Hybrid vehicle

• US 6,237,709 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1996
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chubachi, Katsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/731,070
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8, 123/329, 123/333, 123/198 A
• US Class Current: 180/65.26
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• 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 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/027 using knock sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1527 with means allowing burning of two or more fuels, e.g. super or normal, premium or regular
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 with transmission for changing gear ratio

Abstract

In a hybrid vehicle including a gasoline engine and an electric motor capable of applying an assist force to the gasoline engine, the electric motor is controlled so as to increase the assist force applied to the gasoline engine when a knocking is detected by a knock sensor mounted on the gasoline engine. Thus, even when a gasoline of a low octane value is used, the drivability of the vehicle can be prevented from being degraded.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising;

a gasoline engine;

an electric motor connected to said gasoline engine for providing a driving assist force to said gasoline engine;

a transmission continuosly connected between driving wheels of the vehicle and the connected electric motor and gasoline engine, said gasoline being operated continuously during moving operation of the vehicle for powering said driving wheels in all speed and power rangers;

a knock sensor mounted on said gasoline engine; and

an electric motor control means for controlling said electric motor so as to automatically apply an assist force to said gasoline engine in direct response to detection of a knocking by said knock sensor.

2. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ignition timing of the gasoline engine by an ignitor is retarded in response to the detection of a knocking by said knock sensor.

3. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein an increment of the applied assist force by the electric motor by the control of said electric motor control means is determined in accordance with an amount by which the ignition timing is retarded by an ignitor control means.

4. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an increment of the applied assist force by the electric motor by the control of said electric motor control means is determined by a change in the load on the gasoline engine.

5. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said change in the load on the gasoline engine is determined from a detected number of revolutions of the gasoline engine and a detected intake air pressure of the gasoline engine.

6. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further including means for determining a capacity of a battery for supplying electricity to said electric motor, and said electric motor control means being responsive to said battery capacity determining means for preventing the application of the assist force by said electric motor when the battery capacity is below a predetermined amount.

7. A hybrid vehicle having a transmission connected to driving wheels comprising;

a gasoline engine for continuously supplying a driving force for the vehicle during moving operation of the vehicle in all speed and power ranges;

an electric motor connected to said gasoline engine for producing a driving assist force to said gasoline engine, the connected electric motor and gasoline engine also being connected to the transmission;

means for reducing the driving force supplied by the gasoline engine in response to a detected operating condition of said gasoline engine; and

an electric motor control means for controlling said electric motor so as to automatically apply an assist force to said gasoline engine by said electric motor in direct response to said reduction in driving force supplied by said gasoline engine.

8. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the ignition timing of the gasoline engine by an ignitor is retarded to cause the reduction in driving force supplied by said gasoline engine.

9. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said means for reducing the driving force by the gasoline engine includes a knock sensor mounted on said gasoline engine and an ignition control means for retarding the ignition timing of said gasoline engine when knocking is sensed by said knock sensor.

10. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein an increment of the applied assist force by the electric motor by the control of said electric motor control means is determined by a change in the load on the gasoline engine.

11. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said change in the load on the gasoline engine is determined from a detected number of revolutions of the gasoline engine and a detected intake air pressure of the gasoline engine.

12. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, further including means for determining a capacity of a battery for supplying electricity to said electric motor, and said electric motor control means being responsive to said battery capacity determining means for preventing the application of the assist force by said electric motor when the battery capacity is below a predetermined amount.

13. A hybrid vehicle having a transmission connected to driving wheels comprising;

a gasoline engine for continuously supplying a driving force for the vehicle during moving operation of the vehicle in all speed and power ranges;

an electric motor directly connected to said gasoline engine for selectively producing a driving assist force to said gasoline engine, the connected electric motor and gasoline engine also being connected to the transmission;

means for reducing the driving force supplied by the gasoline engine in response to a detected operating condition of said gasoline engine; and

an electric motor control means for controlling said electric motor so as to automatically apply an assist force to said gasoline engine by said electric motor in direct response to said reduction in driving force supplied by said gasoline engine, said electric motor control means controlling said electric motor assist force to be substantially equal to said reduction in the gasoline engine driving force that occurs in response to said detected operating condition for thereby maintaining a substantially level driving force for the vehicle.

14. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the ignition timing of the gasoline engine by an igniter is retarded to cause the reduction in driving force supplied by said gasoline engine.

15. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said means for reducing the driving force by the gasoline engine includes a knock sensor mounted on said gasoline engine and an ignition control means for retarding the ignition timing of said gasoline engine when knocking is sensed by said knock sensor.

16. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, wherein an increment of the applied assist force by the electric motor by the control of said electric motor control means is determined by a change in the load on the gasoline engine.

17. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said change in the load on the gasoline engine is determined from a detected number of revolutions o the gasoline engine and a detected intake air pressure of the gasoline engine.

18. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 13, further including means for determining a capacity of a battery for supplying electricity to said electric motor, and said electric motor control means being responsive to said battery capacity determining means for preventing the application of the assist force by said electric motor when the battery capacity is below a predetermined amount.