Abstract: A method of operating a supercharger (10) for an automotive engine (20) is disclosed. A supercharger (10) has an input shaft (30) for coupling to a crank shaft (22) of the engine and also for coupling to the rotor of a first electrical machine (40) and the annulus of an epicyclic gear train (60). An output shaft (70) is connected to a compressor (80) and a sun gear of the epicyclic gear train (60). A carrier carrying planet gears of the epicyclic gear train (60) is connected to the rotor of a second electrical machine (50). The first electrical machine (40) is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine (50). The second electrical machine (50) is selectively operable as a motor or a generator to accelerate or decelerate the compressor (80), thereby tending to increase or decrease the power output of the engine.

Abstract: A hub comprises a cylindrical, hollow hub member which is mounted to rotate about its axis and accommodated in whose interior is a continuously variable ratio transmission system having an input, which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output mounted to rotate with the hub member. The transmission system comprises a single epicyclic gearset including a sun gear in mesh with a plurality of planet gears mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts carried by a common carrier, which is mounted to rotate with the input about the axis. The planet gears are in mesh with an annulus gear, which is connected to rotate with the rotors of first and second electric motor/generators, respectively. The electrical connections of the stators of the two motor/generators are connected by a controller arranged to control the transmission of power from one motor/generator to the other.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for operating a supercharger for an automotive engine is disclosed. The supercharger has: an input shaft for coupling to an engine crankshaft, and coupled to the rotor of a first electrical machine and a first component of an epicyclic gear train; and an output shaft connected to a compressor and a second component of the epicyclic gear train; wherein the third component of the epicyclic gear train is connected to the rotor of a second electrical machine. The first electrical machine is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine. The method includes the steps of: (a) calculating a required speed of the second electrical machine that would give rise to a required pressure at an outlet of the compressor; and (b) setting the speed of the second electrical machine to the calculated required speed.

Abstract: A hub comprises a cylindrical, hollow hub member which is mounted to rotate about its axis and accommodated in whose interior is a continuously variable ratio transmission system having an input, which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output mounted to rotate with the hub member. The transmission system comprises a single epicyclic gearset including a sun gear in mesh with a plurality of planet gears mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts carried by a common carrier, which is mounted to rotate with the input about the axis. The planet gears are in mesh with an annulus gear, which is connected to rotate with the rotors of first and second electric motor/generators, respectively. The electrical connections of the stators of the two motor/generators are connected by a controller arranged to control the transmission of power from one motor/generator to the other.

Abstract: A method of operating a supercharger (10) for an automotive engine (20) is disclosed. A supercharger (10) has an input shaft (30) for coupling to a crank shaft (22) of the engine and also for coupling to the rotor of a first electrical machine (40) and the annulus of an epicyclic gear train (60). An output shaft (70) is connected to a compressor (80) and a sun gear of the epicyclic gear train (60). A carrier carrying planet gears of the epicyclic gear train (60) is connected to the rotor of a second electrical machine (50). The first electrical machine (40) is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine (50). The second electrical machine (50) is selectively operable as a motor or a generator to accelerate or decelerate the compressor (80), thereby tending to increase or decrease the power output of the engine.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling operation of a pedal cycle (10) having a rear hub-mounted electro-mechanical transmission arrangement in which a chain-driven rear sprocket (80), an input electrical machine (120) and the hub (100) are each coupled to a respective branch of a three-branch epicyclic gear set (140). Allowing for natural variations in input torque by a cyclist over a cycle of the crank arms (50), a substantially constant current is caused to exist in the input electrical machine (120) such that a change in torque applied by the cyclist results in a change in transmission ratio between the rear sprocket (80) and the hub (100), thereby providing a form of automatic and continuously variable transmission for the pedal cycle (10).

Abstract: An automotive air blower includes an air pump (14) connected to the output shaft of a transmission system, whose input shaft is connected, in use, to the engine (16) of a motor vehicle. The input and output shafts are connected to the ring gear (10) and sun gear (13), respectively, of a three-branch epicyclic differential gearset. The planet carrier (12) of the gearset is connected to the rotor (2) of an electric motor/generator and the input shaft is connected to the rotor of an electrical machine (1), which constitutes at least a generator. The electrical connections of the stators of the two machines are connected together via a controller arranged to control the flow of electrical power between them. A selectively engageable mechanical connection (15) is provided between two of the branches of the gearset and arranged to connect the two branches together such that the gearset will rotate as a single unit.

Abstract: A hub comprises a cylindrical, hollow hub member (2), which is mounted to rotate about its axis and in whose interior is a transmission system having an input (10), which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output connected to rotate with the hub member. The transmission system comprises first and second epicyclic gearsets (14, 16). The first gearset (14) comprises a first sun gear (18), which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is in mesh with a plurality of first planet gears (20) mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts (22) carried by a first common carrier (24), which is mounted to rotate about the first axis. The second gearset (16) comprises a second sun gear (28), which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is in mesh with a plurality of second planet gears (30) mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts (32) carried by a second common carrier (34).

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for operating a supercharger for an automotive engine is disclosed. The supercharger has: an input shaft for coupling to an engine crankshaft, and coupled to the rotor of a first electrical machine and a first component of an epicyclic gear train; and an output shaft connected to a compressor and a second component of the epicyclic gear train; wherein the third component of the epicyclic gear train is connected to the rotor of a second electrical machine. The first electrical machine is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine. The method includes the steps of: (a) calculating a required speed of the second electrical machine that would give rise to a required pressure at an outlet of the compressor; and (b) setting the speed of the second electrical machine to the calculated required speed.

Abstract: An automotive air blower includes an air pump (14) connected to the output shaft of a transmission system, whose input shaft is connected, in use, to the engine (16) of a motor vehicle. The input and output shafts are connected to the ring gear (10) and sun gear (13), respectively, of a three-branch epicyclic differential gearset. The planet carrier (12) of the gearset is connected to the rotor (2) of an electric motor/generator and the input shaft is connected to the rotor of an electrical machine (1), which constitutes at least a generator. The electrical connections of the stators of the two machines are connected together via a controller arranged to control the flow of electrical power between them. A selectively engageable mechanical connection (15) is provided between two of the branches of the gearset and arranged to connect the two branches together such that the gearset will rotate as a single unit.

Abstract: An automotive propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine (6) with an inlet air duct (66) and an output shaft (10), which is connected to the input shaft of a transmission system (58) of continuously variable transmission ratio. The transmission system comprises a differential gearset comprising at least three shafts (10, 12), two of which constitute the input shaft and output shaft, respectively and all of which carry at least one gear wheel in mesh with at least one gear wheel carried by one of the other shafts. The transmission system also includes two electric motor/generators (42, 46; 50, 52), the rotors (42, 50) of which are connected to respective shafts and the electrical connections (43, 45) of which are connected to a controller (62) arranged to control the flow of electrical power between them. The propulsion system also includes an electrically driven supercharger (60) communicating with the inlet duct (66) and connected to the controller (62).