Hybrid vehicle

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a generator connected with an output shaft extending from the internal combustion engine, an electric motor axially aligned with the output shaft, an output gear assembly connected to an output shaft driven by the rotor of the electric motor and positioned between the generator and the electric motor, a clutch adapted to connect and disconnect the generator to / from the output gear assembly, a differential gear unit, and a counter shaft oriented in parallel the output shaft driven by the rotor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to a vehicle having a hybrid power source operationally combining an internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine, diesel engine or gas-turbine engine, with an electric motor operating off current stored in a battery mounted in the vehicle and, more particularly, to an assembly including the internal combustion engine, a generator and the electric motor in a hybrid vehicle.2. Description of the Related ArtThe present invention can be applied both to a series type assembly and a parallel type assembly. Three types of hybrid arrangement are known. The first type is the series type assembly in which the hybrid vehicle moves under power of the electric motor operating on current generated by the generator driven by the internal combustion engine which is constantly running. The second type is the parallel type assembly in which both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are arranged to re...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

An object of the present invention is to arrange the generator and the electric motor in alignment and within an integrated case to reduce the required longitudinal dimension of the hybrid vehicle.

Locating the transmission unit inside of the rotor of the electric motor provides the advantages of shortening the longitudinal length and not restricting design of the electric motor since there are no limitations dictating radial or longitudinal dimensions.

Problems solved by technology

In the series type hybrid vehicle, such a disadvantage is conspicuous due to a relatively large generator, so that an arrangement aligning the internal combustion engine, generator, electric motor and transmission all together in an engine compartment at the front of the vehicle is impossible.

Even if such an arrangement could be fit into the engine compartment, somehow or other, the steering angle required for the front wheels to turn requires a large clearance circle and further requires separate cases for the internal combustion engine, generator, electric motor and transmission unit, which results in an increase in the number of parts, in weight and in the cost for manufacturing.

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