Multi-mode hybrid variable drive unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387752-B2
Application number	US-201514614528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2015
Priority date	Dec 18, 2012
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A hybrid transmission providing multiple modes of operation in a compact arrangement is provided and includes first and second planetary gear sets and first and second electric machines. An electric machine shaft directly couples the first planetary gear set to the second planetary gear set and the second electric machine to the second planetary gear set. The second electric machine is selectively directly coupled to an output shaft via a first clutch mechanism, and indirectly coupled to the output shaft via the second planetary gear set and a drive shaft, which extends parallel to the electric machine shaft and external to the second electric machine. A second clutch mechanism selectively couples the first electric machine to a carrier of the second planetary gear set and a third clutch mechanism selectively couples a ring gear of the second planetary gear set to a hybrid drive unit housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid drive unit, comprising:
a first planetary gear set connected to an input shaft and a second planetary gear set connected to the first planetary gear set by an electric machine shaft;
a first electric machine connected to the first planetary gear set and a second electric machine connected to the first and second planetary gear sets by the electric machine shaft;
an output shaft selectively directly coupled to the electric machine shaft by a first clutch mechanism, wherein the input shaft, electric machine shaft and output shaft are distinct shafts that share a common axis of rotation;
a second clutch mechanism configured to selectively couple the first electric machine to the second planetary gear set;
a drive shaft connected to the second planetary gear set by a first driven gear and to the output shaft by at least one drive gear, wherein the drive shaft is parallel to and spaced apart from the electric machine shaft;
wherein the output shaft is configured to be i) selectively directly connected to the second electric machine via the electric machine shaft by activation of the first clutch mechanism and ii) indirectly coupled to the second electric machine via the second planetary gear set and the drive shaft; and
wherein the drive shaft extends parallel to the electric machine shaft and external to and around the second electric machine.

2. The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising a third clutch mechanism configured to selectively couple the second planetary gear set to a hybrid drive unit housing.

3. The hybrid drive unit of claim 2 , wherein the third clutch mechanism selectively couples a ring gear of the second planetary gear set to the hybrid drive unit housing.

4. The hybrid drive unit of claim 3 , wherein the hybrid drive unit is configured to operate in three different modes of operation comprising a first mode, a second mode and a third mode, each of the three modes of operation activated by activating at least one of the first, second and third clutch mechanisms.

5. The hybrid drive unit of claim 4 , wherein activation of the third clutch mechanism and deactivation of the first and second clutch mechanisms configures the hybrid drive unit for operation in the first mode;
wherein in the first mode, torque is provided to the output shaft via the drive shaft and the electric machine shaft is decoupled from the output shaft and free to rotate at a different speed than the output shaft.

6. The hybrid drive unit of claim 5 , wherein, in the first mode, torque is provided to the output shaft by the second electric machine and the first electric machine is used to generate electricity.

7. The hybrid drive unit of claim 3 , wherein the first electric machine is connected to a sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the second electric machine is connected to a ring gear of the first planetary gear set via the electric machine shaft.

8. The hybrid drive unit of claim 4 , wherein activation of the second clutch mechanism and deactivation of the first and third clutch mechanisms configures the hybrid drive unit for operation in the second mode; and
wherein in the second mode, torque is provided to the output shaft via the drive shaft and the electric machine shaft is decoupled from the output shaft and free to rotate at a different speed than the output shaft and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set is free to rotate at a different speed than the hybrid drive unit housing.

9. The hybrid drive unit of claim 8 , wherein, in the second mode, torque is provided to the output shaft by the first electric machine and the second electric machine is used to generate electricity.

10. The hybrid drive unit of claim 4 , wherein activation of the first and second clutch mechanisms and deactivation of the third clutch mechanism configures the hybrid drive unit for operation in the third mode;
wherein in the third mode, torque is provided to the output shaft via the electric machine shaft by activation of the first clutch mechanism and the first electric machine is coupled to the second electric machine by activation of the second clutch mechanism.

11. The hybrid drive unit of claim 10 , wherein, in the third mode, torque is provided to the output shaft by the second electric machine and the first electric machine is used to generate electricity.

12. The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the first clutch mechanism and the second clutch mechanism are selected from a group consisting of a wet clutch, dry clutch, dog clutch, and multi-plate clutch.

13. The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the first clutch mechanism and second clutch mechanism are dog clutches.

14. A hybrid drive unit, comprising:
a first planetary gear set connected to an input shaft and a second planetary gear set connected to the first planetary gear set by an electric machine shaft;
a first electric machine connected to the first planetary gear set and a second electric machine connected to the first and second planetary gear sets by the electric machine shaft;
an output shaft selectively directly coupled to the electric machine shaft by a first clutch mechanism, wherein the input shaft, electric machine shaft and output shaft are distinct shafts that share a common axis of rotation;
a second clutch mechanism configured to selectively couple the first electric machine to the second planetary gear set; and
a drive shaft connected to the second planetary gear set by a first driven gear and to the output shaft by at least one drive gear, wherein the drive shaft is parallel to and spaced apart from the electric machine shaft;
wherein the output shaft is configured to be i) selectively directly connected to the second electric machine via the electric machine shaft by activation of the first clutch mechanism and ii) indirectly coupled to the second electric machine via the second planetary gear set and the drive shaft;
wherein the first planetary gear set further comprises:
a sun gear connected to the first electric machine,
a carrier connected to the input shaft, and
a ring gear connected to the second electric machine via the electric machine shaft; and

wherein the second planetary gear set further comprises a sun gear directly connected to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set via the electric machine shaft.

15. The hybrid drive unit of claim 14 , wherein the drive shaft extends parallel to the electric machine shaft and external to and around the second electric machine.

16. The hybrid drive unit of claim 14 , wherein the second planetary gear set further comprises a carrier selectively directly coupled to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set by the second clutch mechanism;
the carrier of the second planetary gear set is coupled to the output shaft via the at least one drive gear, the first driven gear and the drive shaft; and
the ring gear of the first planetary gear set, the sun gear of the second planetary gear set, and the second electric machine are all selectively directly coupled to the output shaft by the first clutch mechanism.

17. The hybrid drive unit of claim 16 , wherein the ring gear of the first planetary gear set, the sun gear of the second planetary gear set, the second electric machine and the first clutch mechanism are all directly coupled to the electric machine shaft.

Assignees

• Puiu Dumitru
• Miller Scott A
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Puiu Dumitru
• Miller Scott A

Classifications

• F16H2200/2007

  with two sets of orbital gears · CPC title

• B60K6/387

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

• B60K6/547

  the transmission being a stepped gearing · CPC title

• Y02T10/6239

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60K2006/4816

  Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox internal shaft · CPC title