Electrified military vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11987128-B2
Application number	US-202217948931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2022
Priority date	Aug 13, 2021
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

Abstract

A military vehicle include a driveline. The driveline includes a first driver including an engine, an energy storage system, an accessory drive coupled to the engine, a transmission coupled to at least one of the front axle or the rear axle, and a second driver coupled to the engine and the transmission. The accessory drive includes a plurality of accessories and a first motor. The first motor is electrically coupled to the energy storage system. The first motor is positioned to facilitate selectively driving the plurality of accessories. The second driver includes a second motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A military vehicle comprising:
a driveline including:
a first driver including an engine;
an energy storage system;
an accessory drive coupled to the engine, the accessory drive including a plurality of accessories and a first motor, the first motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system and positioned to facilitate selectively driving the plurality of accessories;
a transmission; and
a second driver coupled to the engine and the transmission, the second driver including:
a housing including an engine mount coupled to the engine and a backing plate coupled to the transmission
a second motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system, the second motor disposed within the housing and coupled to an input of the transmission; and
a clutch disposed within the housing and coupled to the second motor, the clutch configured to selectively couple an output of the engine to the second motor, the clutch is spring-biased into engagement with the engine and pneumatically disengaged by an air supply selectively provided thereto;
wherein, when the clutch is disengaged, the second motor is configured to receive power from the energy storage system and provide a mechanical output to the input of the transmission to drive the military vehicle; and

wherein, when the clutch is engaged, the second motor is configured to (i) selectively provide a mechanical output to the transmission to drive the military vehicle based on a mechanical input received from the engine and (ii) selectively generate electricity based on the mechanical input.

2. A military vehicle comprising:
a chassis including a passenger capsule, a front module coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule, and a rear module coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule; and
a driveline including:
a first driver including an engine supported by the front module;
an energy storage system supported by the rear module;
an accessory drive coupled to the engine, the accessory drive including a plurality of accessories and a first motor, the first motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system and positioned to facilitate selectively driving the plurality of accessories;
a transmission; and
a second driver coupled to the engine and the transmission, the second driver including a second motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system.

3. The military vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the passenger capsule defines a tunnel extending longitudinally along a bottom thereof, wherein the transmission is positioned within the tunnel and the second motor is at least partially positioned within the tunnel, and wherein electrical wiring extends from the energy storage system through the tunnel to the first motor and the second motor.

4. The military vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the passenger capsule defines a rear wall, wherein the rear module includes a first rear wheel well, a second rear wheel well, and a bed, and wherein the energy storage system includes a battery (i) positioned between the first rear wheel well and the second rear wheel well and (ii) supported by the bed and the rear wall.

5. The military vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the energy storage system includes:
a battery storage housing supporting the battery;
a lower support coupled to the bed between the first rear wheel well and the second rear wheel well, the lower support including a plurality of feet elevating a support surface of the lower support above the bed;
a lower mount coupled to the support surface of the lower support, the lower mount comprising a vibration attenuating material, wherein the battery storage housing is coupled to the lower mount;
a bracket coupled to an upper portion of the battery storage housing; and
an upper mount extending between the bracket and the rear wall of the passenger capsule.

6. The military vehicle of claim 4 , wherein:
the rear module includes:
a first stowage compartment positioned above the first rear wheel well; and
a second stowage compartment positioned above the second rear wheel well; and

the energy storage system includes:
an inverter disposed in the first stowage compartment;
a DC/DC converter disposed in the second stowage compartment; and
a charging port positioned at a rear of one of the first stowage compartment or the second stowage compartment.

7. A military vehicle comprising:
a driveline including:
a first driver including an engine;
an energy storage system;
an accessory drive coupled to the engine, the accessory drive including a plurality of accessories and a first motor, the first motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system and positioned to facilitate selectively driving the plurality of accessories;
a transmission; and
a second driver coupled to the engine and the transmission, the second driver including a second motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system;
wherein the driveline is operable in an electric-only mode where (i) the engine is off, (ii) the first motor receives power from the energy storage system to drive the plurality of accessories of the accessory drive, and (iii) the second motor receives power from the energy storage system to drive the transmission.

8. The military vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a clutch positioned to selectively couple the engine to the second motor, wherein the clutch is spring biased into engagement with the engine, and wherein the plurality of accessories include an air compressor that is driven by the first motor during the electric-only mode to compress air to facilitate supplying an air supply to the clutch to disengage the clutch and decouple the engine from the second motor.

9. The military vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the driveline is operable in a charge mode where both (i) the first motor is configured to function as a first generator to generate electricity as the accessory drive is driven by the engine and (ii) the second motor is configured to function as a second generator to generate electricity as the second motor is driven by the engine.

10. The military vehicle of claim 9 , wherein:
the energy storage system is configured to power the first motor in the electric-only mode where the first motor is capable of driving the military vehicle at a speed of at least 25 miles per hour for a first period of time; and
the energy storage system is configured to be recharged by the first motor and the second motor in the charge mode in a second period of time that is less than the first period of time.

11. The military vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the driveline is operable in an engine mode where the engine drives (i) the accessory drive and (ii) the transmission through the second motor, further comprising a controller configured to switch the driveline from the electric-only mode to the engine mode in response to a state-of-charge of the energy storage system falling below a charge threshold and without requiring operator approval.

12. The military vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the driveline is operable in an ultra-silent mode where (i) the engine is off, (ii) the second motor receives power from the energy storage system to drive the transmission and (iii) operation of the accessory drive is at least partially limited.

13. The military vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to prevent switching from the ultra-silent mode to the engine mode in response to the state-of-charge of the energy storage system falling below the charge threshold until operator approval is received.

14. The military vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of accessories include a fan, w

Assignees

• Oshkosh Defense Llc

Inventors

• Smith Chad
• Marek Dave
• Dekarske Neil
• Bolton Mike
• Crabtree Ryan
• Dehaan Joseph
• Harsh Rachell
• Koenigs Michael
• Naglik Shawn
• Nordahl Mitchel
• Schertz Evan
• Ullman Mikel
• Szymanski Jessica
• Zeitler Bradon
• Shukla Deepak
• Trinklein Ed
• Voight Tim
• Yanacek Mike
• Mathison Matt
• Nasr Nader

Classifications

• B60K6/40 Primary

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

• B60K6/28

  characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title

• B60K6/387

  Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means · CPC title

• B60K25/02

  directly from an engine shaft · CPC title

• B60W20/10

  Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand · CPC title