Abstract: A hybrid transmission includes first and second differential devices each including first, second and third rotating elements. An input element clutch is arranged to selectively connect the first rotating element of the first differential device and the first rotating element of the second differential device. An input member is arranged to connect an engine with the first rotating element of the second differential device. A first output member is connected with one of the first rotating elements of the first and second differential devices. A second output member is connected the second rotating element of the second differential device. A first motor/generator is connected with the second rotating element of the first differential device. A second motor/generator is connected with the third rotating element of the first differential device. One of a connecting state, a disconnect state, a reverse enable state and a unitary rotatable state is selectively selected by a select device.

Abstract: A mode switch control system for a hybrid transmission for a powertrain, the powertrain including an engine, a first motor/generator, and a second motor/generator, which controls a mode switch from a high speed mode to a low speed mode. The high speed mode is established by engaging a high-mode clutch. The low speed mode is established by engaging a low-mode brake. In the mode switch, the mode switch control system reduces the torque capacity of the high-mode clutch to zero linearly in time by an open-loop control system, and varies the torque of the second motor/generator to a target torque by a feedback control system so as to adjust the gear ratio to a target gear ratio, while the mode switch control system holds substantially constant the input torque from the engine, and the torque of the first motor/generator, to hold substantially constant the output torque.

Abstract: A method for starting an engine of a vehicle having a hybrid transmission is provided. The hybrid transmission is capable of providing motor running under a power of an electric motor only and hybrid running under a power of both of the engine and the electric motor. The power of an engine is supplied to the hybrid transmission by way of a clutch. The method includes, when the clutch is engaged for starting the engine during the motor running, issuing an engine start instruction when an engine speed increases to a startable speed with the progress of engagement of the clutch, and after the moment of issue of the engine start instruction, restricting increase of an engagement force of the clutch and thereby suppressing the progress of engagement of the clutch. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A stator for a two rotor single stator type electric motor is described. The electric motor has inner and outer rotors that are rotated independently within and around a stator upon application of current to the stator. The stator comprises a stator core including a plurality of stator teeth that are circumferentially arranged around a common axis. Each stator tooth includes a plurality of flat magnetic steel plates that are aligned along the common axis while intimately and closely contacting to one another. The stator further comprises at least one connecting ring plate that is coaxially installed in the stator core in such a manner that the ring plate is intimately put between adjacent two of the flat magnetic steel plates of each stator tooth. The ring plate is of an endless annular member.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a transmission that controls multiple torque generating elements. The transmission control device utilizes two torque generating elements that are connected to an output element through a differential which has two degrees of freedom and at least three rotating elements. The transmission can use the inertia response of the torque generating elements during a change in a command value of a demanded driving force and improves the ability to increase and decrease the output driving force and the responsiveness of any increase or decrease of the driving force.

Abstract: An in-wheel drive unit suspension device suspends an in-wheel drive unit disposed inside a wheel on a vehicle body. The in-wheel drive unit suspension device has a longitudinally extending first arm member and a vertically extending vertical member. The first arm member has a in-wheel drive unit attachment portion pivotally attached to an outer circumferential portion of an in-wheel drive unit at a position radially spaced apart from a rotational center of the in-wheel drive unit, and a vehicle body attachment portion pivotally attached to the vehicle body so that the in-wheel drive unit is movable in a vehicle vertical direction with respect to a vehicle body. The vertical member has a first part of the vertical member attached to the outer circumferential portion of the in-wheel drive unit and a second part of the vertical member attached to the vehicle body to guide the in-wheel drive unit in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: In method and apparatus for engaging an engine clutch for a hybrid transmission, a complete engagement of the engine clutch while at least one of an engine side clutch revolution speed of the engine clutch and a transmission side clutch revolution speed thereof is a revolution speed within a resonance revolution speed region of a revolution transmission system from the engine to a transmission revolution output portion is inhibited and the complete engagement of the engine clutch is carried out when both of the engine side clutch revolution speed of the engine clutch and the transmission side clutch revolution speed thereof become higher than the revolution speed within the resonance revolution speed region.

Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, input and output side motor/generators (MG1, MG2) and input and output portions (In, Out) are coupled to two sets of the differential units (G1, G2) in such a manner that, under a selection of a first predetermined gear ratio, in a revolution speed order, the input side motor/generator (MG1), the input portion (In) from a prime mover (engine), the output portion (Out) toward a vehicular drive system, and the output side motor/generator (MG2) are coupled to the respective revolvable elements of the two sets of the differential units (G1, G2) and the output side motor/generator is coupled to any one of the revolvable elements of the two sets of the differential units including those revolvable elements thereof which do not contribute to a revolution of the output portion.

Abstract: In a hybrid transmission and its assembling method, a differential unit is constituted by a single pinion planetary gear set and a double pinion planetary gear set holding a carrier in common to the single planetary gear set and having five rotary members from among which, when revolution states of two rotary members are determined, those of the other rotary members are determined, an input end from a prime mover is coupled to a ring gear of the double pinion planetary gear set, an output end to a drive system that is coupled to the common carrier, a first motor/generator that is coupled to a sun gear of the double pinion planetary gear set, a second motor/generator that is coupled to a sun gear of the single pinion planetary gear set, and a brake enabled to brake a ring gear of the single pinion planetary gear set.

Abstract: When, with engine kept stopped, driven road wheels are turned, the toroidal type continuously variable transmission is suppressed from shifting toward a higher speed side. That is, when, with the engine kept stopped, the road wheels are turned in a reverse direction due to a traction of a motor vehicle with its front end facing backward, an extra oil pump driven by the road wheels produces an oil pressure which is applied to a hydraulic servo mechanism to keep a speed change ratio at a lower speed side. While, when, with the engine kept stopped, the road wheels are turned in a forward direction due to a traction of the motor vehicle with its front end facing forward, the oil pressure produced by the extra oil pump is not practically used. Under this condition, a biasing spring suppresses a servo piston from moving in a direction to bring about a speed change ratio for the higher speed side.

