Hybrid vehicle

Abstract

To provide a hybrid vehicle capable of achieving weight reduction by not mounting a starter motor.SOLUTION: A hybrid vehicle 100 includes a transaxle 15 including a motor generator 19 and a transmission mechanism 20, and a propeller shaft 16 formed of a carbon fiber composite material and transmitting rotation output from an engine 14 to the transaxle 15. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the engine 14 is disposed in front of the driver seat 12 and the front passenger seat, and the transaxle 15 is disposed behind the driver seat 12 and the front passenger seat. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the propeller shaft 16 passes between the driver's seat 12 and the front passenger seat and connects the engine 14 and the transaxle 15. A hybrid vehicle 100 rotates a propeller shaft 16 by a motor generator 19 to crank an engine 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to hybrid vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hybrid vehicle. This hybrid vehicle transmits driving force from an engine disposed at the front of the vehicle to rear wheels via a propeller shaft. The hybrid vehicle is equipped with an electric motor disposed coaxially with the propeller shaft. The hybrid vehicle can also drive the wheels using the driving force of the electric motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-99838 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a hybrid vehicle, if a starter motor is installed for cranking, the vehicle weight increases. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A hybrid vehicle that solves the above problems has a motor generator that assists the rotation output by an engine. The hybrid vehicle includes a transaxle that includes the motor generator and a transmission mechanism. The hybrid vehicle also includes a propeller shaft that is made of carbon fiber composite material and transmits the rotation output by the engine to the transaxle. In the hybrid vehicle, the engine is located in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat. In the hybrid vehicle, the transaxle is located behind the driver's seat and passenger seat. In the hybrid vehicle, the propeller shaft passes between the driver's seat and passenger seat, connecting the engine and the transaxle. In the hybrid vehicle, the motor generator rotates the propeller shaft to crank the engine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The hybrid vehicle described above can achieve a lighter weight by not having a starter motor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a propeller shaft and its peripheral devices when the hybrid vehicle according to the embodiment is viewed from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the propeller shaft and its peripheral devices when the hybrid vehicle according to the embodiment is viewed from the side. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a transaxle provided in the hybrid vehicle of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of a hybrid vehicle will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, directions are indicated by arrows. In FIGS. 1 to 3, Fr indicates the forward direction of hybrid vehicle 100. In FIGS. 1 to 3, Rr indicates the rearward direction of hybrid vehicle 100. In FIGS. 1 and 3, Rh indicates the right side when viewed from a passenger facing forward of hybrid vehicle 100. In FIGS. 1 and 3, Lh indicates the left side when viewed from a passenger facing forward of hybrid vehicle 100.

[0009] <Arrangement of the engine 14, transaxle 15, and propeller shaft 16> Fig. 1 shows the arrangement of the propeller shaft 16 and its peripheral devices when the hybrid vehicle 100 is viewed from above. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the propeller shaft 16 and its peripheral devices when the hybrid vehicle 100 is viewed from the direction Lh in Fig. 1.

[0010] The hybrid vehicle 100 includes an engine 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the engine 14 is disposed in front of the driver's seat 12 and the passenger's seat 13. The hybrid vehicle 100 includes a transaxle 15. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the transaxle 15 is disposed behind the driver's seat 12 and the passenger's seat 13.

[0011] The hybrid vehicle 100 includes a propeller shaft 16. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the propeller shaft 16 passes between the driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 13, connecting the engine 14 and the transaxle 15. The propeller shaft 16 transmits the rotation output by the engine 14 to the transaxle 15. The propeller shaft 16 is made of a carbon fiber composite material.

[0012] Hybrid vehicle 100 includes torque tube 17. Torque tube 17 is a housing that surrounds propeller shaft 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, torque tube 17 is connected to engine 14 and transaxle 15. Like propeller shaft 16, torque tube 17 is made of a carbon fiber composite material.

[0013] 1 and 2, in hybrid vehicle 100, center tunnel 27 is installed between driver's seat 12 and passenger seat 13. In hybrid vehicle 100, torque tube 17 is disposed in center tunnel 27.

[0014] In Fig. 1, the dashed dotted lines shown on the front wheels 10 indicate the rotation axes of the left and right front wheels 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the engine 14 is disposed rearward of the rotation axes of the front wheels 10. Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the engine 14 is connected to a propeller shaft 16 at its rear surface in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0015] <Transaxle 15 configuration> Fig. 3 shows the state of transaxle 15 when hybrid vehicle 100 is viewed from above. As shown in Fig. 3, transaxle 15 includes motor generator 19 and a transmission mechanism 20. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, in transaxle 15, motor generator 19 is disposed further forward of transmission mechanism 20 in the vehicle.

