Dual-input infinite-speed integral motor and transmission device
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A combination motor and transmission device comprisingfirst power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power,second power input means for receiving a second input of electrical power, andpower conversion means for converting said electrical power of said first and second inputs for output, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said power transmission unit having two inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power inputs provided to said first and second power input means and an output for outputting the converted power as rotational mechanical power,wherein the rotational speed of said output is continuously variable, and said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said mechanical transmission unit, each said integral combination involving said two respective elements thereof being directly associated mechanically and geometrically with each other without substantial spacing or other elements including bearings and shafts therebetween.
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Abstract
A combination electric motor and transmission unit device has two inputs and a rotational mechanical output, at least one of the inputs being of electrical power, to a corresponding integral combination of an electric motor means with a transmission means. The directions of rotation and the rotational speeds of the two inputs can be controlled to provide the mechanical output at any desired rotational speed with peak power output, depending on the controls, thus providing an ideal infinite speed device. The device employs a novel arrangement of a differential unit or a planetary gear unit. The combined motor and transmission device is lightweight, requires a small number of moving parts, and is useful in vehicles powered by electricity, including for regenerative braking. Another embodiment of the drive device is useful for a flywheel for peak power supplementation and also regeneration.
121 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A combination motor and transmission device comprising
first power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power, second power input means for receiving a second input of electrical power, and power conversion means for converting said electrical power of said first and second inputs for output, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said power transmission unit having two inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power inputs provided to said first and second power input means and an output for outputting the converted power as rotational mechanical power, wherein the rotational speed of said output is continuously variable, and said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said mechanical transmission unit, each said integral combination involving said two respective elements thereof being directly associated mechanically and geometrically with each other without substantial spacing or other elements including bearings and shafts therebetween.
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7. A combination motor and transmission device, comprising
first power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power, second power input means for receiving a second input of electrical power, and power conversion means for converting said electrical power of said first and second inputs for output, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said transmission unit having two inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power inputs provided to said first and second power input means and an output for outputting the converted power as rotational mechanical power, wherein the rotational speed of said output is continuously variable, sand said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said transmission unit, each said integral combination involving one of said two respective elements thereof being at least to a large extend t within an envelope containing the other, whereby a compact structure is provided for each said integral combination, and said two integral combinations are located closely adjacent each other,
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21. A combination motor and transmission device comprising
first power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power, second power input means for receiving a second input of electrical power, power conversion mean for converting said electrical power of said first and second input for output as mechanical power, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said power transmission unit having two inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power input provided to said first and second power input means and an output or outputting the converted power as said rotational mechanical power, wherein the rotational speed of said output is continuously variable, and said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said mechanical transmission unit, wherein said transmission unit comprises a planetary gear unit which includes an inner sun gear, an outer ring gear which has an axis of rotation colinear with that of said inner sun gear, a set of planetary gears held by a hub, said planetary gears being held by said hub to rotate n unison between said inner sun gear and outer ring gear, said planetary gears rotating relative to said hub in dependence on the difference in rotation between said inner and outer gears, said hub rotating in dependence on the sum of two rotational velocity components, the first rotational velocity component being the common rotational velocity of said sun gear an said ring gear, and the second velocity component being the difference between the rotational velocity of said sun gear and said ring gear, and a housing surrounding at least in part said electric motors and transmission unit, a first element of said first electric motor being an armature that is connected rigidly to a respective peripheral part of said ring gear to rotate with said ring gear, a first element of said second motor being an armature that is connected rigidly to a respective peripheral part of said hub to rotate with said hub, a second element of said first electric motor being a first field assembly that is connected mechanically to said housing at a location to interact by its field with said armature on said ring gear, a second element of said second electric motor being a second field assembly that is connected mechanically to said housing at a location to interact by its field with said armature on said hub, a shaft connected to said sun gear to rotate with it as driven by said planetary gears, hub and ring gear, a wheel-support spindle connected to said housing coaxially with an axis of rotation of said second shaft, said wheel-support spindle being hollow along said axis of said second shaft to accept said second shaft therein, a wheel with rim and bearing means to rotate on said wheel-support spindle, and said shaft extending out from said housing to connect with said wheel via said rim and bearing means for rotating said wheel.
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22. A combination motor and transmission device comprising
first power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power, second power input means for receiving a second input of electrical power, power conversion means for converting said electrical power of said first and second inputs for output as mechanical power, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said power transmission unit having two inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power inputs provided to said first and second power input means and an output for outputting the converted power as rotational mechanical power, wherein the rotational speed of said output si continuously variable, and said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said mechanical transmission unit, wherein said transmission unit comprises a planetary gear unit which includes an inner sun gear, an outer ring gear which has an axis of rotation colinear with that of said inner sun gear. a set of planetary gears held by a hub, said planetary gears being held by aid hub to rotate in unison between said inner sun gear and outer ring gear, said planetary gears rotating relative to said hub in dependence on the difference in rotation between said inner and outer gears, said hub rotating in dependence on the sum of two rotational velocity components, the first rotational velocity component being the common rotational velocity of said sun gear and said ring gear, and the second velocity component being the difference between the rotational velocity of said sun gear and said ring gear, and a housing surrounding at least in part said electric motors and transmission unit, a first element of said first electric motor being an armature that is connected rigidly to a respective peripheral part of said ring gear to rotate with said ring gear, a first element of said second motor being an armature that is connected rigidly to a respective peripheral part of said sun gear to rotate with said sun gear, a second element of said first electric motor being a first field assembly that is connected mechanically to said housing at a location to interact by its field with said armature on said ring gear, and a second element of said second electric motor being a second field assembly that is connected mechanically to said housing at a location to interact by its field with said armature on said sun gear, and a shaft connected at a respective extension of said hub to rotate with it as driven by said planetary gears, sun gear and ring gear, wherein each said element of the respective one of said electric motors of each said integral combination is said armature thereof, a wheel-support spindle connected to said housing coaxially with an axis of rotation of said second shaft, said wheel-support spindle being hollow along said axis of said second shaft to accept said second shaft therein, a wheel with rim and bearing means to rotate on said wheel-support spindle, and said shaft extending out from said housing to connect with said wheel via said rim and bearing means for rotating aid wheel.
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23. A combination motor and transmission device comprising
first power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power, second power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power, power conversion mean for converting said electrical power of said first and second inputs for output, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said power transmission unit having tow inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power inputs provided to said first and second power input means and an output for outputting the converted power as rotational mechanical power, wherein the rotational speed of said output is continuously variable, and said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said mechanical transmission unit, wherein said transmission unit comprises a differential unit which includes a pair of opposing drive gears, corresponding to the two inputs of said transmission unit, a pair of pinion gears rotating on a first shaft between said pair of opposing drive gears, a second shaft connected at a first end perpendicularly to the center of said first shaft, the other end of said second shaft providing said rotational mechanical power output, and a housing surrounding at least in part said drive gears, pinion gears, first shaft and second shaft, wherein each said integral combination comprises a respective one of said drive gears as the respective element of said transmission unit, each said drive gear being mechanically connected with the respective electric motor element, a wheel-support spindle connected to said housing coaxially with an axis of rotation of said second shaft, said wheel-support spindle being hollow along said axis of said second shaft to accept said second shaft therein, a wheel with rim and bearing means to rotate on said wheel-support spindle, and said second shaft extending out from said housing to connect with said wheel via said rim and bearing means for rotating said wheel.
Specification