Other

Gregory A Schultz

Lung-Wen Tsai

A motor-integrated transmission mechanism for use in parallel hybrid electric vehicles. The transmission can provide five basic modes of operation that can be further classified into sixteen sub-modes: one electric motor mode, four engine modes, four engine/charge modes, three power modes and four regenerative braking modes. Each of these sub-modes can be grouped into like clutching conditions, providing the functional appearance of a conventional 4-speed automatic transmission, with electric launch, engine-only, engine/charge, power-assist, and regeneration capability. CVT capability is provided with one of the engine/charge modes. The transmission can be incorporated in front-wheel drive and in rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Motor integrated parallel hybrid transmission

Disclosed is a novel parallel hybrid transmission that transmits torque from two power sources to the drive wheels of a vehicle. The transmission functions with a single heat engine and a single electric motor/generator. Through the use of a compound planetary gear train and four automatically controlled clutches, the transmission is able to (i) sum torque from the two power sources to drive the vehicle; (ii) split torque from the heat engine to drive the vehicle and charge the batteries; (iii) transmit torque individually from either of the two power sources; and (iv) operate as a one- or two-degree-of-freedom mechanism. The configuration of clutches and the compound planetary gear train enable thirteen modes of operation, namely, one motor-only mode, three combined motor and engine modes, one continuous variable transmission/charging mode, four engine-only modes, and four regenerative braking modes. Because the design is based on conventional automatic transmission components, the design is simple, compact, efficient, and reliable.

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Havre de Grace, MD, United States of America

Gregory A Schultz