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Hybrid vehicle having power assembly arranged transversely in engine compartment

  • US 7,980,340 B2
  • Filed: 12/22/2008
  • Issued: 07/19/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

  • two front wheels;

    two rear wheels;

    an internal combustion engine housed within an engine compartment and configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel;

    a first motor/generator rotatably operatively coupled to the flywheel of the internal combustion engine so that the first motor/generator rotates in unison with the engine and is non-disengagable from the engine;

    a gear transmission having a first port configured to receive rotational power in a first rotational (RPM) range, and a second port configured to provide rotational power in a second RPM range to at least one wheel of the vehicle;

    a second motor/generator rotatably coupled to the first port of the gear transmission;

    a clutch operatively positioned between the engine and first motor/generator, and configured to engage and disengage rotational power between the engine and the second motor/generator;

    wherein the internal combustion engine, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the clutch, and the gear transmission are housed within the engine compartment and located between the two front wheels and arranged in a substantially linear manner; and

    wherein the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the clutch, and the gear transmission are located substantially above a centerline of the front wheels.

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