VEHICLE

• US 20100133024A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Atsumi, Yoshiaki, Hirai, Makoto, Kinomura, Shigeki, Miwa, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 8,122,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.210
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0546 Arrangements for checking the position of the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0561 Locking means for the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0576 with actuator fixed to the vehicle body
• 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 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 : by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 : Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 : Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 : Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 : Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 : Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 : Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• 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 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 : operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/34 : for fuel inlet covers essentially flush with the vehicle surface
• 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: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A vehicle includes: an engine driven with gasoline; a lid member opening/closing an opening of an accommodation room that accommodates a nozzle receiving unit when gasoline is supplied; a rotating electric machine driven on electric power; a charging/power feeding unit receiving electric power; a lid member opening/closing an opening of an accommodation room accommodating a charging/power feeding unit; and an open/close control mechanism setting the other of the lid member and the lid member in the closed position when one of the lid member and the lid member is set in the open position.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first drive unit driven by a first energy source;

a first storage unit capable of storing said first energy source;

a first energy receiving unit having a first energy supply unit attachably and detachably connected thereto, and receiving said first energy source;

a first lid member capable of opening and closing an opening of a first compartment accommodating said first energy receiving unit;

a first connection unit connected to said first energy receiving unit and guiding to said first storage unit said first energy source received by said first energy receiving unit;

a second drive unit driven by a second energy source different from said first energy source;

a second storage unit storing said second energy source therein;

a second energy receiving unit having a second energy supply unit attachably and detachably connected thereto, and receiving said second energy source;

a second lid member capable of opening and closing an opening of a second compartment accommodating said second energy receiving unit;

a second connection unit connected to said second energy receiving unit and guiding to said second storage unit said second energy source received by said second energy receiving unit; and

an open/close control mechanism holding the other of said first lid member and said second lid member in a closed position when one of said first lid member and said second lid member is set in an open position.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said open/close control mechanism includes:

a first detection unit detecting that said first lid member is in said open/closed position;

a second detection unit detecting that said second lid member is in said open/closed position;

a first lock unit holding said first lid member in said closed position;

a second lock unit holding said second lid member in said closed position;

a first disengagement unit capable of disengaging said first lid member locked by said first lock unit in said closed position from said closed position;

a second disengagement unit capable of disengaging said second lid member locked by said second lock unit in said closed position from said closed position; and

a control unit operative in response to said first detection unit detecting that said first lid member is in said open position for prohibiting driving said second disengagement unit, and operative in response to said second detection unit detecting that said second lid member is in said open position for prohibiting driving said first disengagement unit.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said first energy source is fuel;

said first storage unit is a fuel tank storing said fuel therein in a form of liquid;

said first connection unit is a piping guiding said fuel in said form of liquid from said first energy receiving unit to said fuel tank;

said second energy source is electric power;

said second storage unit is a power storage device storing direct current electric power as said second energy source; and

said second connection unit is a line passing electric power.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, said second drive unit being a rotating electric machine driven by said second energy source of alternate current electric power, said rotating electric machine including a first rotating electric machine having a first multiphase winding and a first neutral point of said first multiphase winding, and a second rotating electric machine having a second multiphase winding and a second neutral point of said second multiphase winding, said second connection unit including a first line connected to said first neutral point and a second line connected to said second neutral point, the vehicle further comprising:

a first inverter receiving said second energy source of direct current electric power from said power storage device, converting said second energy source of direct current electric power to said second energy source of alternate current electric power, and supplying said second energy source of alternate current electric power to said first rotating electric machine;

a second inverter receiving said second energy source of direct current electric power from said power storage device, converting said second energy source of direct current electric power to said second energy source of alternate current electric power, and supplying said second energy source of alternate current electric power to said second rotating electric machine; and

an inverter control unit controlling said first and second inverters to convert alternate current electric power provided from said second connection unit to said first and second neutral points to direct current electric power and supply said direct current electric power to said power storage device.

5. The vehicle according to claim 3, said second drive unit being a rotating electric machine driven by said second energy source of alternate current electric power, said rotating electric machine including a first rotating electric machine having a first multiphase winding and a first neutral point of said first multiphase winding, and a second rotating electric machine having a second multiphase winding and a second neutral point of said second multiphase winding, said second connection unit including a first line connected to said first neutral point and a second line connected to said second neutral point, the vehicle further comprising:

a first inverter receiving said second energy source of direct current electric power from said power storage device, converting said second energy source of direct current electric power to said second energy source of alternate current electric power, and supplying said second energy source of alternate current electric power to said first rotating electric machine;

a second inverter receiving said second energy source of direct current electric power from said power storage device, converting said second energy source of direct current electric power to said second energy source of alternate current electric power, and supplying said second energy source of alternate current electric power to said second rotating electric machine; and

an inverter control unit controlling said first and second inverters to convert direct current electric power supplied from said power storage device to said first and second inverters to alternate current electric power and supply said alternate current electric power through said second connection unit to an external load.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said open/close control mechanism includes a coupling member coupling said first lid member and said second lid member; and

when one of said first lid member and said second lid member is set in said open position, a tension is caused in said coupling member to close the other lid member.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said coupling member includes a wire coupling said first lid member and said second lid member.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said open/close control mechanism includes an operation mechanism switchable between a first position that allows said first lid member to be operable to be opened/closed and sets said second lid member in said closed position, and a second position that allows said second lid member to be operable to be opened/closed and sets said first lid member in said closed position;

