Patent ID: 7846051

Claim:
A powertrain comprising: an engine; a hybrid electro-mechanical transmission having: an input member operatively connectable to said engine; an output member for delivering power from said transmission; a gearing arrangement operatively connectable to at least one of said input member and said output member; wherein said gearing arrangement includes a planetary gear set with a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a third rotatable member; at least one motor/generator operatively connectable to said gearing arrangement and connected to an energy storage device operable for providing power to or receiving power from said at least one motor generator; and a controller operable for regulating electrical power interchange between said energy storage device and said at least one motor/generator; at least one vehicle accessory operatively connected to said input member such that said at least one vehicle accessory is driven by rotation of said input member; a selectively engageable input clutch connected between said engine and said input member; a biasing member configured to maintain said input clutch in an engaged state; an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said controller and actuatable to selectively overcome said biasing member to disengage said input clutch and thereby disconnect said engine from said input member; and wherein said at least one vehicle accessory is driven by said at least one motor/generator when said input clutch is disengaged; wherein said at least one motor/generator and said gearing arrangement are configured for at least one electrically-variable mode of operation in which the input member is operatively connected to the first rotatable member and the at least one motor/generator is operatively connected to the second rotatable member so that the speed of the third rotatable member varies as the speed of the at least one motor/generator is varied.