IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,033,836
Granted Patent B2
US 9,033,836 · App. 13/644,521 · Granted May 19, 2015

Drive device for hybrid electric vehicle

Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hiraiwa (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: FINEMECH CO., LTD.
B60K6/365F16H2200/0021F16H2200/2084B60K6/445F16H3/728F16H2037/0873F16H2037/101F16H2200/2005F16H2200/2007F16H2200/201F16H2200/2038F16H2200/2041F16H2200/2064F16H2200/2097F16H2200/2082B60Y2400/421Y02T10/6239
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,033,836
App. No.
13/644,521
Granted
May 19, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive device for a hybrid electric vehicle includes a power splitting gear set including a first planetary gear set having three rotatable elements of a first sun gear, a first ring gear and a first pinion carrier, and first and second motors/generators. An input shaft is connectable with the first ring gear. The output shaft is connected with the first pinion carrier. The first motor/generator is connected with the first sun gear. The second motor/generator is connectable with the output shaft and the first ring gear. The first ring gear is capable of being fixed to a stationary part.

Claims (87)

1. A drive device for a hybrid electric vehicle, the drive device comprising:

an input shaft to which an engine is capable of inputting power;

an output shaft;

a power splitting gear set including a first planetary gear set having three rotatable elements of a first sun gear, a first ring gear and a first pinion carrier;

a first motor/generator;

a second motor/generator;

a stationary part; and

an input speed-change gear set provided between the input shaft and the first ring gear to shift between a low-speed gear position and a high-speed gear position, wherein

the input speed-change gear set includes a first engaging element to transmit power at the low-speed gear position and a second engaging element to transmit the power at the high-speed gear position,

the input shaft is connectable with the first ring gear,

the output shaft is connected with the first pinion carrier,

the first motor/generator is connected with the first sun gear,

the second motor/generator is connectable with the output shaft and the first ring gear,

the first ring gear is capable of being fixed to the stationary part, and

the first ring gear is fixed to the stationary part when the first engaging element and the second engaging element are engaged at a same time.

2. The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first overrunning clutch provided between the input shaft and the first ring gear, wherein

the first overrunning clutch is automatically engaged in a direction where the input shaft drives the first ring gear.

3. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first engaging element comprises a first overrunning clutch.

4. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second engaging element comprises a brake,

the input speed-change gear set further includes a second planetary gear set having three rotatable elements of a second sun gear, a second ring gear and a second pinion carrier,

the second pinion carrier is connected with the input shaft,

the second ring gear is connected with the first ring gear,

the second sun gear is fixable on the stationary part by the second engaging element, and

the first engaging element comprises a first overrunning clutch located at a position of one of between one of the second ring gear and the second pinion carrier and the second sun gear and between the first pinion carrier and the second pinion carrier.

5. The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first clutch, wherein

the input speed-change gear set further includes a first gear set and a second gear set between the input shaft and a counter shaft arranged parallel to the input shaft,

the input shaft and the first ring gear are connectable with each other by the first engaging element, and

the input shaft and the input speed-change gear set are connectable with each other by the first clutch arranged coaxially with the input shaft.

6. The drive device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a speed-reduction gear set provided between the output shaft and the second motor/generator.

7. The drive device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a third gear set configured to connect the first pinion carrier and an output gear;

a fourth gear set configured to be connectable with the second motor/generator and the output shaft; and

a fifth gear set configured to be connectable with the input shaft and the second motor/generator, wherein

the input shaft and the output shaft are configured to be arranged parallel to each other,

the power splitting planetary gear set is configured to be arranged coaxially with the input shaft, and

the second motor/generator is configured to be arranged parallel to the output shaft.

8. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second engaging element

is capable of engaging to establish the high-speed gear position.

9. The drive device according to claim 8 , wherein

the second engaging element comprises a brake.

10. The drive device according claim 8 , wherein

the second engaging element comprises a brake,

the input speed-change gear set further includes a second planetary gear set having three rotatable elements of a second sun gear, a second ring gear and a second pinion carrier,

the second pinion carrier is connected with the input shaft,

the second ring gear is connected with the first ring gear,

the second sun gear is fixable on the stationary part by the second engaging element, and

the first engaging element comprises a first overrunning clutch located at a position of one of between one of the second ring gear and the second pinion carrier and the second sun gear and between the first pinion carrier and the second pinion carrier.

11. The drive device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a first clutch, wherein

the input speed-change gear set further includes a first gear set and a second gear set between the input shaft and a counter shaft arranged parallel to the input shaft,

the input shaft and the first ring gear are connectable with each other by the first engaging element, and

the input shaft and the input speed-change gear set are connectable with each other by the first clutch arranged coaxially with the input shaft.

12. The drive device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a speed-reduction gear set provided between the output shaft and the second motor/generator.

13. The drive device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a third gear set configured to connect the first pinion carrier and an output gear;

a fourth gear set configured to be connectable with the second motor/generator and the output shaft; and

a fifth gear set configured to be connectable with the input shaft and the second motor/generator, wherein

the input shaft and the output shaft are configured to be arranged parallel to each other,

the power splitting gear set is configured to be arranged coaxially with the input shaft, and

the second motor/generator is configured to be arranged parallel to the output shaft.

14. The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a speed-reduction gear set provided between the output shaft and the second motor/generator.

15. The drive device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

an overrunning clutch provided in a power transmitting path of the speed-reduction gear set, wherein

the overrunning clutch is engaged when the second motor/generator drives in a forward vehicle running.

16. The drive device according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a mechanically engageable mechanism provided parallel to the overrunning clutch.

17. The drive device according to claim 16 , further comprising:

an elastic member, wherein

a rotational play is provided at a position of one of an upstream side and a downstream side in the power transmitting path of the overrunning clutch,

the elastic member acts elastic force to form rotational play in a rotational direction where the overrunning clutch is engaged.

18. The drive device according to claim 14 , wherein

the speed-reduction gear set that employs a third planetary gear set having three rotatable elements of a third sun gear, a third ring gear and a third pinion carrier,

the third pinion carrier is connectable or connected with the output shaft, the second motor/generator is connected with one of the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and

another of the third sun gear and the third ring gear is capable of being fixed to the stationary part.

19. The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a speed-reduction gear set that employs a third planetary gear set having three rotatable elements of a third sun gear, a third ring gear and a third pinion carrier, wherein

the third pinion carrier is connectable or connected with the output shaft,

the second motor/generator is connected with one of the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and

another of the third sun gear and the third ring gear is capable of being fixed to the stationary part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2012
From: HIRAIWA, KAZUYOSHI
To: FINEMECH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029077/0107 →
Priority Claims (3)
JP 2011-223515 · Oct 8, 2011 · national
JP 2011-242747 · Nov 4, 2011 · national
JP 2011-263191 · Dec 1, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130090202A1 · Apr 11, 2013