Method for setting an operating point of a hybrid drive of a vehicle

• US 7,219,756 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Bischoff, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Bottorff; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/503,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 180/65.285
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0623 Fuel flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0813 with only one input shaft differentials for four wheel drive vehicles B60K17/346
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator

Abstract

A method for setting an operating point of a hybrid drive of a vehicle is provided, the hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine and at least two electric motors/generators as propulsion engines, and the output shafts of the propulsion engines being operatively linkable to a drive train of the vehicle. Depending on a desired output torque and an instantaneous vehicle velocity, operating points of the electric motors/generators are set in such a way that the sum of the mechanical output and the electrical losses of all electric motors/generators of the hybrid drive equals zero.

Claims

1. A method for setting an operating point of a hybrid drive of a vehicle, the hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine and at least two electric motors as propulsion engines, and the output shafts of the propulsion engines being selectively, operatively linked to a drive train of the vehicle, comprising:

setting operating points of the electric motors depending on a desired drive torque and an instantaneous vehicle velocity;

wherein the operating points are set such that the sum of the mechanical output and the electrical losses of all the electric motors of the hybrid drive is zero, and wherein one electric motor operating in generator mode supplies the other electric motor operating in motor mode with energy and compensates for all electrical losses of both electric motors, and wherein at least one optimization criterion is taken into account when setting the operating points of the electric motors, and wherein minimum instantaneous fuel consumption rate of the internal combustion engine is used as an optimization criterion.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the operating point of the hybrid drive is set with the aid of a control characteristics map.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the speed and torque of the internal combustion engine and the electric motors, and a gear step for a transmission system of the vehicle, are specified.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein an optimum gear step is determined, and the determined optimum gear step is enabled as a setpoint gear step, depending on defined operating states of the vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the operating point of the hybrid drive is set with the aid of a control characteristics map.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein all possible drive train operating points are first determined, and from the determined possible drive train operating points, the operating points that take into account the at least one optimization criterion are determined.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the determined operating points that take into account the at least one optimization criterion are stored in at least one characteristic map, and wherein the characteristic map is accessed for setting the operating point of the hybrid drive.

8. A method for setting an operating point of a hybrid drive of a vehicle, the hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine and at least two electric motors as propulsion engines, and the output shafts of the propulsion engines being selectively, operatively linked to a drive train of the vehicle, comprising:

setting operating points of the electric motors depending on a desired drive torque and an instantaneous vehicle velocity;

wherein the operating points are set such that the sum of the mechanical output and the electrical losses of all the electric motors of the hybrid drive is zero, and wherein one electric motor operating in generator mode supplies the other electric motor operating in motor mode with energy and compensates for all electrical losses of both electric motors, and wherein all possible drive train operating points are first determined, and from the determined possible drive train operating points, the operating points that take into account at least one optimization criterion are determined.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the determined operating points that take into account the at least one optimization criterion are stored in at least one characteristic map, and wherein the characteristic map is accessed for setting the operating point of the hybrid drive.

10. A method for setting an operating point of a hybrid drive of a vehicle, the hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine and at least two electric motors as propulsion engines, and the output shafts of the propulsion engines being selectively, operatively linked to a drive train of the vehicle, comprising:

setting operating points of the electric motors depending on a desired drive torque and an instantaneous vehicle velocity;

wherein the operating points are set such that the sum of the mechanical output and the electrical losses of all the electric motors of the hybrid drive is zero, and wherein one electric motor operating in generator mode supplies the other electric motor operating in motor mode with energy and compensates for all electrical losses of both electric motors, and wherein an optimum gear step is determined, and the determined optimum gear step is enabled as a setpoint gear step, depending on defined operating states of the vehicle.