METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR ROTATIONAL SPEEDS IN AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION

• US 20090118074A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: BMW AG (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company), Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Zettel, Andrew M., Heap, Anthony H., Van Horn, Charles J., Wu, Peter E., Martini, Ryan D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• 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 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0004 In digital systems, e.g. discrete-time systems involving sampling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0009 Proportional differential [PD] controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1015 Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 : Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0661 : Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 : Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 : Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1011 : Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1016 : Input speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1022 : Input torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/04 : Monitoring the functioning of the control system
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 : Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/102 : the input or output shaft of the transmission is connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/104 : Power split variators with one end of the CVT connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/106 : with switching means to provide two variator modes or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 : with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2041 : with four engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A powertrain includes an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member. Powertrain operation includes monitoring operator inputs, and determining input speeds and changes in input speeds for the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. The input speeds are compared to threshold input speeds, and the changes in input speeds are compared to threshold changes in input speeds. Input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine are reduced when any one of the input speeds and changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a powertrain comprising an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring operator inputs;

determining input speeds and changes in input speeds of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine;

comparing the input speeds to threshold input speeds;

comparing the changes in input speeds to threshold changes in input speeds; and

,

reducing input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to the transmission when any one of the input speeds and the changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to the transmission based upon the input speeds of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising substantially immediately reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to zero torque when one of the input speeds and the changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising ramping down the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine over a predetermined duration when one of the input speeds and the changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising ramping down the input torques of one of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine when one of the input speeds and the changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequently discontinuing reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to the transmission when the input speeds are substantially less than the predetermined speed thresholds.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to the transmission;

comparing the input torques to threshold input torques; and

reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine when any one of the input speeds, changes in input speeds, and input torques exceeds the corresponding threshold.

8. A method for controlling operation of a powertrain comprising an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines to transmit mechanical power to an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring input speeds of the engine and the first and second electric machines;

monitoring operations of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines;

determining input speeds and changes in input speeds for the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines;

comparing the input speeds to threshold input speeds;

comparing the changes in input speeds to threshold changes in input speeds; and

reducing power outputs of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when any one of the input speeds and the changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining time-rate changes in input speeds of the engine and the first and second electric machines, and

decreasing the power outputs of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when the time-rate changes in one of the input speeds exceeds a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring operator inputs and input torques from the engine and the electric machines to the transmission; and

reducing power outputs of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when the input torque from one of the engine and the first and second electric machines exceeds a threshold input torque determined based upon the operator inputs and the input speeds of the engine and the first and second electric machines.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising discontinuing reducing power outputs of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when the input speeds are less than the predetermined speed thresholds.

12. A method for controlling a powertrain comprising an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output, the method comprising:

monitoring operator inputs;

monitoring operation of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines;

determining input speeds, changes in input speeds, and input torques for the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines to the transmission;

comparing the input speeds to threshold input speeds;

comparing the changes in input speeds to threshold changes in input speeds;

comparing the input torques to threshold input torques;

reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when any one of the input speeds, changes in input speeds, and input torques exceeds the corresponding threshold; and

discontinuing reducing the input torques from the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when the input speeds are substantially less than the threshold input speeds.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines based upon the input speeds of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising substantially immediately reducing the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines to zero torque when one of the input speeds, changes in input speeds, and input torques exceeds the corresponding threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising ramping down the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines over a predetermined duration when one of the input speeds, changes in input speeds, and input torques exceeds the corresponding threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising ramping down the input torque of one of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines when one of the input speeds, changes in input speeds, and input torques exceeds the corresponding threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising varying the ramping down of the input torques of the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines.