Methods and systems for a vehicle driveline

• US 10,155,513 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pietron, Gregory Michael, Banker, Adam Nathan, Reed, Dennis Craig, Lee, Seung-Hoon, McCallum, James William Loch
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US15/624,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20170282908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/026 of lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/119 including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle B60W10/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/186 excessive wear or burn out of friction elements, e.g. clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/08 said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operating modes may be manually selected to improve hybrid driveline operation during off road conditions. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual hill descent control input for a driver;

providing a manual driver input for adjusting activation of a driveline disconnect clutch in response to a state of the hill descent control input; and

automatically restarting a stopped engine in response to the driver selecting a four wheel drive range.

2. The method of claim 1, where the driver selects the four wheel drive range while in a two wheel drive range.

3. The method of claim 1, where the four wheel drive range is a high or low gear range.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising opening and closing the driveline disconnect clutch according to a first schedule based on operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive range.

5. The method of claim 1, where automatically restarting the stopped engine includes closing the driveline disconnect clutch.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping engine rotation in response to a vehicle battery reaching a first threshold state of charge based on operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive range.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing automatic engine stopping in response to a vehicle that includes the driveline disconnect clutch decelerating.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising holding the driveline disconnect clutch closed in response to the driver selecting a four wheel drive range.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing opening of the driveline disconnect clutch in response to road conditions.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing automatic engine stopping in response to a closing rate between a vehicle and an object.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing to allow opening of the driveline disconnect clutch in response to a closing rate between a vehicle and an object.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the driveline disconnect clutch closed in response to a manual request to lock the driveline disconnect clutch.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the driveline disconnect clutch and increasing engine braking in response to the driver requesting a hill descent mode.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing manual input of engine stop conditions in a hill descent mode.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing manual input of driveline integrated starter/generator operating mode conditions in a hill descent mode.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing manual input of driveline disconnect clutch operating mode conditions in a hill descent mode.