Hybrid electric vehicle with variable displacement engine

• US 7,240,749 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Patil, Prabhakar B., Woestman, Joanne T., Bhavsar, Chinu P.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/922,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 701/22, 701/70, 123/198.F
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel 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 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 10/26 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 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• 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: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle 10 having a propulsion system 12 which integrates a motor-generator 14 and a variable displacement internal combustion engine 16. Motor-generator 14 and engine 16 are each operatively coupled to drive train 17 of vehicle 10, and cooperatively power vehicle 10.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle having a drive line comprising:

a variable displacement engine capable of providing torque to drive the vehicle, said engine having a plurality of cylinders;

a motor capable of providing torque to drive the vehicle; and

an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor and capable of providing electrical power to the motor,

where during at least a fist condition of said electrical storage device, both said engine and said motor provide torque to the vehicle drive line to drive the vehicle, and said engine operates with some of said engine cylinders disabled during at least a portion of said first condition, and said engine operates with all of said engine cylinders active during at least another portion of said first condition, and

during at least a second condition of said electrical storage device, said engine provides all requested torque to the vehicle drive line to drive the vehicle and said engine charges said electrical storage device, and said engine operates with some of said engine cylinders disabled during at least a portion of said second condition, and said engine operates with all of said engine cylinders active during at least another portion of said second condition;

where at least during some of said first condition, said motor provides a more rapid torque change than the engine to achieve improved vehicle performance.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein during at least a third condition said engine is shut off.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein during at least a fourth condition said engine is disabled.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said condition of said electrical storage device is an amount of electrical power in said storage device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said condition of said electrical storage device is an amount of charge stored in said storage device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said condition of said electrical storage device is an estimated amount of charge remaining in said storage device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said first condition of said electrical storage device is sufficient electrical power being available within said storage device to allow said motor to provide torque to the vehicle drive line.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said first condition of said electrical storage device is when estimated charge within said storage device is greater than a threshold.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said second condition of said electrical storage device is insufficient electrical power being available within said storage device to allow said motor to provide torque to the vehicle drive line.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said second condition of said electrical storage device is when estimated charge within said storage device is less than a threshold.