Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same

• US 5,903,113 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: Miura, Tetsuya, Mizutani, Ryouji, Yamada, Eiji, Kawabata, Yasutomo, Miyatani, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/638,561
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/65.2, 180/270, 364/424.1, 364/426.026, 364/431, 364/426, 475/76, 475/107, 475/113, 475/104, 475/91, 477/20, 477/15, 477/179, 477/8, 477/30, 74/730.1, 74/845, 74/61, 74/655 A, 310/101, 310/102 R, 310/107, 310/92, 318/9, 318/300, 318/11, 318/287, 318/376, 318/290, 318/49, 318/78, 318/65, 318/79, 318/76, 318/87, 318/379, 318/381, 318/366
• 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 6/44 Series-parallel type
• 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 20/13 : 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 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: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• 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). A control CPU (90) of the controller (80) controls a first driving circuit (91) to enable the clutch motor (30) to carry out the regenerative operation. The clutch motor (30) accordingly regenerates energy corresponding to a slip between the outer rotor (32) and the inner rotor (34) as electric power. The control CPU (90) then controls a second driving circuit (92) to enable the assist motor (40) to carry out the power operation with the electric power regenerated by the clutch motor (30), thereby rotating the drive shaft (22) in the reverse of the rotation of the crankshaft (56). The power output apparatus (20) of the invention thus constructed can transmit or utilize the power generated by the gasoline engine (50) at a high efficiency and enable the drive shaft (22) to rotate in the reverse of the rotation of the crankshaft (56).

Claims

1. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine and for being rotated by said engine in a first direction;

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 that stores electric power; and

a controller that sends signals to said first motor-driving circuit and said second motor-driving circuit to control said first motor-driving circuit to enable said first motor to regenerate electric power, and to control said second motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power and the electric power stored in said storage device to said second motor to drive said second motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction.

2. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device;

and

an engine control device that increases revolving speed of said output shaft to enhance the electric power regenerated by said first motor when said residual capacity is not greater than a predetermined value.

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

4. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine and for being rotated by said engine in a first direction;

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 that stores electric power; and

a controller that sends signals to said first motor-driving circuit and said second motor-driving circuit to control said first motor-driving circuit to enable said first motor to regenerate electric power, and to control said second motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power to said second motor and at least partly to said storage device to be stored, and to drive said second motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction.

5. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further including a residual capacity measuring device that measures a residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device;

and

an engine control device that increases revolving speed of said output shaft to enhance the electric power regenerated by said first motor when said residual capacity is not greater than a predetermined value.

6. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 4, 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 and for being rotated by the engine in a first direction;

a drive shaft for transmitting power to a load;

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

a storage device that stores electric power; and

a controller that sends signals to said motor-driving circuit to supply the electric power stored in said storage device to said motor to drive said motor and further to enable said motor to produce a torque acting in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, and apply the torque to said drive shaft to rotate said drive shaft in said second direction with said torque not being greater than a maximum static friction torque applied by the engine to said output shaft when said output shaft is at a stop.

8. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further including a residual capacity measuring device that measures residual capacity of electric power stored in said storage device;

and said controller sending said signals when a residual capacity measured by said residual capacity device is greater than a predetermined value.

9. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft that receives power from and is rotated by an engine in a first direction;

a drive shaft that transmits 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; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said drive shaft to rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, by controlling said second motor-driving circuit to cause said second motor to regenerate electric power and to produce a first torque acting on said drive shaft in said first direction, and by concurrently controlling said first motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power to said first motor to drive said first motor and to produce a second torque acting on said drive shaft in said second direction.

10. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said second rotor connected with said drive shaft.

11. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine and for being rotated by the engine in a first direction;

a drive shaft that transmits 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; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to drive said first motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, and to cause said second motor-driving circuit to supply the electric power stored in said storage device to said second motor and cause said second motor to fix said output shaft and prevent said output shaft from rotating with said first motor-driving circuit supplying the electric power stored in said storage device to said first motor.

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 and for being rotated by the engine in a first direction;

a drive shaft that transmits 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; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to drive said first motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, and to cause said second motor-driving circuit to cause 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.

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.

15. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine and for being rotated by the engine in a first direction;

a drive shaft that transmits 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; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to drive said first motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, and to cause said second motor-driving circuit to cause said second motor to regenerate electric power and to cause said first motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power and the electric power stored in said storage device to said first motor.

16. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said first rotor connected with said output shaft.

17. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine and for being rotated by the engine in a first direction;

a drive shaft that transmits 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; and

a controller that sends signals to said first and second motor-driving circuits to cause said first motor-driving circuit to drive said first motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, and to cause said second motordriving circuit to cause 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 and at least partly to said storage device to be stored.

18. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said third rotor is mounted on said first rotor connected with said output shaft.

19. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output shaft for receiving power from an engine and for being rotated by said engine in a first direction;

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; and

a controller that sends signals to said first motor-driving circuit and said second motor-driving circuit to control said first motor-driving circuit to enable said first motor to regenerate electric power, and to control said second motor-driving circuit to supply the regenerated electric power to said second motor to drive said second motor to make said drive shaft rotate in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction.

20. The power output apparatus in accordance with claim 19, further including

an engine control device that increases revolving speed of said output shaft to enhance the electric power regenerated by said first motor.