Patent ID: 7645206
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. An electrically-variable transmission comprising: an input member and an output member; first and second motor/generators; a first, a second and a third planetary gear set, each having a first, a second and a third member; wherein the input member, the output member and the motor/generators are each connected for common rotation with a respective different one of the members; a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively engagable to connect different ones of the members for common rotation with one another or with a stationary member; wherein engagement of different combinations of the torque-transmitting mechanisms establishes three forward electrically-variable modes of operation; and wherein the planetary gear sets are characterized by effective gear ratios that require a substantially equal maximum torque from each of the motor/generators during the three forward electrically-variable modes for a given torque on the input member, thereby allowing the first and second motor/generators to be substantially equal in size.