A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes a drive assembly with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and a transmission featuring several sub-transmissions shifting between the drive assembly and an output. Through a planetary transmission, the electric motor is coupled to an input shaft of a first sub-transmission and an input shaft of a second sub-transmission. Through a separating clutch, the internal combustion engine is to the input shaft of the first sub-transmission and, if the separating clutch is locked, is coupled to the same element of the planetary transmission as the input shaft of the first sub-transmission. A bypass shift element works with the planetary transmission such that, with a locked bypass shift element, a torque-proof connection between the electric motor, the input shaft of the first sub-transmission and the input shaft of the second sub-transmission exist, while, with an open bypass shift element, this torque-proof connection between the electric motor and the two input shafts of the two sub-transmissions does not exist. The separating clutch is formed as a frictional-locking or positive-locking separating clutch, and the bypass shift element is formed as a frictional-locking bypass shift element.

An engine electronic control unit of a hybrid vehicle is configured to execute in-abnormality starting control for starting an engine when the engine is cranked in a state where abnormality occurs to communication between the engine electronic control unit and a hybrid electronic control unit. The hybrid electronic control unit is configured to execute in-abnormality cranking control for controlling the first motor such that the engine is cranked when the abnormality occurs to the communication between the engine electronic control unit and the hybrid electronic control unit. In addition, the hybrid electronic control unit is configured to execute in-abnormality electric travel control for controlling the second motor such that the hybrid vehicle travels only by power from the second motor when the in-abnormality cranking control is executed but the engine is not started.

A first bearing device (68) rotatably supports a rotor shaft (30) of a motor (MG2) on a driven gear (24) side in an axial direction of the rotor shaft (30). A second bearing device (70) rotatably supports one (32) of a driven gear shaft (28) and an output shaft (32). The one (32) of the driven gear shaft (28) and the output shaft (32) is arranged radially inward of the other (28) one of the driven gear shaft (28) and the output shaft (32). A third bearing device (72) is arranged between an outer periphery of the one (32) of the driven gear shaft (28) and the output shaft (32) and an inner periphery of the rotor shaft (30) or an inner periphery of the other one (28) of the driven gear shaft (28) and the output shaft (32). The third bearing device (72) rotatably supports the one (32) of the driven gear shaft (28) and the output shaft (32).

A hybrid vehicle includes a first controller configured to output a first control signal for a first inverter, a second controller configured to output a second control signal for a second inverter and a third control signal for the first inverter, and a selection circuit configured to output either of the first control signal or the third control signal to the first inverter. The third control signal is a signal for simultaneously turning on either of upper arm switching elements or lower arm switching elements of a plurality of arms of the first inverter. The second controller starts an engine by outputting the third control signal while outputting the second control signal to drive a second motor generator when abnormality occurs in the first controller.

A product may include a case, and a shaft that rotates may extend into the case. A bearing may support the shaft at the case. A seal may be positioned around the shaft outboard from the bearing. The bearing may have a first side facing the seal and a second side facing away from the seal. The case may define an inlet to an area between the bearing and the seal. A baffle may extend over the inlet on the second side and radially outside the bearing.

Transition is made from a motor single-drive mode to a motor dual-drive mode while there is a margin in torque output from a motor MG2 with respect to rated torque. With this, the torque of the motor MG1 is changed slowly in the motor dual-drive mode, whereby it is possible to suppress the generation of vibration (shock) due to torsion of a damper and to compensate for a shortage of the torque of the motor MG1 due to slow change processing with an increase in torque from the motor MG2. As a result, it is possible to achieve both of reduction of a shock due to the torque of the motor MG1 and output of required torque to a drive shaft.

A hybrid powertrain and a method for controlling the powertrain are provided to convert an EV mode, a power slit mode, and a parallel mode based on a driving state. The powertrain includes an input shaft connected to an engine and first and second motors/generators installed within a transmission housing. A planetary gear set is installed on an input shaft and includes a combination of a sun gear, a planetary carrier, and a ring gear. A first output gear is connected to the second motor/generator and a second output gear is connected to the planetary carrier of the planetary gear set. A rotation restraint mechanism restricts a rotation of the input shaft. An overdrive brake is connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear set or the first motor/generator. An output shaft is supplied with power through the first and second output gears.

Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of a variable compression ratio engine in a hybrid vehicle system. A vehicle controller may hold the engine in a lower compression ratio during engine pull-ups and pull-downs, in particular when passing through a low speed region where compression bobbles can occur. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch the compression ratio or maintain a current compression ratio while smoothing a torque deficit using motor torque, the selection based on fuel economy.

A vehicle including a housing supported on a framework member of the vehicle via a supporting member, a liquid medium supply unit fixed to the housing and driven by a motor to supply a liquid medium to a cooled or lubricated portion, and a first atmosphere communicating mechanism that establishes a communication between an inside of a motor portion of the liquid medium supply unit and atmosphere, the first atmosphere communicating mechanism including a volumetric member that is disposed apart from the liquid medium supply unit in a position higher than the liquid medium supply unit, that has a predetermined volumetric space, and that is fixed to the housing.

An electronic control unit executes control such that a ratio of driving force output from a second motor in requested driving force when a hybrid vehicle travels in a charge depleting mode becomes larger than the ratio when the hybrid vehicle travels in a charge sustaining mode switched from the charge depleting mode by a mode selector switch. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress overheating of the second motor while cooling a first motor. When the mode selector switch is operated to select the charge depleting mode again, the second motor has already been cooled, so that performance of the second motor can sufficiently be demonstrated without a driving restriction due to overheating being imposed thereon. And, it becomes possible to suppress overheating of the second motor while achieving enhanced energy efficiency of the vehicle.