Segmented switched reluctance motor for powertrain electrification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018097430-A1
Application number	US-201615285217-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 4, 2016
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	Apr 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a transmission system having a transmission subsystem, a transmission housing for housing the transmission subsystem, and a rotor operably associated with the transmission subsystem. The rotor has a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel. At least one stator pole segment is housed within the transmission housing and has at least one stator winding thereon positioned in proximity to a surface of the rotor. An inverter communicates with the stator winding and electrically energizes the winding to cause rotation of the rotor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transmission system comprising:
a transmission subsystem; a transmission housing for housing the transmission subsystem; a rotor operably associated with the transmission subsystem and supported for rotation within the transmission housing, and being of a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel; at least one stator pole segment having at least one stator winding thereon, and secured to the transmission housing in a manner so that a portion of said stator pole segment is in proximity to a surface of the rotor; and an inverter in electrical communication with the stator winding of the stator pole segment and configured to electrically energize the independent stator pole segments to cause rotation of the rotor.

2 . The transmission system of claim 2 , wherein the system includes at least three independent stator pole segments spaced equidistantly circumferentially from one another.

3 . The transmission system of claim 1 , further comprising a torque converter.

4 . The transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the stator pole segment protrudes partially outwardly from an exterior surface of the transmission housing.

5 . The transmission of claim 1 , further including an engine operably coupled to the transmission subsystem to form a hybrid powertrain.

6 . The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a ring gear.

7 . The transmission of claim 1 , further comprising a rotor position sensor disposed adjacent the periphery of the rotor for detecting an angular position of the rotor and communicating an angular position signal to the inverter.

8 . A transmission system comprising:
a transmission subsystem; a transmission housing having at least two openings; a rotor operably coupled to the transmission subsystem and supported for rotation within the transmission housing, and being of a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel; and a plurality of at least two independent stator pole segments mounted within the plurality of openings, each said independent stator pole segment having at least one stator winding thereon, and each being spaced generally equidistantly circumferentially apart from one another, and secured to the transmission housing in a manner so that a portion of each said stator pole segment is in proximity to a peripheral surface (axial, radial, or both) of the rotor; and the independent stator pole segments collectively forming a switched reluctance motor configured to at least one of power an engine or to crank the engine, wherein the engine is coupled to the transmission subsystem.

9 . The transmission of claim 8 , further comprising an inverter in electrical communication with each said stator winding of the independent stator pole segments, and being configured to electrically energize the stator windings to cause rotation of the rotor.

10 . The transmission of claim 8 , wherein three of said independent stator pole segments are mounted within three of the openings in the transmission housing, and spaced equidistantly circumferentially apart.

11 . The transmission of claim 8 , further comprising a torque converter operably coupled to the transmission subsystem.

12 . The transmission of claim 9 , further comprising a rotor position sensor positioned adjacent to the rotor for detecting an angular rotational position of the rotor and providing a real time electrical angular position signal to the inverter.

13 . The transmission of claim 12 , wherein the rotor position is mounted within an additional opening in the transmission housing.

14 . The transmission of claim 8 , further comprising a ring gear coupled to an outer periphery of the rotor.

15 . The transmission of claim 8 , wherein the independent stator pole segments, the rotor and the inverter cooperatively form a switched reluctance motor.

16 . A method for forming a transmission, comprising:
mounting a transmission subsystem within a transmission housing; coupling a rotor with the transmission subsystem and supporting the rotor for rotational movement within the transmission housing; configuring the rotor to have a weight and dimensions to act as a flywheel; supporting at least one stator pole segment having at least one stator winding thereon, at least partially within the transmission housing in a manner so that a portion of said stator pole segment is in proximity to a surface of the rotor; and using an inverter in electrical communication with the stator winding of the stator pole segment, and configured to electrically energize the stator pole segment, to cause rotation of the rotor.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising using a rotor position sensor to detect an angular position of the rotor and to provide electrical rotor position signals to the inverter.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising using a torque converter coupled to transmission subsystem.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing at least one opening in the transmission housing and mounting the stator pole segment in the opening.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling the transmission subsystem through a torque converter to an engine to form a hybrid powertrain.

Assignees

• American Axle & Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Crecelius David
• Downs James P

Classifications

• H02K7/006

  Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle · CPC title

• B60K6/54

  Transmission for changing ratio · CPC title

• B60K6/40

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

• B60K6/36 Primary

  characterised by the transmission gearings · CPC title

• F02N2011/0896

  Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators · CPC title