Transmission Device for a Hybrid Vehicle

Abstract

A transmission device for a hybrid vehicle having a drive train arranged transversely to a direction of travel of the hybrid vehicle includes a transmission housing having an engine-side housing section, a middle housing section, and a wheel-side housing section. The transmission further includes a first electric machine in the wheel-side housing section, a second electric machine in the middle housing section, an input shaft connectable to an internal combustion engine, and a differential gear connected to a first output shaft and a second output shaft. Additionally, the transmission includes a planetary transmission, and an intermediate shaft in a power flow between the planetary transmission and the differential gear. Particularly, the first electric machine is coaxial to the input shaft, and the second electric machine is axially parallel to the input shaft and connected to the input shaft via a chain drive or a spur gear drive.

Claims

1-14: (canceled)

15. A transmission device (1) for a hybrid vehicle having a drive train arranged transversely to a direction of travel of the hybrid vehicle, comprising: a transmission housing (G) having an engine-side housing section (G1), a middle housing section (G2), and a wheel-side housing section (G3); a first electric machine (2a), the first electric machine (2a) being in the wheel-side housing section (G3); a second electric machine (2b), the second electric machine (2b) being in the middle housing section (G2); an input shaft (3) operatively connectable to an internal combustion engine (4); a first output shaft (6a); a second output shaft (6b); a differential gear (5) operatively connected to the first output shaft (6a) and the second output shaft (6b); a planetary transmission (7); and an intermediate shaft (8) operatively arranged in a power flow between the planetary transmission (7) and the differential gear (5), wherein the first electric machine (2a) is coaxial to the input shaft (3), and wherein the second electric machine (2b) is axially parallel to the input shaft (3) and operatively connected to the input shaft (3) via one of a chain drive or a spur gear drive (10).

16. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the one of the chain drive or the spur gear drive (10) is in the middle housing section (G2), and wherein a rotor shaft (R2) of the second electric machine (2b) is in the middle housing section (G2) and is axially closer to the engine-side housing section (G1).

17. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the one of the chain drive or the spur gear drive (10) is in the wheel-side housing section (G3), and wherein a rotor shaft (R2) of the second electric machine (2b) is radially adjacent to the first electric machine (2a) and is formed axially along at least an entire axial length of the first electric machine (2a).

18. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the second electric machine (2b) abuts an end surface of the first electric machine (2a), and wherein a radial distance between the input shaft (3) and an outer contour of the first electric machine (2a) is greater than a minimum radial distance between the input shaft (3) and an outer contour of the second electric machine (2b).

19. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the intermediate shaft (8) includes at least two gearwheels (8a, 8b), wherein at least a first gearwheel (8a) of the at least two gearwheels (8a, 8b) intermeshes with a tooth system (15a) on an output shaft (15) of the planetary transmission (7), wherein at least a second gearwheel (8b) of the at least two gearwheels (8a, 8b) intermeshes with a tooth system (5a) on the differential gear (5), and wherein the intermediate shaft (8) is axially arranged in the middle housing section (G2).

20. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the planetary transmission (7) is at least partially radially within the first electric machine (2a).

21. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the planetary transmission (7) includes at least a first planetary gear set (9a) and a second planetary gear set (9b), wherein the first planetary gear set (9a) has a first sun gear (11a), a first ring gear (12a), and multiple first planet gears (14a) rotatably mounted on a first planet carrier (13a), and wherein the second planetary gear set (9b) has a second sun gear (11b), a second ring gear (12b), and multiple second planet gears (14b) rotatably mounted on a second planet carrier (13b).

22. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein the differential gear (5) is a bevel gear differential.

23. The transmission device (1) of claim 15, wherein a first rotor shaft (R1) of the first electric machine (2a) rotates about a first axis of rotation (D1), wherein a second rotor shaft (R2) of the second electric machine (2b) rotates about a second axis of rotation (D2), wherein the intermediate shaft (8) rotates about a third axis of rotation (D3), and wherein the first and second output shafts (6a, 6b) of the differential gear (5) rotate about a fourth axis of rotation (D4).

24. The transmission device (1) of claim 23, wherein the second axis of rotation (D2) is arranged spatially above and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) and the fourth axis of rotation (D4) are arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), and wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) is arranged spatially below and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation (D4).

25. The transmission device (1) of claim 23, wherein the second axis of rotation (D2) is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the first axis of rotation (D1), wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) and the fourth axis of rotation (D4) are arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), and wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) is arranged spatially below and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation (D4).

26. The transmission device (1) of claim 23, wherein the second axis of rotation (D2) is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the first axis of rotation (D1), wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) is arranged spatially above and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), wherein the fourth axis of rotation (D4) is arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), and wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation (D4).

27. The transmission device (1) of claim 23, wherein the second axis of rotation (D2) is arranged spatially below and spatially ahead of the first axis of rotation (D1), wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) is arranged spatially above and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), wherein the fourth axis of rotation (D4) is arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation (D1), and wherein the third axis of rotation (D3) is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation (D4).

28. A drive device for a hybrid vehicle, comprising an internal combustion engine (4) and the transmission device (1) of claim 15.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail in the following with reference to the seven drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a drive device including a transmission device according to example aspects of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the drive device including a transmission device according to example aspects of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an example embodiment of a planetary transmission of the transmission device; and

[0029] FIGS. 4a-4d each show a side view for illustrating the arrangement of two electric machines, an intermediate shaft, and a differential gear in the transmission device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0031] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a particular drive device according to example aspects of the invention for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine 4 and a transmission device 1 having a first electric machine 2a and a second electric machine 2b, where the electric machines 2a, 2b are arranged in a shared transmission housing G. The transmission housing G has an engine-side housing section G1, a middle housing section G2, and a wheel-side housing section G3. An axial length of the three housing sections G1, G2, G3 is represented by a total of four, vertical dashed lines. The first electric machine 2a is arranged in the wheel-side housing section G3 and, thereby, furthest from the internal combustion engine 4. In contrast, the second electric machine 2b is arranged in the middle housing section G2 and, thereby, axially between a torsional vibration damper 19 arranged in the engine-side housing section G1 and the first electric machine 2a.

[0032] The first electric machine 2a has a first rotationally fixed stator 16a, a first rotary rotor 16b, and a first rotor shaft R1 rotationally fixed to the first rotor 16b. Similarly, the second electric machine 2b has a second rotationally fixed stator 17a, a second rotary rotor 17b, and a second rotor shaft R2 rotationally fixed to the second rotor 17b. The second electric machine 2b is arranged adjacent to the first electric machine 2a at the end surface. A radial distance between an input shaft 3 of the transmission device 1 and an outer contour of the first electric machine 2a is greater than a radial distance between the input shaft 3 and an outer contour of the second electric machine 2b. As a result, the second electric machine 2b radially overlaps the first electric machine 2a, at least partially. The two electric machines 2a, 2b are, in fact, arranged axially very close to one another, but do not come to rest against one another. An axial air gap is formed between the two electric machines 2a, 2b.

[0033] The transmission device 1 is configured for a drive train arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the hybrid vehicle. In the present case, the input shaft 3 of the transmission device 1 is connectable via a first clutch K1 to the torsional vibration damper 19 and a crankshaft 18 of the internal combustion engine 4. The first clutch K1 has at least one disengaged engagement position and one engaged engagement position, wherein, when the first clutch K1 is in an engaged engagement position, the crankshaft 18 and the input shaft 3 are connected to each other in a rotationally fixed manner, and wherein, when the first clutch K1 is in a disengaged engagement position, the internal combustion engine 4 is decoupled from the transmission device 1.

[0034] Moreover, the transmission device 1 includes a differential gear 5, where the differential gear 5 is operatively connected to a first output shaft 6a, a second output shaft 6b, and a planetary transmission 7, which is represented by a dashed-line rectangle in the present case and is not described in greater detail. An example embodiment of the planetary transmission 7 is represented in FIG. 3. The differential gear 5 is a bevel gear differential and is operatively connected to the first output shaft 6a and the second output shaft 6b. The particular output shaft 6a, 6b is operatively connected to a particular wheel of the hybrid vehicle.

[0035] An intermediate shaft 8 is operatively arranged in the power flow between the planetary transmission 7 and the differential gear 5. The intermediate shaft 8 includes a first gearwheel 8a and a second gearwheel 8b, wherein the first gearwheel 8a intermeshes with a tooth system 15a at an output shaft 15 of the planetary transmission 7, and wherein the second gearwheel 8b intermeshes with a tooth system 5a at the differential gear 5. The first gearwheel 8a has a larger diameter than the second gearwheel 8b. The two gearwheels 8a, 8b, by definition, are rotationally fixed to the intermediate shaft 8.

