Hybrid vehicle

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a generator connected with an output shaft extending from the internal combustion engine, an electric motor axially aligned with the output shaft, an output gear assembly connected to an output shaft driven by the rotor of the electric motor and positioned between the generator and the electric motor, a clutch adapted to connect and disconnect the generator to/from the output gear assembly, a differential gear unit, and a counter shaft oriented in parallel the output shaft driven by the rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising: (a) an internal combustion engine having output at an engine shaft;   (b) a generator connected to said engine shaft, said generator including: a first stator; and   a first rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with said first stator;     (c) an electric motor axially aligned with said engine shaft and including: a second stator; and   a second rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with said second stator;     (d) an output gear assembly connected to an output shaft driven by said second rotor and located between said generator and said electric motor;   .[.(e) a clutch adapted to connect and disconnect said engine shaft to/from said second rotor;   (f).]. .Iadd.(e) .Iaddend.a differential gear unit driven by said output gear assembly; and   .[.(g).]. .Iadd.(f) .Iaddend.a counter shaft oriented in parallel with the output shaft, said counter shaft including gears for transmitting torque from said output gear assembly to said differential gear unit.   
     
     
       2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said output gear assembly is provided with an automatic transmission unit after said second rotor for changing the speed of the rotation of said second rotor and for transmitting the rotation to the output shaft. 
     
     
       3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the automatic transmission unit includes at least one planetary gear unit. 
     
     
       4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the automatic transmission unit is arranged as an under-drive unit. 
     
     
       5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the automatic transmission unit includes a hydraulic wet clutch. 
     
     
       6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engine shaft is connected with said first rotor through a damper. 
     
     
       7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said generator includes a speed-increasing gear assembly located in its interior, for increasing the speed of rotation received from the engine shaft and for transferring the rotation at the increased speed to said first rotor. 
     
     
       8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the speed-increasing gear assembly of said generator is a planetary gear unit. 
     
     
       9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the engine shaft is connected with the speed-increasing gear assembly of said generator through a damper. 
     
     
       10. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the radial dimension of said output gear assembly located between said generator and said electric motor is smaller in size than corresponding dimensions of both of said generator and said electric motor. 
     
     
       11. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said generator, said electric motor and said output gear assembly are all housed together in one integral case. 
     
     
       12. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the integral case is abutted against said internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       13. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the integral case has three defined sections, the first section housing said generator, the second section housing said output gear assembly, and the third section housing said electric motor. 
     
     
       14. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said first stator is fixed to the first section of the case. 
     
     
       15. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said second stator is fixed to the third section of the case. 
     
     
       16. The hybrid vehicle according to claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.20.Iaddend., wherein said clutch is a hydraulic wet clutch. 
     
     
       17. A hybrid vehicle comprising: drive wheels for propelling the vehicle;   a differential unit for transmitting torque to the drive wheels;   an internal combustion engine having torque output at an engine shaft;   an output gear for transmitting .Iadd.the .Iaddend.torque to said differential unit;   .[.a clutch for selectively connecting said engine shaft to said output gear;.].   a battery for storing electric power;   a generator, driven off of said engine shaft, for charging said battery;   an electric motor, powered by said battery, for transmitting torque to said output gear, said motor including a rotor;   wherein said internal combustion engine is axially aligned with, in succession, said generator.[., said clutch.]., said output gear and said electric motor.   
     
     
       18. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said engine shaft is continuously rotated at a constant speed. 
     
     
       19. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17 additionally comprising: an intermediate shaft .[.connected to said clutch.]. for receiving torque from said internal combustion engine and fixed to said rotor for receiving torque from said motor;   an output shaft coaxial with and rotatable supported by said intermediate shaft, said output shaft being fixed to said output gear; and   a transmission unit for transmitting torque from said intermediate shaft to said output shaft and for changing the speed of the transmitted torque. .Iadd.   
     
     
       20.  The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising a clutch for selectively connecting said engine shaft to said output gear and wherein said intermediate shaft is connected to said clutch for receiving the torque from said internal combustion through said clutch. .Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising a clutch adapted to connect said engine to said second rotor and to disconnect said engine from said second rotor. .Iaddend.