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US5577973A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Two-mode, split power, electro-mechanical transmission

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

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Filing: 1995-07-20

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Granted: 1996-11-26

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Expires: 2015-07-20

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Abstract

Abstract An improved transmission particularly adapted for use with a constant speed engine. The transmission has an input shaft to receive power from the engine. A generator is associated with the transmission, and the generator is driven by the engine. A motor is powered by the generator. The transmission also employs a compound planetary gear set having two planetary gear sub-sets. Each planetary gear sub-set has an inner gear member and an outer gear member, each of which meshingly engage a plurality of planet gear members. One gear member of each planetary gear sub-set is conjoined. A second gear member of each planetary gear sub-set is also conjoined. The input shaft is operatively connected to one of the conjoined gear members, and the motor is operatively connected to the other of the conjoined gear members. The output shaft is operatively connected to the third gear member in the first planetary gear sub-set, and the third gear member in the second planetary gear sub-set is selectively connected to ground.

Inventors

👤 Michael R. Schmidt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 08:51

CPC Classifications

B; B60; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/22; B60K6/36; B60K6/365; B60W; B60W20/00; B60W20/10; B60K17/00; B60K17/04; B60K17/12; B60K6/42; B60K6/44; B60K6/445; B60W10/00; B60W10/02; B60W10/10; B60W10/11; B60W10/115; B60K6/50; B60K6/54; B60K2006/541; B60L; B60L2240/00; B60L2240/40; B60L2240/42; B60L2240/421; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/08; B60W2510/081; F; F16; F16H; F16H37/00; F16H37/02; F16H37/06; F16H37/08; F16H37/0833; F16H37/084; F16H2037/088; F16H2037/0886; F16H2200/00; F16H2200/20; F16H2200/2002; F16H2200/2007; F16H2200/203; F16H2200/2035; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/72; F16H3/727; F16H3/728; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/64; Y10; Y10S; Y10S903/00; Y10S903/902; Y10S903/903; Y10S903/904; Y10S903/909; Y10S903/91; Y10S903/945; Y10S903/946

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16

Claim 1

Independent Claim 114 words

A transmission comprising: a compound planetary gear set having two planetary gear sub-sets; each said planetary gear sub-sets having an inner gear member and an outer gear member, each of which meshingly engage a plurality of planet gear members; an input shaft; means selectively to connect said input shaft to one gear member of each said planetary gear sub-set; a motor; means selectively to connect said motor to a second gear member of each said planetary gear sub-set; an output shaft; said output shaft being connected to the third gear member of said first planetary gear sub-set; and, means selectively to connect the third gear member of said second planetary gear sub-set to ground.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 114 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said outer gear members of said first and second planetary gear sub-sets are conjoined; and, said input shaft is selectively connected to said conjoined outer gear members.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means to conjoin said inner gear members of said first and second planetary gear sub-sets; and, said motor connected to said conjoined inner gear members.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 3, further comprising: a carrier rotatably supporting said planet gear members of said first planetary gear sub-set; said output shaft being secured to said carrier.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising: a sleeve shaft connecting said motor to said conjoined inner gear members; said output shaft extending substantially concentrically through said sleeve shaft.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: second carrier rotatably supporting said planet gear members of aid second planetary gear sub-set; torque transfer device selectively connecting said second carrier to round.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said motor circumscribes said output shaft.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said output shaft is aligned with said input shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 160 words

An improved transmission particularly adapted for use with a constant speed engine, said transmission comprising: an input shaft to receive power from the engine; an output shaft; a generator; said generator being driven by the engine; a motor powered by said generator; a compound planetary gear set having two planetary gear sub-sets; each said planetary gear sub-sets having an inner gear member and an outer gear member, each of which meshingly engage a plurality of planet gear members; one gear member of each said planetary gear sub-set being conjoined; a second gear member of each said planetary gear sub-sets also being conjoined; said input shaft being operatively connected to one of said conjoined gear members; said motor being conjoined to the other of said conjoined gear members; said output shaft being operatively connected to the third gear member in said first planetary gear sub-set; and, the third gear member in said second planetary gear sub-set being selectively connected to ground.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 160 words

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said outer gear members of said first and second planetary gear sub-sets are conjoined; and, said inner gear members of said first and second planetary gear sub-sets are also conjoined.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising: torque transfer means selectively to connect said input shaft to said conjoined outer gear members.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said motor is connected to said conjoined inner gear members.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 61 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: a first carrier rotatably supporting said planet gear members of said first planetary gear sub-set; a second carrier rotatably supporting said planet gear members of said second planetary gear sub-set; said output shaft being secured to said first carrier; and, torque transfer means selectively to connect said second carrier to ground.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

A transmission, as set forth in claim 13, further comprising: a sleeve shaft connecting said motor to said conjoined inner gear members; said output shaft extending substantially concentrically through said sleeve shaft.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1786158A Cited

GB624179A Cited

US4233858A Cited

US4423794A Cited

SU1411170A1 Cited

US5195600A Cited

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-11-26	2000-05-27	2000-11-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-11-26	2004-05-27	2004-11-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-11-26	2008-05-27	2008-11-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

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