Hybrid vehicle powertrain with a multiple-ratio power transmission mechanism

• US 7,261,671 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Colvin, Dan, Kraska, Marvin, Ortmann, Walt, Fozo, Bob, Encelewski, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US10/711,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 477 4- 6, 477/8, 477/9, 477/12, 477/14, 477/15
• US Class Current: 477/6
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• 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: 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 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/42 Changing the input torque to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0437 by using electrical signals F16H61/0403 and F16H61/061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/686 with orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A control method and system for a hybrid vehicle powertrain with an electric motor in a power flow path between an internal combustion engine and a multiple-ratio geared transmission. Motor torque, which is added to engine torque to obtain an effective transmission input torque, is modulated to achieve smooth power-on upshifts and coasting downshifts.

Claims

1. A method for controlling engagement and release of pressure-actuated torque establishing friction elements during a power-on upshift of a multiple-ratio transmission in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, an electric motor and a battery, the motor being disposed in a power flow path between the engine and a power input element of the transmission as driving power is delivered to a transmission power output member, and an electronic controller responsive to powertrain operating variables for controlling actuating pressure for the friction elements by releasing actuating pressure for an off-going friction element in synchronism with increasing actuating pressure for an oncoming friction element during a power-on upshift event, the method comprising the steps of:

increasing oncoming friction element actuating pressure at the beginning of the power-on upshift event;

reducing actuating pressure for the off-going friction element during a torque phase of the power-on upshift;

increasing electric motor torque during the torque phase; and

reducing electric motor torque during an inertia phase of a power-on upshift whereby torque variations in the transmission power output member are modulated.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of increasing electric motor torque comprises obtaining a torque multiplier stored in controller memory during each control loop of the electronic controller;

and

multiplying motor torque by the multiplier during the torque phase to increase effective motor torque during the torque phase.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of reducing electric motor torque during the inertia phase comprises obtaining a torque multiplier stored in controller memory during each control loop of the electronic controller;

and

multiplying motor torque during the inertia phase to decrease effective motor torque during the inertia phase.

4. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein an effective torque in the transmission power output member at the end of the power-on upshift is the algebraic sum of motor torque and engine torque multiplied by instantaneous transmission speed ratio.

5. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein an effective torque in the transmission power output member at the end of the power-on upshift is the algebraic sum of motor torque and engine torque multiplied by instantaneous transmission speed ratio.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 including the steps of determining a time during a power-on upshift event when the oncoming friction element achieves torque establishing capability;

and

controlling oncoming friction element pressure during the inertia phase using a commanded closed loop pressure.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 including the step of detecting the end of the inertia phase;

and

increasing the commanded pressure on the oncoming friction element to effect full oncoming clutch capacity at the end of a power-on upshift event.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of increasing the commanded pressure on the oncoming friction element occurs as the oncoming clutch becomes fully engaged following slipping of the oncoming clutch whereby an effect of a change in oncoming friction element dynamics is modified thus reducing torque fluctuation in the torque output member.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 including a step of increasing the commanded pressure on the oncoming friction element prior to the torque phase followed by a return of the commanded pressure on the oncoming friction element to an initial pressure value at the start of a power-on upshift event.

10. A control system for controlling ratio changes in a multiple-ratio transmission in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain, the transmission having selectively-engageable, pressure-actuated torque establishing friction elements for effecting powertrain upshifts;

the powertrain having an engine, an electric motor and a battery, the motor being disposed in a power flow path between the engine and a power input member of the transmission as driving power is delivered to a power output member;

the control system comprising an electronic controller responsive to powertrain operating variables for controlling actuating pressure for the friction elements;

the control system controller being configured to control actuating pressure for the friction elements by releasing actuating pressure for an off-going friction element in synchronism with increasing actuating pressure for an oncoming friction element during a power-on upshift;

the motor being disposed in series relationship with respect to the engine and the transmission; and

the control system including means for increasing motor torque during a torque phase and reducing motor torque during an inertia phase of a power-on upshift of the transmission.