Hybrid electric powertrain with anti-idle function

• US 20070000703A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Stover, Thomas, Skorvpski, Jeffrey, Hughes, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• 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

Abstract

A method is provided for reducing engine idling time in a hybrid vehicle that includes a vehicle accessory and a hybrid powertrain having an engine, a generator operatively coupled to the engine, and an energy source. The method includes selectively powering the vehicle accessory using the energy source while the engine is not running, monitoring the energy source state of charge, selectively starting the engine when the energy source state of charge is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum state of charge, operating the engine driven generator to recharge the energy source to a predetermined maximum state of charge, and turning off the engine when the energy source state of charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum state of charge. A hybrid electric vehicle power delivery system is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for reducing engine idling time in a hybrid vehicle that includes a vehicle accessory and a hybrid powertrain having an engine, a generator operatively coupled to the engine, and an energy source, the method comprising:

selectively powering the vehicle accessory using the energy source while the engine is not running;

monitoring the energy source state of charge;

selectively starting the engine when the energy source state of charge is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum state of charge;

operating the engine driven generator to recharge the energy source to a predetermined maximum state of charge; and

turning off the engine when the energy source state of charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum state of charge.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generator is a motor-generator and the step of selectively starting the engine includes operating the motor-generator to crank the engine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hybrid powertrain includes a clutch and the step of selectively starting the engine includes engaging the clutch prior to operating the motor-generator to crank the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine includes a starter motor and the step of selectively starting the engine includes operating the starter motor to crank the engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory includes an electrically-operated HVAC system and the powering step includes powering the electrically-operated HVAC system using the energy source while the engine is not running.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory includes a 110 vAC inverter and the powering step includes powering the 110 vAC inverter using the energy source while the engine is not running.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory includes a 12 vDC converter and the powering step includes powering the 12 vDC converter using the energy source while the engine is not running.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating step includes operating the engine at a predetermined speed and load to recharge the energy source to a predetermined maximum state of charge.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimum state of charge is about 20% and the maximum state of charge is about 70%.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the hybrid powertrain includes an electrical bus that links the vehicle accessory to the energy source and the powering step includes selectively powering the vehicle accessory using energy transferred from the energy source through the bus while the engine is not running.

11. A method for reducing idling time of an internal combustion engine powered hybrid electric vehicle that includes an electrically powered vehicle accessory operable in a hotel power mode to provide one or more conveniences to a vehicle occupant and a hybrid powertrain having an internal combustion engine driven generator and a battery, the method comprising:

determining if the vehicle is in the hotel power mode;

selectively powering the electrically powered vehicle accessory using the battery while the vehicle is in hotel power mode and the engine is not running;

monitoring the battery state of charge;

selectively starting the engine when the battery state of charge is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum state of charge;

operating the engine driven generator to recharge the battery to a predetermined maximum state of charge; and

turning off the engine when the battery state of charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum state of charge.

12. A hybrid electric vehicle power delivery system, comprising:

an engine;

a generator operatively coupled to the engine;

a battery adapted to store an electrical charge generated by the generator;

an electrical bus for transferring electrical energy between the generator and the battery;

at least one electrically powered vehicle accessory operatively linked to the energy source through the electrical bus; and

a controller configured to selectively power the electrically powered vehicle accessory using the battery while the engine is not running;

monitor the battery state of charge;

selectively start the engine when the battery state of charge is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum state of charge;

operate the engine driven generator to recharge the battery to a predetermined maximum state of charge; and

turn off the engine when the battery state of charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum state of charge.

13. The power delivery system of claim 12, wherein the generator is a motor-generator and the controller is configured to selectively operate the motor-generator to crank the engine.

14. The power delivery system of claim 12, wherein the engine includes a starter motor and the controller is configured to selectively operate the starter motor to crank the engine.

15. The power delivery system of claim 12, wherein the electrically powered vehicle accessory includes an electrically operated HVAC system and the controller is configured to power the electrically operated HVAC system using the battery while the engine is not running.

16. The power delivery system of claim 12, wherein the electrically powered vehicle accessory includes a 110 vAC inverter and the controller is configured to power the 110 vAC inverter using the battery while the engine is not running.

17. The power delivery system of claim 12, wherein the electrically powered vehicle accessory includes a 12 vDC converter and the controller is configured to power the 12 vDC converter using the battery while the engine is not running.

18. The power delivery system of claim 12, wherein the minimum state of charge is about 20% and the maximum state of charge is about 70%.