Patent ID: 8083639

Claim:
A method for wear-free braking in a vehicle that comprises an electrodynamic drive system ( 1 ), an electric machine ( 2 ) and a planetary gearset ( 3 ), with a crankshaft ( 4 ) of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle being connected with a first element ( 5 ) of the planetary gearset ( 3 ), the electric machine ( 2 ) being connected with a second element ( 6 ) of the planetary gearset ( 3 ) and a transmission input shaft ( 7 ) being connected with a third element ( 8 ) of the planetary gear system ( 3 ), the method comprising the steps of: providing a friction clutch ( 9 ), which serves as a bridging clutch, for connecting two elements of the planetary gear system ( 3 ) with one another in a releasable manner where, when the friction clutch ( 9 ) is engaged, the planetary gear system ( 3 ) rotates in block condition; and when the combustion engine is operating, operating the combustion engine to produce a braking torque in a drive train when a transmission input speed (n_GE) exceeds a predetermined threshold value by disengaging the bridging clutch ( 9 ) and raising the combustion engine rotation speed to a maximum speed by appropriate control of the electric machine ( 2 ); and one of bringing the electric machine ( 2 ) up to a maximum rotation speed when the transmission input speed (n_GE) exceeds the predetermined threshold value and holding the electric machine ( 2 ) at a maximum rotation speed when the transmission input speed (n_GE) is lower than the threshold value.