Auxiliary power unit for a hybrid electric vehicle

• US 5,606,946 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cummins PowerGen IP, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ONAN Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: O'Gorman, Patrick A., Norrick, Daniel A., Shanks, Eugene G., Data, Stanley E., Rose, Thomas K., Koziara, Robert P., Lent, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US08/473,368
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198 E, 123/196 AB, 123/41.31, 310/54, 290/14, 290/17, 290/45, 290/46, 290/47, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 181/204, 181/224, 181/229, 60/322
• US Class Current: 123/198.00F
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/006 the liquid being oil
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/008 the liquid being water and oil
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/00 Cooling circuits using auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/08 Cooling of piston exterior only, e.g. by jets
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1812 three
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/20 with cylinders all in one line
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/264 Rotating balancer shafts F16F15/262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 27/00 AC commutator motors or generators having mechanical commutator
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/20 with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/203 specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 : structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

An auxiliary power system includes an engine balance system, an integrated alternator/starter, a thermal management system, noise-vibration-harshness control system, an emissions/fuel economy system, an APU master control unit, and a vehicle control system.

Claims

1. A noise, vibration, and harshness control system for a hybrid electric vehicle having an auxiliary power unit, comprising:

an auxiliary power unit enclosure containing the auxiliary power unit for reducing a noise level of the auxiliary power unit;

an induction silencer for separating noise and vibration of the auxiliary power unit to the enclosure so that sound quality of the hybrid electric vehicle is increased, the induction silencer being mounted onto an induction manifold of the auxiliary power unit;

auxiliary power unit exhaust means for reducing noise and vibration from an exhaust manifold of the auxiliary power unit, the auxiliary power unit exhaust means being connected to the exhaust manifold and being mounted onto the enclosure;

means for ventilating air in the enclosure, the ventilating means being at least partially contained in the enclosure; and

wherein the auxiliary power unit enclosure includes a top cover having a plurality of cross ribs inside the top cover, and a bottom container having a plurality of cross ribs inside the bottom container.

2. A noise, vibration, and harshness control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power unit exhaust means includes a first duct and a pipe at least partially retained in the first duct, the pipe being connected to the exhaust manifold at one end, the pipe having a flex section and a catalyst converter section so that an exhaust fuel passing through the catalyst converter section and the flex section to a muffler at a second end of the pipe.

3. A noise, vibration, and harshness control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first duct includes walls which are made of an acoustic material so as to reduce the noise and vibration from the exhaust manifold.

4. A noise, vibration, and harshness control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flex section is interconnected to the catalyst converter section.

5. A noise, vibration, and harshness control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ventilating means includes a second duct for reducing the noise and vibration generated from a ventilation fan which is mounted onto the second duct, the second duct including walls which are made of an acoustic material. power unit, comprising:

an auxiliary power unit enclosure containing the auxiliary power unit for reducing a noise level of the auxiliary power unit;

an induction silencer for separating noise and vibration of the auxiliary power unit to the enclosure so that sound quality of the hybrid electric vehicle is increased, the induction silencer being mounted onto a fuel ignition induction manifold of the auxiliary power unit;

auxiliary power unit exhaust means for reducing noise and vibration from an exhaust manifold of the auxiliary power unit, the auxiliary power unit exhaust means being connected to the exhaust manifold and being mounted onto the enclosure; and

means for ventilating air in the enclosure, the ventilating means being at least partially contained in the enclosure.

6. A hybrid electric vehicle driven by a battery unit, comprising:

an auxiliary power unit for charging the battery unit, the auxiliary power unit including an engine and an alternator/starter;

alternator/starter oil cooling means for cooling alternator/starter of the auxiliary power unit;

thermal management means for cooling and lubricating engine of the auxiliary power unit;

noise, vibration, and harshness control means for reducing noise and vibration generated by the auxiliary power unit, the noise, vibration, and harshness control means comprising;

an auxiliary power unit enclosure containing the auxiliary power unit for reducing a noise level of the auxiliary power unit;

an induction silencer for separating noise and vibration of the auxiliary power unit to the enclosure so that sound quality of the hybrid electric vehicle is increased, the induction silencer being mounted onto an induction manifold of the auxiliary power unit;

auxiliary power unit exhaust means for reducing noise and vibration from an exhaust manifold of the auxiliary power unit, the auxiliary power unit exhaust means being connected to the exhaust manifold and being mounted onto the enclosure; and

means for ventilating air in the enclosure, the ventilating means being at least partially contained in the enclosure;

wherein the auxiliary power unit enclosure includes a top cover having a plurality of cross ribs inside the top cover, and a bottom container having a plurality of cross ribs inside the bottom container;

emission/fuel economy control means for optimizing emission and fuel used by the auxiliary power unit; and

an auxiliary power unit master control unit for charging of the battery unit in an engine running mode, for starting of the engine in an engine starting mode, and for adjusting an engine speed of the auxiliary power unit depending on power demanded on the auxiliary power unit so as to prevent excessive noise, vibration, and harshness.

7. A noise, vibration, and harshness control system for a hybrid electric vehicle having an auxiliary power unit, comprising:

an auxiliary power unit enclosure containing the auxiliary power unit for reducing a noise level of the auxiliary power unit;

an induction silencer for separating noise and vibration of the auxiliary power unit to the enclosure so that sound quality of the hybrid electric vehicle is increased, the induction silencer being mounted onto an induction manifold of the auxiliary power unit;

auxiliary power unit exhaust means for reducing noise and vibration from an exhaust manifold of the auxiliary power unit, the auxiliary power unit exhaust means being connected to the exhaust manifold and being mounted onto the enclosure;

means for ventilating air in the enclosure, the ventilating means being at least partially contained in the enclosure; and

wherein the auxiliary power unit enclosure includes a top cover and a bottom container, the enclosure having rib means for strengthening stiffness of the enclosure.