Granted Patent B2

US 7,963,874 · App. 11/188,098 · Granted Jun 21, 2011

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. An electrically variable transmission comprising:

an input member to receive power from an engine;

an output member;

first and second motor/generators;

first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, said input and output members each being continuously connected to a different one of said members;

a first interconnecting member continuously connecting a member of said first planetary gear set with a member of said second or third planetary gear set that is continuously connected with said second motor/generator;

a second and a third interconnecting member each continuously connecting a different respective one of said members of said second planetary gear set with a different respective one of said members of said third planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting a member of said first planetary gear set continuously connected with said input member with a member of said second planetary gear set selectively connectable with a stationary member via a second torque-transmitting mechanism;

a third torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting a member of said second or third planetary gear set not interconnected with any of said other planetary gear sets with said stationary member;

said first motor/generator being continuously connected with a member of said first planetary gear set not connected with said input member or with said other planetary gear sets; and

wherein said torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable to provide an input split, electrically variable reverse mode and an electric forward cruise mode.

2. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein said second torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engageable to provide said input split, electrically variable reverse mode;

wherein said first and second torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable to provide said electric forward cruise mode; and

wherein said first and third torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable to provide a first fixed forward speed ratio.

3. The electrically variable transmission of claim 2 , wherein torque of said first motor/generator is added to torque of said second motor/generator in said electric forward cruise mode.

4. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting any one of said members of said first planetary gear set with any other one of said members of said first planetary gear set;

wherein said second and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms are engageable to provide a fixed reverse speed ratio;

wherein said first torque-transmitting mechanism and said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism are engageable to provide a second fixed forward speed ratio; and

wherein said third torque-transmitting mechanism and said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide a third fixed forward speed ratio.

5. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting said second motor/generator with said stationary member; wherein said first torque-transmitting mechanism and said fifth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide another fixed forward speed ratio.

6. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sixth torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting said first motor/generator with said stationary member; wherein said first torque-transmitting mechanism and said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide a different fixed forward speed ratio; wherein said third torque-transmitting mechanism and said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide another different fixed forward speed ratio; and wherein said second torque-transmitting mechanism and said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide a fixed reverse speed ratio.

7. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein said third torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engageable to provide an input split, first electrically variable forward mode; and wherein said first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engageable to provide a compound split, second electrically variable forward mode.

8. The electrically variable transmission of claim 7 , further comprising:

an energy storage device operable for supplying power to or receiving power from said first and second motor/generators;

a controller operable for controlling power transfer between said energy storage device and said first and second motor/generators; and

wherein said controller causes at least one of said first and second motor/generators to function as a generator to convert rotational energy of said output member to power stored in said energy storage device during braking.

9. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein said output member is continuously connected to a member of said second or third planetary gear set not continuously connected with a member of said first planetary gear set and not selectively connectable with said stationary member.

10. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third planetary gear sets include a ring gear member, a planet carrier member and a sun gear member;

wherein said first motor/generator is continuously connected with said sun gear member of said first planetary gear set; and

wherein said second interconnecting member continuously connects said ring gear member of said second planetary gear set with said carrier member of said third planetary gear set.

11. The electrically variable transmission of claim 10 , wherein said third interconnecting member continuously connects said carrier member of said second planetary gear set with said ring gear member of said third planetary gear set.

12. The electrically variable transmission of claim 10 , wherein said first interconnecting member continuously connects said ring gear member of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear member of said second planetary gear set.

13. The electrically variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein said first interconnecting member continuously connects said member of said first planetary gear set with said second motor/generator; said first interconnecting member thereby operatively connecting said member of said first planetary gear set with said member of said second or third planetary gear set.

14. An electrically variable transmission comprising:

an input member to receive power from an engine;

an output member;

first and second motor/generators;

first, second and third planetary gear sets each having ring gear member, a carrier member and a sun gear member, said input and output members each being continuously connected to a different one of said members;

a first interconnecting member continuously connecting said ring gear member or said carrier member of said first planetary gear set with said sun gear member of said second planetary gear set, said sun gear member of said second planetary gear set also being continuously connected with said second motor/generator;

a second and a third interconnecting member each continuously connecting a different respective one of said members of said second planetary gear set with a different respective one of said members of said third planetary gear set, one of said second and third interconnecting members continuously connecting said ring gear member of said second planetary gear set with said carrier member of said third planetary gear set;

a first torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting said member of said first planetary gear set continuously connected with said input member with a member of said second planetary gear set selectively connectable with a stationary member via a second torque-transmitting mechanism; and

a third torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting a member of said second or third planetary gear set not continuously connected with any of said other planetary gear sets with said stationary member;

wherein first motor/generator is continuously connected with a member of said first planetary gear set not continuously connected with said input member or with said other planetary gear sets; and

wherein said torque-transmitting mechanisms are engageable alone or in pairs to provide an input split, electrically variable reverse mode, a fixed forward speed ratio, an electric forward cruise mode, an input split, electrically variable first forward mode and a compound split, electrically variable second forward mode.

15. The electrically variable transmission of claim 14 , further comprising:

a fourth torque-transmitting mechanism operable for selectively connecting any one of said members of said first planetary gear set with any other one of said members of said first planetary gear set;

wherein said second and fourth torque-transmitting mechanisms are engageable to provide a fixed reverse speed ratio;

wherein said first torque-transmitting mechanism and said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism are engageable to provide a second fixed forward speed ratio; and

wherein said third torque-transmitting mechanism and said fourth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide a third fixed forward speed ratio.

16. The electrically variable transmission of claim 14 , further comprising:

at least one of a fifth torque-transmitting mechanism and a sixth torque-transmitting mechanism;

wherein said fifth torque-transmitting mechanism is operable for selectively connecting said second motor/generator with said stationary member and is engageable with said first torque-transmitting mechanism to provide another fixed forward speed ratio;

wherein said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism is operable for selectively connecting said first motor/generator with said stationary member and is engageable with said first torque-transmitting mechanism to provide a different fixed forward speed ratio; wherein said third torque-transmitting mechanism and said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide another different fixed forward speed ratio; and wherein said second torque-transmitting mechanism and said sixth torque-transmitting mechanism are selectively engageable to provide a fixed reverse speed ratio.

Assignments (12)