US 12,145,569 B2
Drivetrain with infinitely and electrically variable transmission capabilities
Jeffrey M. David, Cedar Park, TX (US); Travis J. Miller, Austin, TX (US); and Mark A. Davis, Opelika, AL (US)
Assigned to DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC, Maumee, OH (US)
Filed by Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC, Maumee, OH (US)
Filed on May 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/664,338.
Application 17/664,338 is a division of application No. 17/315,120, filed on May 7, 2021, granted, now 11,420,613.
Prior Publication US 2022/0355783 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. F16H 3/66 (2006.01); B60K 6/365 (2007.10); B60K 6/442 (2007.10); B60W 10/06 (2006.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01); B60W 20/10 (2016.01)
CPC B60W 20/10 (2013.01) [B60K 6/365 (2013.01); B60K 6/442 (2013.01); B60W 10/06 (2013.01); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); F16H 3/663 (2013.01); B60W 2510/081 (2013.01); B60W 2510/085 (2013.01); B60W 2520/10 (2013.01); B60W 2710/0644 (2013.01); B60W 2710/0666 (2013.01); B60W 2710/081 (2013.01); B60W 2710/083 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/92 (2013.01); F16H 2200/2023 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), comprising:
a four-input planetary gear set;
a first motor coupled to a first sun gear and a second motor coupled to a second sun gear; and
an engine coupled to a carrier, wherein torque generated by each of the first motor, the second motor, and the engine is summed; and
a controller comprising a processor, a memory, and instructions stored on the memory, the controller configured to:
at a first non-zero vehicle speed, operate the drive train at a first mechanical point where the first motor is at zero speed and the second motor provides torque to a ring gear of the four-input planetary gear set;
at a second vehicle speed greater than the first vehicle speed, operate the drive train at a second mechanical point where the second motor is at zero speed and the first motor provides torque to the ring gear; and
apply a mode shift strategy during vehicle operation to minimize an electrical power ratio (EPR), wherein the EPR is a ratio of a total generator power to engine power, wherein the mode shift strategy switches directly between operating the drive train at a first power-split mode in which the first mechanical point is enabled and operating the drive train in a second power-split mode in which the second mechanical point is enabled based on the EPR.