Patent ID: 6779619
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60T,B60W,F16H,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:a chassis with two parallel side frame rails; an engine mounted on the chassis; an electric generator mounted to the chassis and coupled to be driven by the engine; an electrical power system connected to receive power from the electric generator; a drive motor mounted on the chassis train and coupled to the electrical power system to receive energization therefrom; wheels depending from the chassis for supporting the vehicle on a surface; a transmission including a rotatable element coupled to the drive motor; a drive train coupling the rotatable element to a pair of the wheels; the transmission further including a locking plate mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the rotable element to prevent rotation thereof; the rotatable element is a ring gear; the transmission comprising; a plurality of slots around an outer perimeter of one face of the ring gear; a plurality of cooperating teeth disposed on one face of the locking plate for engaging the plurality of slots; means for urging the locking plate linearly into and out of engagement with the ring gear; and a gear case housing the ring gear and the locking plate; an electromagnet plate positioned in the gear case housing behind the locking plate relative to the ring gear; a plurality of guide pins affixed to a face of the locking plate, the guide pins being positioned to move into and out of openings in the electromagnetic plate to define a linear travel for the locking plate with respect to the ring gear; a spring actuated catch for each guide pin located with respect to the electromagnetic plate for engaging its respective guide pin when the locking plate reaches a travel limit in the direction away from the ring gear; and a solenoid associated with each spring actuated catch for releasing the spring actuated catch from its respective pin.