Vehicle drive and method with electromechanical variable transmission
First Claim
1. A vehicle drive comprising:
- a first gear set and a second gear set, wherein each gear set comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears, the planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, wherein the planetary gears are rotatably supported by a planetary gear carrier;
a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set;
a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set and (b) the ring gear of the first gear set, wherein the second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system, wherein the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator;
an engine coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator;
a first clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set; and
a second clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment provides a vehicle drive. The vehicle drive includes a first gear set and a second gear set. Each gear set includes a sun gear, a ring gear, planetary gears, and a planetary gear carrier. The vehicle drive includes a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set. The vehicle drive includes a second motor/generator coupled to the planetary gear carrier or the ring gear of the first gear set. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator. The motor/generators are electrically coupled without an energy storage device. The vehicle drive includes an engine coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The vehicle drive includes a first and a second clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set or the engine.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle drive comprising:
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a first gear set and a second gear set, wherein each gear set comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears, the planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, wherein the planetary gears are rotatably supported by a planetary gear carrier; a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set; a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set and (b) the ring gear of the first gear set, wherein the second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system, wherein the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator; an engine coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator; a first clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set; and a second clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle drive comprising:
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a first gear set and a second gear set, wherein each gear set comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears, the planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, wherein the planetary gears are rotatably supported by a planetary gear carrier; a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set; a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set and (b) the ring gear of the first gear set, wherein the second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system, wherein the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator; an engine coupled to the first gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator; a first clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set; a second clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine; and a controller of the vehicle comprising a processing circuit configured to; operate the first clutch and the second clutch, wherein selectively engaging and disengaging the first clutch and the second clutch changes a configuration of the vehicle drive; operate the engine at a calculated speed; operate the first motor/generator at a calculated torque; and operate the second motor/generator to maintain a voltage on the electrical power transmission system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification