IP Library Patent Application 12115778
Patent Application
App. No. 12/115,778

Hybrid Vehicle Driveline Noise Damper

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/115,778
Filed
May 6, 2008
Art Unit
3679
USPC
464/180
Abstract

A vehicle driveline includes a hybrid transmission, having a mass damper that provides noise and vibration damping over a broad range of frequencies. The damper provides damping at a desired frequency and all greater frequencies to act as a low pass filter for noise and vibration. A specific mass and inertia for the damper are selected to target the desired frequency range. Due to the hybrid design of the transmission the energy that is used to rotate the damper and provide the desired inertia is recovered by at least one motor/generator within the transmission during deceleration of the vehicle.

Claims (25)

1 . A vehicle driveline comprising:

a hybrid transmission having at least one motor/generator and an output shaft;

a driveshaft rotatably connected to the output shaft; and

a mass damper mounted to the driveshaft proximate to the transmission, wherein the mass damper is configured to have a predetermined mass and inertia for damping noise and vibration.

2 . The vehicle driveline of claim 1 , wherein the mass damper further comprises a low pass filter.

3 . The vehicle driveline of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft is a male component and the driveshaft comprises a female yoke engageable with the output shaft and having the mass damper mounted thereon.

4 . The vehicle driveline of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined mass and inertia are based upon a vibration frequency that occurs when the at least one motor/generator has an output torque of 10 Nm or less.

5 . The vehicle driveline of claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor/generator is a generator to recover energy based upon the inertia of the mass damper during deceleration of the vehicle.

6 . A vehicle driveline comprising:

a hybrid transmission having at least one motor/generator; and

a mass damper mounted proximate to the transmission, wherein the mass damper is configured to have a predetermined mass and inertia based upon a vibration frequency that occurs when the at least one motor/generator has an output torque of 10 Nm or less for damping noise and vibration.

7 . The vehicle driveline of claim 6 , wherein the mass damper further comprises a low pass filter.

8 . The vehicle driveline of claim 6 , wherein the transmission has a male output shaft and further comprising:

a driveshaft having a female yoke rotatably connected to the male output shaft wherein the mass damper is mounted on the driveshaft.

9 . The vehicle driveline of claim 6 , wherein the at least one motor/generator is a generator to recover energy based upon the inertia of the mass damper during deceleration of the vehicle.

10 . A method for damping noise and vibration in a vehicle driveline comprising:

selecting a damper to provide a predetermined mass and inertia;

mounting the damper on a driveshaft; and

connecting the driveshaft to a hybrid transmission output shaft such that the damper is proximate to the transmission such that noise and vibration transmitted from the transmission to the driveshaft during vehicle operation are damped by the damper.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting the predetermined mass and inertia to suppress the noise and vibration above a predetermined frequency.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting the predetermined mass and inertia based upon a vibration frequency occurring when the at least one motor/generator has an output torque of 10 Nm or less.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

damping noise and vibration transmitted from the transmission when at least one motor/generator located within the hybrid transmission has a torque output of 10 Nm or less.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

recovering inertia of the damper by controlling the at least one motor/generator to act as a generator during deceleration of the vehicle.

Assignments (11)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0211 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0475 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0780 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0215 →
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 023155/0880 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0670 →
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 022554/0479 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0405 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2008
From: O'LEARY, MICHAEL F.; LANGFORD, MICHAEL L.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020905/0738 →