Methods and devices for altering the transmission ratio of a drive system
First Claim
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1. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
- a planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet gear;
a first motor,a second motor coupled to the ring gear; and
an output shaft coupled to the carrier, the first motor being drivingly coupled to the output shaft through either the first sun gear or the second sun gear;
means for locking the ring gear to provide a fixed gear ratio between the first motor and the output shaft;
wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the locking means is not locking the ring gear.
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Abstract
The transmission ratio between a first motor and an output shaft is varied by changing the speed of a second motor. The first and second motors are coupled to the output shaft with a planetary gear set. The first and second motors may both add power to the drive system.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
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a planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet gear; a first motor, a second motor coupled to the ring gear; and an output shaft coupled to the carrier, the first motor being drivingly coupled to the output shaft through either the first sun gear or the second sun gear; means for locking the ring gear to provide a fixed gear ratio between the first motor and the output shaft; wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the locking means is not locking the ring gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
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a planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet gear; a first motor; a second motor coupled to the ring gear; and an output shaft coupled to the carrier; means for locking the ring gear to provide a fixed gear ratio between the first motor and the output shaft; wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the locking means is not locking the ring gear; wherein the output shaft may be drivingly coupled to either the first sun gear or the second sun gear to provide two different fixed gear ratios.
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14. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
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a planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet gear; a first motor coupled to the sun gear; a second motor coupled to the ring gear; and an output shaft coupled to the carrier; means for locking the ring gear to provide a fixed gear ratio between the first motor and the output shaft; and a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism being configured to selectively couple and decouple the second motor from the first motor when the ring gear is locked with the locking means; wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the locking means is not locking the ring gear.
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15. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
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a planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet gear; a first motor, a second motor is coupled to the carrier; and an output shaft is coupled to the ring gear, wherein the first motor may be drivingly coupled to the output shaft through either the first sun gear or the second sun gear; a brake to stop rotation of the carrier to provide a fixed gear ratio mode between the first motor and the output shaft; wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the brake is not stopping rotation of the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
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a planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet wear; a first motor, a second motor is coupled to the carrier; an output shaft is coupled to the ring gear; and a brake to stop rotation of the carrier to provide a fixed gear ratio mode between the first motor and the output shaft; wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the brake is not stopping rotation of the carrier; wherein the output shaft may be drivingly coupled to the first motor through either the first sun gear or the second sun gear to provide two different fixed gear ratios.
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28. A drive system for performing work, the drive system comprising:
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a planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having a first planet gear; a first motor, a second motor is coupled to the carrier; and an output shaft is coupled to the ring gear, wherein the first motor may be drivingly coupled to the output shaft through either the first sun gear or the second sun gear; a brake to stop rotation of the carrier to provide a fixed gear ratio mode between the first motor and the output shaft; a coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple and decouple the second motor from the first motor when the carrier is locked with the brake; wherein the speed of the second motor is changed to change a transmission ratio between the first motor and the output shaft when the brake is not stopping rotation of the carrier; the first and second motors being coupled together so that changing a speed of the second motor changes a transmission ratio of the first motor relative to the output shaft.
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Specification