Hybrid electric vehicle and method of selectively operating the hybrid electric vehicle

• US 6,622,804 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wonderland Investment Group Inc
• Original Assignee: Transportation Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Schmitz, Robert W., Anderson, Joshua J., Wilton, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/764,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65-- 6, 701/22, 318/375, 318/376
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/00 Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units heating the interior space B60H; cooling internal combustion engines per se F01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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 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 2510/0628 Inlet air flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/32 : Engine outcoming fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/185 : for alternators or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 : for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 : for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/00 : Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• 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: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A series type hybrid electric vehicle that controls an internal combustion engine, generator, and electric motor for reducing the load applied to the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is restarted, lowers the thermal stresses to the internal combustion engine when the engine is turned off and is able to remove excess fuel when turning off the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A method for adaptively controlling a series type hybrid electric vehicle including an internal combustion engine connected to a generator and at least one electric motor with the engine and generator selectively operated in various operation modes, comprising:

operating the vehicle in a first mode in which internal combustion engine and generator are off and the motor propels the vehicle from power stored in the battery array;

operating the vehicle in a second mode in which the internal combustion engine and generator are operating without restriction as to limiting vehicle discharges; and

operating the vehicle in a third mode in which the operation of the internal combustion engine and generator are at least partially restricted to limit vehicle discharges.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the vehicle in the first mode when the vehicle is driven in a zone where substantially zero emissions are allowed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the vehicle in the second mode when the vehicle is driven in a zone with substantially no emission restrictions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating a vehicle in a third mode when the vehicle is driven in a zone with emission restrictions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating an oil pump to raise the oil pressure of the engine immediately before the engine is started.

7. The method of claim 6, when the pump is integral with the generator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying an ignition spark in the engine after a predetermined oil pressure is obtained in the internal combustion engine when starting the engine.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine after an ignition spark has been applied in order to create a stable spark.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine; and

removing the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined rotation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

raising the temperature of the internal combustion engine before turning on the internal combustion engine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised while in an idle mode.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the internal combustion engine and generator have exceeded a predetermined energy level output from the internal combustion engine and generator while operating in the second and third modes; and

lowering an energy level of the internal combustion engine and generator if the predetermined energy level has been exceed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the energy level is lowered by reducing a rotation of the internal combustion engine.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the energy level is lowered by applying a retarder to the internal combustion engine.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the engine to idle after a fuel supply has stopped to deplete any unburned fuel and combustible gases from the engine.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a cooling system to lower the temperature of the internal combustion engine to a predetermined temperature before turning off the engine.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

shutting off a fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is below the predetermined temperature level.

19. A series type hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine connected to a generator;

a battery array receiving current at least from the generator;

a least one electric motor receiving current from the battery array, the motor propelling the vehicle; and

a controller that selectively operates the engine and generator in various operating modes, including;

a first mode in which the internal combustion engine and generator are off and the motor propels the vehicle from power stored in the battery array;

a second mode in which the internal combustion engine and generator are operating without restriction as to limiting vehicle discharges; and

a third mode in which the operation of the internal combustion engine and generator are at least partially restricted to limit vehicle discharges.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

operates the vehicle in the first mode when the vehicle is driven in a zone where substantially zero emissions are allowed.

21. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

operates the vehicle in the second mode when the vehicle is driven in a zone with substantially no emission restrictions.

22. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

operates the vehicle in a third mode when the vehicle is driven in a zone with emission restrictions.

23. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

operates the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine.

24. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:

an oil pump selectively operated to raise oil pressure of the engine immediately before the engine is started.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the pump is integral with the generator.

26. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein an ignition spark is applied after a predetermined oil pressure is obtained in the internal combustion engine when starting the engine.

27. The vehicle of claim 26, wherein fuel is supplied to the internal combustion engine after an ignition spark has been applied in order to create a stable spark.

28. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

operates the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine; and

removes the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined rotation.

29. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised before turning on the internal combustion engine.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised while in an idle mode.

31. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

determines if the internal combustion engine and generator have exceeded a predetermined energy level output from the internal combustion engine and generator while operating in the second and third modes; and

lowers an energy level of the internal combustion engine and generator if the predetermined energy level has been exceeded.

32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein the energy level is lowered by reducing a rotation of the internal combustion engine.

33. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein the energy level is lowered by applying a retarder to the internal combustion engine.

34. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

allows the engine to idle after a fuel supply has stopped to deplete any unburned fuel and combustible gases from the engine.

35. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller:

activates a cooling system to lower the temperature of the internal combustion engine to a predetermined temperature before turning off the engine.

36. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein the controller:

turns off the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is below the predetermined temperature level.