Drive unit for hybrid vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016368361-A1
Application number	US-201615187423-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2016
Priority date	Jun 18, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle in which selectable operating modes are increased and power distribution ratio is changeable is provided. The drive unit comprises: a first planetary gear unit having a first input element to which power of an engine is applied, a first reaction element connected to a first motor, and a first output element; a second planetary gear unit that performs having a second input element connected to the first output element, a second output element connected to an output member, and a second reaction element; a first clutch that selectively connects any of the first input element and the first reaction element to the second reaction element; and a second clutch that selectively connects at least any of two elements of the second planetary gear unit to rotate the second planetary gear unit integrally.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle, in which an output power of an engine is distributed to a first motor having a generating function and to an output member, and in which an output power of a second motor driven by an electric power generated by the first motor is added to a power delivered from the output member, comprising:
a first planetary gear unit that performs a differential action among a first input element to which the output power of the engine is applied, a first reaction element connected to the first motor, and a first output element; a second planetary gear unit that performs a differential action among a second input element connected to the first output element, a second output element connected to the output member, and a second reaction element; a first clutch that selectively connects one of the first input element and the first reaction element to the second reaction element; and a second clutch that selectively connects two of the second input element, the second output element, and the second reaction element to rotate the second planetary gear unit integrally.

2 . The drive unit for a hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first planetary gear unit includes a single pinion planetary gear unit comprising a first sun gear, a first ring gear arranged concentrically with the first sun gear, and a first carrier supporting pinion gears meshing with the first sun gear and the first ring gear; and wherein the first reaction element includes one of the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and the first output element includes an other of the first sun gear and the first ring gear.

3 . The drive unit for a hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the second planetary gear unit includes a single pinion planetary gear unit comprising a second sun gear, a second ring gear arranged concentrically with the second sun gear, and a second carrier supporting pinion gears meshing with the second sun gear and the second ring gear; wherein the first ring gear is connected to the second carrier; and wherein the first clutch connects the first carrier to the second sun gear.

4 . The drive unit for a hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first planetary gear unit and the second planetary gear unit are arranged in tandem in an axial direction; and wherein the first clutch and the second clutch are arranged coaxially on opposite sides across the first planetary gear unit and the second planetary gear unit.

5 . The drive unit for a hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic control unit that controls the engine, the first motor, the second motor, the first clutch and the second clutch; and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to bring the first clutch and the second clutch into engagement, and to operate the engine, the first motor and the second motor in such a manner as to generate driving forces.

6 . The drive unit for a hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a brake that selectively halts a rotation of the first input element.

7 . A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle, in which an output power of an engine is distributed to a first motor having a generating function and to an output member, and in which an output power of a second motor driven by an electric power generated by the first motor is added to a power delivered from the output member, comprising:
a first planetary gear unit that performs a differential action among a first input element to which the output power of the engine is applied, a first reaction element connected to the first motor, and a first output element; a second planetary gear unit that performs a differential action among a second input element connected to the first output element, a second output element connected to the output member, and a second reaction element; a first clutch that selectively connects one of the first input element and the first reaction element to the second reaction element; and a second clutch that selectively connects two of the first input element, the second output element, and the second reaction element to rotate the second planetary gear unit integrally.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Endo Takahito
• Iwase Yuji
• Nagai Hidekazu
• Hata Kensei

Classifications

• B60W20/40

  Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} · CPC title

• B60K6/387

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

• F16H1/46

  Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, {i.e. systems having three or more central gears} · CPC title

• Y10S903/912

  Drive line clutch · CPC title

• B60K6/442

  Series-parallel switching type · CPC title