[0016] In the motor generator 19 shown in Fig. 3, the portion indicated by the dotted line indicates the internal structure of the motor generator 19. As shown in Fig. 3, the motor generator 19 includes a drive shaft 28. As shown in Fig. 3, the drive shaft 28 is connected to the propeller shaft 16 at one end and to the transmission mechanism 20 at the other end.

[0017] A drive shaft 28 of the motor generator 19 rotates as the propeller shaft 16 is rotated by the engine 14. The drive shaft 28 then transmits the rotation of the propeller shaft 16 to the transmission mechanism 20. In this manner, the propeller shaft 16, the motor generator 19, and the transmission mechanism 20 are connected in this order in the transaxle 15. In other words, the transaxle 15 is configured so that the rotation transmitted from the propeller shaft 16 is transmitted to the motor generator 19 and the transmission mechanism 20 in this order.

[0018] The transmission mechanism 20 changes the speed of the rotation of the engine 14 transmitted through the propeller shaft 16 and the drive shaft 28. For example, the transmission mechanism 20 is provided with a plurality of planetary gear mechanisms that constitute a plurality of gear stages with different gear ratios. The transmission mechanism 20 changes the speed of the rotation from the propeller shaft 16 and outputs it. In this case, the transmission mechanism 20 can change the gear ratio by switching between gear stages.

[0019] The manner in which the transmission mechanism 20 changes the speed of the rotation from the propeller shaft 16 is not limited to the above manner. For example, the transmission mechanism 20 may include two conical pulleys and a belt connected to both pulleys. In this case, the transmission mechanism 20 changes the speed of the rotation from the propeller shaft 16 based on the difference in circumferential length of the two pulleys to which the belt is connected. In this case, the transmission mechanism 20 can change the gear ratio by changing the winding radius of the belt around each pulley.

[0020] 3, the speed change mechanism 20 is connected to a transmission mechanism 21. The transmission mechanism 21 transmits the rotation transmitted from the speed change mechanism 20 to a differential gear 22. The transmission mechanism 21 transmits rotation from the speed change mechanism 20 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. For example, the transmission mechanism 21 has multiple gears arranged along the dotted arrow so that rotation is transmitted in the direction of the dotted arrow in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism 21 has a shaft or multiple gears arranged along the solid arrow so that rotation transmitted in the direction of the dotted arrow is transmitted in the direction of the solid arrow in Fig. 3.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the differential gear 22 is connected to the drive shaft 18. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, the drive shaft 18 is connected to the left and right rear wheels 11. The differential gear 22 transmits the rotation transmitted from the transmission mechanism 21 to the left and right rear wheels 11 via the drive shaft 18. At this time, the differential gear 22 distributes the rotation transmitted to the left and right rear wheels 11 in accordance with the movement of the hybrid vehicle 100.

[0022] In this way, the rotation output by the engine 14 is transmitted to the rear wheels 11 via the propeller shaft 16 , the motor generator 19 , the speed change mechanism 20 , the transmission mechanism 21 , the differential gear 22 , and the drive shaft 18 .

[0023] 3, motor generator 19 includes, in addition to drive shaft 28, rotor 24 equipped with a magnet, and stator 23 disposed so as to surround rotor 24. Rotor 24 is connected to drive shaft 28.

[0024] The motor generator 19 assists the rotation output by the engine 14. The motor generator 19 supplies electricity to the stator 23, causing the rotor 24 to rotate around the drive shaft 28. As the rotor 24 rotates around the drive shaft 28, the rotation transmitted from the engine 14 to the transmission mechanism 20 via the propeller shaft 16 is amplified.

[0025] The motor generator 19 can also generate electricity using the rotation output by the engine 14. In the motor generator 19, as the propeller shaft 16 rotates due to the engine 14, the rotor 24 connected to the drive shaft 28 rotates, thereby generating electricity.

[0026] The motor generator 19 can also crank the engine 14. The propeller shaft 16 is connected to the crankshaft of the engine 14. When the motor generator 19 rotates the rotor 24, causing the propeller shaft 16 to rotate, the crankshaft of the engine 14, which is connected to the propeller shaft 16, also rotates. In this way, the hybrid vehicle 100 rotates the propeller shaft 16 using the motor generator 19 to crank the engine 14.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the transaxle 15 includes a first clutch 25 and a second clutch . 3, first clutch 25 is disposed at the connection point between propeller shaft 16 and transaxle 15. More specifically, first clutch 25 is disposed at the connection point between propeller shaft 16 and motor generator 19. First clutch 25 connects and disconnects propeller shaft 16 and transaxle 15.

