Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same

• US 5,903,112 A
• Filed: 04/26/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Eiji, Kanamori, Akihiko, Kawabata, Yasutomo, Miyatani, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/638,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 315/9, 315/10, 315/11, 315/376, 315/379, 315/50, 315/381, 315/280, 315/366, 315/49, 315/78, 315/79, 315/76, 315/87, 315/139, 477/5, 477/7, 477/15, 477/20, 477/30, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.2, 180/65.5, 310/101, 310/102 R, 310/107, 310/92, 310/108, 310/109
• US Class Current: 318/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/262 the motor or generator are used as clutch, e.g. between engine and driveshaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/22 characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/52 Clutch motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• 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 7/003 Dynamic electric braking by short circuiting the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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 10/26 : 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 20/10 : Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1061 : Output power
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 51/00 : Dynamo-electric gears, i.e. dynamo-electric means for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts
• 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 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• 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 power output apparatus (20) of the present invention includes a clutch motor (30), an assist motor (40), and a controller (80) for controlling the clutch motor (30) and the assist motor (40). The clutch motor (30) includes an outer rotor (32) linked with a crankshaft (56) of a gasoline engine (50) and an inner rotor (34) connecting with a drive shaft (22). The assist motor (40) includes a rotor (42) connecting with the drive shaft (22). When the residual capacity of a battery (94) is less than an allowable minimum value, a control CPU (90) of the controller (80) controls a first driving circuit (91) to enable the clutch motor (30) to carry out the power operation and apply a first torque to the drive shaft (22) in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft (22). The control CPU (90) concurrently controls a second driving circuit (92) to enable the assist motor (40) to carry out the regenerative operation and apply a second torque to the drive shaft (22) in the reverse of the rotation of the drive shaft (22). The second torque is substantially equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the first torque. The electric power regenerated by the assist motor (40) is supplied to the battery (94) to supplement the electric power of the battery (94). The power output apparatus (20) of the invention can thus make the torque output to the drive shaft (22) approximately equal to zero.

Claims

1. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for connection to an output of an engine;

a drive shaft for connection to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors, said first motor applying a first torque to said drive shaft;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor, said second motor applying a second torque to said drive shaft;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device that stores electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits such that said first motor-driving circuit enables said first motor to regenerate electric power and said second motor-driving circuit enables said second motor to regenerate electric power, with at least part of said regenerated electric power being stored in said storage device, and said controller causes said first motor-driving circuit to cause said first motor to apply said first torque in a direction of rotation of said drive shaft and said second motor-driving circuit causes said second motor to apply said second torque in an opposite direction from said first torque and at approximately the same magnitude as said first torque, when the residual capacity measured by the residual capacity measuring device is less than a predetermined value.

2. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said second rotor connected with said drive shaft.

3. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for connection to an output of an engine;

a drive shaft for connection to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors, said first motor applying a first torque to said drive shaft;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor, said second motor applying a second torque to said drive shaft;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device that stores electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to control said first motor-driving circuit to supply the electric power stored in said storage device to said first motor in order to activate said first motor, and to control said second motor-driving circuit to supply the electric power stored in said storage device to said second motor in order to activate said second motor and said controller causes said first motor-driving circuit to cause said first motor to apply said first torque in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of said drive shaft and said second motor-driving circuit causes said second motor to apply said second torque in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft and with approximately the same magnitude as the first torque, when the residual capacity measured by said residual capacity measuring device is greater than a predetermined value.

4. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said second rotor connected with said drive shaft.

5. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors, said first motor applying a first torque to said drive shaft;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor, said second motor applying a second torque to said drive shaft;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device that stores electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said second motor-driving circuit to enable said second motor to regenerate electric power, and to cause said first motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power to said first motor in order to activate said first motor and with at least part of said regenerated electric power being stored in said storage device and said controller causes said first motor-driving circuit to cause said first motor to apply said first torque in a direction of rotation of said drive shaft and said second motor-driving circuit causes said second motor to apply said second torque in an opposite direction from said first torque with approximately the same magnitude as said first torque, when said residual capacity is less than a predetermined value.

6. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said second rotor connected with said drive shaft.

7. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft of said engine and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors, said first motor applying a first torque to said drive shaft;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor, said second motor applying a second torque to said drive shaft;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device that stores electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to enable said first motor to regenerate electric power and to cause said second motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power and the electric power stored in said storage device to said second motor in order to activate said second motor, and when said residual capacity is greater than a predetermined value, said controller causes said first motor-driving circuit to cause said first motor to apply said first torque in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of said drive shaft and said second motor-driving circuit causes said second motor to apply said second torque in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft and at approximately the same magnitude as the first torque.

8. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said second rotor connected with said drive shaft.

9. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving a first torque from an engine;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor, said second motor applying a second torque to said drive shaft;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device for storing electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device for measuring a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to electromagnetically lock up said first rotor relative to said second rotor of said first motor so that said output shaft rotates integrally with said drive shaft, controlling said second motor-driving circuit to enable said second motor to regenerate electric power with at least part of said regenerated electric power being stored in said storage device and said controller causes said second motor-driving circuit to cause said second motor to apply said second torque to said drive shaft in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of said drive shaft and with approximately the same magnitude as said first torque, when said residual capacity is less than a predetermined value.

10. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said drive shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device for storing electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to electromagnetically lock up said first rotor relative to said second rotor of said first motor so that said output shaft rotates integrally with said drive shaft and said controller causes said second motor-driving circuit to supply electric power stored in said storage device to said second motor such that said second motor applies a torque to said drive shaft in a direction of rotation of said drive shaft, when said residual capacity is greater than a predetermined value.

11. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said output shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device that stores electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to substantially disconnect the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor in said first motor, and controlling said second motor-driving circuit to enable said second motor to regenerate electric power with at least part of said regenerated electric power being stored in said storage device, when said residual capacity is less than a predetermined value.

12. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said first rotor connected with said output shaft.

13. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

a first motor comprising a first rotor connected with said output shaft and a second rotor connected with said drive shaft, said second rotor being coaxial to and rotatable relative to said first rotor, said first and second rotors being electromagnetically coupled with each other to transmit power between said output shaft and said drive shaft via the electromagnetic coupling of said first and second rotors;

a first motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said first motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor;

a second motor comprising a stator and a third rotor connected with said output shaft, said stator being electromagnetically coupled with said third rotor;

a second motor-driving circuit that exchanges electric currents with said second motor to vary the electromagnetic coupling of said stator with said third rotor;

a storage device that stores electric power;

a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to substantially disconnect the electromagnetic coupling of said first rotor with said second rotor in said first motor, and said controller causes said second motor-driving circuit to supply electric power stored in said storage device to said second motor when said residual capacity is greater than a predetermined value.

14. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said first rotor connected with said output shaft.