Hybrid automotive powertrain system and method of operating same

Abstract

A hybrid powertrain system for a vehicle includes an electric machine, a gear set mechanically connected with the electric machine, and a clutch mechanically coupled with at least one of a primary and secondary driveline assembly. The electric machine is configured to selectively provide motive power to at least one of the primary and secondary driveline assemblies. The gear set is configured to permit differential rotation between the primary and secondary driveline assemblies. The clutch is configured to selectively transfer torque between the primary and secondary driveline assemblies.

1 . A hybrid powertrain system for a vehicle comprising:
 a clutch mechanically coupled with at least one of a primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly and configured to selectively transfer torque therebetween;   an electric machine configured to selectively provide motive power to at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly; and   a gear set mechanically connected with the electric machine and configured to permit differential rotation between the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electric machine is further configured to selectively convert motive power received from at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly to electrical power. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electric machine is further configured to selectively free spin. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gear set includes a first element mechanically connected with the electric machine. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the gear set further includes a second element mechanically connected with one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the gear set comprises an epicyclic gear set and wherein the epicyclic gear set further includes a third element mechanically connected with the other of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the clutch is further configured to vary the torque transfer between the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle further includes an energy storage unit and wherein the electric machine is further configured to provide electrical power to the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle further includes an energy storage unit and wherein the electric machine is further configured to receive electrical power from the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         10 . An automotive hybrid powertrain system for a vehicle including a primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly, the system comprising:
 a power transfer box including an electric machine, a gear set mechanically connected with the electric machine, and a clutch mechanically coupled with at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly, the power transfer box being configured to selectively   (i) provide motive power to at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly by converting electrical power to motive power,   (ii) convert motive power received from at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly to electrical power,   (iii) transfer torque between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly via the clutch,   (iv) transfer torque between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly via the gear set, and   (v) transfer torque between the electric machine and at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly via the gear set.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the power transfer box is further configured to permit differential rotation between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the gear set includes a first element mechanically connected with the electric machine. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the gear set includes a second element mechanically connected with one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the gear set comprises an epicyclic gear set and wherein the epicyclic gear set includes a third element mechanically connected with the other of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the vehicle further includes an energy storage unit and wherein the electric machine is further configured to provide electrical power to the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the vehicle further includes an energy storage unit and wherein the electric machine is further configured to receive electrical power from the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a power transfer box of an automotive hybrid powertrain, the method comprising:
 providing motive power to at least one of a primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly by converting electrical power to motive power;   transferring torque between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly via a clutch; and   transferring torque between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly via a gear set.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising converting motive power received from at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly to electrical power. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising transferring torque between an electric machine and at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly via the gear set. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising permitting differential rotation between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing electrical power to an energy storage unit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising receiving electrical power from an energy storage unit. 
     
     
         23 . An automotive hybrid powertrain system comprising:
 an electric machine configured to selectively provide motive power to at least one of a primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly by converting electrical power to motive power;   an epicyclic gear set including a sun gear mechanically connected with the electric machine, at least one planet gear mechanically coupled with one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly and a non-rotating ring gear; and   a clutch mechanically coupled with at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly and configured to selectively transfer torque between the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the electric machine is further configured to selectively convert motive power received from at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly to electrical power. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the electric machine is further configured to selectively free spin. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the clutch is further configured to vary the torque transfer between the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the electric machine is further configured to provide electrical power to an energy storage unit. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the electric machine is further configured to receive electrical power from an energy storage unit. 
     
     
         29 . A hybrid powertrain system for a vehicle including a primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly, the system comprising:
 a power transfer box including an electric machine, a clutch mechanically coupled with at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly, and a gear set including a first element mechanically connected with the electric machine and a second element mechanically coupled with one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly, the power transfer box being configured to selectively   (i) provide motive power to at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly by converting electrical power to motive power via the electric machine, and   (ii) transfer torque between the secondary driveline assembly and primary driveline assembly via the clutch.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the power transfer box is further configured to selectively transfer torque between the electric machine and at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the power transfer box is further configured to convert motive power received from at least one of the primary driveline assembly and secondary driveline assembly to electrical power via the electric machine. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the gear set comprises an epicyclic gear set and wherein the epicyclic gear set includes a non-rotating third element.