Hybrid vehicle

• US 6,712,165 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. (Isuzu Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. (Isuzu Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Okazaki, Akihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swenson, Brian L
• Application Number:
  US09/980,476
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.7, 303/152, 477/3, 477/4, 477/5, 477/9, 477/12, 477/171, 477/173
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• 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 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: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle that is provided with an engine and a motor generator as power sources, includes a clutch which automatically engages or disengages to cause or interrupt rotation transmission between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of a transmission, a power transmission mechanism which transmits power between the input/output shaft of the motor generator and the input shaft of the transmission, and a hybrid control unit which selectively disengages the clutch and drives the motor generator. The clutch is disengaged according to running conditions, and the rotation speed of the motor generator is varied by the transmission to drive the vehicle. In this way, the region in which the motor generator operates efficiently is expanded, and fuel consumption by the hybrid vehicle is reduced.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a drive wheel,

a transmission having input and output shafts, the transmission varying the rotation speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, and transmitting the rotation of the output shaft to the drive wheel,

an engine having an output shaft,

a clutch which engages/disengages the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the transmission,

a motor generator which has an input/output shaft and which functions both as a motor and a generator,

a power transmission mechanism which transmits rotation between the input/output shaft of the motor generator, and the input shaft of the transmission,

a power storage element which stores the power supplied by the motor generator,

running-by-motor control means which disengages the clutch according to running conditions and drives the motor generator,

a brake which applies a braking force to the vehicle,

braking detection means which detects braking of the vehicle, and

regeneration control means which engages the clutch and causes the motor generator to regenerate power during sudden braking, and which disengages the clutch and causes the motor generator to generate power during slow braking.

2. A hybrid vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor generator regenerates power when the brake is applied.