[0028] When the rotor 24 rotates while the first clutch 25 is released and the propeller shaft 16 is disconnected from the transaxle 15, the rear wheels 11 can be driven by the driving force of the motor generator 19 without relying on the driving force of the engine 14.

[0029] 3, the second clutch 26 is disposed at a connection point between the motor generator 19 and the transmission mechanism 20. The second clutch 26 connects and disconnects the motor generator 19 and the transmission mechanism 20.

[0030] In the hybrid vehicle 100, the second clutch 26 is released, and the motor generator 19 performs cranking while the motor generator 19 is disconnected from the transmission mechanism 20.

[0031] <Operation of this embodiment> In the hybrid vehicle 100 described above, the engine 14 is cranked by the motor generator 19 rather than a starter motor. In order for the engine 14 to start stably, it is desirable for the cranking speed to be relatively fast. When the propeller shaft 16 is rotated by the motor generator 19 to crank the engine 14 at the front of the vehicle, if the weight of the propeller shaft 16 is large, the cranking speed becomes slow. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the propeller shaft 16 is formed from a lightweight carbon fiber composite material. As a result, the hybrid vehicle 100 described above is configured to be able to crank the engine 14 without being equipped with a starter motor.

[0032] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) Hybrid vehicle 100 can be made lighter by not having a starter motor.

[0033] (2) Hybrid vehicle 100 includes torque tube 17, which is a housing that surrounds propeller shaft 16 and is connected to engine 14 and transaxle 15. In hybrid vehicle 100, torque tube 17 is disposed in center tunnel 27 between driver's seat 12 and passenger seat 13.

[0034] In hybrid vehicle 100, propeller shaft 16 is housed in torque tube 17. By providing torque tube 17, hybrid vehicle 100 integrates engine 14 and transaxle 15, which receive a reaction force due to the rotation of the output shaft while driving, thereby increasing the rigidity of the powertrain.

[0035] Furthermore, in hybrid vehicle 100, torque tube 17 is disposed in center tunnel 27 between driver's seat 12 and passenger seat 13. This allows hybrid vehicle 100 to have torque tube 17 and propeller shaft 16 disposed at a lower vehicle height than when torque tube 17 is disposed under the floor.

[0036] In this way, hybrid vehicle 100 can increase the rigidity of the powertrain while maintaining a low vehicle height proportion. (3) In the hybrid vehicle 100, the torque tube 17 is made of a carbon fiber composite material.

[0037] In the hybrid vehicle 100, the torque tube 17 is formed from a lightweight carbon fiber composite material, similar to the propeller shaft 16. This allows the hybrid vehicle 100 to be made even lighter.

[0038] (4) In the hybrid vehicle 100, the transaxle 15 includes a clutch that connects and disconnects the motor generator 19 and the transmission mechanism 20. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the transaxle 15 is configured so that the rotation transmitted from the propeller shaft 16 is transmitted to the motor generator 19 and then to the transmission mechanism 20. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the clutch is released and the motor generator 19 performs cranking with the connection between the motor generator 19 and the transmission mechanism 20 disconnected.

[0039] The motor generator 19 is connected to the propeller shaft 16 and the transmission mechanism 20. If the transmission mechanism 20 is connected to the motor generator 19 when cranking, the motor generator 19 needs to rotate the transmission mechanism 20 in addition to rotating the propeller shaft 16. A second clutch 26, which is a clutch provided in the hybrid vehicle 100, disconnects the motor generator 19 from the transmission mechanism 20 when the motor generator 19 performs cranking. This allows the hybrid vehicle 100 to reduce the force required for the motor generator 19 to perform cranking.

[0040] (5) In the hybrid vehicle 100, the engine 14 is disposed rearward of the rotation axis of the front wheels 10, and is connected to the propeller shaft 16 at its rear surface in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0041] In the hybrid vehicle 100, the engine 14 is disposed at a position closer to the transaxle 15 than the rotary shaft of the front wheels 10. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the engine 14 is connected to the propeller shaft 16 at the rear surface, which is the surface closest to the transaxle 15. In this way, the hybrid vehicle 100 realizes a layout that allows a shorter propeller shaft 16 to be disposed. As a result, the hybrid vehicle 100 can further reduce the weight of the propeller shaft 16.