Abstract: An in-wheel drive unit basically has a motor, a motor casing member, a planetary gear set, a hub flange and a pair of bearings. The motor includes a rotor that is rotatably driven. The motor casing member covers the motor. The planetary gear set is arranged coaxially about the rotational axis of the rotor. The planetary gear set includes a sun gear coupled to the rotor, a ring gear supported on the motor casing member, at least one pinion gear operatively arranged between the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the pinion gear. The hub flange is fixedly coupled to the carrier. The bearings rotatably support the hub flange and the pinion gear. The bearings are disposed on opposite sides of the pinion gear with respect to an axial direction of the pinion gear.

Abstract: In a toroidal continuously variable transmission, a primary oil pump is driven by an engine, whereas a secondary oil pump is driven in response to rotation of a road wheel. A hydraulic servo mechanism is connected to a trunnion to create an offset of the trunnion from a neutral position for a tilting motion of the power roller. Also provided is a hydraulic system that supplies the hydraulic pressure discharged from the secondary pump to the hydraulic servo mechanism to prevent the offset of the trunnion in the trunnion-axis direction, corresponding to an upshift, occurring owing to rotation of the road wheel in a stopped state of the engine. A modulated hydraulic pressure, which is constantly produced by the hydraulic system during operation of the engine, acts to hold the secondary pump at either of an inoperative state and an unloaded condition during the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission connected with a prime power source, including an input member for receiving power input from the prime power source, a two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism having a first axis and including at least four rotating members that are associated to rotate about the first axis, a first motor/generator having a second axis aligned with the first axis of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism, and a second motor/generator having a third axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The first motor/generator is drivingly connected with the first rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism. The second motor/generator is drivingly connected with the second rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a transmission outputs power from two high-speed, high-powered motor/generators into two coaxial output shafts for left and right wheels of a vehicle. Embodiments of the invention provide for a transmission that is coaxially mounted with the output shafts and the two motor/generators, which allows for a space-saving design. The transmission provides at least two degrees of freedom such that torque to each of the left any right wheels of driveshaft can be separately controlled by controlling the input/output of each of the motor/generators. The transmission may include two differential units to allow a significant gear reduction such that motor/generators that require high output speeds may be used.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission connected with a prime power source, including an input member for receiving power input from the prime power source, a two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism having a first axis and including at least four rotating members that are associated to rotate about the first axis, a first motor/generator having a second axis aligned with the first axis of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism, and a second motor/generator having a third axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The first motor/generator is drivingly connected with the first rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism. The second motor/generator is drivingly connected with the second rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission for variably producing a transmission ratio is comprised of first and second motor/generators and a differential mechanism constructed by two double-pinion planetary gearsets. The two double-pinion planetary gearsets are coaxially arranged and commonly employ common pinions. The differential mechanism includes at least four rotating members which are interlinked so that rotating conditions of all of the rotating members are determined when rotating conditions of two of the rotating members are determined. Four of the rotating members are connected to an input from a prime mover, an output to a driveline, first and second mover/generators, respectively.

Abstract: A rotor body according to the present invention comprises an annular laminated core of electromagnetic steel sheets defining therein a plurality of apertures in which permanent magnets are to be fixed, respectively, and a cylindrical core support to support the core, wherein the laminated core and the core support are joined to each other by brazing.

Abstract: A rotary electric motor is provided which comprises an annular first rotor, an annular stator disposed concentric with and radially outside the first rotor, and an annular second rotor disposed concentric with and radially outside the stator, the stator including a stator core made up of a plurality of stator pieces that are arranged in a circular array and electrically independently from each other, coils wound around the respective stator pieces, annular first and second brackets disposed on opposite axial ends of the stator core, a fastening device passing through holes of the first and second brackets and fixedly holding the stator core between the first and second brackets, and an induction current suppressing device suppressing an induction current that is produced in response to a variation of magnetic flux of each of the coils and flows through the fastening device.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission includes first and second differential devices each including first, second and third rotating elements. An input element clutch is arranged to selectively connect the first rotating element of the first differential device and the first rotating element of the second differential device. An input member is arranged to connect an engine with the first rotating element of the second differential device. A first output member is connected with one of the first rotating elements of the first and second differential devices. A second output member is connected the second rotating element of the second differential device. A first motor/generator is connected with the second rotating element of the first differential device. A second motor/generator is connected with the third rotating element of the first differential device.

Abstract: The drivetrain includes a differential mechanism having four or more input/output elements and having two degrees of freedom. The input In from an engine, the output Out to a drive shaft, and two motor-generators MGi and MGo are assigned to the elements, and one of the elements other than the element to which the output assigned is provided with brakes B. By braking the element other than the output with the brakes, a large reduction ratio can be achieved, so startability can be improved without enlarging the capacities of the motor-generators.

Abstract: An impact-impeding structure includes a pane which extends along a plane and has a front and a rear side, and an impact-impeding frame for the pane. The frame may include an outer frame member and an inner frame member received in the outer frame member, the frame members being provided at least at one of the front and rear sides of the pane with impact-impeding elements, and defining with one another a labyrinthine gap situated at a region of the impact-impeding elements and including a plurality of steps extending at least substantially parallel to the plane. The parts of the gap which interconnect the steps extend at an angle deviating from the normal to the plane of the pane and may have different widths which may decrease from the exterior to the interior of the frame arrangement.