Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to a sun gear of the gear set, a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) a planetary gear carrier of the gear set and (b) a ring gear of the gear set, an engine coupled to the ring gear of the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

Abstract: A method of operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in: a first operating mode by operating the first electric machine in a voltage mode and the second electric machine in a torque mode; and a second operating mode by operating the first electric machine in the torque mode and the second electric machine in the voltage mode.

Abstract: A drive train for a vehicle includes an engine having an output shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a first clutch that selectively engages the output shaft of the engine with the second motor/generator, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to a sun gear of the gear set, a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) a planetary gear carrier of the gear set and (b) a ring gear of the gear set, an engine coupled to the ring gear of the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

Abstract: A method of operating a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode including operating the first motor/generator as a generator and operating the second motor/generator as a motor, the second operating mode including operating both the first motor/generator as a generator and the second motor/generator as a generator when a first power generation capability associated with the first motor/generator is below a first threshold level, the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator providing electrical power to the DC bus without doing either of (a) providing electrical power to an energy storage device or (b) consuming electrical power from an energy storage device.

Abstract: A drive train for a vehicle includes an engine having an output shaft, a first gear set, a second gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a first clutch, and a second clutch. Planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers that are coupled to each other. The first clutch selectively engages the output shaft of the engine with the second motor/generator, and the second clutch and a third gear set operate to selectively engage at least one of the sun gear and the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carriers of the first and second gear sets.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a first gear set and a second gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to a sun gear of the first gear set, a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) a planetary gear carrier of the first gear set and (b) a ring gear of the first gear set, an engine coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

Abstract: A method of operating a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode including operating the first motor/generator as a generator and operating the second motor/generator as a motor, the second operating mode including operating both the first motor/generator as a generator and the second motor/generator as a generator when a first power generation capability associated with the first motor/generator is below a first threshold level, the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator providing electrical power to the DC bus without doing either of (a) providing electrical power to an energy storage device or (b) consuming electrical power from an energy storage device.

Abstract: A drive train for a vehicle includes an engine having an output shaft, a first gear set, a second gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a first clutch, and a second clutch. Planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers that are coupled to each other. The first clutch selectively engages the output shaft of the engine with the second motor/generator, and the second clutch and a third gear set operate to selectively engage at least one of the sun gear and the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carriers of the first and second gear sets.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of operating a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator in a vehicle drive. The first motor/generator is electrically coupled to the second motor/generator by a DC bus. The vehicle drive is configured to propel a vehicle. The method includes operating the first motor/generator as a generator, providing electrical power to the DC bus. The first motor/generator provides the electrical power required by the second motor/generator and the electrical power required to offset losses. The method also includes operating the second motor/generator as a motor, consuming electrical power from the DC bus. The sum of the electrical power provided, the electrical power losses, and the electrical power consumed is zero. The first motor/generator provides electrical power and the second motor/generator consumes electrical power without providing electrical power to an energy storage device or consuming electrical power from an energy storage device.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a vehicle drive. The vehicle drive includes a first gear set and a second gear set. Each gear set includes a sun gear, a ring gear, planetary gears, and a planetary gear carrier. The vehicle drive includes a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set. The vehicle drive includes a second motor/generator coupled to the planetary gear carrier or the ring gear of the first gear set. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator. The motor/generators are electrically coupled without an energy storage device. The vehicle drive includes an engine coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The vehicle drive includes a first and a second clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the planetary gear carrier of the first gear set or the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a first gear set and a second gear set both having a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears which couple the sun gear to the ring gear. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers which are coupled to each other. The vehicle drive also includes an engine, a first clutch which selectively engages the engine to the ring gear of the first gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set and a second motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a second clutch which selectively engages the engine to the second motor/generator, and a third clutch and a third gear set which operate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set to the planetary gear carriers.

Abstract: A self-contained axle module for a vehicle having a support structure is provided. The self-contained axle includes a housing removably coupled to the support structure and an output shaft extending from the housing. An electric motor is coupled to the housing and drives the output shaft. Two wheel end assemblies are coupled to the output shaft, and an independent suspension assembly is coupled between each wheel end assembly and the housing, so that the independent suspension assemblies and the wheel end assemblies and the electric motor and the housing are removable from the vehicle as a unit by detaching the housing from the support structure.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a first gear set and a second gear set both having a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears which couple the sun gear to the ring gear. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers which are coupled to each other. The vehicle drive also includes an engine, a first clutch which selectively engages the engine to the ring gear of the first gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set and a second motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a second clutch which selectively engages the engine to the second motor/generator, and a third clutch and a third gear set which operate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set to the planetary gear carriers.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a first gear set and a second gear set both having a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears which couple the sun gear to the ring gear. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers which are coupled to each other. The vehicle drive also includes an engine, a first clutch which selectively engages the engine to the ring gear of the first gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set and a second motor/generator coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set and electrically coupled to the first motor/generator, a second clutch which selectively engages the engine to the second motor/generator, and a third clutch and a third gear set which operate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set to the planetary gear carriers.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is described herein which includes a microprocessor based interface module which is used to control electric motors coupled to drive wheels. The interface module is configured to include a backup communications link to allow an operator to control the vehicle in situations where control information is unavailable over a primary communications network.

Abstract: A method of reducing wheel slip and wheel locking in an electric traction vehicle includes receiving in a first controller a first signal value representative of a first amount of torque to be applied to at least one wheel of the electric traction vehicle by a motor coupled to the wheel and to the first controller, and a second signal value representative of a reference speed of the electric traction vehicle. The first and second signal values are generated by a second controller in communication with the first controller. The method also includes receiving in the first controller a third signal value representative of a speed of the at least one wheel, determining in the first controller a torque output signal using the first, second, and third signal values; and transmitting the torque output signal from the first controller to the motor.

Abstract: An electric traction system for an electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator coupled to the engine, a power bus coupled to the generator, a power storage unit coupled to the power bus, a drive controller coupled to an electric motor and to the power bus, and a vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller. The generator is configured to receive electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor in order to provide mechanical power to the engine, and the engine is configured to dissipate the mechanical power in order to provide a braking function.

Abstract: A self-contained axle module for a vehicle having a support structure is provided. The self-contained axle includes a housing removably coupled to the support structure and an output shaft extending from the housing. An electric motor is coupled to the housing and drives the output shaft. Two wheel end assemblies are coupled to the output shaft, and an independent suspension assembly is coupled between each wheel end assembly and the housing, so that the independent suspension assemblies and the wheel end assemblies and the electric motor and the housing are removable from the vehicle as a unit by detaching the housing from the support structure.