ELECTROMOTIVE DRIVES

• US 20150233473A1
• Filed: 05/01/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Donald C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,506,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/73 Planetary gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/65 with axle and driving shaft arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/40 in which two members co-operative by means of balls, or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/503 in which two members co-operate by means of balls or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/52 in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6644 dependent on control input parameters other than ambient conditions or driver's choice
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6649 characterised by the means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/10 Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/06 Control effected upon clutch or other mechanical power transmission means and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

A transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The transmission provides multiple powerpaths and can be combined with electrical components to provide motor/generator functionality, which reduces the overall size and complexity of the motor and transmission compared to when they are constructed separately. In one embodiment, rotatable components of a continuously variable transmission are coupled separately to an electrical rotor and to an electrical stator so that the rotor and stator rotate simultaneously in opposite directions relative to one another. In other embodiments, an electrical rotor is configured to transfer torque to or from a disc that is in contact with a plurality of speed adjusters, while an electrical stator is configured to transfer torque to a shaft that is operationally coupled to the speed adjusters via an idler.

Claims

1. A method for using a continuously variable transmission integrated with an electric motor/generator in a drivetrain, the method comprising:

a) determining a desired electric output from the electric motor/generator;

b) transferring power through a power path through the continuously variable transmission; and

c) adjusting the continuously variable transmission to provide the desired electric output.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuously variable transmission comprises:

a plurality of balls distributed radially about a longitudinal axis;

an idler positioned radially inward of and in contact with the plurality of balls, the idler being coupled to an idler shaft;

a first disc positioned on a first side of and in contact with the plurality of balls; and

a second disc positioned on a second side of and in contact with the plurality of balls, wherein transferring power through a power path comprises transmitting power through the plurality of balls.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein an electric stator is coupled to the idler shaft and an electric rotor is coupled to the first disc, and wherein the continuously variable transmission is configured such that the electric rotor rotates in an opposite direction relative to the electric stator to generate electricity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transferring power through a power path comprises transferring power through a first power path through the idler shaft and transferring power through a second power path through the first disc, and wherein the first power path and the second power path merge at the plurality of balls.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein transferring power through a power path comprises transferring power through a first power path through the plurality of balls, and wherein the first power path divides into a second power path through the idler shaft and a third power path through the first disc or the second disc.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein an electric stator is coupled to the idler shaft and the first disc comprises magnetic steel, and wherein the continuously variable transmission is configured such that the first disc rotates in an opposite direction relative to the electric stator to generate electricity.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the continuously variable transmission comprises a cage.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps a) through c).

9. A method for using a continuously variable transmission integrated with an electric motor/generator in a hybrid drivetrain having multiple power inputs, the method comprising:

a) determining a first power input from a first power source;

b) determining a second power input from a second power source;

c) determining a desired power output from the continuously variable transmission;

d) transferring power through the continuously variable transmission via at least one power path; and

e) adjusting the continuously variable transmission to provide the desired power output.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the continuously variable transmission comprises:

a plurality of balls distributed radially about a longitudinal axis;

an idler positioned radially inward of and in contact with the plurality of balls, the idler being coupled to an idler shaft;

a first disc positioned on a first side of and in contact with the plurality of balls; and

a second disc positioned on a second side of and in contact with the plurality of balls, wherein transferring power through a power path comprises transmitting power through the plurality of balls.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein an electric stator is coupled to the idler shaft and an electric rotor is coupled to the first disc, and wherein the continuously variable transmission is configured such that the electric rotor rotates in an opposite direction relative to the electric stator to generate electricity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein transferring power through a power path comprises transferring power through a first power path through the idler shaft and transferring power through a second power path through the first disc, and wherein the first power path and the second power path merge at the plurality of balls.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein transferring power through a power path comprises transferring power through a first power path through the plurality of balls, and wherein the first power path divides into a second power path through the idler shaft and a third power path through the first disc or the second disc.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein an electric stator is coupled to the idler shaft and the first disc comprises magnetic steel, and wherein the continuously variable transmission is configured such that the first disc rotates in an opposite direction relative to the electric stator to generate electricity.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the continuously variable transmission comprises a cage.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising repeating steps a) through e).