Hybrid electric vehicle and method of selectively operating the hybrid electric vehicle

• US 20060106524A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wonderland Investment Group Inc
• Original Assignee: Transportation Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Schmitz, Robert W., Anderson, Joshua J., Wilton, Thomas F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/00 Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units heating the interior space B60H; cooling internal combustion engines per se F01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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 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 2510/0628 Inlet air flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/32 : Engine outcoming fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/185 : for alternators or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 : for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 : for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/00 : Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A series type hybrid electric vehicle that controls an internal combustion engine, generator, and electric motor for reducing the load applied to the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is restarted, lowers the thermal stresses to the internal combustion engine when the engine is turned off and is able to remove excess fuel when turning off the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A method for adaptively stopping an internal combustion engine connected to a generator, comprising

allowing the internal combustion engine to idle;

activating a cooling system in order to lower a temperature of the internal combustion engine to a first predetermined temperature;

shutting off fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is below the first predetermined temperature level;

turning off an ignition spark in the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has stopped; and

turning off the cooling system after the temperature of the internal combustion engine is lowered to a second predetermined temperature which is lower than the first predetermined temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is a temperature used to prevent thermal shock.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is a temperature in which the internal combustion engine has been uniformly cooled.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine stops after the fuel in the internal combustion engine has been burned off.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine stops after the fuel and fuel vapor in the internal combustion engine have been burned off.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature is a temperature in which heat is not released from the internal combustion engine to the atmosphere.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature is a temperature in which the internal combustion engine has been uniformly cooled.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator connected to the internal combustion engine; and

a controller that;

allows the internal combustion engine to idle;

activates a cooling system in order to lower a temperature of the internal combustion engine to a first predetermined temperature;

shuts off fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is below the first predetermined temperature level;

turns off an ignition spark in the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has stopped; and

turns off the cooling system after the temperature of the internal combustion engine is lowered to a second predetermined temperature which is lower than the first predetermined temperature.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first predetermined temperature is a temperature used to prevent thermal shock.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first predetermined temperature is a temperature in which the internal combustion engine has been uniformly cooled.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the engine stops after the fuel in the internal combustion engine has been burned off.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the engine stops after the fuel and fuel vapor in the internal combustion engine have been burned off.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the second predetermined temperature is a temperature in which heat is not released from the internal combustion engine to the atmosphere.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the second predetermined temperature is a temperature in which the internal combustion engine has been uniformly cooled.