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US5915489A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hybrid vehicle

Assignee: Equos Research Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-04-23
•
Granted: 1999-06-29
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Expires: 2016-04-23
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Abstract

Abstract A hybrid vehicle capable of ensuring rotation of an engine output shaft at any time, regardless of whether an engine is in a driving condition or a non-driving condition. The engine 11 capable of switching between the driving condition and the non-driving condition, a generator 16, and counter-shaft 31 are mutually connected through a planetary gear unit 13, in which rotation of the generator 16 is controlled when a vehicle control device 41 selects the non-driving condition, thereby the engine output shaft 12 in the non-driving condition is rotated at any time, with the result that the driving of auxiliary machinery, which obtains rotation from the engine output shaft 12, is ensured.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kozo Yamaguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 06:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W20/00; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/22; B60K6/36; B60K6/365; B60K6/42; B60K6/44; B60K6/445; B60K6/448; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/08; B60W10/24; B60W10/26; B60W10/30; B60L; B60L2240/00; B60L2240/40; B60L2240/42; B60L2240/421; B60L2240/423; B60L2240/44; B60L2240/441; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; B60W2520/00; B60W2520/10; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/12; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/06; B60W2710/0644; B60W2710/08; B60W2710/081; B60W2710/083; 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; Y10S903/947

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; a generator/motor for outputting rotational speed or torque; a driving motor; a power unit output shaft connected to said internal-combustion engine and said motor; a differential gear unit including at least three gear elements which are a first gear element connected to said generator, a second gear element connected to said power unit output shaft, and a third gear element connected to said internal-combustion engine; selection means for selecting a driving condition or a non-driving condition for said internal combustion engine; and generator control means for controlling the rotational speed or torque of said generator/motor, said generator control means controlling the rotational speed or torque of said generator/motor in order to cause the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to maintain a specified value when said selection mean selects the non-driving condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; a generator/motor for outputting rotational speed or torque; a driving motor; a power unit output shaft connected to said internal-combustion engine and said motor; a differential gear unit including at least three gear elements which are a first gear element connected to said generator, a second gear element connected to said power unit output shaft, and a third gear element connected to said internal-combustion engine; selection means for selecting a driving condition or a non-driving condition for said internal combustion engine; and generator control means for controlling the rotational speed or torque of said generator/motor, said generator control means controlling the rotational speed or torque of said generator/motor in order to cause the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to maintain a specified value when said selection mean selects the non-driving condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said generator control means controls the rotational speed of the engine output shaft based on speed of the vehicle and a permissible rotational speed of said generator/motor when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising auxiliary machinery driven by receiving rotation from the engine output shaft, the engine speed required for driving said auxiliary machinery being the specified value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said generator control means controls the rotational speed of said generator/motor in response to driving load of said auxiliary machinery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary machinery is an oil pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said generator control means causes the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to increase in response to increase in vehicle speed when the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said generator control means causes said generator/motor to drive as a motor when vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said selection means selects the non-driving condition when vehicle braking is detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 114 words
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; a driving motor; a power unit output shaft connected to said motor; a generator/motor, for outputting a rotational speed, having a stator connected to the engine output shaft and a rotor connected to said power unit output shaft; selection means for selecting a driving condition or a non-driving condition for said internal combustion engine; and generator control means for controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor, said generator control means controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor in order to cause the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to maintain a specified value when said selection means selects the non-driving condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 114 words
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; a driving motor; a power unit output shaft connected to said motor; a generator/motor, for outputting a rotational speed, having a stator connected to the engine output shaft and a rotor connected to said power unit output shaft; selection means for selecting a driving condition or a non-driving condition for said internal combustion engine; and generator control means for controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor, said generator control means controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor in order to cause the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to maintain a specified value when said selection means selects the non-driving condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 33 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising auxiliary machinery driven by receiving rotation from the engine output shaft, the engine speed required for driving said auxiliary machinery being the specified value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said generator control means controls the rotational speed of said generator/motor in response to a driving load of said auxiliary machinery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said auxiliary machinery is an oil pump.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said generator control means causes the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to increase in response to increase in vehicle speed when the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said generator control means causes said generator/motor to drive as a motor when vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said selection means selects the non-driving condition when vehicle braking is detected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 47 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 wherein said generator control means controls the rotational speed of the engine output shaft based on the speed of the vehicle and a permissible rotational speed of said generator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 129 words
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; a generator/motor for outputting rotational speed and connected to said internal-combustion engine; a driving motor; a power unit output shaft connected to said internal-combustion engine and said motor; a differential gear unit including at least three gear elements which are a first gear element connected to said generator/motor, a second gear element connected to said power unit output shaft, and a third gear element connected to said internal-combustion engine; and generator control means for controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor, said generator control means controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor in order to cause the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to maintain a specified value when said driving motor solely drives the vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 129 words
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine driving an engine output shaft; a generator/motor for outputting rotational speed and connected to said internal-combustion engine; a driving motor; a power unit output shaft connected to said internal-combustion engine and said motor; a differential gear unit including at least three gear elements which are a first gear element connected to said generator/motor, a second gear element connected to said power unit output shaft, and a third gear element connected to said internal-combustion engine; and generator control means for controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor, said generator control means controlling the rotational speed of said generator/motor in order to cause the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to maintain a specified value when said driving motor solely drives the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 33 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17, further comprising auxiliary machinery driven by receiving rotation from the engine output shaft, the engine speed required for driving said auxiliary machinery being the specified value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 29 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said generator control means controls the rotational speed of said generator/motor in response to a driving load of said auxiliary machinery.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 15 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said auxiliary machinery is an oil pump.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 40 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said generator control means causes the rotational speed of the engine output shaft to increase in response to increase in vehicle speed when the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 29 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said generator control means causes said generator/motor to drive as a motor when vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 46 words
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said generator control means controls the rotational speed of the engine output shaft based on speed of the vehicle and a permissible rotational speed of said generator/motor when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3192421A Cited
US3488533A Cited
US3623568A Cited
US3566717A Cited
US4024926A Cited
US4335429A Cited
US5635805A Cited
US5713425A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-06-28 2002-12-28 2003-06-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-06-28 2006-12-28 2007-06-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-06-28 2010-12-28 2011-06-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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