Orbital (e.g., Planetary Gears) (epo/jpo) Patents (Class 903/910)
  • Publication number: 20090186734
    Abstract: A torque-producing machine and planetary gear set biases torque between primary and secondary drivelines of a vehicle. A first element of the planetary gear set is connected to an upstream torque source. A second element of the planetary gear set is connected to the secondary driveline. A third element of the planetary gear set is connected to a torque-producing biasing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: William Paul Perkins
  • Publication number: 20090183933
    Abstract: A transaxle (200) operatively connects a first associated rotational connection and a second associated rotational connection with an associated vehicle axle. An electrically-variable transmission includes an engine (108), a first electric machine (110) operatively connected to the engine, second and third electric machines (130 and 132), a first transaxle (126) operatively connecting the engine and second electric machine to an associated vehicle axle (104A), and a second transaxle (128) operatively connecting the first and third electric machines to another associated vehicle axle (104B). A method (300, 400, 500) is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Codrin-Gruie Cantemir, Giorgio Rizzoni, Christopher J. Hubert, Gabriel G. Ursescu, Osvaldo Barbarisi
  • Patent number: 7547264
    Abstract: The present invention provides an alternator starter accessory drive system for a hybrid vehicle. The starter alternator accessory drive system includes a planetary gear set having a first, second, and third planetary member. An engine is operatively connected to the first planetary member, and a first motor/generator is operatively connected to the second planetary member. A torque transfer device operatively connects a plurality of accessories to the third planetary member. A second motor/generator is operatively connected to either the third planetary member or the torque transfer device. Engine output is transferable through the planetary gear set to drive the accessories at a selectable rate, and the first and second motor/generators are controllable to run the accessories while the engine is off and to re-start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick B. Usoro
  • Publication number: 20090098969
    Abstract: A miniaturized vehicular drive apparatus is provided with a reduced size in an axial direction without increasing the number of parallel shafts. A first electric motor M1 and a power distributing mechanism (differential portion) 16 are disposed on a first axis CL1, forming a rotational axis of an input rotary member 14, in series starting therefrom and an automatic transmission (transmission portion) 20 is disposed on a second axis CL2 parallel to the first axis CL1. A drive linkage 23 is provided between a power transmitting member 18, acting as a rotary member placed on the first axis CL1 at an end portion thereof in opposition to the input rotary member 14, i.e., in opposition to an engine 8, and a first intermediate shaft (rotary member) 40, disposed on the second axis CL2 at an end portion thereof in opposition to the input rotary member 14, for power transmitting capability. Thus, a power transmitting path is formed in a C-shape, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Terufumi Miyazaki, Atsushi Kamada, Yutaka Taga
  • Publication number: 20090093331
    Abstract: A hybrid drive device includes an input member connected to an engine; an output member connected to a wheel; a first rotating electrical machine; a second rotating electrical machine connected to the output member; and a differential gear device including at least four rotational elements. The input member, the output member, and the first rotating electrical machine are respectively connected to different rotational elements of the differential gear device. The output member is capable of selectively connecting to one of two rotational elements of the differential gear device to which neither the input member nor the first rotating electrical machine is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Iwanaka, Shigeki Takami, Nobukazu Ike, Hiroaki Sanji, Miyoshi Kawaguchi, Yukihiko Ideshio, Shigeru Okuwaki
  • Publication number: 20090055061
    Abstract: A power device for motor vehicles installed on a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine is composed of a first variable displacement hydraulic activator (107), a second variable displacement hydraulic activator (108), a planetary gear mechanism (103) and a mechanical transmission (104). The power device further includes a hydraulic control device (109) and an electronic control device (112) which are used to control the first and second variable displacement hydraulic activators. The control device may carry out the following controls, that is, during the period when the engine outputs power, part of mechanical energy is converted into electric energy via the motor to be stored in the chargeable cell when the power requirement from the motor vehicle increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Raphael Zhu
  • Publication number: 20090036246
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a hybrid electromechanical transmission and a power source. A planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third member connects the power source with a first and a second motor/generator. A battery is operatively connected to the motor/generators for receiving power therefrom and delivering power thereto. An input member rotates with the first member, the first motor/generator rotates with the second member, and the second motor/generator rotates with the output member. A first torque-transmitting mechanism is engagable to connect the second motor/generator for rotation with the third member. The battery and the second motor/generator provide an electric-only operating mode to power the output member when the first torque-transmitting mechanism is not engaged; the power source, planetary gear set and first motor/generator thereby being disconnected from the output member during the electric-only operating mode to prevent parasitic drag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, Alan G. Holmes
  • Patent number: 7469758
