Patent ID: 9371810
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: F02N,H02K

Claim Text:
1. An alternator-starter assembly associated with an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a drive member operatively connected to the crankshaft, comprising: an electric machine including a stator and a rotor, the rotor being configured for rotation relative to the stator; a transmission assembly including (i) a first drive shaft operatively connected to the rotor, (ii) a second drive shaft operatively connected to the drive member, and (iii) a gear assembly operatively connected to the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, the gear assembly being configurable in a first gear configuration and a second gear configuration, the gear assembly including a planetary gear assembly and a center shaft, the planetary gear assembly including a ring gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a sun gear defining an opening through which the center shaft extends; and a controller operatively connected to the electric machine and configured to operate the electric machine as a generator when the gear assembly is in the first gear configuration and to operate the electric machine as a motor when the gear assembly is in the second gear configuration, wherein in the first gear configuration the ring gear, the sun gear, and the plurality of planet gears are prevented from rotating and the center shaft is rotatable, and wherein in the second gear configuration the ring gear and the center shaft are prevented from rotating and the sun gear and the plurality of planet gears are rotatable.