Hybrid Drivetrains For Trailers

Abstract

A trailer includes a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to a trailer frame. A motor is operable to provide drive torque to at least one of the wheels. The energy storage device is mounted to the frame and operable to selectively provide energy to the motor. A load sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of the magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle. A controller is operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signal. The control signals control operation of the motor.

Description

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a hybrid powertrain for a trailer in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary control system associated with the powertrains of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment trailer equipped with a trailer axle drive arrangement in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic depicting the components associated with the drive motor axle of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another alternate embodiment trailer having an alternative driveline arrangement.

Claims

1. A trailer comprising: a coupler adapted to interconnect the trailer and a tow vehicle;a first motor/generator mounted on a first wheel;a second motor/generator mounted on a second wheel;a power storage device in communication with the first and second motor/generators; anda controller operable to generate control signals, the control signals being sent to the first and second motor/generators to selectively operate the motor/generators in one of a regenerative braking mode and a torque supplying mode.

2. The trailer of claim 1 further including a sensor coupled to the trailer, the sensor being operable to output a signal indicative of the lateral acceleration of the trailer to the controller.

3. The trailer of claim 1 further including a load sensor coupled to the trailer, the load sensor being operable to output a signal indicative of a magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle.

4. The trailer of claim 3 wherein the load sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of the direction of the load being transferred between the trailer and the tow vehicle.

5. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the first and second motor/generators are individually operable.

6. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the first and second motor/generators are operable in a no-load state where neither regenerative braking nor torque supply is being provided by the motor/generators.

7. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to receive signals from sensors mounted on a tow vehicle.

8. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the motor/generators are electrically operable.

9. A tow vehicle and trailer combination comprising: a trailer frame;a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the trailer frame;a motor operable to provide drive torque to one of the wheels;an energy storage device mounted to the frame and in communication with the motor;vehicle sensors operable to generate sensor signals indicative of the operating characteristics of the tow vehicle; anda controller operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signals, the control signals being delivered to the motor to control operation of the motor.

10. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 9 wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a gear reduction unit and a differential assembly, the differential assembly being operable to provide output torque to each of the wheels.

11. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 10 wherein the gear reduction unit includes a planetary gearset.

12. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 11 wherein one of the gears of the planetary gearset rotates about an axis positioned in parallel with an axis of rotation of one of the wheels.

13. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 9 wherein the motor includes an electrically operated motor having a rotor rotatable about an axis extending parallel to an axis of rotation of one of the wheels.

14. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 8 wherein the motor includes an electrically operated motor having a rotor rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to an axis of rotation to one of the wheels.

15. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 9 wherein the motor includes a motor/generator mounted on one of the wheels.

16. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 9 wherein the motor is electrically operable.

17. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 9 wherein the motor is hydraulically powered.

18. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 9 wherein the vehicle sensors include a vehicle location sensor.

19. The tow vehicle and trailer combination of claim 18 wherein the controller is operable to determine if the tow vehicle is positioned on a grade, the controller being operable to generate motor control signals based on the vehicle location and grade information.

20. A trailer comprising: a trailer frame;a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the trailer frame;a motor operable to provide drive torque to at least one of the wheels;an energy storage device mounted to the frame, the energy storage device being operable to selectively provide energy to the motor;a load sensor operable to output a signal indicative of the magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle; anda controller operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signal, the control signals controlling the operation of the motor.

21. The trailer of claim 20 wherein the motor is operable in a regenerative braking mode where rotation of the at least one wheel is resisted and energy is transferred to the energy storage device.

22. The trailer of claim 21 wherein the regenerative braking mode is entered when the load on the load sensor exceeds a predetermined value indicative of tow vehicle braking.

23. The trailer of claim 22 wherein drive torque is provided to the at least one wheel when the load on the load sensor exceeds a predetermined value indicative of tow vehicle acceleration.

24. The trailer of claim 23 wherein the motor is operable in a no-load state where neither regenerative braking nor torque supply is being provided by the motor.

25. The trailer of claim 20 wherein the motor includes a rotatable output shaft extending substantially perpendicular to a forward direction of trailer travel.

26. The trailer of claim 20 wherein the motor includes a rotatable output shaft extending substantially parallel to a forward direction of trailer travel.

27. The trailer of claim 20 wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a gear reduction unit and a differential assembly, the differential assembly operable to provide output torque to each of the wheels.

28. The trailer of claim 27 wherein the gear reduction unit includes a planetary gearset.

29. The trailer of claim 28 wherein one of the gears of the planetary gearset rotates about an axis aligned with an axis of rotation of one of the wheels.