CONTROL METHOD OF A HYBRID DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES AND A HYBRID DRIVE ASSEMBLY USING SAID METHOD

• US 20100170733A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Piaggio & C SPA (Immsi SPA)
• Original Assignee: Piaggio & C SPA (Immsi SPA)
• Inventors: Capozzella, Paolo, Caleo, Alessandro, Marcacci, Maurizio, Carmignani, Luca
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/38 characterised by the driveline clutches shift clutches within the gearing or transmission B60K6/36 , B60K6/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/126 Scooters
• 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

The present invention relates to a management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly for vehicles, in particular scooters, and a hybrid drive assembly, comprising at least one internal combustion engine and an electric machine, using the method. The method according to the invention comprises the phases of determining a desired torque and a vehicle state on the basis of a set of received input parameters and/or commands and is characterized in that it comprises the phases of operating the internal combustion engine so that it does not provide torque and operating the electric machine so that it functions as generator for charging an accumulator, when the torque requested is negative; operating the internal combustion engine and/or the electric machine so as to satisfy the required torque, and/or bring the accumulator to a pre-established charge level and/or run the internal combustion engine under maximum efficiency regime conditions, when the torque required is positive and lower than the maximum torque which can be supplied by the internal combustion engine; and operating the internal combustion engine and/or the electric machine with the supply of a propulsive torque so as to satisfy the torque required, when the desired torque is positive and higher than the maximum torque which can be supplied by the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, when requested by the pilot and in accordance with the charge level of the batteries, the control method switches off the internal combustion engine and drives the electric engine only so as to supply the torque requested.

Claims

1. A management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly of a vehicle, in particular a scooter, comprising at least one internal combustion engine (3) and an electric machine (32), the method comprising the phases of:

a) determining a required torque and a vehicle state based on a series of received input parameters and/or commands ; and

characterized in that it comprises the phases of;

b) operating said internal combustion engine (3) so that it does not supply torque and operating the electric machine (32) so that it functions as a generator for charging an accumulator system (36), when said torque required is negative;

c) operating said internal combustion engine (3) and/or said electric machine (32) so as to

satisfy said required torque; and

/or

bring said accumulator system (36) to a pre-established charge level and/or operate said internal combustion engine (3) under maximum efficiency regime conditions, when the torque required is positive and lower than the maximum torque which can be supplied by said internal combustion engine (3);

d) operating said internal combustion engine (3) and/or

said electric machine (32) supplying propulsive torque, in order to satisfy said torque required, when said torque required is positive and higher than the maximum torque which can be supplied by said internal combustion engine (3).

2. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein said series of parameters and/or commands used in determining said torque required and said vehicle state is selected from the group consisting of:

the management strategy of said vehicle;

the rotation of an accelerator handle (44) of said vehicle;

the state of at least one brake (45) of said vehicle;

—

the rotation speed of a rotor (35) of said electric machine (32);

the torque supplied by the internal combustion engine (3);

the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine (3);

the angular position of a butterfly valve (40) of said internal combustion engine (3);

the air flow inside said internal combustion engine (3);

—

the charge state of said accumulator system (36) and

combinations thereof.

3. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 2, wherein said command relating to the management strategy of said vehicle can be selected from the group consisting of:

pure electric operative mode, in which the electric machine (32) alone is used for the propulsion;

standard hybrid operative mode, in which both the electric machine (32) and the internal combustion engine (3) are used for the propulsion and the charge state of the accumulator system (36) is maintained at a prefixed level;

high charge hybrid operative mode, in which both the electric machine (32) and the internal combustion engine (3) operate so as to satisfy the torque required and charge the accumulator system (36) as much as possible;

low charge hybrid operative mode, in which both the electric machine (32) and the internal combustion engine (3) are operated so as to satisfy the torque required while minimizing the fuel consumptions.

4. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein, when said management strategy is the standard hybrid operative mode :

in said phase c) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to supply all the torque required, also using a torque in excess for the recharging of said accumulator system (36) to a pre-established charge level, if said accumulator system (36) has a charge level lower than said pre-established level; and

in said phase d) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to supply the maximum suppliable torque and said electric machine (32) is driven so as to satisfy the higher torque request.

5. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein, when said management strategy is the standard hybrid operative mode :

—

in said phase c) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to operate under maximum efficiency regime conditions, wherein said accumulator system (36) is substantially at a pre-established charge level, and said electric machine (32) is driven so as to satisfy the higher torque request; and

in said phase d) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to supply the maximum suppliable torque and said electric machine (32) is driven so as to satisfy the higher torque request.

6. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein, when said management strategy is the high charge hybrid operative mode:

in said phase c) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to supply all the torque required, using a torque in excess for the recharging of said accumulator system (36), if said internal combustion engine (3) is operating under maximum efficiency regime conditions; and

in said phase d), said electric machine (32) is driven so as to supply a limited propulsive torque and said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to supply the maximum suppliable torque.

7. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein, when said management strategy is the low charge hybrid operative mode:

in said phase c) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to operate under maximum efficiency regime conditions and said electric machine (32) is driven so as to satisfy the higher torque request; and

in said phase d) said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to supply the maximum suppliable torque and said electric machine (32) is driven so as to satisfy the higher torque request.

8. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 1, also comprising the phase of sending a negative torque reference to the electric machine (32) at the activation of at least one brake (45).

9. The management method of the functioning mode of a hybrid drive assembly according to claim 3, wherein, when said management strategy is the pure electric operative mode :

in said phase b) said electric machine (32) supplies a braking torque;

in said phases c) and d) said electric machine alone (32) is driven so as to supply a propulsive torque.

10. A hybrid drive assembly for vehicles, in particular scooters, comprising at least one internal combustion engine (3) and a least one electric machine (32) which can be activate alternatively to or in combination with said internal combustion engine (3) characterized in that it comprises an energy management unit (38) for the piloting of said at least one internal combustion engine (3) and at least one electric machine (32) in response to a series of input signals according to the method defined in claim 1.

11. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said series of input signals corresponds to one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of:

the management strategy of said vehicle,

the rotation of an accelerator handle (44) of said vehicle,—

the state of at least one brake (45) of said vehicle;

the rotation speed of a rotor (35) of said electric machine (32);

the angular position of a butterfly valve (40) of said internal combustion engine (3);

the torque supplied by the internal combustion engine (3);

the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine (3);

the air flow inside said internal combustion engine (3);

the charge state of said accumulator system (36).

12. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said electric machine (32) is of the reversible type. 13. The hybrid drive assembly according to one of the claims from 10 to 12, characterized in that said electric machine (32) comprises a stator (33) with windings of the three-phase type and a rotor (35).

14. The hybrid drive assembly according to claims 10, characterized in that said rotor —

BO—

OS) has permanent magnets, said magnets being positioned inside the rotor (35) so as to produce an asymmetry in the magnetic circuit of the rotor.

16. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said electric machine (32) has a control electronics (50) comprising a first electronic device (51) suitable for feeding the phases of said electric machine (32) and/or a second electronic device (52) suitable for raising the input voltage.

17. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that said second electronic device (52) is produced with a high frequency transformer.

18. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that said first electronic device (51) is an inverter and said second electronic device (52) is a booster.

19. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said internal combustion engine (3) is driven by a control device (39) so as to supply a torque.

20. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that said energy management unit (38) is implemented on at least one selected from said control electronics (50) of said electric machine (32) and said control device (39) of said internal combustion engine (3).

21. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that said energy management unit (38) sends control signals to at least one selected from

said control electronics (50) of said electric machine (32);

said control device (39) of said internal combustion engine (3);

—

said accumulator system (36);

a digital dashboard (74).

22. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that said energy management unit (38) communicates with said control electronics (50), control device (39), accumulator system (36) and digital dashboard (74) through a communication line (75).

23. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that said communication line (75) uses the CAN (Control Area Network) communication protocol.

24. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said internal combustion engine (3) is coupled with a centrifugal mass clutch (8).

25. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said internal combustion engine (3) is coupled with a driven clutch (21).

26. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 25, characterized in that said electric machine (32) is used for starting the internal combustion engine (3) by performing the “

idle-stop”

strategy.

27. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 25, characterized in that said electric machine (32) is driven so as to supply the required propulsion and said internal combustion engine (3) is driven so as to operate in the maximum efficiency points, recharging said accumulator system (36) through an electric generator assembled on an outlet axis of said internal combustion engine (3).

29. A product for a computer directly chargeable in the internal memory of a digital computer comprising code portions suitable for implementing the phases of claim 1 when said product is run on said computer.

15. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 13 characterized in that said stator (33) is fitted on a fixed casing (34) coaxially to the transmission shaft (6) of said vehicle, and said rotor (35) is fitted directly onto said transmission shaft (6).

28. The hybrid drive assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said control electronics (50) is used for recharging said accumulator system (36).