Control system for hybrid drive unit

• US 6,494,801 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Shinichi, Murakami, Akira, Nomoto, Hisanori, Ohtake, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Estremsky, Sherry
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, HA DINH
• Application Number:
  US09/678,704
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 475/1, 475/5, 475/127, 475/130, 475/131, 475/132, 475/134, 475/135, 477/2, 477/3, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/119 including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle B60W10/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/14 Central differentials for dividing torque between front and rear axles
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0209 with independent solenoid valves modulating the pressure individually for each clutch or brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0286 Manual valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• 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 903/909 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

In a control system for a hybrid drive unit, in accordance with applied/released states of engagement elements, there can be set: a forward running range for a forward run by transmitting an input torque to an output member, a backward running range for a backward run by transmitting an input torque to the output member, and a stop range capable of driving one of the power sources by the other. The control system includes a range switching valve activated in response to the individual set ranges for switching and outputting an initial pressure for applying the engagement elements, to a plurality of passages, and adapted, when the stop range is set, to output the hydraulic pressure to the engagement element for establishing a torque transmission passage from one of the power sources to the other and to block the feed of the initial pressure to the engagement element for establishing, when applied, the torque at the output member.

Claims

1. A control system for a hybrid drive unit, which has:

a gear mechanism having different rotary members connected to a plurality of power sources; and

a plurality of engagement elements adapted to be applied by a hydraulic pressure for coupling the rotary members to each other in said gear mechanism and for stopping rotations of a predetermined rotary member, wherein in accordance with applied/released states of said engagement elements, there can be set;

a forward running range for a forward run by transmitting an input torque to an output member;

a backward running range for a backward run by transmitting an input torque to the output member; and

a stop range capable of driving one of the power sources by the other power source, comprising;

a range switching valve activated in response to the individual set ranges for switching and outputting an initial pressure for applying said engagement elements, to a plurality of passages, and adapted, when the stop range is set, to output a hydraulic pressure to the first engagement element for establishing a torque transmission line from one of said power sources to the other power source and to block the feed of the initial pressure to the second engagement element for establishing, when applied, the torque at said output member.

2. A control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal pressure valve adapted to be electrically controlled for outputting a signal pressure selectively; and

a control valve arranged between said range switching valve and said first engagement element and adapted to be activated according to the applied state of said signal pressure, for outputting said hydraulic pressure selectively to said first engagement element.

3. A control system according to claim 2,

wherein said signal pressure valve includes a valve for stopping the output of the signal pressure, when fed with an electric signal, and for outputting the signal pressure when the electric signal is blocked, and

wherein said control valve includes a valve adapted, when said signal pressure is applied, to come into a state where said control valve outputs said hydraulic pressure to said first engagement element.

4. A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which torques outputted by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor are selectively transmitted in accordance with a selected one of a forward running range, a stop range and a backward running range through a planetary gear mechanism to an output member, comprising:

a first engagement element adapted to be applied by a hydraulic pressure for establishing a forward running state by coupling rotary elements of said planetary gear mechanism or said rotary elements and another member;

a second engagement element adapted to be applied by said hydraulic pressure with said first engagement element being applied, for establishing a reverse running state by coupling the rotary elements of said planetary gear mechanism or said rotary elements and said another member

a third engagement element adapted to be applied by said hydraulic pressure for coupling one of the rotary elements of said planetary gear mechanism to said another member, when the stop range is selected; and

a range switching valve adapted to be activated in response to each of said ranges and including a plurality of output ports leading to all of the engagement elements for outputting the initial pressure of said hydraulic pressure in accordance with the range selected, and for opening the output port leading to said first engagement element and closing the output port leading to said second engagement element, when said forward running range is selected.

5. A control system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a control valve arranged between said range switching valve and said first engagement element for outputting the hydraulic pressure according to an electrically controlled signal pressure, to said first engagement element.

