Multi-mode transmission for vehicle powertrain system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9546719-B2
Application number	US-201414533144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2014
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A torque transmission device for a powertrain system includes a continuously variable transmission (CVU) arranged in parallel with a transfer gear set. The CVU variator includes a first pulley rotatably coupled to a first rotating member and a second pulley rotatably coupled to a second rotating member. The transfer gear set includes a first gear selectively rotatably coupled to a second gear via activation of a clutch. The clutch includes a first rotating element and a second rotating element that rotate in concert when the clutch is activated. The first rotating element rotatably couples to the first rotating member and the second rotating element rotatably couples to the first gear. The first gear rotates in a fixed ratio with rotation of the second gear when the clutch is activated. The second gear rotatably couples to the second rotating member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque transmission device to transfer torque between a transmission input member and a transmission output member of a powertrain system, comprising:
a continuously variable transmission (CVU) variator arranged in parallel with a transfer gear set between the transmission input member and the transmission output member;
the CVU variator including a first pulley coupled to a first rotating member and a second pulley coupled to a second rotating member, wherein the first rotating member is rotatably coupled to the transmission input member and the second rotating member is rotatably coupled to the transmission output member;
the transfer gear set including a first gear rotatably coupled to a second gear; and
a clutch including a first rotating element and a second rotating element that rotate in concert when the clutch is activated;
wherein the first rotating element of the clutch is coupled to the first rotating member;
wherein the second rotating element of the clutch is coupled to the first gear of the transfer gearset;
wherein the first gear rotates in a fixed ratio with rotation of the second gear;
wherein the second gear is coupled to the second rotating member and is coupled to the second pulley;
wherein the transfer gear set is disposed to transfer torque between the transmission input member and the transmission output member only when the clutch is engaged; and
wherein the CVU variator is disposed to transfer torque between the transmission input member and the transmission output member when the clutch is disengaged.

2. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the clutch comprises a dog clutch wherein the first rotating element meshingly engages and rotates in concert with the second rotating element when the clutch is activated.

3. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the clutch comprises a friction clutch.

4. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the clutch comprises a selectable one-way clutch.

5. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission input member is coupled to a torque actuator and the transmission output member is coupled to a driveline.

6. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the first rotating member comprises an output member to a driveline and the second rotating member comprises an input member from a torque actuator.

7. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second gears of the transfer gear set comprise sprockets and the first gear rotatably couples to the second gear via a chain.

8. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second gears of the transfer gear set comprise multi-tooth gears and the first gear rotatably couples to the second gear via an intermediary gear.

9. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the first gear of the transfer gear set selectively rotatably couples to the second gear in an overdrive configuration.

10. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the first gear of the transfer gear set selectively rotatably couples to the second gear in an underdrive configuration.

11. The torque transmission device of claim 1 , wherein the first gear of the transfer gear set selectively rotatably couples to the second gear in a unitary drive configuration.

12. A torque transmission device for a powertrain system, comprising:
a continuously variable transmission (CVU) variator arranged in parallel with a transfer gear set;
the CVU variator including a first pulley coupled to a first rotating member and a second pulley coupled to a second rotating member, wherein the first rotating member is coupled to a transmission input member and the second rotating member is coupled to a transmission output member;
the transfer gear set including a first gear rotatably coupled to a second gear;
wherein the clutch includes a first rotating element and a second rotating element that rotate in concert when the clutch is activated;
wherein the first rotating element of the clutch is coaxial with and coupled to the first rotating member;
wherein the second rotating element of the clutch is coaxial with and coupled to the first gear;
wherein the first gear rotates in a fixed ratio with rotation of the second gear; and
wherein the second gear is coaxial with and coupled to the second rotating member and the second pulley;
wherein the first pulley of the CVU variator disengages from the transfer gear set when the first gear of the transfer gear set rotatably couples to the second gear via activation of the clutch;
wherein the transfer gear set is disposed to transfer torque between the transmission input member and the transmission output member only when the clutch is engaged; and
wherein the CVU variator is disposed to transfer torque between the transmission input member and the transmission output member when the clutch is disengaged.

13. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the clutch comprises a dog clutch wherein the first rotating element meshingly engages and rotates in concert with the second rotating element when the clutch is activated.

14. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the clutch comprises one of a friction clutch or a selectable one-way clutch.

15. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the transmission input member is coupled to a torque actuator and the transmission output member is coupled to a driveline.

16. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the first rotating member comprises an output member to a driveline and the second rotating member comprises an input member from a torque actuator.

17. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the first and second gears of the transfer gear set comprise sprockets and the first gear rotatably couples to the second gear via a chain.

18. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the first and second gears of the transfer gear set comprise multi-tooth gears and the first gear rotatably couples to the second gear via an intermediary gear.

19. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the first gear of the transfer gear set selectively rotatably couples to the second gear in an overdrive configuration.

20. The torque transmission device of claim 12 , wherein the first gear of the transfer gear set selectively rotatably couples to the second gear in an underdrive configuration.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Samie Farzad
• Lee Chunhao J

Classifications

• F16H37/021 Primary

  toothed gearing combined with continuously variable friction gearing · CPC title

• F16H2037/026

  Layouts with particular features of reversing gear, e.g. to achieve compact arrangement · CPC title

• F16H37/022

  the toothed gearing having orbital motion · CPC title