POWERTRAIN CONFIGURATIONS FOR SINGLE-MOTOR, TWO-CLUTCH HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• US 20140228168A1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Electrified Power NA Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frank, Andrew, Kaufman, Patrick, Lin, Chan-Chiao
• Granted Patent: US 10,836,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• 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 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed. One powertrain comprises: a prime mover; an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch; a transmission, said transmission mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator via a second clutch; a battery, said battery electrically coupled to said electric motor-generator, said battery capable of supplying electrical energy to said electric motor-generator; and a controller, said controller capable of supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said transmission such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of operating modes. Manual control modes for the vehicle and transmission of the HEV or PHEV are used for the purpose of optimizing power, efficiency and the use of either one of the energy sources obtained from off-board sources.

Claims

1. A powertrain for HEV/PHEV vehicles, said powertrain comprising:

a prime mover;

an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch;

a transmission, said transmission mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator and said prime mover via a second clutch;

a battery, said battery electrically coupled to said electric motor-generator, said battery capable of supplying electrical energy to said electric motor-generator; and

a controller, said controller capable of supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said transmission such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of powertrain operating modes.

2. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein said powertrain operating modes comprises one of group, said group comprising:

auto mode, EV mode, parallel hybrid mode, standing recharge mode and ICE mode.

3. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein said powertrain further comprises a driver interface, said driver interface capable of receiving driver selection of a powertrain operating mode.

4. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein said transmission comprises one of a group, said group comprising:

manual transmission, automatic transmission, CVT transmission, discrete manual transmission, dual clutch automated transmission, planetary automatic transmission, electronic transmission.

5. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein said prime mover comprises one of a group, said group comprising:

an ICE engine, a fuel cell, and hydrogen engine.

6. The powertrain of claim 1 wherein said prime mover is sized to be substantially meet the average power requirements for the vehicle in which said powertrain operates.

7. The powertrain of claim 6 wherein said electric motor-generator is sized to be substantially equal to or greater than the power of the prime mover.

8. The powertrain of claim 7 wherein said electric motor-generator comprises a through-shaft.

9. The powertrain of claim 8 wherein said through-shaft of the electric motor-generator is capable of transmitting the greater of the combined torque from the prime mover or the electric motor-generator.

10. A method for controlling the powertrain for an HEV/PHEV vehicle, said powertrain comprising a prime mover;

an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch;

a transmission, said transmission mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator via a second clutch;

a battery, said battery electrically coupled to said electric motor-generator, said battery capable of supplying electrical energy to said electric motor-generator; and

a controller, said controller capable of receiving signals from one or more sensors and supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said transmission such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of operating modes;

the steps of said method comprising;

receiving any driver selection for operating mode of the vehicle;

if driver selection is ICE mode, operate in Engine Only mode until a different operating mode is selected;

if driver selection is EV mode or auto mode,

(i) determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries;

(ii) if SOC is greater than a desired threshold, operate in Electric Motor Only mode;

(iii) if SOC is less than a desired threshold, operate in HEV mode; and

if driver selection is HEV mode, operate in HEV mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said HEV mode further comprises:

determining the speed of the vehicle;

if the speed of the vehicle is less than a desired threshold, then operate in Electric Motor mode;

if the speed of the vehicle is greater than a desired threshold,

(i) start the prime mover;

(ii) if SOC is less than desired target, perform recharge battery mode;

(iii) if SOC is not less than a desired target, perform discharge battery mode.

12. A method for recommending a shift change to a driver of a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a powertrain, said powertrain comprising a prime mover;

an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch;

a transmission, said transmission mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator via a second clutch, the steps of said method comprising;

determining if speed of the vehicle is greater than a desired threshold;

if the speed of the vehicle is greater than the desired threshold,

(i) calculate the average power at the wheels;

(ii) if the average power demanded if less than the power available from a mover than the next higher gear, recommend a shift up in the transmission;

(iii) if the average power demanded is greater than the power available from the mover, determine whether the power demanded from the mover is greater than the power available from the mover;

(iv) if the power demanded from the mover is greater than the power available from the mover, then recommend a shift down in the transmission;

(v) otherwise, stay in present gear.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the mover is one of a group, said group comprising:

ICE and electric motor generator.