6. A control system according to claim 5,

wherein said first engagement element includes a first clutch and a second clutch, and

wherein said control valve includes:

a first control valve element for controlling the hydraulic pressure to be fed to said first clutch, and for coming into the state where the control valve feeds the hydraulic pressure to said first clutch when the signal pressure is not generated; and

a second control valve element for controlling the hydraulic pressure to be fed to said second clutch, and for blocking the hydraulic pressure to said second clutch when the signal pressure is not generated.

7. A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which an internal combustion engine is connected to any of three rotary elements constructing a planetary gear mechanism whereas an electric generator is connected to another of said rotary elements, so that the torque is selectively outputted in accordance with a selected one of a forward running range, a stop range and a backward running range, through said planetary gear mechanism to an output member, comprising:

a first engagement element adapted to be applied by a hydraulic pressure for connecting said output member and any of the rotary elements of said planetary gear mechanism;

a second engagement element adapted to be applied by a hydraulic pressure for bring the torque of said internal combustion engine into a state where the torque can be transmitted to said electric generator; and

a range switching valve adapted to be activated in response to each of said ranges and including a plurality of output ports for outputting the initial pressure of said hydraulic pressure in accordance with the range selected, and for closing the output port leading to said first engagement element and opening the output port leading to said second engagement element, when said stop range is selected.

8. A control system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a signal pressure valve adapted to be electrically controlled for outputting a signal pressure selectively; and

a control valve arranged between said range switching valve and said second engagement element and adapted to be activated according to the applied state of said signal pressure, for outputting said hydraulic pressure selectively to said second engagement element.

9. A control system according to claim 8,

wherein said signal pressure valve includes a valve for stopping the output of the signal pressure, when fed with an electric signal, and for outputting the signal pressure when the electric signal is blocked, and

wherein said control valve includes a valve adapted, when said signal pressure is applied, to come into a state where the control valve outputs said hydraulic pressure to said second engagement element.

10. A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which torques outputted by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor are selectively transmitted in accordance with a selected one of a forward running range, a stop range and a backward running range through a planetary gear mechanism to an output member, comprising:

a first engagement element adapted to be applied by a hydraulic pressure for establishing a forward running state by coupling rotary elements of said planetary gear mechanism or said rotary elements and another member;

a second engagement element adapted to be applied by the hydraulic pressure with said first engagement element being applied, for establishing a reverse running state by coupling the rotary elements of said planetary gear mechanism or said rotary elements and said another member; and

a range switching valve adapted to be activated in response to each of said ranges for outputting an initial pressure of said hydraulic pressure and for closing a predetermined output port leading to said first engagement element when the backward running range is selected, opening a port for outputting the hydraulic pressure to said second engagement element, and opening another port for feeding a portion of the hydraulic pressure, as outputted from said port, to said first engagement element.

11. A control system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a first signal pressure valve adapted to be electrically controlled for outputting a first signal pressure selectively;

a second signal pressure valve adapted to be electrically controlled for outputting a second signal pressure selectively;

a first control valve arranged between said range switching valve and said first engagement element and adapted to act in accordance with an applied state of said first signal pressure for outputting said hydraulic pressure selectively to said first engagement element; and

a second control valve arranged between said range switching valve and said second engagement element and adapted to act in accordance with an applied state of said second signal pressure for outputting said hydraulic pressure selectively to said second engagement element.

12. A control system according to claim 11,

wherein said first signal pressure valve includes a first signal pressure valve element for stopping the output of the first signal pressure, when an electric signal is inputted, and for outputting the first signal pressure when the electric signal is blocked,

wherein said second signal pressure valve includes a second signal pressure valve element for outputting the second signal pressure, when an electric signal is inputted, and for blocking the output of the second signal pressure when the electric signal is blocked,

wherein said first control valve includes a first control valve element for coming into the state where the first control valve outputs said hydraulic pressure to said first engagement element when said first signal pressure is applied, and

wherein said second control valve includes a second control valve element for coming into the state where the second control valve outputs said hydraulic pressure to said second engagement element when said second signal pressure is applied.