Hybrid powertrain system having selectively connectable engine, motor/generator, and transmission

• US 7,972,235 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Swales, Shawn H, Usoro, Patrick B
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; David D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bishop; Erin D
• Application Number:
  US11/870,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 903/912, 746/65.C, 475/5, 477/5
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• 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 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 2050/0004 In digital systems, e.g. discrete-time systems involving sampling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/428 Double clutch arrangements; Dual clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/134 : Rheological, magneto- or electro- fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/3036 : the clutch is actuated by springs and released by a fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0028 : using a single pump driven by different power sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/912 : Drive line clutch

Abstract

A hybrid powertrain having an engine, multi-speed transmission connected to a final drive and not continuously connected to the engine, a single motor/generator connected to an energy storage device and a controller and not continuously connected to the engine or transmission, and three clutches. The first clutch is connected to the engine, the second clutch is connected to the transmission and first clutch, and the third clutch is connected to the motor/generator and first and second clutches. The first and second clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the engine and transmission; the first and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the engine and motor/generator; the second and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the transmission and motor/generator; and the three clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the engine, transmission and motor/generator to transmit power therebetween. An engine starter system may be connected to the engine to transmit power to and receive power from the engine.

Claims

1. A powertrain system comprising:

an engine;

a transmission operatively connected to a final drive and not continuously connected with said engine;

a motor/generator characterized by an absence of continuous connectivity with said engine and said transmission;

first, second, and third torque transmitting devices each being operatively connected to a respective one of said engine, motor/generator, and transmission and configured to be engaged in different combinations of at least two to selectively interconnect at least two of said engine, motor/generator, and transmission to transmit power therebetween;

wherein said engine does not receive power from said motor/generator when said motor/generator is powered as a motor and said third torque transmitting device is not engaged; and

wherein said transmission does not receive power from said engine when said second torque transmitting device is not engaged.

2. The powertrain system of claim 1, wherein said first and second torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine and said transmission to transmit power therebetween.

3. The powertrain system of claim 2, wherein said first and third torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween.

4. The powertrain system of claim 3, wherein said second and third torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said transmission and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween.

5. The powertrain system of claim 4, further comprising:

a first energy storage device operatively connected to said motor/generator and configured to transmit power to and receive power from said motor/generator.

6. The powertrain system of claim 5, further comprising:

a first controller operatively connected to said motor/generator, said controller being configured to control desired modes and output of said motor/generator.

7. The powertrain system of claim 6, wherein said first, second, and third torque transmitting devices are each a selectively engageable clutch.

8. The powertrain system of claim 7, wherein said powertrain system is characterized by an absence of more than one motor/generator operable to provide power to said transmission.

9. The powertrain system of claim 8, further comprising:

a transmission pump operatively connected to said third clutch and not continuously connected to said engine or said transmission, wherein said third clutch is operable to permit said motor/generator to power said transmission pump.

10. The powertrain system of claim 9, wherein said third clutch is a spring-applied clutch configured to permit said motor/generator to power said transmission pump during engine off-state and start-up.

11. The powertrain system of claim 8, further comprising:

an engine starter system operatively connected to said engine and configured to transmit power to and receive power from said engine.

12. The powertrain system of claim 11, wherein said engine starter system comprises an alternator/starter, a second energy storage device, and a second controller operatively connecting said alternator/starter with said second energy storage device, said second controller being configured to control the desired mode and output of said alternator/starter.

13. A hybrid powertrain system comprising:

an engine;

a transmission operatively connected to a final drive and not continuously connected with said engine;

a first energy storage device;

a motor/generator operatively connected to said first energy storage device and not continuously connected to said engine or said transmission, said motor/generator configured to transmit power to and receive power from said first energy storage device;

a first torque transmitting device operatively connected to said engine;

a second torque transmitting device operatively connected to said transmission, wherein said first and second torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine and said transmission to transmit power therebetween;

a third torque transmitting device operatively connected to said motor/generator, wherein said first and third torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween, wherein said second and third torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said transmission and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween, and wherein said first, second, and third torque transmitting devices are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine, said transmission and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween;

a transmission pump operatively connected to said first, second, and third torque transmitting devices and not continuously connected to said engine, said motor/generator, or said transmission, and configured to be selectively powered by at least one of said engine, motor/generator, and transmission;

wherein said third torque transmitting device is a spring-applied clutch configured to permit said motor/generator to power said transmission pump during engine off-state and start-up; and

wherein said hybrid powertrain is characterized by an absence of more than one motor/generator operable to provide power to said transmission.

14. The hybrid powertrain of claim 13, further comprising:

a first controller operatively connected to said motor/generator, said controller being configured to control desired modes and output of said motor/generator.

15. The hybrid powertrain of claim 14, wherein said first, second, and third torque transmitting devices are each a selectively engageable clutch.

16. The hybrid powertrain of claim 15, further comprising:

an engine starter system operatively connected to said engine and configured to transmit power to said engine.

17. The hybrid powertrain of claim 16, further comprising:

an accessory operatively connected to said engine and said engine starter system to permit said accessory to be driven by said engine, said engine starter system, or both.

18. The hybrid powertrain of claim 14, further comprising:

accessory operatively connected to said first, second, and third torque transmitting devices to permit said accessory to be driven by said engine, said motor/generator, or both.

19. A powertrain system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a multi-speed transmission operatively connected to a final drive and not continuously connected to said engine;

an energy storage device;

a single motor/generator operatively connected to said energy storage device and not continuously connected to said engine or said transmission, said motor/generator configured to transmit power to and receive power from said energy storage device;

a controller operatively connected to said motor/generator and configured to control desired modes and output of said motor/generator

a first clutch operatively connected to said engine;

a second clutch operatively connected to said first clutch and said transmission, wherein said first and second clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine and said transmission to transmit power therebetween; and

a third clutch operatively connected to said first and second clutches and said motor/generator, wherein said first and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting said engine and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween, wherein said second and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting said transmission and said motor/generator to transmit power therebetween, wherein said first, second and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting said transmission, engine, and motor/generator to transmit power therebetween, and wherein said transmission does not receive power from said engine when said second clutch is not engaged.