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive control device includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor; a differential device that includes first, second and third rotational elements, wherein the first rotational element is connected with the first electric motor, the second rotational element is connected with the second electric motor, and the third rotational elements is connected with the engine; a transmission that is connected with the second electric motor via a transmission shaft, and that shifts a speed of a rotation transferred from the transmission shaft; and a controller that: judges whether an engine start request for starting the engine is generated and whether a downshift request is generated; and starts, if the engine start request and the downshift request are generated, one of an engine start control and a downshift control when the other of the engine start control and the downshift control is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Iwanaka, Shigeki Takami, Ryuji Ibaraki, Tooru Matsubara, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7462121
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle powertrain is disclosed. A countershaft transmission in the powertrain delivers power from an engine through countershaft gearing. Electric power from a single motor-generator complements engine power and may drive front traction wheels. Regenerative power is recovered during power delivery to rear traction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Janson, Reid Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20080242463
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle that includes an engine and a motor-generator connected to the engine through a power split device, upon acceleration in a running state, there may arise a case where the rotational speed of the MG1 enters a lockup area and, then, the MG1 cannot pull out of the lockup state with ease in such a manner that the rotational speed of the MG1 is shifted from a normal rotation area to a reverse rotation area, in accordance with an increase of a torque produced by the MG1. In this case, the engine is controlled such that a torque produced by the engine is decreased. Thus, the rotational speeds of the engine and MG1 are reduced entirely, so that the MG1 can pull out of the lockup state without increasing the torque produced by the MG1 any more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Takeshi Itoh, Noriaki Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7426972
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular drive system including (a) a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine (8) to a first electric motor and a power transmitting member, (b) a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and a drive wheel of a vehicle, and (c) a differential-state switching device operable to place the differential mechanism selectively in one of a differential state in which the differential mechanism is operable to perform a differential function and a locked state in which the differential mechanism is not operable to perform the differential function, the control device including an engine-stop switching control portion operable to control the differential-state switching device to place the differential mechanism in the differential state, upon stopping of the engine, so that the engine speed can be rapidly lowered to zero by controlling the first electric motor in the differential state of the differential mech
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Yutaka Taga
  • Patent number: 7416501
    Abstract: A single range, electrically variable transmission (EVT) is provided with a lockup clutch that reduces motor power requirements. When applied, the lockup clutch allows engine torque to be transmitted directly to the output without the necessity of a motor/generator supplying reaction torque. With the lockup clutch applied, the transmission operates with zero electro-mechanical power flow at a fixed mechanical ratio, thus mitigating the power peak which occurs through the motor/generators. Input-split, output-split, and compound-split transmissions are disclosed. A method of operating an EVT with a lockup clutch is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alan G. Holmes, Michael R. Schmidt, Donald Klemen, Larry T. Nitz
  • Patent number: 7398845
    Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Christopher A. Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph W. Anthony
  • Patent number: 7246672
    Abstract: A hybrid-vehicle power train connected to an engine comprises a motor, a CVT unit, a planetary gear unit having at least two input elements, namely, first and second input elements and an output element, a first clutch for engaging/disengaging the first input element with/from a final shaft of the power train, and a second clutch for engaging/disengaging the output element with/from the final shaft of the power train. An input shaft of the CVT unit is connected to the engine and is drivingly connected to the second input element. An output shaft of the CVT unit is connected to the first input element. The motor is connected to the output shaft of the CVT unit. According this configuration, motor torque is amplified and transmitted to the final shaft when the first clutch is engaged, while motor torque is transmit directly to the final shaft when the second clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
    Inventors: Hisanori Shirai, Masahiro Hasebe
  • Patent number: 7166049
    Abstract: A drive and a method to control the drive of an agricultural vehicle, especially of a tractor, is described. The drive includes a combustion engine (M) and an infinitely variable electro-mechanical torque split gear. To avoid dissipation of reactive power the drive includes a shift gear (F) which has at least two input shafts (2, 3) each connected to at least one transmission step. Each of the at least two input shafts (2, 3) is in driving condition via a clutch (K1,K2) with a planetary gear (P1, P2) each with two inputs. The first input of each planetary gear (P1, P2) can be driven by a clutch (KV) from the driven shaft (1) of the combustion engine (M). The second input of each planetary gear (P1, P2) can be driven by a respective electric motor (S1, S2). At least one of the planetary gears (P1, P2) is designed to be locked-up. The drive can be operated in pure electric mode, in electro-mechanical mode or in pure mechanical mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Saller
  • Patent number: 7114585
    Abstract: A power train for a motor vehicle includes a combustion engine, a clutch or other torque-coupling device, a transmission, and an electro-mechanical energy converter that is operable at least as a motor and as a generator. The electro-mechanical energy converter is coupled to the output shaft of the combustion engine through a torque transfer device with at least two rpm ratios that automatically set themselves according to whether the vehicle is operating in a start-up mode or in a driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Laszlo Man, Wolfgang Reik, Bruno Muller