FR2830902A1 - VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR-GENERATOR APPLIANCE INTENDED FOR USE WITH A COMBUSTION ENGINE - Google Patents

Abstract

A variable speed motor-generator apparatus for use with a combustion engine includes a motor-generator unit (2) and a planetary gear speed reduction unit (3). The motor-generator unit (2) includes a housing (33), an input-output shaft (31), an internal gear (41), a sun wheel (42), an intermediate wheel (43) and a plurality of planetary gears (44) as well as a first clutch (5). The rotor shaft (21) is coupled to the sun wheel (42), the input-output shaft (31) is coupled to the intermediate wheel (43) and the first clutch (5) is coupled between the wheel intermediate (43) and the sun wheel (42). A second clutch (6) is coupled between the housing (33) and the internal gear (41).

Description

current using a battery voltage (11).

s

1 2830902

  VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR-GENERATOR APPARATUS

  The present invention relates to a variable speed motor-manager unit which includes a motor-manager unit and a control mechanism.

  plantar gear type speed.

  A motor-generator unit which is driven by a combustion engine to generate electrical energy and which assists during the starting operation of the combustion engine is well known. Such a generator motor unit must provide a considerable amount of output torque to start a combustion engine and to turn a high speed for

  GAIN Sufficient electrical energy.

  Document EP0384808B1 describes a variable speed motorized drive unit which includes a planetary gear reduction unit and a pair

  of clutches behind a motor-generator unit.

  However, the dAcrit variable motor-organizer has a complex structure and a bulky body. In particular, one of the clutches available between the intermediate wheel and the internal gear of the planetary gear speed reduction unit has a large outside diameter, the core speed of which becomes so high that the couplings

  Freewheeling can be done in a short time.

  Consequently, the present invention has Atudie au

  seen problems previously reported.

  An object of the invention is to propose a variable speed motor-generator device which is durable,

compact eL with a simple structure.

  In accordance with a feature of the invention, a rotor shaft of a motor-generator unit is

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  coupled to a sun wheel of a planetary gear speed reduction unit, an input-output shaft of the planetary gear speed reduction unit is coupled to an intermediate wheel of the speed reduction unit planetary gear, a first clutch is coupled between the intermediate wheel and the sun wheel and a second clutch is coupled between a housing of the planetary gear speed reduction unit and the internal gear. As a result, the internal gear and its adjacent elements can be made compact and simplified. In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the first clutch is opened and said second clutch is closed when said combustion engine is started. Consequently, an output torque sufficient to start the combustion engine can be

  delivered at the level of the input-output shaft.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the first clutch is a one-way clutch for transmitting the rotation of the intermediate wheel to the sun wheel in one direction and the second clutch is a one-way clutch for stopping the rotation of the gear. internal. Therefore, the clutches can be ordered without control means

special.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the internal gear separates the second clutch

  of a fixed element in a predetermined speed range.

  Therefore, the wear of the second clutch can be

minimized.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the second clutch includes a centrifugal mechanism for separation of the fixed element, such as a plurality of freewheels. Therefore, the input output shaft disengages from the second clutch without contact with,

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  any other element, so that a structure

  compact and simple can be provided.

  In accordance with another feature of the invention, the first clutch is closed and the second clutch is opened while the combustion engine is operating in a predetermined condition. Therefore, the rotation speed can be increased between the input shaft

  and the rotor shaft, so that the motor unit-

  generator can be driven at higher speed

  than the rotation speed of the combustion engine.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the first clutch which is open is controlled to close when a difference in rotational speed between said intermediate wheel and the sun wheel

  becomes lower than a predetermined speed of rotation.

  As a result, the clutch shock applied to the first

clutch is moderate.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the motor-generator unit controls the speed difference between the intermediate wheel and the sun wheel. For example, the speed of rotation of the intermediate wheel is calculated apart from the speed of rotation of the combustion engine so that the speed of rotation of the engine-generator unit can be controlled at a target rotation speed. Therefore, the motor-generator unit can be transferred from the start operation to a generation operation.

regular way.

  In accordance with another feature of the invention, the motor generator unit is controlled so that the deceleration of the internal gear can be less than a predetermined value if the internal gear decelerates and its rotational speed becomes lower than a rotation speed of the second clutch

which is open.

f i

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  As a result, the second clutch can be prevented from being damaged, which is otherwise caused by excessive shock. In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, a bearing supporting the internal gear is arranged at a circumference of the intermediate wheel. As a result, the internal gear and the intermediate wheel rotate together as long as the combustion engine is running and the bearing can be prevented from

  rotate at an excessively high speed.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the first clutch is arranged on the side

  of the input-output arUre relative to the solar wheel.

