Multi-mode electromechanical variable transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10982736-B2
Application number	US-201916275059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2019
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A drive system for a vehicle includes first and second electrical machines, a transmission, and an electrical energy supply. The transmission includes first and second gear sets, a connecting shaft coupled to the first gear set, a driveshaft configured to transport power from the electrical machines to a tractive element of the vehicle, and a clutch. The first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine. The second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine. Carriers of the first and second gear sets are coupled. The clutch selectively rotationally couples the carriers to the driveshaft when engaged. The drive system operates in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the electrical machines to drive at least one of the connecting shaft and the driveshaft without a mechanical energy input to the transmission from an engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first electrical machine;
a second electrical machine;
a transmission, comprising:
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, wherein the first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine;
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 and wherein the second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine;
a connecting shaft coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set and at least selectively coupled to the second electrical machine;
a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to a tractive element of the vehicle; and
a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged; and

an electrical energy supply configured to provide electrical energy to the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine, wherein the drive system is at least selectively operable in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to drive at least one of the connecting shaft and the driveshaft without a mechanical energy input to the transmission from an engine.

2. The drive system of claim 1 , further comprising a power takeoff output directly coupled to the connecting shaft, wherein the power takeoff output is configured to transfer rotational mechanical energy between the connecting shaft and an accessory.

3. The drive system of claim 2 , wherein the first electrical machine is directly coupled to the first sun gear, and wherein the second electrical machine is directly coupled to the second sun gear.

4. A drive system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first electrical machine;
a second electrical machine;
a transmission, comprising:
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, wherein the first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine;
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 and wherein the second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine;
a connecting shaft coupled to the first ring gear of the first gear set, wherein the connecting shaft is fixed such that the first ring gear of the first gear set is prevented from rotating;
a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to a tractive element of the vehicle; and
a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged; and

an electrical energy supply configured to provide electrical energy to the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine, wherein the drive system is at least selectively operable in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to drive at least one of the connecting shaft and the driveshaft without a mechanical energy input to the transmission from an engine.

5. A drive system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first electrical machine;
a second electrical machine;
a transmission, comprising:
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, wherein the first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine;
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 and wherein the second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine;
a connecting shaft coupled to the first gear set;
a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to a tractive element of the vehicle; and
a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged; and

an electrical energy supply configured to provide electrical energy to the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine, wherein the drive system is at least selectively operable in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to drive at least one of the connecting shaft,
wherein the drive system does not include an engine configured to provide a mechanical energy input into the transmission.

6. A drive system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first electrical machine;
a second electrical machine;
a transmission, comprising:
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, wherein the first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine;
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 and wherein the second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine;
a connecting shaft coupled to the first gear set;
a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to a tractive element of the vehicle;
a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged; and
at least one of:
a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the connecting shaft to the second electrical machine when engaged;
a third clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second gear set to the driveshaft when engaged; and
a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of the second ring gear; and

an electrical energy supply configured to provide electrical energy to the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine, wherein the drive system is at least selectively operable in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine to drive at least one of the connecting shaft and the driveshaft without a mechanical energy input to the transmission from an engine.

7. The drive system of claim 6 , wherein the transmission comprises the second

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Steinberger David J
• Morrow Jon J

Classifications

• F16H2200/20

  Transmissions using gears with orbital motion · CPC title

• F16H2200/2002

  characterised by the number of sets of orbital gears · CPC title

• B60K2023/0858

  with electric means, e.g. electro-hydraulic means · CPC title

• F16H2200/203

  characterised by the engaging friction means not of the freewheel type, e.g. friction clutches or brakes · CPC title

• B60K6/445

  Differential gearing distribution type · CPC title