Hybrid vehicles
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine controllably coupled to road wheels of said vehicle;
a first electric motor connected to said engine nd operable to start the engine responsive to a control signal;
a second electric motor connected to road wheels of said vehicle, and operable as a motor, to apply torque to said wheels to propel said vehicle, and as a generator, for accepting torque from at least said wheels for generating current;
a battery, for providing current to said motors and accepting charging current from at least said second motor; and
a controller for controlling the flow of electrical and mechanical power between said engine, first and second motors, and wheels, wherein said controller starts and operates said engine when torque require to be produced by said engine to propel the vehicle and/or to drive either one or both said electric motor(s) to charge said battery is at least equal to a setpoint (SP) above which said engine torque is efficiently produced, and wherein the torque produced by said engine when operated at said setpoint (SP) is substantially less than the maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine.
21 Assignments
Litigations
9 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle'"'"'s instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine'"'"'s maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine'"'"'s maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle'"'"'s load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine controllably coupled to road wheels of said vehicle;
a first electric motor connected to said engine nd operable to start the engine responsive to a control signal;
a second electric motor connected to road wheels of said vehicle, and operable as a motor, to apply torque to said wheels to propel said vehicle, and as a generator, for accepting torque from at least said wheels for generating current;
a battery, for providing current to said motors and accepting charging current from at least said second motor; and
a controller for controlling the flow of electrical and mechanical power between said engine, first and second motors, and wheels, wherein said controller starts and operates said engine when torque require to be produced by said engine to propel the vehicle and/or to drive either one or both said electric motor(s) to charge said battery is at least equal to a setpoint (SP) above which said engine torque is efficiently produced, and wherein the torque produced by said engine when operated at said setpoint (SP) is substantially less than the maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of control of a hybrid vehicle, said vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine capable of efficiently producing torque at loads between a lower level SP and a maximum torque output MTO, a battery, and one or more electric motors being capable of providing output torque responsive to supplied current, and of generating electrical current responsive to applied torque, said engine being controllably connected to wheels of said vehicle for applying propulsive torque thereto and to said at least one motor for applying torque thereto, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining the instantaneous torque RL required to propel said vehicle responsive to an operator command;
monitoring the state of charge of said battery;
employing said at least one electric motor to propel said vehicle when the torque RL required to do so is less than said lower level SP;
employing said engine to propel said vehicle when the torque RL required to do so is between said lower level SP and MTO;
employing both said at least one electric motor and said engine to propel said vehicle when the torque RL required to do so is more than MTO; and
employing said engine to propel said vehicle when the torque RL required to do so is less than said lower level SP and using the torque between RL and SP to drive said at least one electric motor to charge said battery when the state of charge of said battery indicates the desirability of doing so; and
wherein the torque produced by said engine when operated at said setpoint (SP) is substantially less than the maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification