METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING DRIVELINE DISCONNECT CLUTCH OPERATION

• US 20150251652A1
• Filed: 05/20/2015
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Doering, Jeffrey Allen, Gibson, Alex O`Connor, Reed, Dennis Craig, Pietron, Gregory Michael, Lee, Seung-Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• 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 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/14 in conjunction with braking regeneration
• 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 2030/203 related or induced by the clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0275 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, torque transferred via a driveline disconnect clutch is estimated based on characteristics of a torque converter to improve driveline operation.

Claims

1. A driveline operating method, comprising:

adjusting application force of a driveline disconnect clutch in a vehicle driveline in response to a driveline disconnect clutch torque estimate that is based on torque converter output torque and a driveline integrated starter/generator torque; and

providing driveline braking via a driveline integrated starter/generator torque while rotation of an engine is stopped, the driveline integrated starter/generator torque providing negative torque equivalent to an amount of torque the engine provides during deceleration fuel shut off while providing driveline braking.

2. The method of claim 1, where the driveline disconnect clutch torque estimate is further based on a torque converter impeller inertia.

3. The method of claim 1, where the driveline disconnect clutch torque estimate is further based on a torque converter impeller acceleration.

4. The method of claim 1, where the driveline disconnect clutch is open when providing the driveline braking.

5. The method of claim 1, where the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing charge to an energy storage device while the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing driveline braking.

6. The method of claim 1, where the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing charge to an electric energy consumer while the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing driveline braking.

7. A driveline operating method, comprising:

incrementally increasing a driveline disconnect clutch application command;

adjusting a transfer function of a driveline disconnect clutch in a vehicle driveline in response to incrementally increasing the driveline disconnect clutch application command, a driveline disconnect clutch torque estimate that is based on a torque converter output torque, and a driveline integrated starter/generator torque;

operating the driveline disconnect clutch in response to the transfer function; and

providing driveline braking via a driveline integrated starter/generator while rotation of an engine is stopped and the driveline disconnect clutch is open, the driveline integrated starter/generator providing negative torque equivalent to an amount of torque the engine provides during deceleration fuel shut off while providing driveline braking.

8. The method of claim 7, where a torque converter impeller is rotated at a speed of less than 700 RPM.

9. The method of claim 7, where the transfer function is adjusted based on a difference between a value of the transfer function and a torque estimate based on the driveline disconnect clutch torque estimate that is based on torque converter output torque, and the driveline integrated starter/generator torque.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising increasing current supplied to a device while the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing driveline braking while rotation of the engine is stopped and remains stopped.

11. The method of claim 10, where the current increase is based on a rate of charge being output by the electric machine.

12. The method of claim 10, where the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing charge to an energy storage device while the driveline integrated starter/generator is providing driveline braking.

13. The method of claim 10, where the current increase is based on a state of charge of an energy storage device.

14. The method of claim 10, where the device is a heater.

15. A vehicle system, comprising:

an engine;

a dual mass flywheel including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;

a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;

a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) including a first side coupled to a second side of the driveline disconnect clutch;

a transmission selectively coupled to the engine via the driveline disconnect clutch; and

a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to adjust an estimate of torque transferred through the driveline disconnect clutch in response to a torque converter output torque estimate, and operate the driveline disconnect clutch in response to the estimate of torque transferred through the driveline disconnect clutch, and further instructions to open the driveline disconnect clutch while the engine is stopped.

16. The vehicle system of claim 15, where the torque converter output torque estimate is based on a torque converter impeller speed and a torque converter turbine speed.

17. The vehicle system of claim 15, further comprising instructions for providing driveline braking via the DISG while rotation of an engine is stopped, the DISG providing negative torque equivalent to an amount of torque the engine provides during deceleration fuel shut off while providing driveline braking.

18. The vehicle system of claim 17, further comprising additional instructions to increase a current based on a rate of charge being output by the DISG.

19. The vehicle system of claim 15, further comprising a torque converter including a torque converter clutch and additional instructions to open the torque converter clutch while adjusting the estimate of torque transferred through the driveline disconnect clutch.

20. The vehicle system of claim 19, further comprising additional instructions to rotate an impeller of the torque converter at a higher speed than a turbine of the torque converter.