  As a result, it is easy to assemble the planetary gear speed reduction unit in the motor-generator apparatus. In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the second clutch is arranged at the level of the external conference of the output shaft. Therefore, sufficient spacing between the bearings to support the input-output arUre can be provided and the second clutch can be mounted around the input-output shaft. It follows that the reduction unit of

  planetary gear speed can be made compact.

  Other objects, properties and features of the present invention as well as the functions of related parts of the present invention will become clear to

  from a study of the following detailed description,

  of the appended claims and drawings. On the drawings

  : Fig. l is a simplified diagram illustrating a variable speed motor-generator apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention with an internal combustion engine i! s 2830902 FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram illustrating a variable speed motor-generator apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3A is a sectional plan view of a planetary gear speed reduction unit illustrated in FIG. 2 cut along the line IIIA-IIIA, and FIG. 3B is a sectional plan view of the same planetary gear speed reduction unit cut along the line IIIB-IIIB i and FIG. 4 is a side view in fragmentary section of a variable speed motor-generator apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of

the invention.

  We will describe, with reference to FIG. 1, a variable speed motor-generator device in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention. The variable speed motor generator 1 in accordance with

  the first embodiment includes a motor unit

  generator 2 having a rotor 20 and a planetary gear speed reduction unit 3. The planetary gear speed reduction unit is coupled to the rotor 20 of

  the motor-generator unit by its rotor shaft 21.

  The engine-generator unit 2 functions as a starter motor to start a combustion engine E and a generator driven by the combustion engine E to deliver electrical energy to a battery or other electrical charges. The speed reduction unit of

  planetary gear type 3 has an input shaft-

  outlet 31 which supports a pulley 32 at one of its ends, which is coupled to the motor by a

belt (not shown).

  The planetary gear speed reduction unit

  3 includes a housing 33 which is attached to the engine unit

  generator 2 and a planetary gear mechanism 4, a first clutch 5 and a second clutch 6, which are

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  disposed between the rotor shaft 21 and the drive shaft

  output 31. The first and second clutches 5, 6 are a multiple disc clutch operated by pressurized oil or by an electromagnetic clutch. Each of the multiple disc clutch and the electromagnetic clutch includes a drive member and a driven member which are completely separate and do not contact each other when open. As a result, no loss of friction is generated when opened. One of the first and second clutches can be a one-way clutch. The planetary gear mechanism 4 includes an internal gear (planetary gear ring) 41, a sun wheel 42 disposed at the center of the internal gear 41, an intermediate wheel 43 and a plurality of planetary gears 44 disposed between the gear internal 41 and the solar wheel 42. The intermediate wheel 43 is coupled to the planetary gears 44 and disposed on its side in

look at the pulley 32.

  The sun wheel 42 has a sun wheel shaft 45 at a first end projecting towards the pulley 32 and the other end being integrated into the rotor shaft 21. The intermediate wheel 43 comprises an intermediate wheel shaft 46 which is integrated into the input-output shaft 31. The first clutch 5 is disposed between the intermediate wheel 43 and the shaft of the sun wheel 45 inside the intermediate wheel 43 and the second clutch 6 is disposed between the internal surface of the casing 33 and the external circumference of the internal gear 41. Therefore, the planetary gear speed reduction unit 3 can be made compact. Because the external diameter of the first clutch 5 is small, the relative speed between the drive element and the driven element of the first clutch 5 can be made low, so that wear due to

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  friction can be lessened. It follows that the duration of

  life of the first clutch 5 can be improved.

  The variable speed motor generator 1

works as follows.

  When a combustion engine is to be started, the combustion engine control unit (ECU) opens the first clutch 5 and closes the second clutch 6. The engine-generator unit 2 is supplied by the ECU and makes turn the rotor shaft 21 and the sun wheel 42. Since the internal gear 41 is fixed to the housing 33 via the second clutch 6, the intermediate wheel 43 rotates in the same direction as the sun wheel 42 and that the shaft d 'entrce

exit 31.

  The intermediate wheel 46 rotates the combustion engine E via the input-output shaft 31 and the pulley 32. The speed reduction ratio between the rotor shaft 21 and the input-output shaft 31 corresponds to a ratio between the internal diameter of the internal gear 41 and the external diameter of the sun wheel 42. In other words, the drive torque is increased between the rotor arUre 21 and the input shaft -outlet 31 when the engine

is started.