[0042] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 1, the hybrid vehicle 100 has the driver's seat 12 located on the Lh side of Fig. 1 and the passenger seat 13 located on the Rh side of Fig. 1. The positions of the driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 13 may be reversed.

[0044] In the hybrid vehicle 100 described above, the rotation output by the engine 14 is transmitted in the following order: propeller shaft 16, motor generator 19, speed change mechanism 20, transmission mechanism 21, differential gear 22, drive shaft 18, and rear wheels 11. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the manner in which the rotation output by the engine 14 is transmitted to the rear wheels 11 is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0045] For example, if the drive shaft 18 is disposed behind the transmission mechanism 20, the hybrid vehicle 100 may not include the transmission mechanism 21. Also, for example, the transaxle 15 may be configured so that the rotation transmitted from the propeller shaft 16 is transmitted to the transmission mechanism 20 and then to the motor generator 19.

[0046] The hybrid vehicle 100 described above includes a torque tube 17. The hybrid vehicle 100 does not necessarily have to include a torque tube 17. Furthermore, in the above-described hybrid vehicle 100, the torque tube 17 is disposed in the center tunnel 27 between the driver's seat 12 and the passenger's seat 13. The location of the torque tube 17 in the hybrid vehicle 100 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the hybrid vehicle 100 may not include the center tunnel 27, and the torque tube 17 may be disposed in an exposed state without being housed in the center tunnel 27.

[0047] In the hybrid vehicle 100 described above, the torque tube 17 is made of a carbon fiber composite material. The torque tube 17 does not have to be made of a carbon fiber composite material.

[0048] The hybrid vehicle 100 described above includes the first clutch 25 and the second clutch 26. The hybrid vehicle 100 does not necessarily have to include either or both of the first clutch 25 and the second clutch 26.

[0049] In the hybrid vehicle 100 described above, the motor generator 19 performs cranking with the second clutch 26 disengaged and the motor generator 19 disconnected from the transmission mechanism 20. On the other hand, in the hybrid vehicle 100, the motor generator 19 may perform cranking with the second clutch 26 not disengaged.

[0050] In the hybrid vehicle 100 described above, the engine 14 is disposed rearward of the rotation axis of the front wheels 10. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the position at which the engine 14 is disposed is not limited to that described in the above embodiment. For example, in the hybrid vehicle 100, the engine 14 may be disposed forward of the rotation axis of the front wheels 10.

[0051] In the hybrid vehicle 100 described above, the engine 14 is connected to the propeller shaft 16 at its rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In the hybrid vehicle 100, the manner in which the engine 14 is connected to the propeller shaft 16 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the hybrid vehicle 100, the engine 14 may be connected to the propeller shaft 16 at its front in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Also, in the hybrid vehicle 100, for example, the engine 14 may be connected to the propeller shaft 16 at its side on the Lh side or the Rh side in FIG. 1 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10...front wheel, 11...rear wheel, 12...driver's seat, 13...passenger seat, 14...engine, 15...transaxle, 16...propeller shaft, 17...torque tube, 18...drive shaft, 19...motor generator, 20...transmission mechanism, 21...transmission mechanism, 22...differential gear, 23...stator, 24...rotor, 25...first clutch, 26...second clutch, 27...center tunnel, 28...drive shaft, 100...hybrid vehicle

Claims

1. It is a hybrid vehicle in which the rotational output of the engine is assisted by a motor generator. a transaxle including the motor generator and a transmission mechanism; a propeller shaft formed of a carbon fiber composite material and transmitting the rotation output by the engine to the transaxle, The engine is disposed in front of the driver's seat and the passenger seat, the transaxle is disposed behind the driver's seat and the passenger seat, the propeller shaft passes between the driver's seat and the passenger seat and connects the engine and the transaxle, The motor generator rotates the propeller shaft to crank the engine. Hybrid vehicle.

2. a housing surrounding the propeller shaft, the housing including a torque tube connected to the engine and the transaxle; The torque tube is disposed in the center tunnel between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 .

3. The torque tube is formed from the carbon fiber composite material. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 .

4. the transaxle includes a clutch that connects and disconnects the motor generator and the transmission mechanism, and is configured so that the rotation transmitted from the propeller shaft is transmitted to the motor generator and then to the transmission mechanism, The clutch is released, and the motor generator performs the cranking in a state where the motor generator is disconnected from the transmission mechanism. The hybrid vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The engine is disposed rearward of the rotation axis of the front wheels, and is connected to the propeller shaft at its rear surface in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The hybrid vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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