Hybrid Vehicle

• US 20090029823A1
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: FRECH, Rolf, Goehring, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/604 Merging friction therewith; Adjusting their repartition
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• 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

In a hybrid vehicle having at least one electric motor which is usable as a generator and charges a vehicle battery during a recuperation phase, there is provided an additional actuating element independent of a brake system which is used to transfer the electric motor into its recuperation state without activating the brake system. Alternatively, the additional actuating element may operate in conjunction with the brake system, such that the brake pedal may also be used to transfer the electric motor into its recuperation state.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

at least one electric motor which is usable as a generator during a recuperation phase to charge a vehicle battery; and

an actuating element which is independent of a brake system of the vehicle and which when actuated transfers the electric motor into or out of a recuperation state without activating the brake system.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is also transferable into the recuperation state by an actuation of the brake system of the vehicle.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is manually operable.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the activating element is a steering wheel button.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is a steering wheel paddle.

6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is a steering column lever.

7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a brake pedal of the brake system provides an additional actuator for transferring the electric motor into the recuperation state, the brake pedal having a haptically perceptible pressure point up to which only the electric motor is transferred into the recuperation state and beyond which the brake system is additionally activated.

8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein recuperation state actuation through the brake pedal is implemented so that the amount of brake pedal actuation influences a degree of recuperation of the electric motor.