  When the combustion engine is fully operating, the speed of rotation of the pulley 32, the input-output belt 31 and the intermediate wheel 43 increases rapidly. At this time, the second clutch 6 is open and the rotor shaft 21 is controlled to rotate at a target speed by the ECU in accordance with the speed of the combustion engine or of the intermediate wheel 43. If the speed difference between the intermediate wheel 43 (or the shaft of the intermediate wheel 46) and the sun wheel 42 (or the rotor shaft 21 or the shaft of the solar wheel 45) becomes less than a speed predetermined, the first clutch 5 is closed. Consequently, the first clutch is protected from an excessively high stress. Thereafter, the combustion engine turns the wheel

  intermediate 43 via pulley 32 and drive shaft

  outlet 31, the first clutch 5 being closed and the second clutch 6 being open. Therefore, the intermediate wheel 43, the sun wheel 42 and the internal gear 41 rotate together. That is, the rotation of the intermediate wheel 43 is transmitted to the rotor shaft 21 and to

  the engine-generator unit 2 without speed reduction.

  If a large amount of electrical energy is required, the first clutch 5 is opened and the second clutch 6 is closed. Consequently, the combustion engine E rotates the intermediate wheel 43 via the pulley 32 and the input-output shaft 31. Because the internal gear 41 is fixed to the housing 33, which is a fixed element, l the planetary gear 44 rotates between the internal gear 41 and the sun wheel 42, thereby rotating the sun wheel 42 and the rotor shaft 21. As a result, the motor generator unit 2 rotates at a speed higher than the rotation speed of the combustion engine? so that the electrical energy output from the motor-generator section 2 can be increased. We will now describe a variable speed 2s motor-generator apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention with reference to Figs. 2, 3A

and 3B.

  In this respect, the same reference numbers correspond to the same components or substantially to the

  same components or parts as that of the power unit-

  variable speed generator in accordance with the first

embodiment.

  The first clutch 5 and the second clutch 6 of the first embodiment are respectively replaced by one-way clutches 50, 60 in this embodiment.

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  production. The first unidirectional clutch 50 includes an internal raceway 51, an external raceway 52 and a plurality of cams or stop shoes 53 between the raceways 50 and 60. The stop shoes S 53 allow the first clutch unidirectional 50 not to rotate only in a direction C, as shown in FIG. 3A. The stop shoes 53 are usually supported by a cage 54, as shown in FIG. 4. The second unidirectional clutch 60 is supported by the internal gear 41. The second unidirectional clutch 60 includes an internal raceway 61, an external raceway 62 and a plurality of stop shoes 63 located between the raceways internal and external 51 and 61. The stop shoes 63 allow the second one-way clutch 60 not to rotate except in a direction D, which is opposite to the direction C. The stop shoes 63 are also supported by a cage 64 , as shown in Fig. 4. As a result, no additional means to open or

  closing the clutches is not necessary.

  When the internal raceway 51 of the first unidirectional clutch 50 rotates in the authorizing direction C at a higher speed of rotation than a predetermined speed, the stop shoes 53 move respectively as indicated by the chain lines in FIG. . 3A. Thereby, the stop shoes separate from the internal raceway 51, so that the first one-way clutch 50 rotates without friction. When the internal raceway 61 of the second unidirectional clutch 60 rotates in the authorized direction D at a rotation speed higher than a predetermined speed, the stop shoe 63 moves respectively as indicated by the chain lines in FIG. . 3B. As a result, the stop shoes 63 separate from the

2830902

  internal raceway 61, so the second

  unidirectional clutch 60 rotates without friction.

  If the internal gear 41 is decelerated and rotates at a speed lower than a rotational speed to open the second one-way clutch 60, the ECU controls the motor-generator unit 2 so that the deceleration of the internal gear 41 may be less than a predetermined value. Consequently, the first unidirectional clutch 50 is protected from excessive jack caused otherwise by an abrupt reduction in the speed of rotation of the internal gear 41 which supports the stop shoes 63 of the second unidirectional clutch 60 when the combustion engine is stopped, the first clutch

unidirectional 50 being closed.

  A variable speed motor-generator apparatus will be described in accordance with the third mode of

  embodiment of the invention with reference to FIG. 4.

  The planetary gear speed reduction unit has a housing 33, which has a cylindrical portion

  main 34 fixed to the casing 22 of the engine unit-

  generator 2 at its rear end, as shown in FIG. 2, a front wall part 35 at the front end and a front cylindrical part 36 extending from the front wall part 35 towards the pulley 32. The front wall part 35 has an internal cylindrical part 37 which extends towards the motor-generator unit 2. A first bearing 47 is disposed between the internal gear 41 and the intermediate wheel 43, and a second bearing is disposed between the internal cylindrical part 37 and the shaft of the intermediate wheel 46. A third bearing 49 is also arranged between the part

  cylindrical front 36 and the input-output shaft 31.

  The first bearing 47 of the internal gear 41 is disposed at the outer circumference of the intermediate wheel 43. When the combustion engine is running

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  to generate electrical energy, the internal gear 41 and the intermediate wheel 43 rotate together, while the first bearing 47 is at rest. Therefore, the first bearing 47 is prevented from rotating at a rotational speed

s high.

  The first one-way clutch 50 is disposed on the front side of the sun wheel 42 near the input-output shaft 31. The front peripheral part of the sun wheel 42 functions like the internal raceway 51 of the first one-way clutch 50 and the internal peripheral part of the intermediate wheel functions as the external raceway 52 of the first one-way clutch 50. A plurality of stop shoes 53 and a cage 54 for supporting the stop shoes 53 are arranged between the race way internal bearing 51 and the external raceway 52. This arrangement makes the assembly work of the

2 easier motor generator.

  The second unidirectional clutch 60 is disposed at the external circumference of the shaft of the intermediate wheel 46. The second unidirectional clutch 60 has the internal raceway 61 which is adjusted by pres s ion on the external periphery of the part ie internal cylindrical 37 and the external raceway 62 which extends from the internal gear 41. A plurality of stop shoes 63 and a cage 64 for supporting the stop shoes 63 are arranged between the race way

  internal 61 and the external raceway 62.

  Consequently, a sufficient distance or spacing of bearings between the second bearing 46 and the third bearing 49 can be increased, thereby increasing the durability of the bearings. In addition, this arrangement provides sufficient space for the second one-way clutch 60 around the second bearing 48, so that

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  the axial dimension of the speed reduction unit at

  planetary gear 3 can be made short.

  In the previous description of this

  The invention has been described with reference to its specific embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of

  the invention as set out in the appended claims.

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Claims (12)

REVENDI CAT IONS   A variable speed motor generator for use with a combustion engine comprising a motor generator unit having a rotor shaft (21) and a planetary gear speed reduction unit (3) which includes a housing (33 ), an input-output gear (31), an internal gear (41), a sun wheel (42), an intermediate wheel (43) and a plurality of planetary gears (44) and a first clutch (5) characterized in that: said rotor shaft (21) is coupled to said sun wheel (42) i said input-output shaft (31) is coupled to said intermediate wheel (43) i said first clutch (5) is coupled between said intermediate wheel (43) and said sun wheel (42) and a second clutch (6) is coupled between said   casing (33) and said internal gear (41).   2. Variable speed motor-generator apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said first clutch (5) is open and said second clutch (6) is closed when said engine combustion is started.   3. Variable speed motor-generator apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: said first clutch (5) is a one-way clutch for transmitting rotation in a single direction from said intermediate wheel to said sun wheel i and said second clutch (6) is a clutch   unidirectional to stop the rotation of said. internal gear. 3s 14 2830902   4. Variable speed motor-generator apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said internal gear (41) separates said second clutch from a fixed element in a predetermined speed range s. 5. Variable speed motor generator according to claim 4, characterized in that said second clutch (6) includes a mechanism   centrifugal for separation of the fixed element.   6. Variable speed motor generator according to claim 2, characterized in that said first clutch (5) is closed and said second clutch (6) is open while the engine   operates under a predetermined condition.   7. Variable speed motor-generator according to claim 2, characterized in that said first clutch (5) which is open is controlled to close when a difference in speed is rotated between said intermediate wheel (43 ) and said solar wheel (42) becomes less than   a predetermined speed of rotation.   8. Variable speed motor generator according to claim 7, characterized in that said motor generator unit (2) controls the speed difference between said intermediate wheel. (43) and said solar wheel (42).   9. Variable speed motor generator according to claim 5, characterized in that said motor generator unit (2) is controlled so that the deceleration of said internal gear (41) can be less than a predetermined value if said gear internal decelerates and its speed of rotation becomes lower than a speed of rotation   said second clutch (6) which is open.   10. Variable speed motor generator according to claim 1, characterized in that a bearing (47) supporting said internal gear (41) is disposed at a circumference of said intermediate wheel (43). 11. Variable speed motor generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said first clutch (5) is disposed on the side of said input-output arUre (31) relative to said solar wheel (42).   12. Variable speed motor-generator apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said second clutch (6) is disposed at the outer circumference of said input-output arUre (31).