Hybrid vehicle

• US 7,056,251 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ibaraki, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, HA DINH
• Application Number:
  US10/398,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20040063535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 180301-304, 180 625- 654, 180/65.8, 606/18, 475/475, 475/5
• US Class Current: 475/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• 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 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 : Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 : having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 : Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 : Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/065 : the combustion taking place in an internal combustion piston engine, e.g. a diesel engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 : Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 Rankine cycle system for recovering a heat energy of an exhaust gas is mounted on a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine as a drive source for the vehicle and an electric generator motor. An output from the Rankine cycle system is input to a transmission and used to assist in a driving force from the internal combustion engine, or converted into an electric power and used to charge a battery. During acceleration and cruising of the vehicle, the heat energy of the exhaust gas is recovered by the Rankine cycle system, and during deceleration of the vehicle, a kinetic energy of a vehicle body is recovered as a regenerative electric power for the electric generator motor, thereby reducing the amount of fuel consumed in the internal combustion engine. Thus, in any operational state, vehicle energy efficiency is enhanced, thus reducing the fuel consumed.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle including

an internal combustion engine for generating a first driving force for traveling of the vehicle,

an electric generator motor for generating a second driving force for traveling of the vehicle by an electric power from an accumulator and for generating an electric power for charging said accumulator,

a Rankine cycle system which is operated by a waste heat from said internal combustion engine during operation of said internal combustion engine to generate a third driving force for traveling of the vehicle,

a transmission leading to a wheel of the vehicle, and

wherein said internal combustion engine and said Rankine cycle system are arranged in parallel to each other and each is connected to the transmission, at least the Rankine cycle system being directly connected to said transmission.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the accumulator is a battery.

6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the accumulator is a capacitor.

2. A hybrid vehicle including

an internal combustion engine for generating a first driving force for traveling of the vehicle,

an electric generator motor for generating a second driving force for traveling of the vehicle by an electric power from an accumulator and for generating an electric power for charging said accumulator,

a Rankine cycle system which is operated by a waste heat from said internal combustion engine during operation of said internal combustion engine to generate an electric power for charging said accumulator,

a transmission leading to a wheel of the vehicle, and

wherein said internal combustion engine and said Rankine cycle system are arranged in parallel to each other and each is connected to the transmission, at least the Rankine cycle system being directly connected to said transmission.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said Rankine cycle system generates the electric power for charging said accumulator, when said electric generator motor does not generate the electric power.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the accumulator is a battery.

7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the accumulator is a capacitor.

8. A hybrid vehicle including

an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force for traveling of the vehicle,

an electric generator motor for generating a driving force for traveling of the vehicle by an electric power from an accumulator and for generating an electric power for charging said accumulator,

a Rankine cycle system which is operated by a waste heat from said internal combustion engine during operation of said internal combustion engine to generate an electric power for charging said accumulator, and

a transmission leading to a wheel of the vehicle,

wherein said internal combustion engine and said Rankine cycle system are arranged in parallel to each other, and

wherein said electric generator motor is interposed between said internal combustion engine and said transmission, the internal combustion engine and the electric generator motor connecting to the transmission separately from the Rankine cycle system.

9. A hybrid vehicle including

an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force for traveling of the vehicle,

an electric generator motor for generating another driving force for traveling of the vehicle by an electric power from an accumulator and for generating an electric power for charging said accumulator,

a Rankine cycle system which is operated by a waste heat from said internal combustion engine during operation of said internal combustion engine to generate an electric power for charging said accumulator, and

a transmission leading to a wheel of the vehicle via said differential,

wherein said internal combustion engine and said Rankine cycle system are arranged in parallel to each other and each is connected to the transmission, at least the Rankine cycle system being directly connected to said transmission, and

wherein said electric generator motor is connected to said differential.