said operation mechanism includes an operation portion switchable by a user, a coupling member for a first operation coupling said operation portion and said first lid member, and a coupling member for a second operation coupling said operation portion and said second lid member;

said operation mechanism is set in said first position to;

provide said coupling member for said first operation with a slack to allow said first lid member to be operable to be opened/closed; and

also reduce a slack of said coupling member for said second operation to set said second lid member in said closed position; and

said operation mechanism is set in said second position to;

reduce said slack of said coupling member for said first operation to set said first lid member in said closed position; and

also provide said coupling member for said second operation with said slack to allow said second lid member to be operable to be opened/closed.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein:

said operation portion includes a rotatably provided rotation member, and an axial portion rotatably supporting said rotation member; and

said coupling member for said first operation is connected to said rotation member at a portion remote from said axial portion, and said coupling member for said second operation is connected to said rotation member at a portion located opposite to said portion having said coupling member for said first operation connected thereto with said axial portion posed therebetween.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a first drive unit driven by a first energy source;

a first storage unit capable of storing said first energy source;

a first energy receiving unit having a first energy supply unit attachably and detachably connected thereto, and receiving said first energy source;

a first lid member capable of opening and closing an opening of a first compartment accommodating said first energy receiving unit;

a first connection unit connected to said first energy receiving unit and guiding to said first storage unit said first energy source received by said first energy receiving unit;

a second drive unit driven by a second energy source different from said first energy source;

a second storage unit storing said second energy source therein;

a second energy receiving unit having a second energy supply unit attachably and detachably connected thereto, and receiving said second energy source;

a second lid member capable of opening and closing an opening of a second compartment accommodating said second energy receiving unit;

a second connection unit connected to said second energy receiving unit and guiding to said second storage unit said second energy source received by said second energy receiving unit;

an open/close control device controlling opening/closing said first lid member and said second lid member; and

an output unit including an alarm unit performing an alarm operation,

said open/close control device including a unit for determining whether said lids are open/closed, determining whether said first lid member and said second lid member are in an open position or a closed position, and an output unit driving unit driving said output unit in accordance with open/close information received from said unit for determining whether said lids are open/closed,

said output unit driving unit driving said alarm unit when at least one of said first lid member and said second lid member is in said open position, and stopping driving said alarm unit when said first lid member and said second lid member are both set in said closed position.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said output unit includes a first lid driving unit driving said first lid member in said open position to set said first lid member in said closed position, and a second lid driving unit driving said second lid member in said open position to set said second lid member in said closed position; and

said open/close control device includes a connection/disconnection determination unit for determining whether said first energy receiving unit has said first energy supply unit connected thereto/disconnected therefrom and whether said second energy receiving unit has said second energy supply unit connected thereto/disconnected therefrom, and for accordingly transmitting connection/disconnection information to said output unit driving unit;

said output unit driving unit drives said first and second lid driving units when said first lid member and said second lid member are in said open position, said first energy receiving unit does not have said first energy supply unit connected thereto, and said second energy receiving unit does not have said second energy supply unit connected thereto;

said output unit driving unit drives said first lid driving unit when said first lid member and said second lid member are in said open position, said first energy receiving unit does not have said first energy supply unit connected thereto, and said second energy receiving unit has said second energy supply unit connected thereto; and

said output unit driving unit drives said second lid driving unit when said first lid member and said second lid member are in said open position, said first energy receiving unit has said first energy supply unit connected thereto, and said second energy receiving unit does not have said second energy supply unit connected thereto.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

said open/close control device includes a first measurement unit measuring a period of time for which said first lid member is in said open position, and transmitting said period of time, as measured, as first measurement information to said output unit driving unit, and a second measurement unit measuring a period of time for which said second lid member is in said open position, and transmitting said period of time, as measured, as second measurement information to said output unit driving unit;

said output unit includes a first lid driving unit driving said first lid member in said open position to set said first lid member in said closed position, and a second lid driving unit driving said second lid member in said open position to set said second lid member in said closed position;

said open/close control device includes a connection/disconnection determination unit for determining whether said first energy receiving unit has said first energy supply unit connected thereto/disconnected therefrom and whether said second energy receiving unit has said second energy supply unit connected thereto/disconnected therefrom, and for accordingly transmitting connection/disconnection information to said output unit driving unit;

said output unit driving unit drives said first lid driving unit when said first lid member is in said open position continuously for a predetermined period of time, said second lid member is in said closed position continuously for said predetermined period of time, and said first energy receiving unit continuously for said predetermined period of time does not have said first energy supply unit connected thereto; and

said output unit driving unit drives said second lid driving unit when said second lid member is in said open position continuously for a predetermined period of time, said first lid member is in said closed position continuously for said predetermined period of time, and said second energy receiving unit continuously for said predetermined period of time does not have said second energy supply unit connected thereto.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein:

said open/close control device includes a third measurement unit measuring a driving time of said first lid driving unit and transmitting said driving time as third measurement information to said output unit driving unit, and a fourth measurement unit measuring a driving time of said second lid driving unit and transmitting said driving time as fourth measurement information to said output unit driving unit;

when said driving time of said first lid driving unit is larger than a predetermined time said output unit driving unit stops driving said first lid driving unit and drives said alarm unit; and

when said driving time of said second lid driving unit is larger than a predetermined time said output unit driving unit stops driving said second lid driving unit and drives said alarm unit.