[0036] The planetary transmission 7, the differential gear 5, and the intermediate shaft 8 are axially parallel to one another. Moreover, the first electric machine 2a is arranged coaxially to the input shaft 3 and axially parallel to the second electric machine 2b.

[0037] In FIG. 1, the second electric machine 2b is operatively connected to the input shaft 3 via a chain or spur gear drive 10. The chain or spur gear drive 10 is arranged in the middle housing section G2. The rotor shaft R2 of the second electric machine 2b is arranged in the middle housing section G2 and is formed axially in the direction of the engine-side housing section G1. In the present case, the rotor shaft R2 of the second electric machine 2b is axially very short.

[0038] In FIG. 2, the second electric machine 2b is operatively connected to the input shaft 3 via a chain or spur gear drive 10, where the chain or spur gear drive 10 is arranged in the wheel-side housing section G3. The rotor shaft R2 of the second electric machine 2b is arranged radially adjacent to the first electric machine 2a and is guided axially along the entire axial length of the first electric machine 2a. Consequently, the rotor shaft R2 of the second electric machine 2b extends from the middle housing section G2 up to the end of the wheel-side housing section G3. Therefore, the rotor shaft R2 of the second electric machine 2b is axially longer than the axial length of the first electric machine 2a.

[0039] According to FIG. 3, the planetary transmission 7 includes a first planetary gear set 9a, a second planetary gear set 9b, and a third planetary gear set 9c. The planetary transmission 7 is arranged radially within the first electric machine 2a. The first planetary gear set 9a includes a first sun gear 11a, a first ring gear 12a, and multiple first planet gears 14a rotatably mounted on a first planet carrier 13a. The second planetary gear set 9b includes a second sun gear 11b, which is fixed to the housing, a second ring gear 12b, and multiple second planet gears 14b rotatably mounted on a second planet carrier 13b. Moreover, the third planetary gear set 9c includes a third sun gear 11c, a third ring gear 12c, and multiple third planet gears 14c rotatably mounted on a third planet carrier 13c.

[0040] The input shaft 3 is coupleable to the crankshaft 18 of the internal combustion engine 4 via the first clutch K1. The input shaft 3 is coupleable to the third sun gear 11c via a second clutch K2. Each respective clutch K1, K2 has at least one disengaged engagement position and one engaged engagement position. For example, when the first clutch K1 is in an engaged engagement position, the crankshaft 18 and the input shaft 3 are connected to each other in a rotationally fixed manner, and when the first clutch K1 is in a disengaged engagement position, the internal combustion engine 4 is decoupled from the transmission device 1. Similarly, when the second clutch K2 is in an engaged engagement position, the input shaft 3 and the third sun gear 11c are connected to each other in a rotationally fixed manner, and when the second clutch K2 is in a disengaged engagement position, the input shaft 3 and the third sun gear 11c are decoupled and, thereby, rotatable relative to one another.

[0041] Moreover, the input shaft 3 is rotationally fixed to the first planet carrier 13a. The second electric machine 2b is operatively connected to the input shaft 3 via a chain or spur gear drive 10. In the present case, the chain or spur gear drive 10 is a chain drive and is arranged in the power flow between the second electric machine 2b and the planetary transmission 7. The chain drive 10 includes a first sprocket 10a, a second sprocket 10b, and a chain 10c arranged therebetween, with the chain 10c being connected to the two sprockets 10a, 10b in order to transmit a rotational speed and a torque. The first sprocket 10a is rotationally fixed to the second rotor shaft R2 of the second electric machine 2b, and the second sprocket 10b is rotationally fixed to the input shaft 3.

[0042] The first sun gear 11a is rotationally fixed to the first planet carrier 13a and the input shaft 3 via a first engagement device S1 according to or in a first engagement position A, is freely rotatable via the first engagement device S1 in or according to a second, neutral engagement position B, and is fixed to the housing via the first engagement device S1 in or according to a third engagement position C.

[0043] Moreover, the input shaft 3 and the first planet carrier 13a are rotationally fixed to the third ring gear 12c and the second planet carrier 13b via a second engagement device S2 according to or in a first engagement position A, are freely rotatable via the second engagement device S2 according to or in a second, neutral engagement position B, and are rotationally fixed to the first rotor shaft R1 and the second ring gear 12b via the second engagement device S2 according to or in a third engagement position C.

[0044] Moreover, the third sun gear 11c is fixed to the housing via a third engagement device S3 according to or in a first engagement position A, is freely rotatable via the third engagement device S3 according to or in a second, neutral engagement position B, and is rotationally fixed to the third planet carrier 13c and the first ring gear 12a via the third engagement device S3 according to or in a third engagement position C. Moreover, the third planet carrier 13c is rotationally fixed to the output shaft 15 of the planetary transmission 7.

