Multi-mode electromechanical variable transmission
First Claim
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
a drive axle;
a multi-mode transmission including;
a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, wherein the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier are rotatably coupled;
a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set;
a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to the engine;
a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged;
a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier to the drive axle when engaged; and
a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second motor/generator to the engine when engaged; and
a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission and configured to;
selectively transition the multi-mode transmission between a mid range mode of operation and a high range mode of operation via an intermediate shift mode of operation;
engage the brake and the first clutch to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission into the mid range mode of operation; and
engage the second clutch to couple the second motor/generator to the engine and maintain engagement of the brake and the first clutch to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission from the mid range mode of operation to the intermediate shift mode of operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes an engine, a drive axle, a multi-mode transmission, and a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission. The multi-mode transmission includes a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier being rotatably coupled, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to the engine, a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The controller is configured to selectively transition the multi-mode transmission between a mid range mode of operation and a high range mode of operation via an intermediate shift mode of operation.
409 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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an engine; a drive axle; a multi-mode transmission including; a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, wherein the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier are rotatably coupled; a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set; a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to the engine; a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged; a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier to the drive axle when engaged; and a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second motor/generator to the engine when engaged; and a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission and configured to; selectively transition the multi-mode transmission between a mid range mode of operation and a high range mode of operation via an intermediate shift mode of operation; engage the brake and the first clutch to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission into the mid range mode of operation; and engage the second clutch to couple the second motor/generator to the engine and maintain engagement of the brake and the first clutch to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission from the mid range mode of operation to the intermediate shift mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a first gear set including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a first plurality of planetary gears coupling the first sun gear to the first ring gear, and a first carrier rotationally supporting the first plurality of planetary gears; a second gear set including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a second plurality of planetary gears coupling the second sun gear to the second ring gear, and a second carrier rotationally supporting the second plurality of planetary gears, wherein the first carrier is directly coupled to the second carrier; a first electrical machine coupled to the first gear set; a second electrical machine coupled to the second gear set; a connecting shaft coupling an engine to the first gear set; a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of the second ring gear when engaged; a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to a driveshaft output of the vehicle when engaged; and a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second electrical machine to the connecting shaft and the engine when engaged, wherein the drive system is selectively reconfigurable into an intermediate shift mode of operation, wherein the intermediate shift mode of operation facilitates transitioning the drive system between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, and wherein the brake, the first clutch, and the second clutch are engaged in the intermediate shift mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a multi-mode transmission of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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engaging a brake and first clutch of the multi-mode transmission to configure the multi-mode transmission into a first mode of operation whereby a first electromagnetic device is coupled to an engine and generates electricity to power a second electromagnetic device, the first clutch coupling a pair of carriers of a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set to a driveshaft output of the vehicle when engaged; monitoring a rotational speed of the second electromagnetic device and a rotational speed of the engine with one or more sensors; engaging a second clutch of the multi-mode transmission to couple the engine and the second electromagnetic device, thereby configuring the multi-mode transmission into an intermediate shift mode, in response to at least one of (a) the rotational speed of the second electromagnetic device being substantially equal to the rotational speed of the engine and (b) the difference between the rotational speed of the second electromagnetic device and the rotational speed of the engine falling below a threshold level; and at least one of (i) disengaging the brake to complete a reconfiguration of the multi-mode transmission into a second mode of operation and (ii) disengaging the second clutch to revert the multi-mode transmission into the first mode of operation from the intermediate shift mode.
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18. A vehicle, comprising:
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an engine; a drive axle; a multi-mode transmission including; a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, wherein the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier are rotatably coupled; a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set; a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to the engine; a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged; a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier to the drive axle when engaged; and a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second motor/generator to the engine when engaged; and a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission and configured to selectively transition the multi-mode transmission between a mid range mode of operation and a high range mode of operation via an intermediate shift mode of operation, wherein the engine is coupled to the first motor/generator during the mid range mode of operation and provides a rotational input thereto, the mid range mode of operation facilitating a mid range output speed operation of the vehicle, wherein the first motor/generator is configured to generate electricity in the mid range mode of operation that powers the second motor/generator to provide a mechanical output to the drive axle, and wherein the engine is coupled to the second motor/generator during the high range mode of operation and provides a rotational input thereto, the high range mode of operation facilitating a high range output speed operation of the vehicle.
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Specification