IP Library Granted Patent US 7,963,191
Granted Patent B2
US 7,963,191 · App. 12/327,636 · Granted Jun 21, 2011

Hybrid powertrain and dual clutch transmission

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,963,191
App. No.
12/327,636
Granted
Jun 21, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic dual clutch transmission includes an input clutch which selectively connects a prime mover to an electric motor. The electric motor output, in turn, drives a pair of gears, one of which is in constant mesh with a first gear on a first quill and a second gear on a second quill, the other being in constant mesh with a third gear on the first quill and a fourth gear on the second quill. On each quill, between each pair of gears driven by the input is a pair of dog clutches which connect one of the two gears to the associated quill. Each of the quills drives an input of a respective pair of friction clutches which drive a respective pair of layshafts or countershafts. A similar arrangement of a second pair of gears flanked by dog clutches connects each layshaft or countershaft through one of a pair of gears which are in constant mesh with a pair of output gears coupled to and driving a differential cage.

Claims (62)

1. A dual clutch automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

a input clutch having an input adapted to be driven by an engine and an output,

an electric motor coupled to said output of said input clutch and having an output shaft,

a first drive gear and a second drive gear coupled to said output shaft,

a first quill having a first input gear rotatably disposed thereon and in constant mesh with said first drive gear and a third input gear rotatably disposed thereon and in constant mesh with said second drive gear,

a first dog clutch for connecting one of said first and third input gears to said first quill,

a second quill having a second input gear rotatably disposed thereon and in constant mesh with first drive gear and a fourth input gear rotatably disposed thereon and in constant mesh with said second drive gear,

a second dog clutch for connecting one of said second and fourth input gears to said second quill,

a first countershaft disposed coaxially with said first quill and a first countershaft clutch for connecting said first quill and said first countershaft,

a second countershaft disposed coaxially with said second quill and a second countershaft clutch for connecting said second quill and said second countershaft, a first output gear disposed on said first countershaft and in constant mesh with a first differential input gear,

a second output gear disposed on said second countershaft and in constant mesh with said first differential input gear,

a third output gear disposed on said first countershaft and in constant mesh with a second differential input gear,

a fourth output gear disposed on said second countershaft and in constant mesh with a said second differential input gear,

a third dog clutch assembly disposed on said first countershaft between said first and said third output gears for selectively connecting said first and third output gears to said first countershaft,

a fourth dog clutch assembly disposed on said second countershaft between said second and said fourth output gears for selectively connecting said second and said fourth output gears to said second countershaft, and

a differential assembly driven by said first and said second differential input gears and having a pair of coaxial outputs.

2. The dual clutch transmission of claim 1 wherein said dog clutch assemblies include a single dog clutch.

3. The dual clutch transmission of claim 1 wherein said dog clutch assemblies include an electric or hydraulic operator.

4. The dual clutch transmission of claim 1 wherein each of said input and output gears is utilized with two forward gear ratios.

5. The dual clutch transmission of claim 1 wherein said electric motor is bi-directional and provides reverse.

6. The dual clutch transmission of claim 1 wherein said first input gear is associated with first and fifth gears, said second input gear is associated with second and sixth gears, said third input gear is associated with third and seventh gears and said fourth input gear is associated with fourth and eighth gears.

7. The dual clutch transmission of claim 1 wherein said first output gear is associated with fifth and seventh gears, said second output gear is associated with sixth and eighth gears, said third output gear is associated with first and third gears and said fourth output gear is associated with second and fourth gears.

