Hybrid vehicle having engageable clutch assembly coupled between engine and traction motor
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
- a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power;
an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel;
a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably operatively coupled to the flywheel;
the first motor/generator configured to;
in a first mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft to rotate and start the internal combustion engine;
in a second mode, receive rotational force through the hollow rotor shaft from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power to charge the battery system;
in a third mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft;
a gear transmission having a first port configured to receive rotational power in a first rotational range, and a second port configured to provide rotational power in a second range to at least one wheel of the vehicle;
a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle concentrically disposed in the hollow rotor shaft and rotatably coupled to the first port of the gear transmission;
the second motor/generator configured to;
in a fourth mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission;
in a fifth mode, generate electrical power to charge the battery system when receiving rotational force from the first port of the gear transmission when the at least one wheel provides rotational force to the second port of the gear transmission;
the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator and configured to operatively and fixedly couple the flywheel with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator so that the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel, andwherein when engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the hollow rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle includes a battery system, an internal combustion engine, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, and an engageable clutch assembly. The engageable clutch assembly is disposed between the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator. When engaged, the engageable clutch assembly couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator. The engageable clutch assembly may also operate in a first mechanical mode that selectively engages and disengages the internal combustion engine from the second motor/generator, or operate in a second mechanical mode that dampens shock between the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator when the international combustion engine operates at a rotational speed that is different than a rotational of the first motor/generator.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
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a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power; an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably operatively coupled to the flywheel; the first motor/generator configured to; in a first mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft to rotate and start the internal combustion engine; in a second mode, receive rotational force through the hollow rotor shaft from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power to charge the battery system; in a third mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft; a gear transmission having a first port configured to receive rotational power in a first rotational range, and a second port configured to provide rotational power in a second range to at least one wheel of the vehicle; a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle concentrically disposed in the hollow rotor shaft and rotatably coupled to the first port of the gear transmission; the second motor/generator configured to; in a fourth mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission; in a fifth mode, generate electrical power to charge the battery system when receiving rotational force from the first port of the gear transmission when the at least one wheel provides rotational force to the second port of the gear transmission; the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator and configured to operatively and fixedly couple the flywheel with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator so that the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel, and wherein when engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the hollow rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably operatively and fixedly coupled to the flywheel, and configured to provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft or receive rotational force from the hollow rotor shaft wherein the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel; a gear transmission having a first port and a second port, and configured to receive rotational power at the first port in a first rotational range, provide rotational power to the second port in a second rotational range to at least one wheel of the vehicle; a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle concentrically disposed in the hollow rotor shaft and rotatably coupled to the gear transmission; the second motor/generator configured to provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission or receive rotational force from the first port of the gear transmission; the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator; and wherein when the engageable clutch assembly is engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the hollow rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
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a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power; an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a rotor shaft rotatably operatively coupled to the flywheel; the first motor/generator configured to; in a first mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the rotor shaft to rotate and start the internal combustion engine; in a second mode, receive rotational force through the rotor shaft from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power to charge the battery system; in a third mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the rotor shaft; a gear transmission having a first port configured to receive rotational power in a first rotational range, and a second port configured to provide rotational power in a second range to at least one wheel of the vehicle; a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle rotatably coupled to the first port of the gear transmission; the second motor/generator configured to; in a fourth mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission; the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator and configured to operatively and fixedly, couple the flywheel with the rotor shaft of the first motor/generator so that the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel, and wherein when engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a rotor shaft rotatably operatively and fixedly coupled to the flywheel, and configured to provide rotational force to the rotor shaft or receive rotational force from the rotor shaft, wherein the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel; a gear transmission having a first port and a second port, and configured to receive rotational power at the first port in a first rotational range, provide rotational power to the second port in a second rotational range to at least one wheel of the vehicle; a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle rotatably coupled to the gear transmission; the second motor/generator configured to provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission or receive rotational force from the first port of the gear transmission; the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator; and wherein when the engageable clutch assembly is engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission.
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20. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
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a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power; an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably operatively coupled to the flywheel; an engageable release bearing disposed within the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor-generator; the first motor/generator configured to; in a first mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft to rotate and start the internal combustion engine; in a second mode, receive rotational force through the hollow rotor shaft from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power to charge the battery system; in a third mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft; a gear transmission having a first port configured to receive rotational power in a first rotational range, and a second port configured to provide rotational power in a second range to at least one wheel of the vehicle; a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle concentrically disposed in the hollow rotor shaft and rotatably coupled to the first port of the gear transmission; the second motor/generator configured to; in a fourth mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission; in a fifth mode, generate electrical power to charge the battery system when receiving rotational force from the first port of the gear transmission when the at least one wheel provides rotational force to the second port of the gear transmission; the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator and configured to operatively couple the flywheel with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator, and wherein when engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the hollow rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission.
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21. A hybrid vehicle having an engageable clutch assembly, the vehicle comprising:
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a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power; an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably operatively coupled to the flywheel; the first motor/generator configured to; in a first mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft to rotate and start the internal combustion engine; in a second mode, receive rotational force through the hollow rotor shaft from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power to charge the battery system; in a third mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the hollow rotor shaft; a gear transmission having a first port configured to receive rotational power in a first rotational range, and a second port configured to provide rotational power in a second range to at least one wheel of the vehicle; a second motor/generator having a rotor spindle concentrically disposed in the hollow rotor shaft and rotatably coupled to the first port of the gear transmission; the second motor/generator configured to; in a fourth mode, receive electrical power from the battery system and provide rotational force to the first port of the gear transmission; in a fifth mode, generate electrical power to charge the battery system when receiving rotational force from the first port of the gear transmission when the at least one wheel provides rotational force to the second port of the gear transmission; the engageable clutch assembly disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator and configured to operatively couple the flywheel with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator; an engageable release bearing disposed within the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor-generator, the engageable release bearing including a central aperture configured to receive the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator therethrough; and wherein when engaged, the engageable clutch assembly further rotatably couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the flywheel and with the hollow rotor shaft, to provide additional rotational force from both the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator to the first port of the gear transmission.
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Specification