Power train with hybrid power source

• US 6,887,180 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Original Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Inventors: Dilzer, Martin, Pels, Thomas, Reitz, Dierk
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US10/112,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 477/3, 477/5, 477/904, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 2510/087 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/428 Double clutch arrangements; Dual clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2002 using different starting modes, methods, or actuators depending on circumstances, e.g. engine temperature or component wear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 5/04 : of inertia type
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0429 : by torque supply with a clutch in parallel torque path
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0433 : by torque supply with an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0047 : the gear ratios comprising five forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0052 : the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/006 : power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/126 : using an electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0846 : CVT using endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 9/18 : only one flange of each pulley being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 : Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

The power train of a motor vehicle employs a hybrid drive including a combustion engine and an electrical machine. The transmission of the power train is shiftable into different gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle. Such conditions include a traction condition when the vehicle is propelled by the engine and/or by the electrical machine, a coasting condition when the vehicle is being decelerated with attendant conversion of kinetic energy into electrical and/or rotational energy and storage of converted energy, a cold starting condition when the cold engine is started by the electrical machine, and a warm starting condition when the hot engine is started by the electrical machine and/or by at least one flywheel.

Claims

1. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine, and

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting, wherein said transmission has a rotary input shaft, said rotatory mass including a fly-wheel connectable to and disconnectable from said crankshaft and said rotary input shaft.

2. The power train of claim 1, wherein said flywheel is a rotor of said electrical machine.

3. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine, and

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting,

wherein said coasting condition includes a first made of operating involving an acceleration of the rotatory mass in response to the application thereto of kinetic energy and a second mode of operation involving the utilization of said electrical machine for conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy, wherein said modes of operation are selected as a function of different extents of deceleration of the vehicle.

4. The power train of claim 3, wherein the conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy takes place as a result of relatively small deceleration of the vehicle and the conversion of kinetic energy into rotational energy takes place when the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

5. The power train of claim 4, wherein said threshold value is adjustable.

6. The power train of claim 5, wherein said threshold value is between about 0.5 m/s² and 3 m/s².

7. The power train of claim 5, wherein said threshold value is between about 1 m/s² and 2 m/s².

8. The power train of claim 5, wherein said threshold value is adjustable by an operator of the vehicle in dependency upon desired deceleration.

9. The power train of claim 8, wherein said adjustable threshold value is dependent upon a signal derived from the mode of actuation of a brake pedal in the vehicle.

10. The power train of claim 9, wherein said signal is variable as a function of the magnitude of force e being applied to the brake pedal and said signal is generated by a pressure-responsive sensor associated with the brake pedal.

11. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine, and

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting, wherein the conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy takes place as a result of relatively small deceleration of the vehicle and the conversion of kinetic-energy into rotational energy takes place when the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold value, said threshold value being selected adaptively as a function of at least one operational parameter.

12. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine, and

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting further comprising means for automatically shifting said transmission so that the engine is operated with minimal consumption of fuel and any output increase initiated by the operator of the vehicle involves the utilization of said electrical machine, wherein the overall output of the power train including the output of said engine during operation with minimal consumption of fuel combined with the output of said electrical machine is reproducible within a range which is selectable by the operator of the vehicle.

13. The power train of claim 12, wherein said overall output is a function of at least one parameter which influences the output of said electrical machine and involves, in the event of influencing the output of said electrical machine, a departure from an optimal approximation to minimal fuel consumption by said engine to an extent corresponding to reduction of the output of said electrical machine by the at least one parameter.

14. The power train of claim 13, wherein said parameter is a characteristic output curve dependent upon at least one of RPM and temperature of said electrical machine, the condition of an energy source for said electrical machine, and the temperature of an electronic circuitry which controls said electrical machine and supplies electrical energy thereto.

15. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine,

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting and

means for selectively connecting said electrical machine (a) with a rotary input shaft of said transmission and (b) with the at least one wheel by way of an output shaft of said transmission, wherein said electrical machine is connectable, in accordance with a characteristic curve denoting the RPM-dependent efficiency and having a maximum, with that one of said input and output shafts the RPM of which is nearer to the RPM denoted by said maximum of said curve.

16. The power train of claim 15, wherein said transmission is an automated transmission having a rotary input shaft and a rotary output shaft connected with the at least one wheel, and further comprising a starter clutch engageable to connect a rotary output element of said engine with said input shaft, a second clutch engageable to connect said output element and said electrical machine with said output shaft, and an engageable-disengageable third clutch interposed between said electrical machine and said output shaft, said electrical machine being connected with said output shaft in response to engagement of said third clutch and simultaneous disengagement of said second clutch and said electrical machine being connected with said input shaft in response to disengagement of said third clutch and simultaneous engagement of said starter clutch and said second clutch.

17. The power train of claim 16, wherein said electrical machine is arranged to synchronize the RPM of said input shaft with the RPM of said output shaft in response to shifting of said transmission into at least one of said gears.

18. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine,

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting; and

means for coupling said electrical machine with said engine, said gears of said transmission including a gear in which a rotary output element of said engine is rotated by said electrical machine at a low speed while the vehicle is coasting.

19. The power train of claim 18, wherein said low speed is below about 1500 RPM.

20. The power train of claim 18, wherein said low speed is below about 1000 RPM.

21. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine,

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting, and means for lowering the compression ratio of said engine during starting thereof.

22. A power train for moving a vehicle during different stages of operation, comprising:

at least one internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;

at least one electrical machine connectable with said engine and arranged to function as a motor and as a generator; and

at least one countershaft transmission interposed between said engine and at least one wheel of the vehicle and being shiftable into a plurality of gears in dependency upon the operating conditions of the vehicle, said conditions including;

a traction condition involving propulsion of the vehicle by at least one of said engine and said machine,

a coasting condition involving a deceleration of the vehicle which entails a conversion of kinetic energy developing as a result of deceleration of the vehicle into at least one of electrical energy and rotational energy, wherein said electrical energy is stored in at least one electrical storage facility and said rotational energy is stored in at least one rotatory mass,

a cold starting condition involving a starting of cold engine by said machine, and

a warm starting condition, wherein the engine, while still hot due to a previous operation, is restarted by one of said machine and said rotatory mass, which for said restarting is rotationally coupled to the crankshaft, in order to use said stored rotational energy for the restarting, wherein said electrical machine is arranged to generate heat and is adjacent a starter clutch which generates heat in response to slip, the heat which is being generated by said electrical machine, while the output of said machine at least approximates a maximum value, being dissipated into the surrounding atmosphere and said machine as well as said clutch being operated in dependency upon the extent of heat dissipation.

23. The power train of claim 22, further comprising means for effecting an alternative regulation of at least one of said machine and said clutch as a function of combined heat output thereof.