IP Library Granted Patent US 7,611,432
Granted Patent B2
US 7,611,432 · App. 11/463,054 · Granted Nov 3, 2009

Hybrid powertrain

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,611,432
App. No.
11/463,054
Granted
Nov 3, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A powertrain is provided, comprising: an internal combustion engine and an electro-mechanical transmission. The internal combustion engine has two torque output nodes operatively connected to two torque input nodes of the electro-mechanical transmission. The transmission comprises first and second electrical machines operatively connected to first and second planetary gear sets that are selectively operative to transmit torque to an output shaft. The two torque output nodes of the engine comprise an engine block comprising a cylinder with a pair of opposed pistons inserted therein, and each piston operatively connected to one of a first and a second crankshaft. The first and second crankshafts are operatively connected.

Claims (37)

1. Powertrain, comprising:

an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes comprising first and second crankshafts directly connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input shafts of an electro-mechanical transmission; and,

the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second electrical machines, the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets operatively connected to the corresponding ones of the first and second torque input shafts and selectively operatively connected to an output shaft.

2. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the first torque input shaft is directly connected to a sun gear of the first planetary gear set.

3. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the first torque input shaft is directly connected to a ring gear of the first planetary gear set.

4. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the second torque input shaft is directly connected to a sun gear of the second planetary gear set.

5. The powertrain of claim 1 :

wherein the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets comprise the second crankshaft operatively connected with the second planetary gear set operatively connected to the output shaft.

6. The powertrain of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first rotational brake device operatively connected to elements of the first planetary gear set; and,

a second rotational brake device and a clutch device operatively connected to elements of the second planetary gear set.

7. The powertrain of claim 1 , further comprising: a rotational brake device operatively connected to an element of the first planetary gear set.

8. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine including the non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes comprising the first and second crankshafts comprises:

an engine block comprising a cylinder,

a pair of opposed pistons inserted in the cylinder; and,

each piston operatively connected to one of the first and second crankshafts.

9. The powertrain of claim 2 , wherein the first and second crankshafts are rotationally operatively connected to each other.

10. The powertrain of claim 9 , wherein the rotationally operatively connected first and second crankshafts are selectively controllable to effect a variable compression ratio in the internal combustion engine.

11. The powertrain of claim 10 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises one of a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition engine, a two-stroke compression-ignition engine, and, a stratified-charge engine.

12. The powertrain of claim 1 , further comprising a rotational brake device operatively connected to one of the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets.

13. The powertrain of claim 12 , the powertrain operative in a continuously variable ratio.

14. The powertrain of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of clutch devices operatively connected to the planetary gear sets.

15. The powertrain of claim 12 , further comprising a clutch device operatively connected to one of the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets and at least one additional rotational brake device operatively connected to the other of the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets.

16. The powertrain of claim 15 , the powertrain operative in an underdrive fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the rotational brake devices.

17. The powertrain of claim 15 , the powertrain operative in an overdrive fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the rotational brake devices.

18. The powertrain of claim 15 , the powertrain operative in a reverse fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the rotational brake devices.

19. The powertrain of claim 15 , the powertrain operative in a direct drive fixed gear ratio by selective actuation of the clutch device.

20. Powertrain, comprising:

an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes comprising first and second crankshafts directly connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input shafts of an electro-mechanical transmission;

the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second electrical machines rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second planetary gear sets selectively operatively connected to an output shaft; and,

a plurality of control modules operative to control the internal combustion engine and the electro-mechanical transmission to control magnitude of torque transmitted to the output shaft.

21. Powertrain, comprising:

an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input nodes of an electro-mechanical transmission; and,

the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second electrical machines, the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets operatively connected to the corresponding ones of the first and second torque input nodes and selectively operatively connected to an output shaft, first and second rotational brake devices operatively connected to elements of the first planetary gear set; and, a rotational brake device and a clutch device operatively connected to elements of the second planetary gear set.

22. Powertrain, comprising:

an internal combustion engine including non-coaxial first and second torque output nodes operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second torque input nodes of an electro-mechanical transmission; and,

the electro-mechanical transmission comprising non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets rotationally operatively connected to corresponding ones of first and second electrical machines, the non-coaxial first and second planetary gear sets operatively connected to the corresponding ones of the first and second torque input nodes and selectively operatively connected to an output shaft, and a rotational brake device and first and second clutch devices operatively connected to elements of the second planetary gear set.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034184/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0041 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0901 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0587 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0093 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0142 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0402 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0519 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0493 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0448 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2006
From: MAGUIRE, JOEL M.; BUCKNOR, NORMAN K.; RAGHAVAN, MADHUSUDAN; NAJT, PAUL M.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 018068/0463 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080039259A1 · Feb 14, 2008