Hybrid Vehicle Powertrain Accessory Drive Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles face increased load and efficiency reduction in thermal engines due to accessory-driven loads, leading to higher carbon dioxide emissions and battery discharge during electric operation, and existing hybrid propulsion systems are bulky and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A powertrain system with two electric motors and a geared motor system, where accessories like alternators and centrifugal pumps are directly connected to the electric motors via mechanical transmission devices, allowing different rotation speeds and reducing the need for additional electric motors and bulky accessory facades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If accessories are connected to the thermal engine via belt and pulley, then accessories can be driven, but load on thermal engine increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the accessory drive system into separate modules, each accessory (alternator, air conditioning compressor, centrifugal pump) being independently driven by its own electric motor rather than being mechanically coupled to the thermal engine through a single belt-driven system. This segmentation allows independent control of each accessory's power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical belt-and-pulley connection between the thermal engine and accessories with an electrical system where electric motors drive each accessory independently. This substitution eliminates the mechanical load transmission from the thermal engine to accessories, allowing the thermal engine to operate more efficiently while accessories receive power from the hybrid battery system.
2Ease of operation
If accessories are driven by thermal engine, then accessories operate, but carbon dioxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal engine's mechanical drive system with an electrical drive system using independent electric motors for each accessory. This allows accessories to operate without requiring the thermal engine to run at higher loads, thereby reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions during hybrid electric operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the accessory drive system by switching from a thermal-mechanical drive (belt and pulley connected to crankshaft) to an electrical drive system. This parameter change enables accessories to be powered during electric-only mode without increasing thermal engine operation, thus reducing emissions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hybrid propulsion system uses additional electric motor for accessories, then accessories can be driven independently, but system becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electric motors serve multiple functions: they can drive their respective accessories during normal operation, and they can also be coupled to the geared motor system to provide propulsion power when needed. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated accessory motors, reducing overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the accessory drive function with the propulsion system by allowing the same electric motors to serve both purposes. The electric motors can be selectively coupled to either drive accessories independently or connect to the geared motor system for vehicle propulsion, combining what would otherwise be separate systems into a unified architecture.
4Ease of operation
If thermal engine drives accessories during electric phase, then accessories operate, but battery discharge speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection that would require thermal engine operation with an electrical system where accessories are driven by electric motors powered directly from the hybrid battery. This substitution allows accessories to operate during electric-only phase without requiring the thermal engine to run, thereby maintaining higher battery discharge speeds and avoiding the need to recharge from the thermal engine.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a hybrid vehicle with a powertrain comprising first (2) and second (3) electric motors, a geared motor system (4) having an output shaft (5), the drive shafts (6, 7) of the first (2) and second (3) electric motors being mechanically connected to the output shaft (5) of the geared motor system (4) via two coupling devices (8, 9) respectively, the powertrain further comprising at least first (10) and second (11a) accessories driven respectively by the first (2) and second (3) electric motors, the drive shaft (6) of the first electric motor (2) being aligned with the shaft (13) of the first accessory (10), and the drive shaft (7) of the second electric motor (3) being aligned with the shaft (14a) of the second accessory (11a). In addition, an internal combustion engine drives the front wheels, and the electric motors drive the rear wheels.