Hybrid vehicle

• US 5,791,427 A
• Filed: 11/02/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Original Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/556,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.6, 180/65.8, 180/179, 180/165, 310/121, 310/123, 310/102 R
• US Class Current: 180/65.235
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/262 the motor or generator are used as clutch, e.g. between engine and driveshaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/52 Clutch motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/20 Braking by supplying regenerated power to the prime mover of vehicles comprising engine-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/40 : comprising signals other than signals for actuating the final output mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is provided which can produce a decelerating force without detriment to drive quality. The hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electromechanical unit, an electric motor, a decelerating operation detecting unit for detecting that a decelerating operation has been performed, a differential gear unit having at least a first gear element connected to the electromechanical unit, a second gear element connected to an output shaft and a third gear element connected to the internal combustion engine, an engine controller for bringing the internal combustion engine into a non-driving state when it is detected by the decelerating operation detecting unit that a decelerating operation has been performed. When it is detected by the decelerating operation detecting unit that a decelerating operation has been performed, the internal combustion engine is brought into the non-driving state, and the electromechanical unit control unit controls the electromechanical unit so as to compulsorily rotate the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle propelled by drive wheels and comprising:

(a) an internal combustion engine for generating torque in a driving state and for operating in a non-driving state;

(b) a drive shaft for, in the driving state, transmitting the generated torque from the engine to the drive wheels;

(c) an electromechanical unit, which is connected to said internal combustion engine for rotating said internal combustion engine, while operating in the non-driving state, to provide engine braking;

(d) an electric motor which, in a first mode, is driven by current supplied thereto and, in a second mode, receives torque from said drive wheels to produce a regenerative current;

(e) decelerating operation detecting means for detecting that a decelerating operation has been performed;

(f) a differential gear unit having at least a first gear element connected to said electromechanical unit, a second gear element connected to said drive shaft and a third gear element connected to said internal combustion engine, whereby said electromechanical unit is connected to said internal combustion engine through said differential gear unit;

(c) an engine controller for bringing said internal combustion engine into the non-driving state responsive to detection by said decelerating operation detecting means that a decelerating operation has been performed; and

(h) electromechanical unit control means for controlling said electromechanical unit when said internal combustion engine is in the non-driving state.

2. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

(i) electricity storage means for storing electricity; and

(j) a chargeable amount detecting unit for detecting a chargeable amount for said electricity storage means; and

wherein said electromechanical unit control means compares an electricity accumulation amount corresponding to the regenerative current generated by said electric motor with said chargeable amount, and responsive to the electricity accumulation amount exceeding the chargeable amount, controls said electromechanical unit to rotate said internal combustion engine.

3. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said decelerating operation detecting means detects depression of a brake pedal.

4. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said decelerating operation detecting means detects operation of a shift lever.

5. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said electromechanical unit control means controls rotation of said internal combustion engine by controlling said electromechanical means responsive to vehicle speed.

6. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical unit comprises a stator, a rotor, and a brake which is disposed between the rotor and a casing to selectively fix the rotor.

7. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said electromechanical unit control means operates said brake to generate an engine brake torque.

8. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising electricity storage means for storing electricity, wherein said electromechanical unit control means controls the rotation of said internal combustion engine by controlling said electromechanical unit based on a difference between an allowable regenerative torque and an engine braking torque, said allowable regenerative torque corresponding to the amount of the regenerative current which can be supplied to said electricity storage means.

9. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical unit is operable as a generator for generating electricity.

10. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said engine controller establishes the non-driving state by turning off an ignition switch for said internal combustion engine.

11. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said engine controller establishes the non-driving state by operating said internal combustion engine at idle.

12. A hybrid vehicle propelled by drive wheels and comprising:

(a) an internal combustion engine for transmitting torque to the drive wheels in a driving state and for operating in a non-driving state;

(b) an electromechanical unit, which is connected to said internal combustion engine for rotating said internal combustion engine, while operating in the non-driving state, to produce engine braking, said electromechanical unit comprising a rotor, a stator and a coil, one of said rotor and said stator being connected to said engine for rotation therewith;

(c) an output shaft connected to said internal combustion engine via said electromechanical unit;

(d) an electric motor, which is connected to said output shaft and to the other of said rotor and said stator for rotation therewith, for, in a first mode, producing torque responsive to a supply current and, in a second mode, producing a regenerative current responsive to deceleration of the vehicle;

(e) a decelerating operation detecting means for detecting that a decelerating operation has been performed;

(f) an engine controller for changing said internal combustion engine into the non-driving state responsive to detection of a decelerating operation by said decelerating operation detecting means; and

(g) electromechanical unit control means for controlling said electromechanical unit to cause said electromechanical unit to rotate said internal combustion engine while in the non-driving state to provide engine braking.

13. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said decelerating operation detecting means detects depression of a brake pedal.

14. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said decelerating operation detecting means detects operation of a shift lever.

15. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said electromechanical unit control means controls engine braking by said internal combustion engine in said non-driving state by controlling said electromechanical unit responsive to vehicle speed.

16. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said electromechanical unit further comprises a clutch which is disposed between the stator and the rotor to selectively establish a mechanical connection between the stator and the rotor.

17. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 16, in which said electromechanical unit control means operates said clutch to generate an engine brake torque.

18. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

(h) electricity storage means for storing electricity; and

(i) a chargeable amount detecting unit for detecting a chargeable amount for said electricity storage means; and

wherein said electromechanical unit control means compares an electricity accumulation amount corresponding to the-regenerative current generated by said electric motor with said chargeable amount, and responsive to the electricity accumulation amount exceeding the chargeable amount, controls said electromechanical unit to rotate said internal combustion engine.

19. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said electromechanical unit control means controls said electromechanical unit based on a difference between an allowable regenerative torque and a brake torque, said allowable regenerative torque corresponding to the amount of the regenerative current which can be accumulated in said electricity storage means.

20. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said electromechanical unit is operable as a generator for generating electricity.

21. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said engine controller establishes the non-driving state by operating said internal combustion engine at idle.