Hybrid transmission for hybrid vehicles
A hybrid transmission described herein comprises a planetary gear arrangement and a clutch including two electromagnetic clutch portions used to interconnect an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, an electric motor/generator and driving wheels of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid transmission described herein allows various modes of operation.
1. A hybrid drive train for a vehicle provided with at least one driving wheel, the hybrid drive train comprising:
an electric traction motor having a rotatable shaft connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle;
an electric motor/generator having a rotatable shaft;
an internal combustion engine having a rotatable shaft;
a planetary gear arrangement including a sun gear associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator, a planet carrier associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine and a ring gear;
a clutch assembly having a first movable element associated with the sun gear of the planetary gear arrangement, a second movable element associated with the ring gear of the planetary gear arrangement and a plate mounted to the rotatable shaft of the electric traction motor; the first movable element being movable between a first position where the first movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the first movable element is linked with the plate; the second movable element being movable between a first position where the second movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the second movable element is linked with the plate; the clutch assembly further comprising first and second actuators respectively configured as to selectively move the first and second movable elements between their respective first and second positions.
2. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft of the electric traction motor is connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle by a differential arrangement.
3. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator and the rotatable shaft of the traction motor are concentric.
4. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first actuator includes an electromagnetic coil and wherein the first movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.
5. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second actuator includes an electromagnetic coil and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.
6. A hybrid drive train for a vehicle provided with at least one driving wheel, the hybrid drive train comprising:
an electric traction motor having a rotatable shaft connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle;
an electric motor/generator having a rotatable shaft;
an internal combustion engine having a rotatable shaft;
a planetary gear arrangement including a sun gear associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator, a planet carrier associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine and a ring gear;
a clutch assembly having a first movable element associated with the sun gear of the planetary gear arrangement, a second movable element associated with the ring gear of the planetary gear arrangement and a longitudinally fixed element associated with the at least one driving wheel; the first movable element being movable between a first position where the first movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the first movable element is linked with the longitudinally fixed element; the second movable element being movable between a first position where the second movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the second movable element is linked with the longitudinally fixed element, wherein the clutch assembly further includes a second longitudinally fixed element associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine; the second movable element of the clutch assembly being movable between the first, the second and a third position where the second movable element is linked with the second longitudinally fixed element.
7. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 6 , wherein the second longitudinally fixed element is defined by a plate mounted to the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine.
8. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 6 , wherein the clutch assembly is provided with a third actuator so configured and sized as to selectively move the second movable element between the first, second and third positions.
9. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 8 , wherein the third actuator includes first and second electromagnetic coils and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.
10. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil is associated with the longitudinally fixed element and the second electromagnetic coil is associated with the second longitudinally fixed element.
11. A hybrid drive train for a vehicle provided with at least one driving wheel, the hybrid drive train comprising:
an electric traction motor having a rotatable shaft connected to the at least one driving wheel of the vehicle;
an electric motor/generator having a rotatable shaft;
an internal combustion engine having a rotatable shaft;
a planetary gear arrangement including a sun gear associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor/generator, a planet carrier associated with the rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine and a ring gear;
a clutch assembly having first and second movable elements associated with the ring gear of the planetary gear arrangement, a first plate associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric traction motor and a second plate associated with rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine; the first movable element being movable between a first position where the first movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the first movable element is linked with the first plate; the second movable element being movable between a first position where the second movable element is freewheeling and a second position where the second movable element is linked with the second plate; the clutch assembly further comprising first and second actuators respectively configured as to selectively move the first and second movable elements between their respective first and second positions.
12. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first actuator includes a first electromagnetic coil and wherein the first movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.
13. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil is associated with the first plate.
14. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second actuator includes a second electromagnetic coil and wherein the second movable element includes magnetically susceptible material.
15. A hybrid drive train as recited in claim 14 , wherein the second electromagnetic coil is associated with the second plate.