Drive Device for Vehicle

• US 20090230908A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Hiroshi, Soma, Takaya, Sawada, Hiroki, Mogari, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/452
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• 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 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 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18118 : Hill holding
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 : Super-capacities
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to suppress reverse of a vehicle on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver. A drive device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: an estimator for estimating whether or not reverse of the vehicle occurs on an up-hill road; a rotating electric machine for generating electric power by rotation of a drive wheel in the vehicle when the vehicle reverses; a capacitor for electrically charging the electric power generated by the rotating electric machine; and a battery connected in parallel to the capacitor, wherein the estimator estimates that the reverse of the vehicle occurs when a current traveling road is an up-hill road and a vehicular speed is smaller than a threshold whereas the electric power of the capacitor is electrically discharged to the battery when the reverse of the vehicle is estimated and the amount of electric energy of the capacitor is greater than a certain threshold.

Claims

1. A drive device for a vehicle, comprising:

a drive shaft connected to a drive wheel of a vehicle;

a rotating electric machine for traveling said vehicle, connected to said drive shaft, for generating electric power with rotation of said drive shaft when a reverse of said vehicle occurs on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver;

a capacitor connected to said rotating electric machine, for electrically charging electric power generated by said rotating electric machine; and

a control unit for controlling electric equipment including said rotating electric machine and said capacitor;

wherein

said control unit estimates whether or not said reverse occurs, and

electrically discharges electric power electrically charged to said capacitor when an occurrence of said reverse is estimated.

2. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit calculates an amount of electric energy electrically charged to said capacitor, and

electrically discharges said electric power until said calculated amount of electric energy becomes a predetermined value or lower.

3. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary battery connected to said rotating electric machine in parallel to said capacitor;

wherein

said control unit electrically discharges the electric power of said capacitor in such a manner as to electrically charge said secondary battery.

4. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said rotating electric machine includes a first rotating electric machine and a second rotating electric machine connected to said drive shaft,

said drive device further comprises a gear mechanism including a first gear connected to said drive shaft, a second gear meshing with said first gear and being connected to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine for said vehicle, and a third gear meshing with said first gear via said second gear and being connected to a rotation shaft of said first rotating electric machine.

7. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control unit estimates whether or not said reverse occurs based on a gradient of said up-hill road, a brake pedaling force and a vehicular speed.

5. A drive device for a vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

a first rotating electric machine;

a drive shaft connected to a drive wheel;

a distributing mechanism connected to said engine, said first rotating electric machine and said drive shaft, for distributing power from said engine to said first rotating electric machine and said drive shaft;

a second rotating electric machine connected to said drive shaft;

a first inverter connected to said first rotating electric machine, for converting and outputting electric power;

a second inverter connected to said second rotating electric machine, for converting and outputting electric power;

a converter connected to said first inverter and said second inverter, for transforming and outputting a voltage;

a secondary battery connected to said converter;

a capacitor connected to said first inverter and said second inverter in parallel to said converter; and

a control unit for controlling electric equipment including said first inverter, said second inverter and said converter;

wherein

said control unit estimates whether or not a reverse of said vehicle occurs on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver, and

controls said converter in such a manner as to step down a voltage input from said capacitor to output the voltage to said secondary battery when an occurrence of said reverse is estimated.

6. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a voltmeter for detecting a voltage at said capacitor, wherein

said control unit calculates an amount of electric energy electrically charged to said capacitor based on the voltage at said capacitor, and

controls said converter by stepping down a voltage input from said capacitor to output the voltage to said secondary battery until the amount of electric energy electrically charged to said capacitor becomes a predetermined value or lower when the occurrence of said reverse is estimated.

8. A drive device for a vehicle, comprising:

a drive shaft connected to a drive wheel of a vehicle;

a rotating electric machine for traveling said vehicle, connected to said drive shaft, for generating electric power with rotation of said drive shaft when a reverse of said vehicle occurs on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver;

a capacitor connected to said rotating electric machine, for electrically charging electric power generated by said rotating electric machine; and

control means for controlling electric equipment including said rotating electric machine and said capacitor;

wherein

said control means includes;

estimating means for estimating whether or not said reverse occurs; and

electrically discharging means for electrically discharging the electric power electrically charged to said capacitor when the occurrence of said reverse is estimated.

9. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said control means further includes means for calculating the amount of electric energy electrically charged to said capacitor;

and

said electrically discharging means includes means for electrically discharging said electric power until said calculated amount of electric energy becomes a predetermined value or lower.

10. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a secondary battery connected to said rotating electric machine in parallel to said capacitor;

wherein

said electrically discharging means includes means for electrically discharging the electric power of said capacitor in such a manner as to electrically charge said secondary battery.

11. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

said rotating electric machine includes a first rotating electric machine and a second rotating electric machine connected to said drive shaft,

said drive device further comprises a gear mechanism including a first gear connected to said drive shaft, a second gear meshing with said first gear and being connected to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine for said vehicle, and a third gear meshing with said first gear via said second gear and being connected to a rotation shaft of said first rotating electric machine.

14. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said estimating means includes means for estimating whether or not said reverse occurs based on a gradient of said up-hill road, a brake pedaling force and a vehicular speed.

12. A drive device for a vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

a first rotating electric machine;

a drive shaft connected to a drive wheel;

a distributing mechanism connected to said engine, said first rotating electric machine and said drive shaft, for distributing power from said engine to said first rotating electric machine and said drive shaft;

a second rotating electric machine connected to said drive shaft;

a first inverter connected to said first rotating electric machine, for converting and outputting electric power;

a second inverter connected to said second rotating electric machine, for converting and outputting electric power;

a converter connected to said first inverter and said second inverter, for transforming and outputting a voltage;

a secondary battery connected to said converter;

a capacitor connected to said first inverter and said second inverter in parallel to said converter; and

a control unit for controlling electric equipment including said first inverter, said second inverter and said converter;

wherein

said control unit includes;

estimating means for estimating whether or not a reverse of said vehicle occurs on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver; and

converter controlling means for controlling said converter by stepping down a voltage input from said capacitor to output the voltage to said secondary battery when the occurrence of said reverse is estimated.

13. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising a voltmeter for detecting the voltage at said capacitor, wherein

said control unit further includes means for calculating an amount of electric energy electrically charged to said capacitor based on the voltage at said capacitor;

and

said converter controlling means includes means for controlling said converter by stepping down a voltage input from said capacitor to output the voltage to said secondary battery until the amount of electric energy electrically charged to said capacitor becomes a predetermined value or lower when the occurrence of said reverse is estimated.