Multimode electromechanical variable speed transmission apparatus and method of control

Abstract

The current invention discloses a multi-mode electro-mechanical variable speed transmission. The transmission includes an input shaft, an output system, planetary gear set having at least three braches each represents a co-axial rotating member, two electric machines along with the associated controllers for the electric machines, and a clutch. The first branch couples to the first electric machine with a constant speed ratio; the second branch couples to the output system with a constant speed ratio; and the third branch couples to the input shaft with a constant speed ratio; the second electric machine selectively couples to two different the branches of the planetary gear set with two different constant speed ratios, respectively. The multi-mode electro-mechanical variable speed transmission is capable of providing multiple operation modes including two electric drive modes and two power split operation modes. Different operation modes cover different speed ratio regimes and are suitable for different power requirements. At the mode switching point, the corresponding clutch or clutches is automatically synchronized. This avoids shock loads during operation mode switching. The transmission is capable of providing operations with at least a fixed output to input speed ratio.