Planetary gear transmission systems or components – Input from independent power sources – Including manual input
Patent
1992-02-20
1993-09-07
Wright, Dirk
Planetary gear transmission systems or components
Input from independent power sources
Including manual input
475 3, F16H 128
Patent
active
052423352
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a planetary-gear train for a hybrid-drive vehicle driven by at least one of muscle power and an auxiliary motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A hybrid-drive vehicle with a planetary-gear train is taught by Dutch Patent Disclosure NL-A-7,611,405 in which the auxiliary motor drives the sun wheel and muscle power acts on the planetary-gear carrier. Power take-off is accomplished through an outer ring with inner teeth, the crown gear. Such a gear train utilizes a variable transmission ratio. Although planetary-gear trains have been known for years and the use of hybrid-drive vehicles was publicized more than ten years ago, this solution has not prevailed. Studies have shown that there are two essential reasons. In this arrangement, the pedal drive in conjunction with the planetary-gear carrier and the power take-off in conjunction with the hollow wheel with inner teeth, the crown gear, rotate in the same direction and the motor drive of the sun wheel rotates in the opposite direction. The result is that with an increased number of revolutions of the motor, the energy losses due to meshing of the gear train increase. In addition, it is relatively difficult to combine the addition of a transfer case for the muscle power with the known planetary-gear train. Accordingly, the total structure requires a relatively large space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a gear train for hybrid-drive vehicles which reduces the energy losses due to rolling, in particular, to the point of disappearing almost completely at a customary traveling speed. The losses occurring in a planetary-gear train are purely the cause of energy losses due to meshing which are transferred by meshing of the toothed wheels. As a result, the power loss is proportional to the power portion transmitted by the meshing output.
This object is attained in accordance with one embodiment of this invention by a planetary-gear train for a hybrid-drive vehicle employing a mixed drive of muscle power and an auxiliary motor, where the auxiliary motor drives the sun wheel and the muscle power acts on the crown gear, while the power take-off to the driven wheel of the hybrid-drive vehicle takes place through the planetary-gear carrier.
An essential feature of the use in accordance with this invention of a planetary-gear train in hybrid-drive vehicles assisted by muscle power is that the sun wheel, the planetary-gear carrier and the crown gear are always turning in the same direction of rotation. Consequently, the meshing output is considerably reduced in all operational states in comparison with other known uses, where two elements always rotate in opposite directions. The closer to the ideal conditions the two sources of power, muscle power and an auxiliary motor, perform, the less power is transmitted through meshing output. In the ideal case, the sun wheel, the planetary-gear carrier and the crown gear operate synchronously and the entire power can be transmitted without losses through a coupling output.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the planetary-gear train in accordance with this invention is attained where the train is disposed on a central hub with a centered flange, the sun wheel is rotatably seated on the hub while the planetary-gear carrier is fixedly bolted to the centered flange of the hub and to the vehicle wheel by a mounting ring, the crown gear is formed by a bell-shaped element rotatably seated on the hub and having inner teeth, which mesh with the planet wheels, and a chain change sprocket gear is disposed on the bell-shaped element which is in operative connection with the bell-shaped element used as the crown gear. The planetary-gear drive is preferably designed with the sun wheel and the planet wheels having the same diameter and number of teeth.
The chain change sprocket gear ahead of the planetary-gear train preferably is a commercially available chain changer. With the help of this gear, it is possible to absorb
REFERENCES:
patent: 643595 (1900-02-01), Dyer
patent: 713467 (1902-11-01), Macdonald
patent: 2553465 (1951-05-01), Monge
LandOfFree
Planetary-gear train for hybrid-drive vehicles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Planetary-gear train for hybrid-drive vehicles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Planetary-gear train for hybrid-drive vehicles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-483534