Hybrid vehicle drive system having two motor/generator units and engine starting means

• US 5,934,395 A
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nada, Mitsuhiro, Matsui, Hideaki, Koide, Takeharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/730,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 123/3
• US Class Current: 180/65.235
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• 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: B60L 2240/30 Parking brake position
• 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: B60T 1/005 by locking of wheel or transmission rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/186 Status of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/48 Signals to a parking brake or parking lock; Control of parking locks or brakes being part of the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 903/905 : Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator
• 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 drive system for a motor vehicle, including an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, a first motor/generator, a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member, a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and a drive wheel of the motor vehicle, and wherein an engine starting device is provided for operating the first motor/generator to crank the engine through the distributing mechanism, for thereby starting the engine.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine operated by combustion of a fuel;

a first motor/generator;

a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member operatively connected to a drive wheel of the motor vehicle;

a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and said drive wheel;

engine starting means for operating said first motor/generator to crank said engine through said distributing mechanism, for thereby starting said engine; and

drive force variation restricting means for automatically restricting a variation in a vehicle drive force due to a reaction force which acts on said output member upon starting of said engine by said engine starting means;

wherein said drive force variation restricting means comprises engine start motor control means for controlling said second motor/generator so as to offset said variation in the vehicle drive force upon starting of said engine by said engine starting means.

2. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine operated by combustion of a fuel;

a first motor/generator;

a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member operatively connected to a drive wheel of the motor vehicle;

a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and said drive wheel;

engine starting means for operating said first motor/generator to crank said engine through said distributing mechanism, for thereby starting said engine; and

drive force variation restricting means for automatically restricting a variation in a vehicle drive force due to a reaction force which acts on said output member upon starting of said engine by said engine starting means;

wherein said drive force variation restricting means comprises engine start braking means for automatically mechanically braking said drive wheel prior to starting of said engine by said engine starting means.

3. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine operated by combustion of a fuel;

a first motor/generator;

a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member operatively connected to a drive wheel of the motor vehicle;

a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and said drive wheel;

engine starting means for operating said first motor/generator to crank said engine through said distributing mechanism, for thereby starting said engine; and

drive force variation restricting means for automatically restricting a variation in a vehicle drive force due to a reaction force which acts on said output member upon starting of said engine by said engine starting means;

wherein means is provided for inhibiting an operation of said drive force variation restricting means when a running speed of the motor vehicle is higher than a predetermined threshold.

4. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine operated by combustion of a fuel;

a first motor/generator;

a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member operatively connected to a drive wheel of the motor vehicle so that said drive wheel is driven by said output of the engine;

a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and said drive wheel, so that said drive wheel is driven by said rotary force of said second motor/generator;

an engine starter motor for starting said engine; and

engine starting means for operating said engine starter motor to crank said engine without a rotary motion being transferred to said distributing mechanism and while said first motor/generator is placed in a non-load state, for thereby starting said engine.

5. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine operated by combustion of a fuel;

a first motor/generator;

a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member operatively connected to a drive wheel of the motor vehicle;

a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and said drive wheel of the motor vehicle;

a clutch disposed between said output member and said drive wheel and having an engaged position for connecting said output member to said drive wheel and a released position for disconnecting said drive wheel from said output member; and

engine starting means for placing said clutch in said released position and for operating at least one of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator to crank said engine while said clutch is placed in said released position, for thereby starting said engine.

6. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine operated by combustion of a fuel;

a first motor/generator;

a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member operatively connected to a drive wheel of the motor vehicle so that said drive wheel is driven by said output of the engine;

a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and said drive wheel;

a clutch disposed between said output member and said drive wheel and having an engaged position for connecting said output member to said drive wheel and a released position for disconnecting said drive wheel from said output member;

engine starting means for placing said clutch in said released position and for operating an engine starter motor to crank said engine without a rotary motion being transferred to said distributing mechanism and while said first motor/generator is placed in a non-load state, for thereby starting said engine; and

the engine starter motor for starting said engine, and motor assisting means for operating said engine starter motor to assist said at least one of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator to start said engine when said at least one of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator is in a predetermined condition.

7. A hybrid drive system according to claim 6, wherein said motor assisting means operates said engine starter motor when said engine cannot be started by said at least one of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator.