An electric vehicle and a range extender engine are shown including the controls to operate the same.

A hybrid drive device includes: a rotor; a transmission; and a case, in which a rotor support member that supports a rotor of the rotary electric machine includes an annular member that faces an end wall portion of the case, the end wall portion includes a first tubular portion that protrudes in an axial direction from an inner periphery toward the transmission, and a second tubular portion that protrudes in the axial direction toward the transmission so as to surround the first tubular portion, the annular member includes a tubular portion that protrudes in the axial direction from an inner periphery toward an engine, an inner side radial bearing is disposed between the first transmitting shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the first tubular portion of the end wall portion, a clearance is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the first tubular portion of the end wall portion and an inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion of the annular member, and an outer side radial bearing is disposed between an outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion of the annular member and an inner peripheral surface of the second tubular portion of the end wall portion. As a result, the durability of the bearing for supporting the rotor of the rotary electric machine in the radial direction can be further improved.

A transmission system for a hybrid electric vehicle includes a planetary gear mechanism, a gear, a parking lock mechanism, and a resistance imposing device. A parking meshing member of the parking lock mechanism acts so as to switch between a first state where a claw is in mesh with a parking gear and a second state where the claw is out of mesh with the parking gear. The resistance imposing device includes a resistance imposing member configured to impose a rotational resistance on the parking gear or a third rotating element of the planetary gear by coming in contact with the parking gear or the third rotating element. The resistance imposing device is configured to operate the resistance imposing member such that a larger rotational resistance is imposed on the third rotating element in the first state than in the second state.

A vehicle drive device includes: rotary electric machine; rotor support member; friction engagement device disposed at position on inner side in radial direction with respect to a rotor and at which friction engagement device overlaps rotor as viewed in radial direction along radial direction; and a first and second bearing that rotatably support rotor support member. Friction engagement device has a first and second engagement device disposed side by side in axial direction. First piston portion of first engagement device and a second piston portion of second engagement device are disposed separately on both sides in axial direction across a first and a second friction member. First bearing is disposed at a position at which first bearing overlaps first piston portion as viewed in the radial direction. Second bearing is disposed at a position at which second bearing overlaps second piston portion as viewed in the radial direction.

A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle may include, for a starting process of an internal combustion engine, transferring the separating clutch from a disengaged condition into an engaged condition or a slip state such that the electric machine accelerates the internal combustion engine to a starting speed. The method may further include actuating a torque-transmitting element between the electric machine and the output shaft to enter a slip state. The method may also include increasing the torque of the electric machine to reliably reach and hold the slip state of the torque-transmitting element. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric machine as a generator or as a motor depending on an expected load direction of the drive train during the starting process to reliably reach and hold the torque-transmitting element in the slip state.

A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle may include, for a starting process of an internal combustion engine, transferring the separating clutch from a disengaged condition into an engaged condition or a slip state such that the electric machine accelerates the internal combustion engine to a starting speed. The method may further include actuating a torque-transmitting element between the electric machine and the output shaft to enter a slip state. The method may also include increasing the torque of the electric machine to reliably reach and hold the slip state of the torque-transmitting element. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric machine as a generator or as a motor depending on an expected load direction of the drive train during the starting process to reliably reach and hold the torque-transmitting element in the slip state.

A hybrid drive device including a rotary electric machine having a stator and a rotor, a transmission coupled to the rotary electric machine, a clutch that couples an engine and the rotary electric machine and that releases a connection of the two, and a case for housing the rotary electric machine and the clutch, the hybrid drive device including: a first transmitting shaft coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and a second transmitting shaft that transmits power from the rotor of the rotary electric machine to the transmission.

A hybrid drive device including a rotary electric machine having a stator and a rotor, a transmission coupled to the rotary electric machine, a clutch that couples an engine and the rotary electric machine and that releases a connection of the two, and a case for housing the rotary electric machine and the clutch, the hybrid drive device including: a first transmitting shaft coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and a second transmitting shaft that transmits power from the rotor of the rotary electric machine to the transmission.

An assembly includes a transmission and an electric machine for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, and the transmission is a multi-stage standard transmission with first and second subtransmissions, each of which has a separate input shaft and shares an output shaft. Both input shafts are coupled to the shared output shaft via form locking shift elements of the subtransmissions. The assembly includes a first shiftable clutch which is allocated to a first input shaft such that the internal combustion engine is coupled to the first input shaft via the first shiftable clutch, and a second shiftable clutch which is allocated to the second input shaft such that the electric machine is coupled to the second input shaft via the second shiftable clutch. The electric machine is coupled to the internal combustion engine via a third shiftable clutch, and to the first input shaft via a fourth shiftable clutch.

An assembly includes a transmission and an electric machine for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, and the transmission is a multi-stage standard transmission with first and second subtransmissions, each of which has a separate input shaft and shares an output shaft. Both input shafts are coupled to the shared output shaft via form locking shift elements of the subtransmissions. The assembly includes a first shiftable clutch which is allocated to a first input shaft such that the internal combustion engine is coupled to the first input shaft via the first shiftable clutch, and a second shiftable clutch which is allocated to the second input shaft such that the electric machine is coupled to the second input shaft via the second shiftable clutch. The electric machine is coupled to the internal combustion engine via a third shiftable clutch, and to the first input shaft via a fourth shiftable clutch.