Description:
Continuously Variable Transmissions are always highly fuel efficient and simple in their design. Typically these are designed with two rotors connected with disks in between. Just like any other transmission, these were typically designed with single input shaft and a single output shaft. This makes it difficult to design a hybrid vehicle since a hybrid vehicle has two independent power sources which need to be mated with the output.
The newly patented transmission design overcomes these limitations by incorporating two independent power input shafts integrated with two separate input rotors which drive a common output rotor using a unique mechanism of three separate disks placed between three rotors. This allows for engaging the fuel engine and electric motor on their independent input shafts which can spin at different speeds at different gear ratios with respect to the output shaft. This unique transmission and its clutch arrangement also adds the flexibility to create the vehicle with various modes of hybrid such as series hybrid, parallel hybrid and series-parallel hybrid. These modes can be seamless switched based on the driving conditions.
There is an inherent capability of AWD with this transmission. It is achieved with two separate rotors connecting to the front and rear axle of the vehicle. In this case, one of the input rotors also becomes an output rotor and can be used drive the rear axle enabling an AWD driving mode.
With these advantages, multiple types and sizes of vehicles can be developed with varied levels of hybridization. This will enable the companies to expand their portfolio of hybrid vehicles far beyond the current models available in the market.
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