Hybrid drive chain and hybrid vehicle equipped with same

• US 7,694,761 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Noiret, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US11/911,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/338, 180/65.28, 180/65.23, 180/65.24, 180/65.27, 180/65.285, 180/65.21, 180/65.6, 180/65.235, 475/231, 475/223, 475/5, 903/903, 903/906, 903/913, 903/919
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4808 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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: B60L 2220/50 Structural details of electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• 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

Abstract

The invention concerns a hybrid drive chain of a vehicle (1) comprising a heat engine (2) connected to a mechanical assembly (4) including a gearbox (5) coupled with a differential (6) itself coupled with the driven wheels (7G, 7D) of the vehicle (1) by their respective axle shafts (8G, 8D), and at least one electrical machine (3) including a stator (10) and a rotor (11), cooperating with the heat engine (2) via the mechanical assembly to provide heat and/or hybrid traction to the driven wheels (7G, 7D). The invention is characterized in that the electrical machine (3) is arranged between the differential (6) and one of the driven wheels (7D), by surrounding the axle shaft (8D) connecting the driven wheel (7D) to the differential (6).

Claims

1. A hybrid traction drive for a vehicle comprising:

a heat engine coupled to a mechanical assembly,

wherein the mechanical assembly comprises a gearbox coupled to a differential, the differential being coupled to the driven wheels of the vehicle by their respective transmission shafts, and

at least one electrical machine having a stator and a rotor, cooperating with the heat engine via the mechanical assembly in order to provide at least one of combustion and electrical drive to the driven wheels,

wherein the electrical machine is positioned between the differential and one of the driven wheels, surrounding the transmission shaft connecting the driven wheel to the differential,

wherein a main axis of the electrical machine is coaxial with a main axis of the transmission shaft, and

wherein the electrical machine is housed inside a body distinct from the mechanical assembly.

2. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 1, wherein the rotor of the electrical machine is integrally mounted on a hollow shaft surrounding the transmission shaft whose end facing the differential is arranged to be mechanically coupled to the differential.

3. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 2, wherein the rotor is mechanically coupled directly to the differential.

4. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 3, wherein the differential has a section of hollow shaft provided with splines that mesh with the end of the hollow shaft of the electrical machine, the hollow shaft having splines that fit together with those on the section of hollow shaft.

5. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 2, wherein the rotor of the electrical machine is mechanically coupled to the differential via a speed reduction means located between the electrical machine and the differential.

6. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 5, wherein the speed reduction means has a planetary gear train installed between the rotor of the electrical machine and the ring gear of the differential, the end of the rotor forming the sun gear of the planetary gear train and the ring gear of the differential forming the ring gear of the planetary gear train.

7. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 5, wherein the speed reduction means is a pinion reducer.

8. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 7, wherein the pinion reducer has first and second pinions of different diameters, the first and second pinions being rotatably connected to and meshing with the ring gear of the differential and a gear wheel attached to the rotor, respectively.

9. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 8, wherein the first pinion is located in a housing attached onto the mechanical assembly containing the differential, and in that the second pinion is located in the body that encloses the electrical machine, with both pinions being rotatably coupled to a drive shaft.

10. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 9, wherein the electrical machine is hollow, and is sealed by arranging an internal partition encapsulating the rotor.

11. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 1, wherein the output of the differential, which rotatably receives and supports a first end of the transmission shaft, is rotatably supported inside the rotor.

12. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 1, wherein the end of the body containing the electrical machine opposite from the differential has bearing forming means for the second end of the transmission shaft.

13. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 12, wherein the bearing forming means supports the heat engine torque rod.

14. A hybrid vehicle, characterized in that the hybrid vehicle is equipped with a hybrid traction drive according to claim 1.

15. A hybrid traction drive for a vehicle comprising:

a heat engine coupled to a mechanical assembly,

wherein the mechanical assembly comprises a gearbox coupled to a differential, the differential being coupled to the driven wheels of the vehicle by their respective transmission shafts, and

at least one electrical machine having a stator and a rotor, cooperating with the heat engine via the mechanical assembly in order to provide at least one of combustion and electrical drive to the driven wheels,

wherein the electrical machine is positioned between the differential and one of the driven wheels, surrounding the transmission shaft connecting the driven wheel to the differential,

wherein the electrical machine is housed inside a body distinct from the mechanical assembly, and

wherein the rotor of the electrical machine is integrally mounted on a hollow shaft surrounding the transmission shaft whose end facing the differential is arranged to be mechanically coupled to the differential.

16. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 15, wherein the rotor is mechanically coupled directly to the differential.

17. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 16, wherein the differential has a section of hollow shaft provided with splines that mesh with the end of the hollow shaft of the electrical machine, the hollow shaft having splines that fit together with those on the section of hollow shaft.

18. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 15, wherein the rotor of the electrical machine is mechanically coupled to the differential via a speed reduction means located between the electrical machine and the differential.

19. The hybrid traction drive according to claim 15, wherein the speed reduction means has a planetary gear train installed between the rotor of the electrical machine and the ring gear of the differential, the end of the rotor forming the sun gear of the planetary gear train and the ring gear of the differential forming the ring gear of the planetary gear train.

20. A hybrid traction drive for a vehicle comprising:

a heat engine coupled to a mechanical assembly,

wherein the mechanical assembly comprises a gearbox coupled to a differential, the differential being coupled to the driven wheels of the vehicle by their respective transmission shafts, and

at least one electrical machine having a stator and a rotor, cooperating with the heat engine via the mechanical assembly in order to provide at least one of combustion and electrical drive to the driven wheels,

wherein the electrical machine is positioned between the differential and one of the driven wheels, surrounding the transmission shaft connecting the driven wheel to the differential,

wherein the electrical machine is housed inside a body distinct from the mechanical assembly, and

wherein the output of the differential, which rotatably receives and supports a first end of the transmission shaft, is rotatably supported inside the rotor.