The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 01, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2003
Emilio Vitale, Arena Metato, IT;
Francesco Frendo, Pisa, IT;
Luigi Arnone, Naples, IT;
Maurizio Marcacci, Leghorn, IT;
Giovanni Riggio, Paola, IT;
Emilio Vitale, Arena Metato, IT;
Francesco Frendo, Pisa, IT;
Luigi Arnone, Naples, IT;
Maurizio Marcacci, Leghorn, IT;
Giovanni Riggio, Paola, IT;
Universita'di Pisa, Pisa, IT;
Piaggio&C. S.p.A., Pontedera, IT;
Abstract
A hybrid drive assembly () for a vehicle having at least one drive wheel (), the drive assembly including an internal combustion engine (); a transmission unit () interposed between a drive shaft () of the internal combustion engine () and a propeller shaft () connected angularly to the drive wheel (), and in turn including a continuously variable transmission () having a drive pulley () connected angularly to the drive shaft () and a driven pulley (), and a centrifugal clutch () having a hub () connected to the driven pulley, and a driven bell () connected to the propeller shaft (); and an electric machine () having a rotor () integral with the bell () of the centrifugal clutch (). The drive assembly () is controlled by a control unit (), in response to a number of input signals (Ss, Sa, Sf), in a number of operating modes including an all-combustion propulsion mode, an all-electric propulsion mode, a first hybrid propulsion mode wherein the internal combustion engine () and the electric machine () are connected in series, and a second hybrid propulsion mode wherein the internal combustion engine () and the electric machine () are connected in parallel.