Method and arrangement in a hybrid vehicle for initiating early engine operation during take-off conditions

• US 6,755,266 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Lasson, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US09/728,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.1
• US Class Current: 180/65.235
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/383 One-way clutches or freewheel devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/42 by adaptive correction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• 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 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 20/10 : Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0045 : using databus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0661 : Torque change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 : Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0622 : Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 : Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1055 : Output torque change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1061 : Output power
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 : Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 : Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/00 : Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/913 : One way
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

Method for potentiating an engine'"'"'s power contribution to a hybrid electric vehicle'"'"'s performance in a take-off operating condition is disclosed. Normally, fuel injection to, and ignition at the engine 511 are only commenced when the engine is operating at a speed exceeding the resonance speed of the drive train to reduce engine start harshness; such resonance speeds of the drive train being dictated, at least in part, by transmission backlash, softness and the like. During high driver acceleration demands, however, ignition and the injection of fuel is desirably started as early as possible to potentiate output power and acceleration.

Claims

1. A method for potentiating an engine'"'"'s power contribution to a hybrid electric vehicle'"'"'s performance in a take-off operating condition, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating take-off acceleration of a hybrid electric vehicle exclusively utilizing an electric motor of the vehicle;

predicting the future demand for an engine'"'"'s power contribution to the hybrid electric vehicle'"'"'s immediate future power demand during take-off acceleration;

starting the engine of the hybrid electric vehicle at the time that the determination is made of future demand for the engine'"'"'s power contribution during the take-off acceleration; and

increasing the speed of operation of the engine as rapidly as predetermined operating efficiency parameters permit.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

permitting the increase in speed of operation of the engine to progress to a predetermined peak efficiency rate; and

diverting excess power from the engine to a generator that charges an electric storage arrangement.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

providing the electric storage arrangement in the form of a battery.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

providing the electric storage arrangement in the form of a plurality of batteries.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

permitting the increase in speed of operation of the engine to progress to a predetermined peak efficiency rate corresponding to exclusive utilization of the engine to meet the entirety of the hybrid electric vehicle'"'"'s predicted future power demand; and

reducing the electric motor'"'"'s contribution to the power supplied to the hybrid electric vehicle so that no excess power above demand is supplied by the engine.

6. A method for potentiating an engine'"'"'s power contribution to a hybrid electric vehicle'"'"'s performance in a take-off operating condition, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating take-off acceleration of hybrid electric vehicle exclusively utilizing an electric vehicle'"'"'s immediate future power demand during take-off acceleration;

starting the engine of the hybrid electric vehicle at the time that the determination is made of future demand for the engine'"'"'s power contribution during the take-off acceleration; and

starting the engine at an engine speed below a resonance speed of a drivetrain of the vehicle.