Granted Patent B2

US 8,424,415 · App. 12/574,844 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A hybrid transmission, comprising:

a transmission housing;

a first piloting feature formed on said clutch housing;

a motor/generator stator configured to be attached to said transmission housing; and

a clutch housing configured to be attached to said motor/generator stator, such that said clutch housing is static relative to said transmission housing.

2. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the transmission includes an axis of rotation defining a coordinate system having an axial direction, a radial direction, and a clocking rotation, and further comprising:

a second piloting feature formed on said transmission housing, and

wherein said second piloting feature and said first piloting feature cooperate to orient said clutch housing relative to said transmission housing in the axial direction and the radial direction, and wherein said second piloting feature and said first piloting feature are configured not to permanently locate said clutch housing in the axial direction and not to permanently attach said clutch housing to said transmission housing.

3. The transmission of claim 2 , further comprising:

a third piloting feature formed on said transmission housing; and

a fourth piloting feature formed on said clutch housing, wherein said third piloting feature and said fourth piloting feature cooperate to orient the clocking rotation of said clutch housing relative to said transmission housing.

4. The transmission of claim 2 , further comprising:

a plurality of stator bolts configured to permanently locate the axial direction, the radial direction and clocking rotation of said motor/generator stator relative to said transmission housing, and to permanently attach said motor/generator stator to said transmission housing; and

a plurality of clutch bolts configured to permanently locate said clutch housing relative to said motor/generator stator in the radial direction and the axial direction, and to fixedly attach said clutch housing to said motor/generator stator.

5. The transmission of claim 4 , wherein said clutch housing is not permanently attached directly to said transmission housing.

6. A hybrid transmission having an axis of rotation defining a coordinate system having an axial direction, a radial direction, and a clocking rotation, the transmission comprising:

a transmission housing;

a motor/generator stator fixedly and directly attached to said transmission housing;

a clutch housing fixedly and directly attached to said motor/generator stator, such that said clutch housing is not directly attached to said transmission housing, wherein said clutch housing houses a plurality of clutch plates;

a plurality of stator bolts configured to permanently locate the axial direction, the radial direction and clocking rotation of said motor/generator stator relative to said transmission housing, and to permanently attach said motor/generator stator to said transmission housing; and

a plurality of clutch bolts configured to permanently locate said clutch housing relative to said motor/generator stator in the radial direction and the axial direction, and to fixedly attach said clutch housing to said motor/generator stator.

7. The transmission of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first piloting feature formed on said clutch housing; and

a second piloting feature formed on said transmission housing, wherein said second piloting feature and said first piloting feature cooperate to orient said clutch housing relative to said transmission housing in the axial direction and the radial direction, and wherein said second piloting feature and said first piloting feature are configured not to permanently locate said clutch housing in the axial direction and not to permanently attach said clutch housing to said transmission housing.

8. The transmission of claim 7 , further comprising:

a third piloting feature formed on said transmission housing; and

a fourth piloting feature formed on said clutch housing, wherein said third piloting feature and said fourth piloting feature cooperate to orient the clocking rotation of said clutch housing relative to said transmission housing.

9. A method of assembling a hybrid transmission, comprising:

fully assembling a clutch module;

placing the fully assembled clutch module into a transmission housing, wherein the fully assembled clutch module is not secured to the transmission housing;

placing a motor/generator stator into the transmission housing;

fixedly attaching the motor/generator stator to the transmission housing after placing the fully assembled clutch module into the transmission housing; and

fixedly attaching the fully assembled clutch module to the motor/generator stator after fixedly attaching the motor/generator stator to the transmission housing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein placing the fully assembled clutch module into the transmission housing includes aligning a fourth piloting feature on the fully assembled clutch module with a third piloting feature on the transmission housing to rotationally orient the clutch.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein placing the fully assembled clutch module into the transmission housing includes aligning a first piloting feature on the fully assembled clutch module with a second piloting feature on the transmission housing to axially and radially orient the fully assembled clutch module.

12. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein fixedly attaching the motor/generator stator to the transmission housing includes bolting the motor/generator stator to the transmission housing, and the final axial position of the motor/generator stator relative to the transmission housing is set by the bolting, and

wherein fixedly attaching the fully assembled clutch module to the motor/generator stator includes bolting the fully assembled clutch module to the motor/generator stator, and the final axial position of the fully assembled clutch module relative to the transmission housing is set by the bolting.

Assignments (8)