U.S. patent application number 13/104115 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-15 for dual engine hybrid vehicle drive.
Invention is credited to Andrew K. Rekow, Bin Shi, Janet R. Willett.
Application Number | 20120285291 13/104115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46084817 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120285291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shi; Bin ; et al. |
November 15, 2012 |
DUAL ENGINE HYBRID VEHICLE DRIVE
Abstract
A vehicle hybrid drive supplies torque to an axle. The drive
includes a first engine and a transmission which couples the first
engine to the axle. The drive also includes a second engine, a
flywheel driven by the second engine, an electric generator driven
by the flywheel, a generator controller coupled between the
generator and a motor controller, and an electric motor coupled to
the motor controller. A gearbox is coupled between the electric
motor and the axle. The vehicle drive may also include a further
flywheel driven by the first engine, with the transmission being
driven by the second flywheel.
Inventors: |
Shi; Bin; (Cedar Falls,
IA) ; Rekow; Andrew K.; (Cedar Falls, IA) ;
Willett; Janet R.; (Cedar Falls, IA) |
Family ID: |
46084817 |
Appl. No.: |
13/104115 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
74/665A ;
180/65.22; 903/902 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/6217 20130101;
B60K 6/48 20130101; Y10T 477/30 20150115; B60K 6/105 20130101; B60K
5/08 20130101; Y02T 10/6282 20130101; Y10T 477/23 20150115; Y02T
10/62 20130101; Y10T 477/20 20150115; Y02T 10/6204 20130101; Y10T
74/19051 20150115; B60K 6/46 20130101; Y02T 10/6221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
74/665.A ;
180/65.22; 903/902 |
International
Class: |
F16H 37/06 20060101
F16H037/06 |
Claims
1. A vehicle hybrid drive for supplying torque to an axle, the
drive comprising: a first engine; a transmission 18 coupling the
first engine to the axle; a second engine; a flywheel driven by the
second engine; an electric generator driven by the flywheel; a
generator controller coupled between the generator and a motor
controller; an electric motor coupled to the motor controller; and
a gearbox coupling the electric motor to the axle.
2. The vehicle drive of claim 1, further comprising: a further
flywheel driven by the first engine, the transmission being driven
by the second flywheel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dual engine hybrid
vehicle drive system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Current engine emissions regulations place significant
challenges to the ability for an engine to quickly react to sudden
changes in load demand. In order to avoid large particulate
emissions, the engine must change operating modes to a
significantly higher level of fuel consumption during transient
load events in order to meet emissions requirements. This limits
the rate at which an engine can respond to the load transient which
translates into lower performance for the operator. It would be
desirable to have a vehicle drive system which complies with
emission regulations and which permits an engine to respond rapidly
to changes in load.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a dual
engine hybrid vehicle drive system supplies torque to an axle. The
drive includes a first engine and a transmission which couples the
first engine to the axle. The drive also includes a second engine,
a flywheel driven by the second engine, an electric generator
driven by the flywheel, a generator controller coupled between the
generator and a motor controller, and an electric motor coupled to
the motor controller. A gearbox is coupled between the electric
motor and the axle. The vehicle drive may also include a further
flywheel driven by the first engine, with the transmission being
driven by the second flywheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The sole FIGURE is a simplified schematic diagram of a
hybrid vehicle drive system embodying the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0005] Referring to the sole FIGURE, a vehicle drive 10 supplies
torque to an axle 12 of a vehicle (not shown). The drive 10
includes an internal combustion engine 14 which drives a first
flywheel 16. The first flywheel 16 drives a transmission 18. The
transmission 18 is drivingly coupled to the axle 12.
[0006] The drive 10 also includes a second internal combustion
engine 20 which drives a second flywheel 22. The second flywheel 22
drives an electric generator 24. The generator 24 is connected to a
generator controller 26. The generator controller 26 is coupled
between the generator 24 and a motor controller 28. An electric
motor 30 is coupled to, powered by and controlled by the motor
controller 28. A gearbox 32 couples the electric motor 30 to the
axle 12. The electric generator 24, the generator controller 26,
the motor controller 28 and the electric motor 30 form an electric
transmission 34.
[0007] With this drive 10, the electric motor 30 and the generator
24 can extract kinetic energy stored in rotating flywheel 22 which
is driven by the second engine 20 to provide short term torque
boost. This can be done in order to 1) allow smoother torque output
to the axle 12 while the transmission 18 is in a shifting mode or
2) to allow the second engine 20 to go through a power/torque
transient at a slower pace and still support a sharp increase in
load torque on the axle 12.
[0008] In addition, the electric motor 30 and the generator 24 can
recover vehicle kinetic energy from the axle and store it in the
second flywheel 22, such as during vehicle slow down or braking. As
a result, this drive 10 the engines can operate with higher fuel
efficiency. Operator ride comfort is improved because the electric
transmission 34 connected to the second engine 20 allows the
decoupling of the speed of the second engine 20 from the speed of
the axle 12. This enables the energy to be stored by the mechanical
flywheel 22 rather than in a more traditional (and less efficient)
battery.
[0009] The flywheels are mechanical energy storage devices.
Alternatively, either or both of the flywheels could be replaced by
other energy storage devices, such as batteries or capacitors. The
flywheel could be part of the standard flywheel (i.e. where the
starter ring attaches) or it could be a separate, heavier or higher
speed flywheel.
[0010] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration
and description is to be considered as exemplary and not
restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative
embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and
modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are
desired to be protected. It will be noted that alternative
embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the
features described yet still benefit from at least some of the
advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may
readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or
more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the
spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
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