Introduction and Optimization of a Power Split Continuously Variable Transmission Including Several Fixed Ratio Mechanisms

The goal of this paper is to introduce and optimize a power split continuously variable transmission (PS-CVT) including several fixed ratio (FR) mechanisms. In this power train, FR mechanisms are embedded in all possible places. At first, the governing dynamics of the proposed power train is developed. A control algorithm on the base of minimizing the vehicle fuel consumption (FC) is introduced. Two vehicles in different classes are considered and the proposed power train is used in them. Afterwards, two stages optimization with the aim of minimizing the vehicles’ FC is carried out. It is found that employing properly designed FR mechanisms improves the power train and decreases the vehicles’ FC. Also, it is revealed that there is a specific power train for each of the vehicles that gives a remarkable fuel economy in each of the considered driving cycles.