Appeal No. 2003-0275 Page 9
Application No. 09/550,032
motor vehicle. Transmission 18 drives a differential unit 28 which engages a pair of
axle shafts 30 which are operably connected to the pair of wheels 26.
The hybrid powertrain system 10 also includes an electric motor 32 operably
connected to transmission 18 at the opposite end of an input shaft from clutch 16.
Electric motor 32 is connected to the input shaft opposite from clutch 16 by a gear train
33. The electric motor 30 is able to provide both positive and regenerative torque, by
functioning as a motor and a generator, respectively. An example of an electric motor
32 is an induction motor or a permanent magnet motor, such as manufactured by
Delphi Electronics Corporation.
As a generator, electric motor 32 produces a regenerative torque, preferably as
an alternating current (A/C), which is transferred to a control mechanism, such as a
motor controller 34. Motor controller 34 changes the alternating current into a direct
current (D/C). The direct current may then be transmitted to an energy storage
apparatus 38, such as a battery. Alternatively, as a motor, the electric motor 32
produces a positive torque that is applied to the input shaft of the transmission 18 and
is ultimately used to drive wheels 26.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007