HyBrid transaxle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10308104-B2
Application number	US-201715405637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2017
Priority date	Jan 13, 2017
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A hybrid transaxle permits location of a traction motor in a more favorable location, decreasing the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle collision. Axis transfer gearing moves the generator off the engine axis. This permits placing the traction motor further forward without interference with the generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid transaxle comprising:
first and second electric machines arranged on first and second axes respectively;
a countershaft supported for rotation about a third axis and driveably connected to the first electric machine; and
a planetary gear set arranged on a fourth axis and having a sun gear driveably connected to the second electric machine, a carrier fixedly coupled to an input shaft, and a ring gear driveably connected to the countershaft; and wherein:
the third axis is vertically above and horizontally aft of the fourth axis;
the first axis is vertically above and horizontally forward of the third axis; and
the second axis is horizontally forward of the fourth axis.

2. The hybrid transaxle of claim 1 further comprising:
a differential having an input arranged on a fifth axis;
a first gear fixedly coupled to the differential input; and
a second gear fixedly coupled to the countershaft and meshing with the first gear; and wherein:
the fifth axis is vertically below and horizontally aft of the third and fourth axes.

3. The hybrid transaxle of claim 2 wherein the differential further comprises:
a carrier as the input;
left and right beveled side gears adapted for fixation to left and right half-shafts respectively; and
a plurality of beveled planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the carrier and meshing with both the left and right side gears.

4. The hybrid transaxle of claim 1 wherein the countershaft is driveably connected to the first electric machine by a third gear fixedly coupled to the countershaft and a fourth gear fixedly coupled to a rotor of the first electric machine and meshing with the third gear.

5. The hybrid transaxle of claim 1 wherein the sun gear is driveably connected to the second electric machine by a fifth gear fixedly coupled to the sun gear and a sixth gear fixedly coupled to a rotor of the second electric machine and meshing with the fifth gear.

6. A hybrid transaxle comprising:
a first electric machine having a rotor fixedly coupled to a first gear;
a second electric machine;
a planetary gear set having a sun gear fixedly coupled to a second gear meshing with the first gear, a carrier fixedly coupled to an input shaft, and a ring gear;
a third gear fixedly coupled to the ring gear;
a fourth gear fixedly coupled to a countershaft and meshing with the third gear;
a fifth gear fixedly coupled to the countershaft;
a sixth gear fixedly coupled to a differential carrier;
a seventh gear fixedly coupled to a rotor of the second electric machine; and
an eighth gear fixedly coupled to the countershaft and meshing with the seventh gear.

7. The hybrid transaxle of claim 6 wherein:
the countershaft is vertically above and horizontally aft of the input shaft;
an axis of rotation of the second electric machine is vertically above and horizontally forward of the countershaft;
an axis of rotation of the first electric machine is horizontally forward of the input shaft; and
the differential carrier is vertically below and horizontally aft of the countershaft and the input shaft.

8. The hybrid transaxle of claim 6 further comprising:
left and right beveled side gears adapted for fixation to left and right half-shafts respectively; and
a plurality of beveled planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the differential carrier and meshing with both the left and right side gears.

9. A hybrid transaxle comprising:
a first electric machine fixedly coupled to a first gear;
a second electric machine fixedly coupled to a second gear;
a countershaft fixedly coupled to a third gear, a fourth gear, and a fifth gear meshing with the first gear;
a planetary gear set having a sun gear fixedly coupled to a sixth gear meshing with the second gear, a carrier fixedly coupled to an input shaft, and a ring gear fixedly coupled to a seventh gear meshing with the fourth gear; and
a differential having an input fixedly coupled to an eighth gear meshing with the third gear.

10. The hybrid transaxle of claim 9 wherein the differential further comprises:
a carrier as the input;
left and right beveled side gears adapted for fixation to left and right half-shafts respectively; and
a plurality of beveled planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the carrier and meshing with both the left and right side gears.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Oh David Gon
• Janson David Allen

Classifications

• B60K6/26

  characterised by the motors or the generators · CPC title

• B60K6/40

  characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components · CPC title

• F16H37/0806

  with a plurality of driving or driven shafts · CPC title

• B60K6/24

  characterised by the combustion engines · CPC title

• F16H48/08

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title