HYBRID VEHICLE AND HYBRID POWER SYSTEM

• US 20080156550A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Wu, E-In, Lo, Shih-Ming, Wei, Tseng-Teh, Cheng, Su-Fa, Chen, Yee-Ren, Gu, Huan-Lung
• Application Number:
  US11/692,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/003 Couplings; Details of shafts means for mounting rotors on shafts H02K1/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, a starter generator motor, a traction motor, an automatic manual transmission system, a battery, an automatic-switching clutch, and a control unit assembly. The starter generator motor is coupled and synchronously rotates with the engine for starting the engine and serving as an assistant power. The automatic manual transmission system is coupled with the traction motor and performs a gear-shifting/speed changing by controlling the rotation speed of the starter generator motor and the traction motor. The automatic-switching clutch is coupled between the starter generator motor and the automatic manual transmission system to make them be engaged/disengaged so as to switch the power type. The hybrid vehicle control device gives a signal to the torque/rotation speed control device to control the automatic-switching clutch to engage/disengage the engine and the traction motor according to the running state of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A hybrid power system, comprising:

an engine, serving as a first power;

a starter generator motor, coupled with the engine, and synchronously rotates with the engine for starting the engine and serving as an assistant power;

a traction motor, serving as a second power;

an automatic manual transmission system, coupled with the traction motor, and performing speed changing by controlling a rotation speed of the starter generator motor and the traction motor;

a battery, electrically coupled with the starter generator motor and the traction motor;

an automatic-switching clutch, coupled between the starter generator motor and the automatic manual transmission system to make the starter generator and the automatic manual transmission system be engaged or disengaged so as to switch a power type; and

a power-type-controlling unit, controlling the automatic-switching clutch to engage or disengage the engine and the traction motor according to an operation state of the hybrid power system.

2. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic manual transmission system further comprises a gear-shifting assembly mechanism, which comprises an electromagnet-controlled gear-shifting electromagnetic disc or a gear-shifting cam.

3. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic-switching clutch is an electromagnet-controlled disc clutch or a centrifugal clutch.

4. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power-type-controlling unit comprises:

a master control device, sending a control signal according to the operation state of the hybrid power system; and

a torque/rotation speed control device, connected with the automatic manual transmission system, the automatic-switching clutch, the master control device through a control circuit for receiving and interpreting the control signal of the master control device, wherein

when the control signal is interpreted to indicate to switch the power type, the torque/rotation speed control device controls the automatic-switching clutch to engage or disengage the starter generator motor and the automatic manual transmission system, such that the traction motor is engaged with the engine through the automatic manual transmission system, the automatic-switching clutch, and the starter generator motor,

when the control signal is interpreted to indicate to shift gear, the torque/rotation speed control device controls the starter generator motor and the traction motor to reach a predetermined rotation speed, and drive the engine to reach the predetermined rotation speed, so as to perform gear-shifting.

5. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the power-type-controlling unit further comprises a battery control device for controlling the battery to supply or store a power, so as to adjust the power supplied by the battery to the starter generator motor and the traction motor, and adjust the power stored from the starter generator motor and the traction motor.

6. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the automatic-switching clutch is an electromagnet-controlled disc clutch or a centrifugal clutch.

7. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection device, wherein the automatic manual transmission system is coupled with the traction motor through the connection device.

8. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection device comprises a gear set.

9. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection device comprises a sprocket and a chain set.

10. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection device comprises a belt and a pulley set.

11. A hybrid vehicle using at least two energies, comprising:

an engine, serving as a first power;

a starter generator motor, coupled with the engine, and synchronously rotates with the engine for starting the engine and serving as an assistant power;

a traction motor, serving as a second power;

an automatic manual transmission system, coupled with the traction motor, and performing speed changing by controlling a rotation speed of the starter generator motor and the traction motor;

a battery, electrically coupled with the starter generator motor and the traction motor;

an automatic-switching clutch, coupled between the starter generator motor and the automatic manual transmission system to make the starter generator motor and the automatic transmission system be engaged or disengaged so as to switch a power type; and

a tire set and a transmission shaft, wherein the tire set is coupled with the automatic manual transmission system through the transmission shaft; and

a control unit assembly, controlling the automatic-switching clutch to engage or disengage the engine and the traction motor according to a running state of the vehicle.

12. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit assembly comprises:

a hybrid vehicle control device, sending a control signal according to the running state of the vehicle;

an engine control device, coupled with the engine and the hybrid vehicle control device for controlling an operation of the engine;

a starter generator motor control device, coupled with the starter generator motor and the hybrid vehicle control device for controlling an operation of the starter generator motor;

a traction motor control device, coupled with the traction motor and the hybrid vehicle control device for controlling an operation of the traction motor;

a torque/rotation speed control device, coupled with the automatic manual transmission system, the automatic-switching clutch, the starter generator motor control device, the traction motor control device, and the hybrid vehicle control device through a control circuit for receiving and interpreting the control signal of the hybrid vehicle control device, controlling an engaging or disengaging of the automatic-switching clutch, and controlling the rotation speed of the starter generator motor and the traction motor through the starter generator motor control device and the traction motor control device; and

a battery control device, coupled with the battery and the hybrid vehicle control device for receiving and interpreting the control signal and controlling the battery to supply or store a power according to the control signal, so as to adjust the power supplied by the battery to the starter generator motor and the traction motor, and adjust the power stored from the starter generator motor and the traction motor.

13. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hybrid vehicle control device determines an optimal power type according to a rotation speed and a torque of the engine, and outputs the control signal, so as to select one mode from among a pure electric power mode, a pure engine power mode, a series hybrid power mode, an assistant hybrid power mode, and a parallel hybrid power mode,

when the pure electric power mode is selected, the control signal is transferred to the torque/rotation speed control device for disengaging the automatic-switching clutch and stopping the operation of the engine, and only the traction motor is used to drive the vehicle;

when the series hybrid power mode is selected, the control signal is transferred to the torque/rotation speed control device for disengaging the automatic-switching clutch, such that the engine drives the starter generator motor to generate a power and supplies the power to the battery, and the battery supplies the power to the traction motor, such that the traction motor drives the vehicle;

when the pure engine power mode is selected, the control signal is transferred to the torque/rotation speed control device for engaging the automatic-switching clutch and stopping the operation of the traction motor, and only the engine is used to drive the vehicle;

when the assistant hybrid power mode is selected, the control signal is transferred to the torque/rotation speed control device for engaging the automatic-switching clutch, and the engine, the starter generator motor, and the traction motor are used together to drive the vehicle; and

when the parallel hybrid power mode is selected, the control signal is transferred to the torque/rotation speed control device for engaging the automatic-switching clutch, the starter generator motor supplies a power to the battery, and the engine and the traction motor are used to drive the vehicle.

14. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein a control process of the power-type-controlling unit includes:

when the vehicle is started, initiating the hybrid vehicle control device, and setting a communication between the hybrid vehicle control device and the engine control device, the starter generator motor control device, the traction motor control device, the torque/rotation speed control device, and the battery control device;

determining whether the devices are normal, if no, interrupting the control process;

otherwise, proceeding to a next step;

making the hybrid vehicle control device to execute an algorithm and transferring the control signal to the devices;

making the hybrid vehicle control device to receive information from the devices;

making the hybrid vehicle control device to execute a safety confirmation, if it is determined that the devices have vehicle safety problems, interrupting the control process; and

if it is determined that the devices do not have vehicle safety problems, sending a warning message; and

determining whether the vehicle stops running, if yes, terminating the control process;

otherwise, returning to the step of making the hybrid vehicle control device to execute the algorithm and transferring the control signal.

15. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the automatic manual transmission system comprises a gear-shifting assembly mechanism and a change gear set.

16. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the gear-shifting assembly mechanism comprises an electromagnet-actuated gear-shifting electromagnetic disc or a gear-shifting cam.

17. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the automatic manual transmission system comprises a gear-shifting assembly mechanism and a change gear set.

18. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the automatic-switching clutch is an electromagnet-actuated electromagnetic disc clutch.

19. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the automatic-switching clutch is a centrifugal clutch.

20. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the automatic-switching clutch is an electromagnet-actuated electromagnetic disc clutch.

21. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the automatic-switching clutch is a centrifugal clutch.

22. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the torque/rotation speed control device determines whether or not to perform a gear-shifting process according to the control signal, wherein if no, terminate the gear-shifting process;

otherwise, proceed to a next step;

stopping outputting a torque of the vehicle, and disengaging the automatic-switching clutch;

shifting the change gear set to a predetermined arrangement, such that the change gear set reaches a desired gear ratio;

determining whether the change gear set reaches the predetermined arrangement or not, if no, returning to the previous step of shifting the change gear set to the predetermined arrangement; and

if yes, proceeding to a next step;

making the starter generator motor to regulate a rotation speed of the engine, so as to reach a desired rotation speed; and

making the automatic-switching clutch to engage and recover outputting the torque of the vehicle.

23. The hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the torque/rotation speed control device determines whether or not to perform a gear-shifting process according to the control signal, wherein if no, terminate the gear-shifting process;

and otherwise, proceed to a next step;

stopping outputting a torque of the vehicle and shifting the gear-shifting assembly mechanism to a neutral position;

determining whether the change gear set is shifted to the neutral position, if no, returning to the previous step of stopping outputting the torque of the vehicle and shifting the gear-shifting assembly mechanism to the neutral position;

otherwise, proceeding to a next step;

making the starter generator motor to regulate a rotation speed of the engine, and regulating the rotation speed of the traction motor, so as to reach a desired rotation speed;

determining whether the rotation speed of the starter generator motor and the traction motor reach the desired rotation speed or not, if no, returning to the previous step of making the starter generator motor to regulate the rotation speed of the engine and regulating the rotation speed of the traction motor, so as to reach the desired rotation speed;

otherwise, proceeding to a next step;

shifting the change gear set to a predetermined arrangement, so as to reach a desired gear ratio; and

determining whether the change gear set achieves the predetermined arrangement, if no, returning to the previous step of shifting the change gear set to the predetermined arrangement, so as to reach the desired gear ratio;

otherwise, recovering outputting the torque of the vehicle.

24. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a connection device, wherein the automatic manual transmission system is coupled with the traction motor through the connection device.

25. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the connection device comprises a gear set.

26. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the connection device comprises a sprocket and a chain set.

27. The hybrid power system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the connection device comprises a belt and a pulley set.