Vehicle and method of assembling same

• US 7,992,662 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Richter, Timothy Gerard, Dubeck, John David, King, Robert Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo; Jeffrey J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US11/644,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/65.23, 180/65.235, 180/65.25, 180/65.26, 180/65.265, 180/65.28, 180/65.2, 701/22
• US Class Current: 180/65.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/22 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A parallel hybrid vehicle includes a heat engine, a transmission including an input and an output, and an electrical device. The transmission input is coupled to the engine and the transmission output is coupled to the electrical device such that substantially all of the torque generated by the heat engine is channeled through the transmission to the electrical device, and a differential, the electrical device coupled to the differential such that during a first mode of operation the electrical device functions as a motor to receive substantially all the torque generated by the engine through the transmission, and such that during a second mode of operation the electrical device functions as a generator to receive substantially all the torque generated by the vehicle through the differential. A method of retrofitting a vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a heat engine coupled to said frame;

a transmission including an input and an output;

an electrical device comprising a stator and a rotor, wherein said rotor comprises a rotor shaft having a first end and a second end, said transmission input coupled to said heat engine and said transmission output coupled to said electrical device such that substantially all of the torque generated by said heat engine is channeled through said transmission to said electrical device;

a differential;

a first drive shaft;

a first pair of universal joints that couple said first drive shaft to said rotor shaft first end and said transmission;

a second drive shaft;

a second pair of universal joints that couple said second drive shaft to said rotor shaft second end and said differential; and

a plurality of motor mounts that couple said electrical device to a sub-frame coupled to said vehicle frame, said plurality of motor mounts fabricated at least partially from a compliant material and configured to provide mechanical support for said electrical device to facilitate aligning said electrical device with said first drive shaft, said transmission, said second drive shaft, and said differential.

2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical device is coupled to said differential such that during a first mode of operation said electrical device functions as a motor to receive substantially all the torque generated by said engine through said transmission, and such that during a second mode of operation said electrical device functions as a generator to receive substantially all the torque generated by said differential.

3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said engine comprises at least one of an internal combustion gasoline engine, an internal combustion diesel engine, an external combustion engine, and a gas turbine engine.

4. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmission comprises an automatically shifting manual transmission.

5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmission comprises an automatic transmission including a torque converter coupled between said engine and said automatic transmission.

6. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmission comprises a manual transmission including a clutch coupled between said engine and said manual transmission.

7. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sub-frame includes at least one reaction torque member that is coupled between said electrical device and at least one frame rail, said reaction torque member configured to transfer bi-directional reaction torque generated by said electrical device to said sub-frame.

8. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a first frame rail and a second frame rail that is disposed approximately parallel to said first frame rail, said sub-frame coupled to said first and second frame rails.

9. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical device includes at least one endbell, said motor mount is metal and has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile that holds and clamps said compliant material in compression such that at least a portion of said motor mount at least partially circumscribes said endbell assembly to support said electrical device.

10. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical device includes a motor frame, said sub-frame further comprises reaction torque members coupled with a plurality of compliant bushings to said motor frame at a plurality of attachment points, said plurality of attachment points are positioned at approximately the 12:

00 O'"'"'clock, 4;

00 O'"'"'clock, and 8;

00 O'"'"'clock positions on said motor frame, said reaction torque members are configured to minimize misalignment.

11. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a mount, said mount has a C-shaped cross-section, said electric device is coupled directly to said transmission with said mount.

12. A vehicle in accordance with claim 11 wherein said mount includes at least one electric motor bearing.

13. A vehicle in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a transmission oil-cooling circuit configured to cool said electrical device.

14. A method of retrofitting a vehicle that includes a vehicle frame, a heat engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a differential, and at least one drive shaft coupled between the transmission and the differential, said method comprising:

removing the at least one drive shaft;

coupling an electrical device between the transmission and the differential such that during a first mode of operation the electrical device functions as a motor to receive substantially all the torque generated by the engine through the transmission, and such that during a second mode of operation the electrical device functions as a generator to receive substantially all the torque generated by the differential, the electrical device including a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor includes a rotor shaft having a first end and a second end;

coupling a first drive shaft to the rotor shaft first end and to the transmission using a first pair of universal joints;

coupling a second drive shaft to the rotor shaft second end and to the differential using a second pair of universal joints; and

coupling a plurality of motor mounts to a sub-frame coupled to the vehicle frame, the plurality of motor mounts fabricated at least partially from a compliant material and configured to provide mechanical support for the electrical device to facilitate aligning the electrical device with the first drive shaft, the transmission, the second drive shaft, and the differential.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said removing the at least one drive shaft further comprises:

reinstalling the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft having a combined length that is less than a length of the at least one drive shaft such that the electrical device is coupled between transmission and the differential.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising:

coupling a control system coupled to the electrical device, the control system including an energy storage system and a vehicle system control (VSC) such that the vehicle control system is coupled to the electrical device and the energy storage system, and such that the vehicle system control system is configured to operate the vehicle in at least one of a heat engine vehicle operating mode, a hybrid vehicle operating mode, and an electric vehicle operating mode.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the energy storage system includes at least one battery and at least one ultracapacitor, said method further comprising coupling a precharge and interface circuit between the at least one battery and the at least one ultracapacitor such that channel energy is channeled from the ultracapacitor to the electrical device in the first mode of operation, and such that energy is channeled from the electrical device to the ultracapacitor in the second mode of operation.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising coupling the electrical device to the second drive shaft utilizing at least one of a fixed ratio gear assembly, a chain drive, or a belt drive, such that the electrical device is operable at a relatively high speed and at a relatively low torque.