Patents Assigned to DaimlerChysler Corporation
  • Patent number: 6019698
    Abstract: A powertrain system for a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes a heat engine, such as a diesel engine, and an electric machine, which operates as both, an electric motor and an alternator, to power the vehicle. The hybrid vehicle also includes a manual-style transmission configured to operate as an automatic transmission from the perspective of the driver. The engine and the electric machine drive an input shaft which in turn drives an output shaft of the transmission. In addition to driving the transmission, the electric machine regulates the speed of the input shaft in order to synchronize the input shaft during either an upshift or downshift of the transmission by either decreasing or increasing the speed of the input shaft. When decreasing the speed of the input shaft, the electric motor functions as an alternator to produce electrical energy which may be stored by a storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChysler Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Lawrie, Richard G. Reed, David J. Rausen