[0045] FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d each show a side view illustrating the arrangement of the two electric machines 2a, 2b, the intermediate shaft 8, and the differential gear 5 in the transmission device 1. The first electric machine 2a, together with the input shaft 3 (FIGS. 1-3) and the planetary transmission 7 (FIGS. 1-3), has a first axis of rotation D1. The second electric machine 2b has a second axis of rotation D2. Moreover, the intermediate shaft 8 has a third axis of rotation D3. Additionally, the differential gear 5 has a fourth axis of rotation D4. The four axes of rotation D1, D2, D3, D4 are arranged axially parallel to one another, transversely to the direction of travel of the hybrid vehicle, and spatially between two wheels of the hybrid vehicle. The following designations “spatially below” and “spatially above” as well as “spatially ahead of” and “spatially behind” relate to the installation position of the transmission arrangement 1 in the hybrid vehicle and, in fact, transversely to the direction of travel.

[0046] According to FIG. 4a, the second axis of rotation D2 is arranged spatially above and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1. Moreover, the third axis of rotation D3 and the fourth axis of rotation D4 are arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1, with the third axis of rotation D3 being arranged spatially below and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation D4.

[0047] According to FIG. 4b, the second axis of rotation D2 is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the first axis of rotation D1. Moreover, the third axis of rotation D3 and the fourth axis of rotation D4 are arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1, with the third axis of rotation D3 being arranged spatially below and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation D4.

[0048] In FIG. 4c, the second axis of rotation D2 is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the first axis of rotation D1. Moreover, the third axis of rotation D3 is arranged spatially above and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1, while the fourth axis of rotation D4 is arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1. Moreover, the third axis of rotation D3 is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation D4.

[0049] In FIG. 4d, the second axis of rotation D2 is arranged spatially below and spatially ahead of the first axis of rotation D1. Moreover, the third axis of rotation D3 is arranged spatially above and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1, while the fourth axis of rotation D4 is arranged spatially below and spatially behind the first axis of rotation D1. Moreover, the third axis of rotation D3 is arranged spatially above and spatially ahead of the fourth axis of rotation D4.

[0050] Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. In the claims, reference characters corresponding to elements recited in the detailed description and the drawings may be recited. Such reference characters are enclosed within parentheses and are provided as an aid for reference to example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings. Such reference characters are provided for convenience only and have no effect on the scope of the claims. In particular, such reference characters are not intended to limit the claims to the particular example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0051] 1 transmission device [0052] 2a first electric machine [0053] 2b second electric machine [0054] 3 input shaft [0055] 4 internal combustion engine [0056] 5 differential gear [0057] 5a tooth system at the differential gear [0058] 6a first output shaft [0059] 6b second output shaft [0060] 7 planetary transmission [0061] 8 intermediate shaft [0062] 8a first gearwheel [0063] 8b second gearwheel [0064] 9a first planetary gear set [0065] 9b second planetary gear set [0066] 9c third planetary gear set [0067] 10 chain or spur gear drive [0068] 10a first sprocket [0069] 10b second sprocket [0070] 10c chain [0071] 11a first sun gear [0072] 11b second sun gear [0073] 11c third sun gear [0074] 12a first ring gear [0075] 12b second ring gear [0076] 12c third ring gear [0077] 13a first planet carrier [0078] 13b second planet carrier [0079] 13c third planet carrier [0080] 14a first planet gear [0081] 14b second planet gear [0082] 14c third planet gear [0083] 15 output shaft of the planetary transmission [0084] 15a tooth system at an output shaft [0085] 16a first stator [0086] 16b first rotor [0087] 17a second stator [0088] 17b second rotor [0089] 18 crankshaft [0090] 19 torsional vibration damper [0091] A first engagement position [0092] B second engagement position [0093] C third engagement position [0094] D1 first axis of rotation [0095] D2 second axis of rotation [0096] D3 third axis of rotation [0097] D4 fourth axis of rotation [0098] G transmission housing [0099] G1 engine-side housing section [0100] G2 middle housing section [0101] G3 wheel-side housing section [0102] K1 first clutch [0103] K2 second clutch [0104] R1 first rotor shaft [0105] R2 second rotor shaft [0106] S1 first engagement device [0107] S2 second engagement device [0108] S3 third engagement device