Vehicle with both asynchronous and synchronous electric drives

Abstract

A rotary electric machine having plural rotary elements in a non-coaxial arrangement is disclosed. The rotary electric machine includes a housing assembly, at least one stator frame mounted in the housing assembly, at least one stator winding wound on the at least one stator frame, and at least two rotors mounted in the housing assembly having axes of rotation that are non-coaxial, wherein each of the at least two rotors is mechanically decoupled from the other rotors such that each of the at least two rotors rotates independent from one another. The rotary electric machine also includes a control unit, with the control unit including at least one electronic control electrically connected to the at least one stator winding. The control unit is configured to control an exchange of power to or from each of the at least one stator windings.

1 . A drive system for a vehicle comprising:
 at least one rotary electric machine having at least one rotor;   at least one asynchronous rotor element;   at least one synchronous rotor element; and   at least one electronic control;   wherein the at least one asynchronous rotor element and the at least one synchronous rotor element are controlled to provide tractive power for the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one asynchronous rotor element and the at least one synchronous rotor element are parts of the same rotor. 
     
     
         3 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one asynchronous rotor element and the at least one synchronous rotor element are parts of separate rotors. 
     
     
         4 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control implements an algorithm for power sharing between the rotor elements intended to improve vehicle energy efficiency. 
     
     
         5 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control implements an algorithm for power sharing between the asynchronous and synchronous rotor elements configured to improve vehicle dynamic performance. 
     
     
         6 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control is configured to receive feedback from at least one of speed sensors, position sensors or torque sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one asynchronous rotor element comprises at least one of squirrel cage, wound coil, or disk type induction elements; and
 wherein the at least one synchronous rotor element comprises at least one of permanent magnet, electromagnet, or reluctance elements.   
     
     
         8 . An electric or hybrid drive system for a vehicle comprising:
 a first rotor for a rotary electric machine wherein the first rotor incorporates at least one asynchronous type rotor element;   a second rotor for a rotary electric machine wherein the second rotor incorporates at least one synchronous type rotor element; and   at least one electronic control;   wherein the first and second rotors are controlled to provide tractive power for the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rotors are parts of the same rotary electric machine. 
     
     
         10 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first rotor is part of a first rotary electric machine and the second rotor is part of a second rotary electric machine. 
     
     
         11 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rotors supply tractive power to the same wheel or set of wheels. 
     
     
         12 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first rotor supplies tractive power to a first wheel or set of wheels and the second rotor supplies tractive power to a second wheel or set of wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the electronic control implements an algorithm for power sharing between the first and second rotors configured to improve vehicle energy efficiency. 
     
     
         14 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the electronic control implements an algorithm for power sharing between the first and second rotors configured to improve vehicle dynamic performance. 
     
     
         15 . The drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the electronic control is configured to receive feedback from at least one of speed sensors, position sensors or torque sensors. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle with an electric or hybrid drive comprising:
 a first drive axis receiving tractive power from at least one rotor having at least one asynchronous type rotor element;   a second drive axis receiving tractive power from at least one rotor having at least one synchronous type rotor element; and   at least one electronic control;   wherein the electronic control determines power distribution between the at least one rotor having the at least one asynchronous type rotor element and the at least one rotor having the at least one synchronous type rotor element.   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle according to  claim 16  wherein the electronic control implements an algorithm for power sharing between the at least one rotor having the at least one asynchronous type rotor element and the at least one rotor having the at least one synchronous type rotor element, the power sharing algorithm configured to improve vehicle energy efficiency. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle according to  claim 16  wherein the electronic control implements an algorithm for power sharing between the at least one rotor having the at least one asynchronous type rotor element and the at least one rotor having the at least one synchronous type rotor element, the power sharing algorithm configured to improve vehicle dynamic performance. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle according to  claim 16  wherein the electronic control provides differential torque split between forward and rearward axes of a multi-axis vehicle, so as to provide front-to-rear torque vectoring. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle according to  claim 16  wherein the electronic control provides differential torque split between left and right wheels of the same axis, so as to provide side-to-side torque vectoring.