8. A dual clutch transmission comprising, in combination,

an input shaft coupled to and driving a first drive gear and a second drive gear spaced from said first drive gear,

a first quill having a first gear rotatably disposed thereon and in constant mesh with said first drive gear,

a second quill having a second gear rotatably disposed thereon and in constant mesh with first drive gear and

a third gear rotatably disposed on said first quill and in constant mesh with said second drive gear,

a fourth gear rotatably disposed on said second quill and in constant mesh with said second drive gear,

a first dog clutch disposed on said first quill between said first gear and said third gear for connecting said first gear or said third gear to said first quill,

a second dog clutch disposed on said second quill between said second gear and said fourth gear for connecting said second gear or said fourth gear to said second quill,

a first countershaft disposed coaxially with said first quill and a first countershaft clutch for connecting said first quill and said first countershaft,

a second countershaft disposed coaxially with said second quill and a second countershaft clutch for connecting said second quill and said second countershaft,

a first output gear rotatably disposed on said first countershaft and in constant mesh with a first differential input gear,

a second output gear rotatably disposed on said second countershaft and in constant mesh with said first differential input gear,

a third output gear rotatably disposed on said first countershaft and in constant mesh with a second differential input gear,

a fourth output gear rotatably disposed on said second countershaft and in constant mesh with a said second differential input gear,

a third dog clutch disposed on said first countershaft between said first and said third output gears for selectively connecting said gears to said first countershaft,

a fourth dog clutch disposed on said second countershaft between said second and said fourth output gears for selectively connecting said gears to said second countershaft, and

a differential assembly driven by said first and said second differential input gears and having a pair of coaxial outputs.

9. The dual clutch transmission of claim 8 wherein said dog clutch assemblies include an electric or hydraulic operator.

10. The dual clutch transmission of claim 8 wherein each of said input and output gears is utilized with two forward gear ratios.

11. The dual clutch transmission of claim 8 further including a bi-directional electric motor which provides reverse.

12. The dual clutch transmission of claim 8 wherein said first input gear is associated with first and fifth gears, said second input gear is associated with second and sixth gears, said third input gear is associated with third and seventh gears and said fourth input gear is associated with fourth and eighth gears.

13. The dual clutch transmission of claim 8 wherein said first output gear is associated with fifth and seventh gears, said second output gear is associated with sixth and eighth gears, said third output gear is associated with first and third gears and said fourth output gear is associated with second and fourth gears.

14. The dual clutch transmission of claim 8 further including a main clutch and an electric motor operably disposed between said main clutch and said input shaft.

15. A dual clutch transmission comprising, in combination,

an input shaft coupled to and driving a first drive gear and a second drive gear,

a first quill having a first pair of input gears rotatably disposed thereon, one of said first pair of input gears in constant mesh with each of said first and second drive gears,

a first dog clutch disposed on said first quill between said first pair of input gears for selectively connecting one of said first pair of input gears to said first quill,

a second quill having a second pair of input gears rotatably disposed thereon, one of said second pair of input gears in constant mesh with each of said first and second drive gears,

a second dog clutch disposed in said second quill between said second pair of input gears for selectively connecting one of said second pair of input gears to said second quill,

a first countershaft disposed coaxially with said first quill and a first countershaft clutch for selectively connecting said first quill and said first countershaft,

a second countershaft disposed coaxially with said second quill and a second countershaft clutch for selectively connecting said second quill and said second countershaft,

a first pair of output gears rotatably disposed on said first countershaft, one of said first pair of output gears in constant mesh with a first differential input gear and a second differential input gear,

a third dog clutch disposed on said first countershaft between said first pair of output gears for selectively connecting said gears to said first countershaft,

a second pair of output gears rotatably disposed on said second countershaft, one of said second pair of output gears in constant mesh with said first differential input gear and said second differential input gear,

a fourth dog clutch disposed on said second countershaft between said second pair of output gears for selectively connecting said gears to said second countershaft, and

a differential assembly driven by said first and said second differential input gears and having a pair of outputs.

16. The dual clutch transmission of claim 15 further including a main clutch and an electric motor operably disposed between said main clutch and said input shaft.

17. The dual clutch transmission of claim 16 wherein said electric motor is bi-directional and provides reverse.

18. The dual clutch transmission of claim 15 wherein said dog clutch assemblies include an electric or hydraulic operator.

19. The dual clutch transmission of claim 15 wherein each of said input and output gears is utilized with two forward gear ratios.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0769 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0405 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2008
From: HOLMES, ALAN G.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021945/0365 →