Independent axle motors for a road coupled hybrid vehicle

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle having first, second, third and fourth drivable wheels includes an internal combustion engine selectively drivingly coupled to the first and second wheels. A first electric motor is selectively drivingly coupled to the third vehicle wheel. A second electric motor is selectively drivingly coupled to the fourth vehicle wheel.

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 plan view of a vehicle equipped with a first embodiment hybrid drive system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle equipped with an alternate embodiment hybrid drive system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle equipped with an alternate embodiment hybrid drive system;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle equipped with an alternate embodiment hybrid drive system; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle equipped with an alternate embodiment hybrid drive system.

Claims

1. A drive train arrangement for a motor vehicle having first, second, third, and fourth wheels, the drive train arrangement comprising: an internal combustion engine adapted to provide drive torque to the first and second vehicle wheels;a first electric motor adapted to provide drive torque to the third vehicle wheel; anda second electric motor adapted to provide drive torque to the fourth vehicle wheel.

2. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second electric motors are not operable to provide drive torque to the first and second vehicle wheels.

3. The drive train arrangement of claim 2 wherein the internal combustion engine is not operable to provide drive torque to the third and fourth vehicle wheels.

4. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the internal combustion engine is adapted to provide drive torque to the front wheels of the vehicle.

5. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second electric motors include output shafts rotating about axes extending perpendicular to a forward direction of vehicle travel.

6. The drive train arrangement of claim 5 wherein the output shaft of the first electric motor extends substantially parallel to and longitudinally offset from a driveshaft drivingly interconnecting the first electric motor and the third vehicle wheel.

7. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second electric motors are selectively operable as generators to provide a charging current to a battery.

8. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second electric motors are directly mounted to a frame of the vehicle, each of the third and fourth vehicle wheels being supported from the frame by a spring.

9. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 further including a first gear reduction unit drivingly interconnecting an output shaft of the first electric motor with the third vehicle wheel and a separate and spaced apart second gear reduction unit drivingly interconnecting an output shaft of the second electric motor with the fourth vehicle wheel.

10. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second vehicle wheels are steerable front wheels.

11. The drive train arrangement of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth vehicle wheels are steerable front wheels.

12. The drive train arrangement of claim 11 wherein the internal combustion engine is longitudinally oriented and transversely positioned between the first and second electric motors.

13. The drive train arrangement of claim 12 wherein a driveshaft longitudinally extends to drivingly interconnect the internal combustion engine and a rear axle assembly providing drive torque to both of the first and second vehicle wheels.

14. The drive train arrangement of claim 11 wherein the internal combustion engine is transversely oriented.

15. The drive train arrangement of claim 14 wherein the internal combustion engine is positioned rearward of the first, second, third and fourth vehicle wheels.

16. A hybrid vehicle comprising: first, second, third and fourth drivable wheels;an internal combustion engine selectively drivingly coupled to the first and second vehicle wheels;a first electric motor selectively drivingly coupled to the third vehicle wheel;a second electric motor selectively drivingly coupled to the fourth vehicle wheel; andan electric device operable to rotate a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine during a starting mode, the electric device also being operable to output a charging current to a battery during a recharging mode.

17. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16 wherein the internal combustion engine is located rearward of rear driving axles coupled for rotation with the first and second vehicle wheels and wherein the third and fourth vehicle wheels are located at a front of the vehicle.

18. The hybrid vehicle of claim 17 wherein the first and second electric motors include output shafts rotating about axes extending perpendicular to a forward direction of vehicle travel.

19. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16 wherein the output shaft of the first electric motor extends substantially parallel to and offset from a driveshaft drivingly interconnecting the first electric motor and the third vehicle wheel.

20. The hybrid vehicle of claim 19 further including a power transmission mechanism drivingly interconnecting the output shaft of the first electric motor and the driveshaft.

21. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16 wherein the internal combustion engine is longitudinally oriented and transversely positioned between the first and second electric motors.

22. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16 wherein the first and second electric motors are selectively operable as generators to provide a charging current to the battery.

23. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16 wherein the first and second electric motors are not operable to provide drive torque to the first and second vehicle wheels.