Power transmission apparatus, four-wheel drive vehicle with power transmission apparatus incorporated therein, method of transmitting power, and method of four-wheel driving
US5988307A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S903/951
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A clutch motor 30 that includes a rotatable outer rotor 32 and a rotatable inner rotor 34 and is driven to carry out power operation or regenerative operation is attached to an output shaft of an engine 50. The output of the clutch motor 30 is transmitted to front wheels 26 and 28 via a drive shaft 22A. An assist motor 40 is directly linked with a drive shaft 22B that transmits power to rear wheels 27 and 29. Slip rotation in the clutch motor 30 enables part of the energy of the engine 50 to be regenerated. The assist motor 40 is driven with at least part of the regenerated energy or energy stored in a battery 94. This structure allows torques to be output to the two different shafts and thereby realizes four-wheel-drive. In accordance with another possible structure, the assist motor 40 regenerates electric power, while the clutch motor 30 carries out over-drive operation. The structure of distributing power of the engine by the clutch motor may be replaced by another structure including a planetary gear 120 and two motors MG1 and MG2 to distribute the power by the planetary gear 120. This structure enables the power to be transmitted to one shaft by the output of the planetary ge…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.