Patent ID: 8021256
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B60K,F16H,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An electrically-variable transmission comprising: an input member and an output member; a stationary member; first and second motor/generators; a first and a second planetary gear assembly, each having a first, a second and a third member; a third planetary gear assembly comprising a planetary gear assembly having at least two gear planes of rotation and having at least a first, a second, a third member and a fourth member each located on at least one of the gear planes; 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; an interconnecting member connecting the first member of the first planetary gear assembly, the first member of the second planetary gear assembly, and the first member of the third planetary gear assembly for rotation at the same speed; wherein the second motor/generator is selectively connected for common rotation with the third member of the third planetary gear assembly by engagement of one of said plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms; wherein the fourth member of the third planetary gear assembly is selectively connected to the stationary member by engagement of another one of said plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms; wherein engagement of different combinations of the torque-transmitting mechanisms establishes three forward electrically-variable modes of operation; and wherein said one of said plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms is engaged and said another of said plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms is disengaged when the speed of the second motor/generator is substantially equal to the speed of the third member of the third planetary gear assembly to shift from one of said electrically variable modes of operation to another of said electrically-variable modes of operation.