Flywheel driveline and control arrangement
In an energy storage and recovery system for a hybrid vehicle 1 , the operating ratio range of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) 10 which transfers drive between the vehicle's driveline 8 and a flywheel 9 is effectively extended by the use of an integrated starter-generator (ISG) 13 connected to the flywheel shaft 12 . When there is a high mismatch of rotational speed between the propshaft 8 and the flywheel shaft 12 , prior to connecting the two shafts by a clutch 11 , the ISG 13 either spins up or decelerates the flywheel 9 until its speed is brought within the optimum operating range of the CVT 10 . This measure reduces wear and tear on the clutch 11.
1. A flywheel driveline and control arrangement for a hybrid vehicle including,
a rotatable flywheel,
an energy conversion device operably connected with the flywheel and capable of accelerating and decelerating the flywheel,
a continuously variable transmission having an operating ratio range and being connectable with a driveline of the hybrid vehicle,
a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the continuously variable transmission to and from the flywheel,
an electronic control module for generating a control signal for said energy conversion device,
wherein, in response to said control signal, the energy conversion device either accelerates the flywheel or decelerates the flywheel in order to bring the flywheel's rotational speed within the operating range of the continuously variable transmission.
2. A flywheel drive line and control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and further including an energy storage device connected to the energy conversion device.
3. A flywheel driveline and control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the energy conversion device is an electric starter-generator.
4. A flywheel driveline and control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 which the energy conversion device is a hydraulic pump-motor.
5. A flywheel driveline and control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the clutch is an electro-hydraulic clutch.
6. A hybrid vehicle incorporating the flywheel driveline and control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 .