Double clutch transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle and method for operating the same

• US 20070028718A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Chul Soo, Kim, Tal Chol, Lee, Hee Ra
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/661
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline 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 10/113 with two input flow paths, e.g. double clutch transmission selection of one of the torque flow paths by the corresponding input clutch
• 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 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/428 : Double clutch arrangements; Dual clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/0931 : each countershaft having an output gear meshing with a single common gear on the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/006 : power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• 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: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19014 : Plural prime movers selectively coupled to common output

Abstract

A double clutch transmission is described that ideally changes torque received from an engine and a motor by providing an optimal layout in power transmission scheme and motor location. Such a double clutch transmission is optimally adapted to a hybrid electric vehicle, and an optimal operation method for such a double clutch transmission is also provided, overcoming inefficiency in application of a conventional CVT to an HEV.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method for controlling a double clutch transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

determining an operation mode among an electric vehicle (EV) mode wherein only a torque of a motor is changed and output, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode wherein both torque of the motor and an engine are changed and output, and a regenerative braking (RB) mode wherein braking and inertial energy of the hybrid electric vehicle is reclaimed by electric generation of the motor; and

operating the double clutch transmission in accordance with the determined operation mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determined mode is the EV mode when a current state of charge (SOC) is above a predetermined SOC, and

wherein, in the EV mode, the engine is stopped and first and second clutches are released while torque from the motor is transmitted to a driven gear for a predetermined shift-speed, such that only torque from the motor from battery power is changed and output.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined shift-speed is a forward second speed.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the EV mode, power of the motor is output to a differential gear sequentially through a motor gear, a motor idle gear, a second speed drive gear on a second input shaft, a second speed driven gear on a first output shaft, and the first output shaft.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the HEV mode:

the engine is started by the motor;

one clutch of first and second clutches is engaged such that a torque of the engine is transmitted to a driven gear for a target shift-speed;

a torque of the motor is transmitted to a second speed driven gear; and

the torque of the motor is controlled on the basis of a current vehicle speed and a depression amount of an accelerator pedal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the determined mode is the RB mode when the hybrid electric vehicle is decelerating by braking or is inertially running, and

wherein, in the RB mode, first and second clutches are released while torque is transmitted from a driven gear for a predetermined shift-speed to the motor, such that the motor is driven as an electric generator by the braking and inertial energy of the hybrid electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the RB mode, the braking and inertial energy is input to the motor sequentially through a differential gear, a first output gear, a first output shaft, a second speed driven gear on the first output shaft, a second speed drive gear on a second input shaft, a motor idle gear, and a motor gear.

16-24. -24. (canceled)