Power module driving control apparatus and hybrid vehicle

• US 20060032689A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ozeki, Takashi, Kojima, Hiroyuki, Tsukada, Yoshiaki, Uchisasai, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,392,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/219
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 20/40 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 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/12 with the engine beside or within the driven wheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means

Abstract

To provide a power module driving control apparatus and a hybrid vehicle capable of obtaining sufficient accelerator response despite adoption of a speed sensing type clutch for connection and disconnection of a power drive between an engine side and a driving wheel side. When a rotational speed on an input side of a centrifugal clutch falls short of a set value, at which the clutch can be connected, and an acceleration request is made by a rider, a control unit controls a motor generator so as to bring the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch near to the set value. When the motor generator is made to function as a motor, rotation on the input side of the clutch is assisted. When the motor generator functions as a generator, an amount of electricity generated is decreased.

Claims

1. A driving control apparatus for a power module, comprising:

an engine serving as a power drive source;

a motor generator connected to a crankshaft of the engine, for functioning as a motor and a generator;

a speed sensing type clutch, an input side of which is connected to the crankshaft and an output side of which is connected to a driving wheel side, for connecting the input side and the output side when a rotational speed on the input side becomes equal to, or more than, a set value; and

control means for controlling the motor generator;

wherein when an acceleration request is made under a condition, in which the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch falls short of the set value, the control means controls the motor generator so as to bring the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch near to the set value.

2. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means makes the motor generator function as a motor and rotation of the crankshaft is assisted with a power drive thus derived for a stepped-up speed.

3. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means makes the motor generator function as a generator and an amount of electricity generated by the motor generator is decreased so as to lessen an engine load.

4. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a clutch state determination portion for determining a connected state or a disconnected state of the clutch and an acceleration request determination portion for determining whether or not there is an acceleration request made by an operator;

and

wherein when these determination portions determine that the clutch is disconnected and there is an acceleration request, the motor generator is controlled such that the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch is brought near to the set value.

5. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means includes a clutch state determination portion for determining a connected state or a disconnected state of the clutch and an acceleration request determination portion for determining whether or not there is an acceleration request made by an operator;

and

wherein when these determination portions determine that the clutch is disconnected and there is an acceleration request, the motor generator is controlled such that the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch is brought near to the set value.

6. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means includes a clutch state determination portion for determining a connected state or a disconnected state of the clutch and an acceleration request determination portion for determining whether or not there is an acceleration request made by an operator;

and

wherein when these determination portions determine that the clutch is disconnected and there is an acceleration request, the motor generator is controlled such that the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch is brought near to the set value.

7. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said speed sensing type clutch includes an inner plate, a weight and a shoe that form an inner rotating body and an outer rotating body that is operatively positioned relative to said inner rotating body for forming a centrifugal clutch.

8. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 7, and further including a centrifugal fan mounted on an outer end face of the inner plate for drawing in air from an intake port and circulating air relative to the centrifugal clutch.

9. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 7, and further including a spring operatively mounted relative to the weight wherein when the rotational speed of the crankshaft remains lower than the set value, power transmission is disconnected using a force of the spring and when the rotational speed of the crankshaft exceeds the set value, the centrifugal force of the weight overcomes the force of the spring for transmitting through the centrifugal clutch.

10. The power module driving control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the set value of the rotational speed is 3,000 rpm.

11. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine serving as a first power drive source;

a motor generator connected to a crankshaft of the engine, for functioning as a motor and a generator;

a speed sensing type clutch, an input side of which is connected to the crankshaft and an output side of which is connected to a driving wheel side, for connecting the input side and the output side when a rotational speed on the input side becomes equal to, or more than, a set value;

control means for controlling the motor generator; and

an electric motor disposed between the output side of the clutch and the driving wheel, for functioning as a second power drive source, the clutch being connected when drive by the electric motor is changed to drive by the engine;

wherein, when an acceleration request is made under a condition, in which the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch falls short of the set value, the control means controls the motor generator so as to bring the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch near to the set value.

12. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the control means makes the motor generator function as a motor and rotation of the crankshaft is assisted with a power drive thus derived for a stepped-up speed.

13. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the control means makes the motor generator function as a generator and an amount of electricity generated by the motor generator is decreased so as to lessen an engine load.

14. The hybrid vehicle apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control means includes a clutch state determination portion for determining a connected state or a disconnected state of the clutch and an acceleration request determination portion for determining whether or not there is an acceleration request made by an operator;

and

wherein when these determination portions determine that the clutch is disconnected and there is an acceleration request, the motor generator is controlled such that the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch is brought near to the set value.

15. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the control means includes a clutch state determination portion for determining a connected state or a disconnected state of the clutch and an acceleration request determination portion for determining whether or not there is an acceleration request made by an operator;

and

wherein when these determination portions determine that the clutch is disconnected and there is an acceleration request, the motor generator is controlled such that the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch is brought near to the set value.

16. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the control means includes a clutch state determination portion for determining a connected state or a disconnected state of the clutch and an acceleration request determination portion for determining whether or not there is an acceleration request made by an operator;

and

wherein when these determination portions determine that the clutch is disconnected and there is an acceleration request, the motor generator is controlled such that the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch is brought near to the set value.

17. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said speed sensing type clutch includes an inner plate, a weight and a shoe that form an inner rotating body and an outer rotating body that is operatively positioned relative to said inner rotating body for forming a centrifugal clutch.

18. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17, and further including a centrifugal fan mounted on an outer end face of the inner plate for drawing in air from an intake port and circulating air relative to the centrifugal clutch.

19. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 17, and further including a spring operatively mounted relative to the weight wherein when the rotational speed of the crankshaft remains lower than the set value, power transmission is disconnected using a force of the spring and when the rotational speed of the crankshaft exceeds the set value, the centrifugal force of the weight overcomes the force of the spring for transmitting through the centrifugal clutch.

20. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the set value of the rotational speed is 3,000 rpm.