Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Plural engines – Electric engine
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-06-26
Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Plural engines
Electric engine
C074S339000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251042
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to hybrid powertrains having an electric motor which is operable to supply power in parallel with a suitable heat engine having rotational output.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric hybrid-type powertrains may employ an internal combustion engine and one or more motor/generator units that operate in concert to provide driving power to the wheels of a vehicle. The electric portion of the vehicle is generally used where noise or exhaust emissions are of prime concern. This type of vehicle is suited for operation in a closed environment (electric drive), such as a passenger terminal, and an open environment (engine drive), such as a parking structure. Thus, the vehicle is ideal for transporting passengers from a terminal to a parking structure.
Vehicles employing a hybrid powertrain are also well suited for urban transportation where a significant amount of stop and go driving is undertaken. These vehicles propose electrical regenerative braking to recharge the electrical power storage devices (batteries).
The hybrid powertrains are also suited for over-the-road transportation where the electric drive units can be utilized to assist in driving the vehicle during high-power output conditions such as rapid acceleration and hill climbing. The electric drive units might also provide propulsion in the event that engine operation is inadvertently discontinued.
In most of the electro/mechanical hybrid powertrains, the electrical and mechanical drive units are designed to operate in all of the vehicle driving conditions. Also, the powertrains generally include planetary type gearing which is designed to effectively combine the electrical and mechanical drive units into an integrated system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hybrid powertrain having a mechanical drive unit and an electrical drive unit.
In one aspect of the present invention, a hybrid vehicle powertrain incorporates a suitable heat engine having rotational output, a multi-speed parallel shaft transmission, a motor/generator (MG), and an accessory drive. In another aspect of the present invention, the accessory drive is driven by the engine, or the MG or the vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, the MG operates as a starter motor for the engine. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the power output of the MG and the engine are combined to drive the vehicle. In still another aspect of the present invention, the main shaft and cluster shaft of the transmission are synchronized during a ratio interchange by the MG.
In yet still another aspect of the present invention, the MG is conditioned to recover energy by charging the electrical storage batteries during vehicle deceleration. In a further aspect of the present invention, the MG supplies the sole driving power during reverse operation of the vehicle, thereby eliminating the need for a reverse idler gear in the transmission. In yet a further aspect of the present invention, the MG provides the sole power to propel the vehicle. In still a further aspect of the present invention, the MG is coupled directly to the engine through a selectively engageable clutch. In a yet still further aspect of the present invention, the MG is selectively engaged with the engine to recharge the storage batteries.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2571284 (1951-10-01), Nims
patent: 5337848 (1994-08-01), Bader
patent: 5560249 (1996-10-01), Nellums
patent: 5839533 (1998-11-01), Mikami et al.
patent: 5979257 (1999-11-01), Lawrie
Bartos Andrew Leslie
Haverdink William H.
Peterson Richard C.
Estremsky Sherry
General Motors Corporation
Grove George A.
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