Patent ID: 6165094
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B60K,B60L,F16H,Y02T,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A vehicle powertrain capable of being continuously controlled over a predetermined range of operation including:two power units;a power transmission unit including an outer main transmission and an inner differential gear assembly;the main transmission having two rotatable input means each operably connected to a power unit for receiving rotational power, the two input means being operably connected to a rotatable output means so that the rotational speed of the output means can vary in proportion to the algebraic mean of the speeds of rotation of the two input means;the differential gear assembly being arranged internally of the main transmission and having rotatable input means operably connected to two differentially rotatable output means, wherein the output means of the main transmission and the input means of the differential gear assembly are operably connected;control means including means for receiving command input and means for determining performance parameters associated with the operation of the powertrain, wherein the performance parameters include the load on each of the two power units, the rotational speeds of each of the two input means of the main transmission, the load on each of the two output means of the differential gear assembly, and the rotational speeds of each of the two output means of the differential gear assembly;wherein the control means provides closed loop feedback control to continuously monitor, analyse and adjust the performance parameters in response to command input.