IP Library Granted Patent US 8,939,858
Granted Patent B2
US 8,939,858 · App. 13/687,730 · Granted Jan 27, 2015

Electrically variable drive unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,939,858
App. No.
13/687,730
Granted
Jan 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrically variable drive unit having two electric motors is provided. The first electric motor is mounted along the same axis as an engine. The second electric motor is mounted along the same axis as a transmission output.

Claims (83)

1. A drive unit comprising,

a transmission input shaft;

an output shaft;

a first electric motor coaxial with said transmission input shaft;

a second electric motor coaxial with said output shaft;

an input planetary gear set coupled to said first electric motor;

an electric motor planetary gear set coupled to said second electric motor; and

an output planetary gear set coupled to said output shaft;

wherein said first electric motor and said input shaft are coupled to said second electric motor and said output shaft;

wherein said input planetary gear set comprises:

an input carrier coupled to said transmission input shaft,

a plurality of input pinion gears rotatably mounted on said input carrier,

an input sun gear meshed with said plurality of input pinion gears and coupled to said first electric motor, and

an input ring gear meshed with said plurality of input pinion gears and coupled to an output chain driver gear;

wherein said electric motor planetary gear set comprises:

an electric motor carrier coupled to an output chain driven gear,

a plurality of electric motor pinion gears rotatably mounted on said electric motor carrier,

an electric motor sun gear meshed with said plurality of electric motor pinion gears and coupled to said second electric motor, and

an electric motor ring gear meshed with said plurality of electric motor pinion gears and coupled to a drive unit housing;

wherein said output planetary gear set comprises:

an output sun gear coupled to said output chain driven gear and said electric motor carrier;

an output carrier coupled to said output shaft;

a plurality of output pinion gears rotatably mounted on said output carrier and meshed with said output sun gear; and

an output ring gear meshed with said plurality of output pinion gears and coupled to said drive unit housing; and

wherein said output chain driver gear and said output chain driven gear are coupled.

2. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein said output chain driver gear and said output chain driven gear are coupled by a chain or belt.

3. The drive unit of claim 2 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set is configured on a first side of said chain and said output planetary gear set is configured on a second side of said chain.

4. The drive unit of claim 2 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set and said output planetary gear set are configured on the same side of said chain.

5. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein said output chain driver gear and said output chain driven gear are meshed or coupled by at least one gear.

6. The drive unit of claim 5 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set and said output planetary gear set are configured on the same side of said gear.

7. The drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first clutch assembly selectively coupling said output chain driver gear to said drive unit housing; and

a second clutch assembly selectively coupling said output chain driven gear to said electric motor carrier and said output sun gear.

8. The drive unit of claim 7 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set is configured on a first side of said chain and said output planetary gear set is configured on a second side of said chain.

9. A drive unit comprising:

a transmission input shaft;

an output shaft;

a first electric motor coaxial with said transmission input shaft;

a second electric motor coaxial with said output shaft;

an input planetary gear set having:

an input carrier coupled to said transmission input shaft,

a plurality of input pinion gears rotatably mounted on said input carrier,

an input sun gear meshed with said plurality of input pinion gears and coupled to said first electric motor, and

an input ring gear meshed with said plurality of input pinion gears and coupled to an output chain driver gear;

an output planetary gear set having:

an output carrier coupled to said output shaft,

an output sun gear coupled to an output chain driven gear,

a plurality of output pinion gears meshed with said output sun gear and rotatably mounted on said output carrier, and

an output ring gear meshed with said plurality of output pinion gear and coupled to a drive unit housing;

an output driver gear coupled to said second electric motor; and

an output driven gear meshed with said output driver gear and coupled to said output carrier and said output shaft,

wherein said output chain driver gear and said output chain driven gear are coupled by a chain or belt; and

wherein said first electric motor and said input shaft are coupled to said second electric motor and said output shaft.

10. A hybrid transmission comprising:

a transmission input shaft;

an output shaft;

a first electric motor coaxial with said transmission input shaft;

a second electric motor coaxial with said output shaft;

an input planetary gear set having:

an input carrier coupled to said transmission input shaft,

a plurality of input pinion gears rotatably mounted on said input carrier,

an input sun gear meshed with said plurality of input pinion gears and coupled to said first electric motor, and

an input ring gear meshed with said plurality of input pinion gears and coupled to an output chain driver gear;

an electric motor planetary gear set having:

an electric motor carrier coupled to an output chain driven gear,

a plurality of electric motor pinion gears rotatably mounted on said electric motor carrier,

an electric motor sun gear meshed with said plurality of electric motor pinion gears and coupled to said second electric motor, and

an electric motor ring gear meshed with said plurality of electric motor pinion gears and coupled to a transmission housing; and

an output planetary gear set having:

an output sun gear coupled to said output chain driven gear and said electric motor carrier;

an output carrier coupled to said output shaft,

a plurality of output pinion gears rotatably mounted on said output carrier and meshed with said output sun gear, and

an output ring gear meshed with said plurality of output pinion gears,

wherein said output chain driver gear is coupled to said output chain driven gear.

11. The hybrid transmission of claim 10 , further comprising:

a first clutch assembly selectively coupling said output chain driver gear to said transmission housing; and

a second clutch assembly selectively coupling said output chain driven gear to said electric motor carrier and said output sun gear.

12. The hybrid transmission of claim 10 , wherein said output chain driver gear and said output chain driven gear are coupled by a chain or belt.

13. The hybrid transmission of claim 12 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set is configured on a first side of said chain and said output planetary gear set is configured on a second side of said chain.

14. The hybrid transmission of claim 12 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set and said output planetary gear set are configured on the same side of said chain.

15. The hybrid transmission of claim 10 , wherein said output chain driver gear and said output chain driven gear are coupled by at least one gear.

16. The hybrid transmission of claim 15 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set is configured on a first side of said gear and said output planetary gear set is configured on a second side of said gear.

17. The hybrid transmission of claim 15 , wherein said electric motor planetary gear set and said output planetary gear set are configured on the same side of said gear.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2021
From: GPI HOLDCO, LLC; GPI ACQUISITION CO., INC.; GPI HOME SOLUTIONS, INC.; GP INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: TCF NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 056345/0018 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FCA US LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC)
Reel/Frame 048177/0356 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2017
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: FCA US LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC)
Reel/Frame 042885/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RELEASING SECOND-LIEN SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 026426 AND FRAME 0644, REEL 026435 AND FRAME 0652, AND REEL 032384 AND FRAME 0591 Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: FCA US LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 037784/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 30, 2015
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: FCA US LLC
Reel/Frame 035553/0356 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 4, 2014
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 032384/0640 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 4, 2014
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 032384/0591 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 4, 2014
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 032384/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2013
From: PUIU, DUMITRU; TAMAI, GORO; MARTIN, DALE E
To: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 029883/0782 →