Output gearing for a dual motor mixed-speed continuous power transmission
An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. The first gear train, second gear train, and clutch are arranged downstream from the first electric motor and second electric motor.
1. A powertrain system, comprising:
an output;
a first electric motor connected to the output;
a second electric motor connected to the output;
at least two planetary gears;
a clutch, wherein the clutch includes a one-way clutch;
wherein the second electric motor is configured to supply power to the output via the planetary gears and the clutch; and
wherein the at least two planetary gears and the clutch are located downstream from the first electric motor and the second electric motor.
2. The powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor has an uninterrupted connection to the output and the second electric motor has an interruptible connection to the output.
3. The powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the second electric motor is connected to the output via a two-speed gear train arrangement.
4. The powertrain system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first gear train connected to the output.
5. The powertrain system of claim 4 , wherein the first gear train includes a first planetary gear.
6. The powertrain system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first planetary gear includes a sun gear, a ring gear surrounding the sun gear, and one or more planet gears engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear; and
the first planetary gear is configured to reduce output speed of the first electric motor to the output.
7. The powertrain system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second gear train connects the second electric motor to the output.
8. The powertrain system of claim 7 , wherein the second gear train includes a second planetary gear.
9. The powertrain system of claim 8 , wherein:
the second planetary gear includes a sun gear, a ring gear, and one or more planet gears engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear;
the second planetary gear has a carrier that is coupled to the first gear train; and
the ring gear surrounds the carrier.
10. The powertrain system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a clutch actuator configured to engage and disengage the one-way clutch with the ring gear.
11. The powertrain system of claim 10 , wherein the one-way clutch includes a Selectable One-Way Clutch (SOWC).
12. The powertrain system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first output shaft connected to the first electric motor;
a second output shaft connected to the second electric motor; and
wherein the first output shaft extends through the second output shaft in a concentric manner.
13. The powertrain system of claim 12 , further comprising:
wherein the carrier has a clutch engagement member;
wherein the second output shaft has a range member; and
a dog clutch configured to connect and disconnect the clutch engagement member and the range member.
14. The powertrain system of claim 7 , wherein the clutch is configured to shift gears in the second gear train.
15. The powertrain system of claim 7 , wherein the first gear train, the second gear train, and the clutch are all located between the second electric motor and the output.
16. The powertrain system of claim 15 , wherein the clutch is located between the first gear train and the second gear train.
17. The powertrain system of claim 15 , wherein the clutch is located between the second electric motor and the second gear train.
18. The powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the one-way clutch includes a Selectable One-Way Clutch (SOWC).
19. The powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor and the second electric motor are connected to the output via a three-speed gear train arrangement.