An electrified vehicle includes a front axle, a rear axle, an engine, a pump, a battery, a first electric motor electrically coupled to the battery, a second electric motor electrically coupled to the battery and configured to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle, a first clutch positioned between the engine and the first electric motor, and a second clutch positioned between the first electric motor and the pump. With the first clutch engaged and the second clutch disengaged, the engine is configured to drive the first electric motor to generate electricity to charge the battery. With the first clutch disengaged and the second clutch engaged, the first electric motor is configured to drive the pump. With the first clutch engaged and the second clutch engaged, the engine is configured to drive the pump.

A variator and a powersplit hybrid are connected in series. The variator is preferably a Milner epicyclic variator which has a ratio range well suited to this application. The variator permits the powersplit to operate at an optimized speed ratio. The variator further permits improved energy capture during regenerative braking. In some embodiments, clutches alternately connect the variator in series with powersplit and bypass the variator.

A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine directly coupled to the first gear set, a second electrical machine directly coupled to the second gear set, a connecting shaft directly coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft that transports power from the electrical machines to a tractive element, a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first gear set and the second gear set to the driveshaft, and at least one of a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second electrical machine to the connecting shaft and a third clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second gear set to the driveshaft.

A power transmission system includes first differential mechanism connected to an engine, and second differential mechanism. The first differential mechanism includes a first rotating element connected to the engine, and second and third rotating elements. The second differential mechanism includes a fourth rotating element connected to second rotating element, fifth rotating element connected to a first electric rotary machine, and sixth rotating element that is an output element of the second differential mechanism. The power transmission system further includes at least one of a first clutch and brake, and a second clutch. The first clutch is configured to releasably couple two of the first, second and third rotating elements to each other. The brake is configured to releasably couple the third rotating element to a stationary element. The second clutch is configured to releasably couple the third rotating element to one of the fifth and sixth rotating elements.

A power split transmission and a method of merging the power flows of the power split transmission are provided. A power input shaft drives a planetary gear set splitting the input power into a power flow over a variable power branch and into a power flow over a mechanical power branch. The power flows can be merged for driving a power take-off shaft. A reverser includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a first gear set and a second gear set. By engaging the first clutch and disengaging the second clutch the first gear set is driven, if an output shaft of the variable power branch and a mechanical transmission shaft are counter-rotating. By engaging the second clutch and the first clutch disengaging the second gear set is driven, if the output shaft of the variable power branch and the mechanical transmission shaft are co-rotating.

A drive system for a vehicle includes first and second electrical machines, a transmission, and an electrical energy supply. The transmission includes first and second gear sets, a connecting shaft coupled to the first gear set, a driveshaft configured to transport power from the electrical machines to a tractive element of the vehicle, and a clutch. The first gear set is coupled to the first electrical machine. The second gear set is coupled to the second electrical machine. Carriers of the first and second gear sets are coupled. The clutch selectively rotationally couples the carriers to the driveshaft when engaged. The drive system operates in an electric only configuration whereby the electrical energy supply provides electrical energy to at least one of the electrical machines to drive at least one of the connecting shaft and the driveshaft without a mechanical energy input to the transmission from an engine.

A hybrid vehicle includes a clutch and a transmission unit configured to be able to switch into a neutral state. The hybrid vehicle is able to transmit power of an engine through any one of a first path through which power is transmitted from the engine to a first MG via a transmission unit and a differential unit and another second path through which power is transmitted from the engine to the first MG. The clutch is provided in the second path, and switches between an engaged state and a released state. The controller controls the engine, the first MG, the transmission unit and the clutch. The controller sets the transmission unit to a non-neutral state, sets the clutch to the engaged state, and then causes the vehicle to travel by using driving force from the first MG and driving force from the second MG.

A group transmission device includes a main transmission which has a main shaft, a countershaft and a spur gear pair which includes a first spur gear arranged coaxially and axially overlapping with the main shaft and a second spur gear arranged coaxially and axially overlapping with the countershaft. A range group has a first shaft non-rotationally connected to the main shaft, a second shaft non-rotationally connected to a transmission output shaft, a third shaft and a blocking switching unit. A first switching unit non-rotationally connects the third shaft to a housing. A second switching unit has an axially shiftable switching element and non-rotationally connects the third shaft to the first spur gear. The main shaft is coupled non-rotationally to a transmission input shaft. A third switching unit has an axially shiftable further switching element and non-rotationally connects the first spur gear to the first shaft of the range group.

Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A continuously variable transmission is provided with a ball variator assembly having an array of balls, a planetary gear set coupled thereto and an arrangement of rotatable shafts with multiple gears and clutches that extend the ratio range of the variator. In some embodiments, a locking clutch is operably coupled to the planetary gear set to selectively couple two of the elements of the planetary gear set during operation. Engagement of the locking clutch corresponds to a fixed ratio operating mode. Disengagement of the locking clutch corresponds to a variable ratio operating mode.

A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a variator, a plurality of clutches including a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, a fourth clutch, and a variator bypass clutch, and a plurality of gearsets including a first gearset, a second gearset, a third gearset, and a fourth gearset. The transmission is operable in a plurality of operating modes, including at least mode in which the variator is utilized to provide a transmission ratio varying within a defined range and at least one mode in which the variator is bypassed to provide a fixed transmission ratio.