Hybrid electric vehicle

• US 9,079,485 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2008
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lingling Zhang, Zhihui Duan
• Original Assignee: Lingling Zhang
• Inventors: Duan, Zhihui, Zhang, LingLing
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US12/317,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20090166109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,390 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/383 One-way clutches or freewheel devices
• 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: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/025 Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid electric drive system for an automotive vehicle comprises a heat engine, an electric motor, a one-way-clutch, a torque-limiting clutch, and a transmission. The one-way-clutch disposed between the engine shaft and the motor shaft, and it can transmit torque from the engine shaft to the motor shaft. The transmission has an input shaft being connected to the motor shaft and an output shaft to drive the wheels. The torque-limiting clutch is also disposed between the engine shaft and the motor shaft. When it is disengaged, the torque-limiting clutch disconnects the motor shaft from the engine shaft, so the motor can solely drive the vehicle. When it is engaged, the clutch transmits a pre-determined level of torque from the motor shaft to the engine shaft in order to start the engine. The torque limiting clutch will smooth out the torque peak when the system starts the engine while the vehicle is running.

Claims

1. A hybrid electric drive system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a heat engine outputting power through a crankshaft;

a transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft;

an electric motor having a motor shaft being connected to said input shaft;

a one-way-clutch disposed between said crankshaft and said motor shaft, being able to transmit torque from said crankshaft to said motor shaft but nut from said motor shaft to said crankshaft; and

a torque-limiting device disposed between said crankshaft and the rotor of said electric motor, said torque limiting device selectively coupling said crankshaft and said motor shaft, said torque-limiting device transmitting a pre-determined level of torque when engaged;

wherein when said torque-limiting device is disengaged, said motor can drive the vehicle solely;

when said torque-limiting device is engaged, said motor can crank said engine;

in order to start said engine while the vehicle is running, said torque-limiting device is engaged and transmits a torque to crank said engine and smoothes out the reaction torque peak that said crankshaft applies on said motor shaft;

said engine outputs power through said one-way-clutch to said motor shaft and said input shaft.

2. A hybrid electric drive system for an automotive vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said torque-limiting device is a torque-limiting clutch.