MULTI-MODE HYBRID VARIABLE DRIVE UNIT
A hybrid transmission providing multiple modes of operation in a compact package. The hybrid transmission utilizes compact electric motors and features simple construction in comparison to conventional hybrid transmissions.
1 . A hybrid drive unit, comprising:
a first planetary gear set coupled to a hybrid input shaft;
a second planetary gear set coupled to said first planetary gear set;
a first electric machine coupled to said first planetary gear set;
a second electric machine coupled to said first planetary gear set;
a first clutch mechanism configured to selectively lock said second planetary gear set; and
a second clutch mechanism configured to selectively couple a ring gear of said second planetary gear set to a hybrid drive unit housing.
2 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , wherein said first electric machine is coupled to a sun gear of said first planetary gear set and said second electric machine is coupled to a ring gear of said first planetary gear set.
3 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , wherein:
said first planetary gear set further comprises:
a sun gear coupled to said first electric machine,
a carrier coupled to said hybrid input shaft, and
a ring gear coupled to said second electric machine;
wherein said second planetary gear set further comprises a sun gear coupled to said ring gear of said first planetary gear set.
4 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 3 , further comprising:
a third clutch mechanism; and
an output shaft, wherein:
said second planetary gear set further comprises a carrier selectively coupled to said sun gear of said first planetary gear set by said first clutch mechanism;
said carrier of said second planetary gear set is coupled to said output shaft; and
said ring gear of said first planetary gear set, said sun gear of said second planetary gear set, and said second electric machine are all selectively coupled to said output shaft by said third clutch mechanism.
5 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of gears, wherein said carrier of said second planetary gear set is coupled to said output shaft by said plurality of gears.
6 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 3 , further comprising:
a third clutch mechanism; and
an output driven gear, wherein:
said ring gear of said second planetary gear set is selectively coupled by a third clutch mechanism to said sun gear of said first planetary gear set; and
said second planetary gear set further comprises a carrier coupled to said output driven gear.
7 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 6 , further comprising at least one gear and a first plurality of gears, wherein said carrier of said second planetary gear set is coupled to said output shaft by said at least one gear, and said sun gear of said second planetary gear set is coupled to said ring gear of said first planetary gear set by said first plurality of gears.
8 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 6 , wherein said ring gear of said second planetary gear set is coupled to said third clutch mechanism by a belt or chain.
9 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , wherein said first clutch mechanism and second clutch mechanism are selected from the group comprising a wet clutch, dry clutch, dog clutch, and multi-plate clutch.
10 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 1 , wherein said first clutch mechanism and second clutch mechanism are dog clutches.
11 . A hybrid drive unit, comprising:
a hybrid input shaft;
a first planetary gear set coupled to said hybrid input shaft, comprising:
a first planetary gear set sun gear,
a first planetary gear set carrier, and
a first planetary gear set ring gear;
a second planetary gear set coupled to said first planetary gear set, comprising:
a second planetary gear set sun gear,
a second planetary gear set carrier, and
a second planetary gear set ring gear;
a first electric machine coupled to said first planetary gear set sun gear;
a second electric machine coupled to said first planetary gear set ring gear;
a first clutch mechanism configured to selectively lock said second planetary gear set; and
a second clutch mechanism configured to selectively couple said second planetary gear set ring gear to a hybrid drive unit housing, wherein
said first planetary gear set carrier is coupled to said hybrid input shaft and said second planetary gear set sun gear is coupled to said first planetary gear set ring gear.
12 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a third clutch mechanism; and
an output shaft, wherein:
said second planetary gear set carrier is selectively coupled to said first planetary gear set sun gear by said first clutch mechanism;
said second planetary gear set carrier is coupled to said output shaft; and
said first planetary gear set ring gear, said second planetary gear set sun gear, and said second electric machine are all selectively coupled to said output shaft by said third clutch mechanism.
13 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of gears, wherein said second planetary gear set carrier is coupled to said output shaft by said plurality of gears.
14 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 13 , wherein said first clutch mechanism, second clutch mechanism, and third clutch mechanism are selected from the group comprising a wet clutch, dry clutch, dog clutch, and multi-plate clutch.
15 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 11 , wherein said first clutch mechanism and second clutch mechanism are dog clutches.
16 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a third clutch mechanism; and
an output driven gear, wherein:
said second planetary gear set ring gear is selectively coupled by said third clutch mechanism to said first planetary gear set sun gear; and
said second planetary gear set carrier is coupled to said output driven gear.
17 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 16 , further comprising at least one gear and a first plurality of gears, wherein said second planetary gear set carrier is coupled to said output driven gear by said at least one gear and said second planetary gear set sun gear is coupled to said first planetary gear set ring gear by said first plurality of gears.
18 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 16 , wherein said ring gear of said second planetary gear set is coupled to said third clutch mechanism by a belt or chain.
19 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 17 , wherein said first clutch mechanism, second clutch mechanism, and third clutch mechanism are selected from the group comprising a wet clutch, dry clutch, dog clutch, and multi-plate clutch.
20 . The hybrid drive unit of claim 18 , wherein said first clutch mechanism and second clutch mechanism are dog clutches.