The invention relates to a method to start a combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain by a) disconnecting rotatable components of a first planetary gear from each other, b) disconnecting rotatable components of a second planetary gear from each other, c) preventing rotation of at least one gear pair, which is connected with the first planetary gear and an output shaft and at least one gear pair, which is connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, prevent rotation of the output shaft, and e) activating a first electrical machine connected to the first planetary gear, and/or a second electrical machine connected to the second planetary gear, so that the combustion engine starts.

A vehicle includes an engine, a drive axle, a multi-mode transmission, and a controller. The multi-mode transmission includes a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator electrically coupled to the first motor/generator and coupled to the second gear set, a brake selectively limiting movement of a portion of the second gear set, and a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second motor/generator to the engine. The first gear set is coupled to the engine, and the planetary gear carriers are rotatably coupled. The controller is configured to selectively configure the multi-mode transmission into an active neutral startup mode of operation by engaging the clutch and the brake such that at least one of the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator produces a voltage.

A vehicle includes a drive axle, a multi-mode transmission, and a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission. The multi-mode transmission includes a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to a connecting shaft, a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged, a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first gear set and the second gear set to the drive axle when engaged, and a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second motor/generator to the connecting shaft when engaged. The controller is configured to engage the brake and the clutches to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission to an intermediate shift mode of operation.

A hybrid transmission device includes six planetary gear sets mechanically-operatively connected to an internal combustion engine and two motor/generators adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member through selective application of eight caliper brake systems. Each planetary gear set has a sun gear and a ring gear, each of which meshingly engage a plurality of planet gears. The first and second motor/generators are coaxially aligned with each other as well as six planetary gear sets. The sun gear in the first planetary gear set is connected to the first motor/generator. The sun gear in the second planetary gear set is connected to the second motor/generator. Various driving modes are provided by changing the states of the caliper brake systems and the operating modes of the engine and the first and second motor/generators.

A hybrid transmission device includes six planetary gear sets mechanically-operatively connected to an internal combustion engine and two motor/generators adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member through selective application of eight caliper brake systems. Each planetary gear set has a sun gear and a ring gear, each of which meshingly engage a plurality of planet gears. The first and second motor/generators are coaxially aligned with each other as well as six planetary gear sets. The sun gear in the first planetary gear set is connected to the first motor/generator. The sun gear in the second planetary gear set is connected to the second motor/generator. Various driving modes are provided by changing the states of the caliper brake systems and the operating modes of the engine and the first and second motor/generators.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain to achieve gear shifts without torque interruption, comprising a gearbox with input shaft and output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a first main shaft; a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear and a second main shaft; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; a first gear pair and a third gear pair between the first main shaft and a countershaft; and a second gear pair between the second main shaft and the countershaft, which is connected with the output shaft via a fifth gear pair. The method comprises disconnecting the first gear pair; connecting the first planetary gear with the output shaft via a coupling mechanism connecting the first main shaft and output shaft; disconnecting the fifth gear pair; transferring torque generated from the combustion engine from the second planetary gear to the countershaft via the second gear pair; and transferring a torque from the countershaft to the output shaft via the third gear pair.

A gearbox includes an input shaft and an output shaft; a first epicyclic gear connected to the input shaft; a second epicyclic gear connected to the first epicyclic gear; a first electrical machine connected to the first epicyclic gear; a second electrical machine connected to the second epicyclic gear; a first gear pair arranged between the first epicyclic gear and the output shaft; and a second gear pair arranged between the second epicyclic gear and the output shaft; a first planet gear carrier in the first epicyclic gear connected to a second sun gear in the second epicyclic gear; a first sun gear in the first epicyclic gear connected to a first main shaft; and a second planet gear carrier in the second epicyclic gear is connected to a second main shaft.

A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.

A vehicle includes an engine, a drive axle, a multi-mode transmission, and a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission. The multi-mode transmission includes a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier being rotatably coupled, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to the engine, a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The controller is configured to engage the second clutch, the brake, and the first clutch to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission to an intermediate shift mode of operation.

A vehicle includes an engine, a drive axle, a multi-mode transmission, and a controller coupled to the multi-mode transmission. The multi-mode transmission includes a first gear set having a first planetary gear carrier and a second gear set having a second planetary gear carrier, the first planetary gear carrier and the second planetary gear carrier being rotatably coupled, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set and selectively coupled to the engine, a brake positioned to selectively limit a rotational movement of a ring gear of the second gear set when engaged, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The controller is configured to engage the second clutch, the brake, and the first clutch to selectively reconfigure the multi-mode transmission to an intermediate shift mode of operation.