US6041877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drive unit for hybrid vehicle
Assignee: Subaru Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-27
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2016-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine 1; a transmission 3 connected to the internal combustion engine 1 via a clutch 2; a primary differential gear 11 for distributing a driving force transmitted from the transmission 3, to primary driving wheels 17 and 18; a transfer 20 connected to the primary differential gear for taking out a part of the driving force transmitted from the transmission 3 to the primary differential gear 11; a pair of propeller shafts 26 and 27 formed by dividing two parts in axial directions for transmitting part of the driving force from the transfer to a secondary differential gear 33; an electric motor 31 provided between these propeller shafts 26 and 27; and a pair of clutches 29 and 30, each connecting the electric motor 31 to one of the pair of propeller shafts 26 and 27. Therefore, the drive unit can be used for 2WD or 4WD hybrid vehicles without changing the main components.
Inventors
- 👤 Takemasa Yamada
- 👤 Fujio Matsui
- 👤 Shihomi Hiroishi
- 👤 Kenzo Komatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/22; B60K6/40; B60K23/00; B60K23/08; B60K6/42; B60K6/48; B60K6/50; B60K6/52; B60K6/54; B60K6/543; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/10; B60L50/16; B60L50/40; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/66; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/02; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/08; B60W10/10; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/344; B60K17/346; B60K17/356; B60L2260/00; B60L2260/20; B60L2260/28; B60L2270/00; B60L2270/40; F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/02; F16H3/08; F16H3/12; F16H2003/123; F16H61/00; F16H61/04; F16H61/0403; F16H2061/0422; F16H3/126; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y10; Y10S; Y10S903/00; Y10S903/902; Y10S903/903; Y10S903/904; Y10S903/906; Y10S903/907; Y10S903/909; Y10S903/912; Y10S903/914; Y10S903/915; Y10S903/916; Y10S903/917; Y10S903/918; Y10S903/945; Y10S903/946; Y10S903/951
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a driving force transmitting system that modifies a conventional four-wheel drive vehicle to a two-wheel drive hybrid vehicle, wherein the conventional four-wheel drive vehicle includes (a) an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force, (b) a transmission connected to the engine via a clutch, (c) a first differential mechanically connected to the transmission and provided to absorb a speed difference between a first pair of left and right wheels, and (d) a transfer unit mounting portion provided outside the transmission, wherein the improvement comprises: an electric motor mounted on the transfer unit mounting portion in place of a transfer unit, wherein the electric motor is operatively connected, via the first differential, to drive the first pair of left and right wheels, and wherein the hybrid vehicle operates in a two-wheel drive operating mode, wherein the first pair of left and right wheels are driven by the internal combustion engine, the electric motor, or both.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a driving force transmitting system that modifies a conventional four-wheel drive vehicle to a two-wheel drive hybrid vehicle, wherein the conventional four-wheel drive vehicle includes (a) an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force, (b) a transmission connected to the engine via a clutch, (c) a first differential mechanically connected to the transmission and provided to absorb a speed difference between a first pair of left and right wheels, and (d) a transfer unit mounting portion provided outside the transmission, wherein the improvement comprises: an electric motor mounted on the transfer unit mounting portion in place of a transfer unit, wherein the electric motor is operatively connected, via the first differential, to drive the first pair of left and right wheels, and wherein the hybrid vehicle operates in a two-wheel drive operating mode, wherein the first pair of left and right wheels are driven by the internal combustion engine, the electric motor, or both.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor includes a reduction gear for reducing the motor speed, an output shaft operatively engaged with the first differential, and a motor clutch for engaging the reduction gear with the output shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 1, wherein the clutch that connects the internal combustion engine with the transmission is an electromagnetic clutch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 1, further including a capacitor and a battery, located in a central portion of the hybrid vehicle and operatively connected to supply electric power to the electric motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
201 words
A driving force transmitting system for a hybrid vehicle having (a) an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force, (b) a transmission connected to the engine via a clutch, and (c) a first differential operatively connected to the transmission and provided to absorb a speed difference between a first pair of left and right wheels, the driving force transmitting system comprising: a transfer unit operatively connected to the first differential and provided with an output shaft to transmit driving force to a second pair of left and right wheels, to drive the vehicle in a four-wheel drive mode, wherein, in the four-wheel drive mode, the internal combustion engine exclusively provides driving force to drive both the first pair of left and right wheels and the second pair of left and right wheels; an electric motor located outside the transmission and directly connected to the output shaft of the transfer unit when the vehicle is operated in a two-wheel drive mode, wherein the electric motor is operatively connected to drive the first pair of right and left wheels by driving the output shaft of the transfer unit, and wherein the electric motor drives the vehicle only in the two-wheel drive mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
201 words
A driving force transmitting system for a hybrid vehicle having (a) an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force, (b) a transmission connected to the engine via a clutch, and (c) a first differential operatively connected to the transmission and provided to absorb a speed difference between a first pair of left and right wheels, the driving force transmitting system comprising: a transfer unit operatively connected to the first differential and provided with an output shaft to transmit driving force to a second pair of left and right wheels, to drive the vehicle in a four-wheel drive mode, wherein, in the four-wheel drive mode, the internal combustion engine exclusively provides driving force to drive both the first pair of left and right wheels and the second pair of left and right wheels; an electric motor located outside the transmission and directly connected to the output shaft of the transfer unit when the vehicle is operated in a two-wheel drive mode, wherein the electric motor is operatively connected to drive the first pair of right and left wheels by driving the output shaft of the transfer unit, and wherein the electric motor drives the vehicle only in the two-wheel drive mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 6, wherein the electric motor includes a reduction gear for reducing the motor speed, a motor output shaft operatively engaged with the output shaft of the transfer unit, and a motor clutch for engaging the reduction gear with the motor output shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 6, wherein the clutch that connects the internal combustion engine with the transmission is an electromagnetic clutch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 6, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 6, further including a capacitor and a battery, located in a central portion of the hybrid vehicle and operatively connected to supply electric power to the electric motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 6, wherein the transfer unit includes an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the transfer unit via a viscous coupling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 6, wherein the transfer unit includes a transfer clutch for connecting the transfer unit to the first differential.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The driving force transmitting system according to claim 12, wherein the transfer clutch is a hydraulic multiple-disc clutch.
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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) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |