Patent attributes
A drive system includes a first planetary gear set coupled to a first electromagnetic device, a second planetary gear set coupled to a second electromagnetic device and directly coupled to the first planetary gear set, an engine directly coupled to the first planetary gear set with a connecting shaft, and an output shaft coupled to the first planetary gear set. The first and second electromagnetic devices include a first shaft and a second shaft, respectively. The connecting shaft extends through the second electromagnetic device and through the second planetary gear set to the first planetary gear set. The first shaft, the second shaft, the first planetary gear set, the second planetary gear set, the connecting shaft, and the output shaft are radially aligned, forming a straight-thru transmission arrangement.