The present invention is a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, comprising a driving/receiving machine (20), a thermal engine (10) and engine shaft (12), a speed variation device (14) including an engine epicyclic gear train (24) with a sun gear (34) and a crown (42) which are each connected to the engine shaft (12) by an engine controlled coupling (26, 28) and to a fixed part (40) of the powertrain by a one-way automatic coupling (30, 32). A planet gear carrier (46) and a machine epicyclic gear train (60) are arranged on a shaft (62) substantially parallel to engine shaft (12). The planet gear carrier comprises a sun gear (64), a crown (72), a planet gear carrier (68) and an epicyclic gear train controlled coupling (88). The speed variation device (14) comprises a device (94) for connecting/disconnecting electric machine (20) with machine epicyclic gear train (60).

The present invention is a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, comprising a driving/receiving machine (20), a thermal engine (10) and engine shaft (12), a speed variation device (14) including an engine epicyclic gear train (24) with a sun gear (34) and a crown (42) which are each connected to the engine shaft (12) by an engine controlled coupling (26, 28) and to a fixed part (40) of the powertrain by a one-way automatic coupling (30, 32). A planet gear carrier (46) and a machine epicyclic gear train (60) are arranged on a shaft (62) substantially parallel to engine shaft (12). The planet gear carrier comprises a sun gear (64), a crown (72), a planet gear carrier (68) and an epicyclic gear train controlled coupling (88). The speed variation device (14) comprises a device (94) for connecting/disconnecting electric machine (20) with machine epicyclic gear train (60).

A drive device and method for a motor vehicle, provided with a combustion engine machine, with a first electric machine and with a second electric machine, wherein a drive shaft of the combustion engine machine can be coupled by a first clutch to a drive shaft of the first electric machine, which is connected via a transmission drive to a drive shaft of the drive device. At the same time, the gear device is permanently coupled to the drive shaft of the first electric machine and provided with a planetary gear that can be coupled by a second clutch to the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the second electric machine is permanently coupled to the drive shaft.

A control process including the following steps is executed. The control process includes, at the time of switching from series-parallel mode to series mode, a step of reducing an engine torque, a step of releasing a clutch, a step of reducing a reaction torque of a first rotary electric machine and a step of increasing a torque of a second rotary electric machine, and, when synchronization is started and a step of increasing a positive torque of the first MG, a step of starting engagement of a clutch, and, when a rotation speed of the first rotary electric machine and a rotation speed of an engine are synchronous with each other, a step of engaging the clutch.

A control process including the following steps is executed. The control process includes, at the time of switching from series-parallel mode to series mode, a step of reducing an engine torque, a step of releasing a clutch, a step of reducing a reaction torque of a first rotary electric machine and a step of increasing a torque of a second rotary electric machine, and, when synchronization is started and a step of increasing a positive torque of the first MG, a step of starting engagement of a clutch, and, when a rotation speed of the first rotary electric machine and a rotation speed of an engine are synchronous with each other, a step of engaging the clutch.

A planetary gear mechanism is desired in which pinion gears can be inserted between support portions on both sides in the axial direction of the pinion gears after the support portions on both sides in the axial direction of the pinion gears are coupled together. In this planetary gear mechanism, a coupling inner portion of a carrier coupling portion is located between a first sun gear and a second sun gear in the axial direction, and a carrier and the carrier coupling portion are formed so that each pinion gears can be inserted between a first shaft support portion and a second shaft support portion in the axial direction from the outside in the radial direction.

A system and method for modifying the engine pull-up (EPU) logic within a hybrid vehicle based on max motor torque that accounts for the drop or change in available motor torque due to the opening/slipping of a torque converter bypass clutch during engine starts is disclosed. An engine pull-up threshold is determined from max available motor torque at a virtual impeller speed, where the virtual impeller speed is the impeller speed that would result if the torque converter bypass clutch was open/slipping and transferring the same amount of torque.

A system and method for modifying the engine pull-up (EPU) logic within a hybrid vehicle based on max motor torque that accounts for the drop or change in available motor torque due to the opening/slipping of a torque converter bypass clutch during engine starts is disclosed. An engine pull-up threshold is determined from max available motor torque at a virtual impeller speed, where the virtual impeller speed is the impeller speed that would result if the torque converter bypass clutch was open/slipping and transferring the same amount of torque.

Presented are clutch-type engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such disconnect devices, and motor vehicles equipped with such disconnect devices. An engine disconnect device includes a notch plate, which has multiple notches and attaches to a torque converter, and a pocket plate, which has multiple pockets and attaches to an engine's crankshaft. A pawl is movably mounted within each notch; these pawls selectively engage the notches with the pockets. A notch plate insert is nested within each notch, supporting thereon one of the pawls. A selector plate interposed between the pocket and notch plates moves from a first position, to shift the pawls out of engagement with the pockets, and a second position, to move the notch plate inserts within the notches and allow the pawls to engage the notches with the pockets to thereby lock the notch plate to the pocket plate to rotate in unison with each other.

A clutch arrangement for between an engine and a propeller of a drivetrain of a roadable aircraft. The arrangement includes an engine shaft, a propeller shaft, a stationary clutch arrangement housing, and an engagement member which is rotationally locked to and axially slidable relative to propeller shaft. The engagement member includes a first engagement structure for engaging a corresponding engagement structure associated with the engine shaft for setting the clutch arrangement in a propeller propulsion mode, in which rotational propulsion torque is transmitted from the engine shaft to the propeller shaft via the engagement member. The engagement member further includes a second engagement structure for engaging a corresponding engagement structure associated with the clutch arrangement housing for setting the clutch arrangement in a propeller locked mode, in which the propeller shaft is rotationally locked to the clutch arrangement housing by means of the engagement member.