Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Control After a Requested Change in Vehicle Direction

• US 20110009235A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Soliman, Ihab S., Song, Jing, Ramaswamy, Deepa, Tsakiris, Anthony D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/113 with two input flow paths, e.g. double clutch transmission selection of one of the torque flow paths by the corresponding input clutch
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• 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 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/25 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/428 Double clutch arrangements; Dual clutches
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain includes operating an engine driveably connected to first vehicle wheels, providing an electric motor driveably connected to second vehicle wheels, shifting a gear selector between a forward drive position and a reverse drive position, reducing vehicle speed to or lower than a reference speed, and using a transmission located between the engine and the first wheels and the electric motor to produce reverse or forward drive corresponding to the position to which the gear selector is shifted.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an internal combustion engine driveably connected to a first set of wheels and an electric motor driveable connected to a second set of wheels, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating the engine to power the vehicle;

(b) shifting a gear selector between a forward drive position and a reverse drive position;

(c) reducing vehicle speed to or lower than a reference speed; and

(d) using a transmission located between the engine and the first wheels to produce reverse or forward drive corresponding to the position to which the gear selector is shifted.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

using the motor to produce torque at the second wheels in opposition to the direction of rotation of the second wheels.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

disengaging the transmission to release a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

slipping at least one control element of the transmission to partially disengage a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels through the transmission.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

slipping at least one control element of the transmission to partially disengage a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels through the transmission; and

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

disengaging the transmission to release a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels; and

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises producing no output torque from the motor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises

using an electric generator to produce torque on the engine in opposition to the direction of rotation of the engine.

10. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine driveably connected to first vehicle wheels through an electric machine and a transmission, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating an electric motor to drive second vehicle wheels;

(b) shifting a gear selector between a forward drive position and a reverse drive position;

(c) reducing vehicle speed to or lower than a reference speed; and

(d) using the electric motor to produce reverse drive or forward drive corresponding to the position to which the gear selector is shifted.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step (c) further comprises discontinuing operation of the motor until vehicle speed reaches the reference speed.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein step (c) further comprises:

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

13. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine driveably connected to first vehicle wheels and an electric motor driveably connected to a second vehicle wheels, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating an engine to power to power the vehicle;

(b) shifting a gear selector from a forward drive position to a reverse drive position;

(c) reducing vehicle speed to or lower than a reference speed; and

(d) using a transmission located between the engine and the first wheels to produce reverse drive.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises:

using the motor to produce torque at the second wheels in opposition to the direction of rotation of the second wheels.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises:

disengaging the transmission to release a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises:

slipping at least one control element of the transmission to partially disengage a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels through the transmission.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises:

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises:

slipping at least one control element of the transmission to partially disengage a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels through the transmission; and

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises:

disengaging the transmission to release a drive connection between the engine and the first wheels; and

using the motor to produce a variable output torque defined by a function relating current vehicle speed and said output torque.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) further comprises using an electric generator to produce torque on the engine in opposition to the direction of rotation of the engine.