METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR OPERATING A HYBRID DRIVE

• US 20110015032A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Herfurth, Roland, Beer, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/5
• 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 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 2510/0671 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0695 Inertia
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot

Abstract

In a control unit and a method for operating a hybrid drive arrangement (1) with an internal combustion engine (5), an electric drive (3) and a coupling device (20) that is arranged therebetween, when the internal combustion engine (5) and the electric drive (3) should be coupled together, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine (5) is pilot-controlled to a target rotational speed level (N2) such that the drive shafts (4, 6) of the internal combustion engine (5) and the electric drive (3) run at least approximately synchronously. The pilot-control takes place by the throttle valve. Subsequently, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine (5) is controlled in such a manner that the drive shafts (4, 6) of the internal combustion engine (5) and the electric drive (3) run essentially synchronously. Then, the drive shafts (4, 6) are joined by the coupling device (20).

Claims

1. A method for operating a hybrid drive arrangement with

an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, the internal combustion engine comprising a throttle valve;

an electric drive having a drive shaft;

a coupling arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric drive and controllable on demand in such a way that the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and the drive shaft of the electric drive are coupled to one another in a torque-engaged manner;

the method comprising;

detecting whether there is a requirement to interconnect the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and the drive shaft of the electric drive;

if there is a requirement to interconnect;

pilot-controlling the speed of the internal combustion engine to a target speed level in such a way that the drive shafts of the internal combustion engine and of the electric drive run at least approximately synchronously, the speed of the internal combustion engine being pilot-controlled by a default of a setpoint for an opening angle of the throttle valve;

subsequent regulation of the speed of the internal combustion engine in such a way that the drive shafts of the internal combustion engine and of the electric drive run substantially synchronously;

subsequent coupling of the drive shafts of the internal combustion engine and of the electric drive via the coupling.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening angle of the throttle valve is pilot-controlled for a predetermined time interval.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setpoint for the opening angle is lower than a maximum possible opening angle of the throttle valve.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the internal combustion engine is operated with speed regulation or idle speed regulation before there is a requirement, there being a switch from speed regulation to pilot control when there is a requirement, speed regulation being switched back to following pilot control.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the time interval is selected so as to be dependent on a speed differential between the current speed of the internal combustion engine and a target speed.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the time interval is selected so as to be dependent on a work of friction of the internal combustion engine, which must be carried out until a target speed is reached.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the time interval is substantially proportional to a sum of a kinetic energy to be expended by the internal combustion engine in order to reach the second speed level from a current first speed level, and an energy to be expended by the internal combustion engine in order to overcome an internal friction, values being recorded in each case for the kinetic energy and for the energy in a characteristic map.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein there is a requirement when a supply voltage for the electric drive falls below a threshold value.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is controlled by an electric starting device if there is a corresponding requirement in the control unit.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the throttle valve is opened and then closed again for the predetermined period of time for pilot control.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the period of time is dependent on the speed of the second speed level.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is switched from pilot control to speed regulation when an inlet pipe pressure falls below a threshold value.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein there is a switch from speed regulation of the internal combustion engine to torque regulation of the internal combustion engine following closure of the coupling.

15. A control unit having an operating programme for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

16. A system for operating a hybrid drive arrangement comprising:

an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, the internal combustion engine comprising a throttle valve;

an electric drive having a drive shaft;

a coupling arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric drive and controllable on demand in such a way that the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and the drive shaft of the electric drive are coupled to one another in a torque-engaged manner;

a control unit operable to detect whether there is a requirement to interconnect the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and the drive shaft of the electric drive, and if so, said control unit being further operable;

to pilot-control the speed of the internal combustion engine to a target speed level in such a way that the drive shafts of the internal combustion engine and of the electric drive run at least approximately synchronously, the speed of the internal combustion engine being pilot-controlled by a default of a setpoint for an opening angle of the throttle valve;

to subsequently regulate the speed of the internal combustion engine in such a way that the drive shafts of the internal combustion engine and of the electric drive run substantially synchronously; and

to subsequently couple the drive shafts of the internal combustion engine and of the electric drive via the coupling.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the opening angle of the throttle valve is pilot-controlled for a predetermined time interval.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the setpoint for the opening angle is lower than a maximum possible opening angle of the throttle valve.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the speed of the internal combustion engine is operated with speed regulation or idle speed regulation before there is a requirement, there being a switch from speed regulation to pilot control when there is a requirement, speed regulation being switched back to following pilot control.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the time interval is selected so as to be dependent on a speed differential between the current speed of the internal combustion engine and a target speed.