Power transmission apparatus for hybrid vehicle

1. A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle that transmits an engine output and a motor output to a drive wheel, the power transmission apparatus comprising:

a continuously variable transmission that includes a primary shaft coupled to an engine output shaft and a motor output shaft, and a secondary shaft to which a rotation of the primary shaft is transmitted after being varied continuously by a power transmission element;

an output clutch that is disposed between an output transmission shaft coupled to the drive wheel and the secondary shaft in order to switch the secondary shaft and the output transmission shaft to a coupled state in which a coupling is formed therebetween and a released state in which the coupling is released; and

a drive changeover clutch that is disposed between the primary shaft and the output transmission shaft in order to switch the primary shaft and the output transmission shaft to a coupled state in which a coupling is formed therebetween and a released state in which the coupling is released,

wherein, in a direct coupling mode where the output clutch is released and the drive changeover clutch is coupled, at least one of the engine output and the motor output is transmitted to the drive wheel without passing through the continuously variable transmission, and

wherein the primary shaft is coupled to one end of the motor output shaft, and the drive changeover clutch is coupled to another end of the motor output shaft.

2. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, in a shift mode where the output clutch is engaged and the drive changeover clutch is released, at least one of the engine output and the motor output is transmitted to the drive wheel via the continuously variable transmission.

3. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein an electric motor including the motor output shaft is a motor/generator, and

in the direct coupling mode where the output clutch is released and the drive changeover clutch is coupled, the electric motor is driven by the drive wheel to collect regenerative energy.

4. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the output transmission shaft includes:

a transfer shaft coupled to the drive changeover clutch to be coaxial with the motor output shaft;

a rear wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft via a transfer clutch and transmits power to a rear wheel; and

a front wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft and transmits power to a front wheel.

5. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the output transmission shaft includes:

a transfer shaft coupled to the drive changeover clutch to be coaxial with the motor output shaft;

a rear wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft via a transfer clutch and transmits power to a rear wheel; and

a front wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft and transmits power to a front wheel.

6. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein an electric motor including the motor output shaft is a motor/generator, and

in the direct coupling mode where the output clutch is released and the drive changeover clutch is coupled, the electric motor is driven by the drive wheel to collect regenerative energy.

7. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the output transmission shaft includes:

a transfer shaft coupled to the drive changeover clutch to be coaxial with the motor output shaft;

a rear wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft via a transfer clutch and transmits power to a rear wheel; and

a front wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft and transmits power to a front wheel.

8. The power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the output transmission shaft includes:

a transfer shaft coupled to the drive changeover clutch to be coaxial with the motor output shaft;

a rear wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft via a transfer clutch and transmits power to a rear wheel; and

a front wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft and transmits power to a front wheel.

9. A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle that transmits an engine output and a motor output to a drive wheel including at least one of a front wheel and a rear wheel, the power transmission apparatus comprising:

a continuously variable transmission that includes a primary shaft coupled to an engine output shaft and a motor output shaft, and a secondary shaft to which a rotation of the primary shaft is transmitted after being varied continuously by a power transmission element;

an output clutch that is disposed between an output transmission shaft coupled to the drive wheel and the secondary shaft in order to switch the secondary shaft and the output transmission shaft to a coupled state in which a coupling is formed therebetween and a released state in which the coupling is released; and

a drive changeover clutch that is disposed between the primary shaft and the output transmission shaft in order to switch the primary shaft and the output transmission shaft to a coupled state in which a coupling is formed therebetween and a released state in which the coupling is released,

wherein, in a direct coupling mode where the output clutch is released and the drive changeover clutch is coupled, at least one of the engine output and the motor output is transmitted to the drive wheel without passing through the continuously variable transmission, and

wherein the output transmission shaft includes:

a transfer shaft coupled to the drive changeover clutch to be coaxial with the motor output shaft;

a front wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft and transmits power to the front wheel; and,

a rear wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft via a transfer clutch and transmits power to the rear wheel.

10. A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle that transmits an engine output and a motor output to a drive wheel including at least one of a front wheel and a rear wheel, the power transmission apparatus comprising:

a continuously variable transmission that includes a primary shaft coupled to an engine output shaft and a motor output shaft, and a secondary shaft to which a rotation of the primary shaft is transmitted after being varied continuously by a power transmission element;

an output clutch that is disposed between an output transmission shaft coupled to the drive wheel and the secondary shaft in order to switch the secondary shaft and the output transmission shaft to a coupled state in which a coupling is formed therebetween and a released state in which the coupling is released; and

a drive changeover clutch that is disposed between the primary shaft and the output transmission shaft in order to switch the primary shaft and the output transmission shaft to a coupled state in which a coupling is formed therebetween and a released state in which the coupling is released,

wherein, in a direct coupling mode where the output clutch is released and the drive changeover clutch is coupled, at least one of the engine output and the motor output is transmitted to the drive wheel without passing through the continuously variable transmission, and

wherein the output transmission shaft includes:

a transfer shaft coupled to the drive changeover clutch to be coaxial with the motor output shaft; and

a front wheel output shaft that is coupled to the transfer shaft and transmits power to the front wheel,

wherein the primary shaft is coupled to one end of the motor output shaft, and the drive changeover clutch is coupled to another end of the motor output shaft.