Patent ID: 7690459
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B60K,F16H,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A hybrid electric vehicle having a plurality of wheels, including at least one drive wheel having an input arrangement connected thereto, the vehicle comprising: an engine operable to output torque to drive the vehicle; a first electric machine operable as a motor to output torque to drive the vehicle, and operable as a generator to output electrical energy: a first power transfer arrangement cooperating with the engine and the first electric machine to provide a portion of a power flow path between the engine and the at least one drive wheel, and a portion of another power flow path between the first electric machine and the at least one drive wheel, the first power transfer arrangement including a planetary gear set having a plurality of members, including a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a carrier connecting the planet gears to each other, and a ring gear, one of the members of the planetary gear set providing an output for the planetary gear set, the engine being operable to output torque to rotate the output of the planetary gear set in a first rotational direction; and a second power transfer arrangement disposed between the output of the planetary gear set and the input arrangement of the at least one drive wheel, the second power transfer arrangement including a plurality of gears, a single one of the gears of the second power transfer arrangement being selectively engageable to transfer torque between the output of the planetary gear set and the input arrangement of the at least one drive wheel such that the vehicle is driven in a forward direction when the engine is operating to output torque to rotate the output of the planetary gear set in the first rotational direction, and one pair of the gears of the second power transfer arrangement being selectively engageable to transfer torque between the output of the planetary gear set and the input of the at least one drive wheel such that the vehicle is driven in a reverse direction when the engine is operating to output torque to rotate the output of the planetary gear set in the first rotational direction.