Drive systems including transmissions and magnetic coupling devices for electric and hybrid electric vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10781920-B2
Application number	US-201815874001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2018
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

Drive systems or powertrains including transmissions for electric and hybrid electric vehicles are provided. 3-position linear motor, 2-way clutches (i.e. CMDs) are included in the transmissions. An electric 3-speed AMT having a magnetic coupling device such as a magnetic torque converter is provided to magnetically transfer a portion of rotating mechanical energy of an electric powerplant or motor to a transmission output shaft in response to an electrical signal to synchronize angular velocities of the transmission output shaft and an output shaft of the electric powerplant during a change in state of one of the CMDs. Torque is transferred to the transmission output shaft during the change in state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle drive system including a transmission having a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:
a transmission output shaft;
a stationary member;
an electric powerplant having a rotary drive shaft connecting with the transmission output shaft;
a group of gears including first and second elements connecting with the transmission output shaft;
a non-friction controllable coupling assembly having a first coupling state for coupling the first element to the transmission output shaft, a second coupling state for coupling the second element to the transmission output shaft and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the transmission output shaft from the first and second elements, the coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state; and
a magnetic coupling device to magnetically transfer a portion of rotating mechanical energy of the electric powerplant to the transmission output shaft in response to an electrical signal to synchronize angular velocities of the shafts during a change in state of the coupling assembly wherein torque is transferred to the transmission output shaft during the change in state.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electric powerplant includes an electric motor having a stator and a rotor.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the magnetic coupling device comprises a magnetic torque converter.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the torque converter includes at least one coil coupled to the rotor to rotate therewith and a target part magnetically coupled to the at least one coil across an air gap.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the air gap is a radial air gap.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the air gap is an axial air gap.

7. The system as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a transformer including a rotating part to energize the at least one coil.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling assembly includes at least one linear motor clutch.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one clutch includes a controllable mechanical diode (CMD).

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one clutch includes a dog clutch.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the group of gears is coupled to the rotary drive shaft to rotate therewith.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stationary number is a transmission housing.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transmission is an automated manual transmission (AMT).

15. A vehicle drive system including a transmission having a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:
a transmission output shaft;
a stationary member;
an electric powerplant having a rotary drive shaft connecting with the transmission output shaft;
a group of gears including first and second elements connecting with the transmission output shaft;
a non-friction controllable coupling assembly having a first coupling state for coupling the first element to the transmission output shaft, a second coupling state for coupling the second element to the transmission output shaft and an uncoupling state for uncoupling the transmission output shaft from the first and second elements, the coupling assembly being non-hydraulically controlled to change state; and
a magnetic coupling device to magnetically transfer a portion of energy of the electric powerplant to the transmission output shaft in response to an electrical signal to synchronize angular velocities of the shafts during a change in state of the coupling assembly wherein torque is transferred to the transmission output shaft during the change in state.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the electric powerplant includes an electric motor having a stator and a rotor.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the magnetic coupling device comprises a magnetic torque converter.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the torque converter includes at least one coil coupled to the rotor to rotate therewith and a target part magnetically coupled to the at least one coil across an air gap.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the air gap is a radial air gap.

20. The system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the air gap is an axial air gap.

21. The system as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a transformer including a rotating part to energize the at least one coil.

22. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the coupling assembly includes at least one linear motor clutch.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the at least one clutch includes a controllable mechanical diode (CMD).

24. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the at least one clutch includes a dog clutch.

25. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the group of gears is coupled to the rotary drive shaft to rotate therewith.

26. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the stationary number is a transmission housing.

27. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

28. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the transmission is an automated manual transmission (AMT).

Assignees

• Means Ind Inc

Inventors

• Kimes John W
• Woodley Philip B

Classifications

• F16H61/32

  Electric motors  {, actuators or related electrical control means}  therefor · CPC title

• F16H63/304 Primary

  the final output mechanisms comprising elements moved by electrical or magnetic force (band brake actuating mechanisms F16H63/3003) · CPC title

• Y10S903/919

  Stepped shift · CPC title

• F16D21/04

  with a shaft carrying a number of rotatable transmission members, e.g. gears, each of which can be connected to the shaft by a clutching member or members between the shaft and the hub of the transmission member · CPC title

• F16H2063/305

  using electromagnetic solenoids · CPC title