blocked. Thus, hybrid propulsion systems having different functions can be formed. Moreover, the hybrid propulsion systems are easy to implement by combining modular components.

Claims

1. A vehicle hybrid propulsion system, comprising:

an engine for generating a propulsive force;

an electric motor for generating a propulsive force, generating electricity or idling;

an output shaft connected to the engine and the electric motor for outputting the propulsive force;

a plate clutch connected to the output shaft and having a motor and a lever mechanism, the lever mechanism including a push rod driven by the motor via a fulcrum, a lever propelled by the push rod, and a thrust ring propelled by the lever and exerting forces on the plate clutch, the lever being disposed between the thrust ring and the push rod, and the thrust ring being disposed between the fulcrum and the push rod; and

a transmission having an input shaft connected to the plate clutch for inputting the propulsive force, and having an output shaft for outputting the propulsive force to a load,

wherein the plate clutch is used for separating the transmission from the engine or coupling the transmission with the engine.

2. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic controller for making the electric motor perform one of the operations consisting of generating propulsive forces, generating electricity and idling.

3. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the transmission is one of a manual transmission and an automatic transmission.

4. A vehicle hybrid propulsion system, comprising:

an engine for generating a propulsive force;

a plate clutch having a lever mechanism driven by a motor, the lever mechanism including a push rod driven by the motor, a lever propelled by the push rod via a fulcrum, and a thrust ring propelled by the lever and exerting forces on the plate clutch, the lever being disposed between the thrust ring and the push rod, and the thrust ring being disposed between the fulcrum and the push rod;

an output shaft connected to the engine and the plate clutch for outputting the propulsive force;

an electric motor connected to the output shaft and disposed on an output of the engine for generating a propulsive force, generating electricity or idling; and

a transmission having an input shaft connected to the plate clutch for inputting the propulsive force, and having an output shaft for outputting the propulsive force to a load.

5. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 4, further comprising an electronic controller for making the electric motor perform one of the operations consisting of generating propulsive forces, generating electricity and idling.

6. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 4, wherein the transmission is one of a manual transmission and an automatic transmission.

7. A vehicle hybrid propulsion system, comprising:

an engine for generating a propulsive force;

a first electric motor for generating a propulsive force or generating electricity;

a first output shaft connected to the engine for outputting the propulsive force;

a transmission connected to the first electric motor, having an input shaft connected to the first output shaft, and having a second output shaft for outputting the propulsive force to a load;

a second electric motor connected to the first output shaft and disposed on an output of the engine for generating a propulsive force or generating electricity;

a plate clutch connected to the first output shaft and the input shaft, disposed between the first electric motor and the second electric motor, and having a motor and an actuating mechanism for separating the engine from the transmission or coupling the engine with the transmission; and

a lever mechanism including a push rod driven by the motor of the plate clutch, a lever propelled by the push rod via a fulcrum, and a thrust ring propelled by the lever and exerting forces on the plate clutch, the lever being disposed between the thrust ring and the push rod, and the thrust ring being disposed between the fulcrum and the push rod.

8. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 7, further comprising an electronic controller for making the first electric motor and the second electric motor perform one of the operations consisting of generating propulsive forces, generating electricity and idling.

9. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 8, wherein the electronic controller further controls forward and reverse cycling of the first electric motor so as to move a vehicle forward or backward.

10. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 7, wherein the transmission is one of a manual transmission and an automatic transmission.

11. The vehicle hybrid propulsion system of claim 7, wherein output power of the first electric motor is more than output power of the second electric motor.