Method for operating a drive train

• US 7,670,257 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Popp, Christian, Allgaier, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Tisha D
• Application Number:
  US11/774,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 477/5, 477/6, 477/8, 477/174, 477/180, 903/946
• 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 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 10/11 Stepped 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A method of operating a motor vehicle drive train having a hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and an automatic transmission. A clutch is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a clutch or a torque converter is located between the electric motor and the automatic transmission such that, when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor, the internal combustion engine can be started by engagement of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The clutch, arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, is engaged during the process of downshifting when the internal combustion engine is started.

Claims

1. A method of operating a motor vehicle drive train having a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and an automatic transmission with a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and one of another clutch and a torque converter located, along the drive train, between the electric motor and the automatic transmission, whereby when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor, the internal combustion engine is started by engagement of the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor,

the method comprising the steps of:

during a downshift, engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor of the hybrid drive to start the internal combustion engine, and

generating a positive drive torque with the internal combustion engine before a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine equals a rotational speed of the automatic transmission input.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor of the hybrid drive when, as a result of the downshift, a transmission input rotational speed is increased.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the positive drive torque, with the internal combustion engine, before the rotational speed of the automatic transmission corresponds to a synchronous rotational speed of a target gear of the downshift.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of starting the internal combustion engine, during the downshift, such that while the internal combustion engine is coasting, a pressure of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is increased.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of starting the internal combustion engine, during the downshift, such that while the internal combustion engine is coasting, a pressure of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is maintained substantially constant.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of increasing a torque of the electric motor torque, arising during the coasting of the internal combustion engine, to assist with the start of the internal combustion engine.

4. A method of operating a motor vehicle drive train having a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and an automatic transmission with a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and one of another clutch and a torque converter located, along the drive train, between the electric motor and the automatic transmission, whereby when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor, the internal combustion engine is started by engagement of the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor,

the method comprising the steps of:

during a downshift, engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor of the hybrid drive to start the internal combustion engine,

starting the internal combustion engine, during the downshift, such that the internal combustion engine generates a positive drive torque before completion of the downshift and before a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine equals a rotational speed of the automatic transmission input.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of engaging the clutch, arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor of the hybrid drive, when, as a result of the downshift, a transmission input rotational speed is increased.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of starting the internal combustion engine, during the downshift, such that the internal combustion engine generates the positive drive torque before completion of the downshift.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of generating the positive drive torque, with the internal combustion engine, before the rotational speed of the automatic transmission corresponds to a synchronous rotational speed of a target gear of the downshift.

12. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of starting the internal combustion engine, during the downshift, such that while the internal combustion engine is coasting, a pressure of at least one of a shifting component of the automatic transmission to be engaged, during the downshift, and a shifting component to be disengaged, during the downshift, is maintained substantially constant.

13. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of starting the internal combustion engine, during the downshift, such that while the internal combustion engine is coasting, a pressure of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is increased.

14. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of starting the internal combustion engine during the downshift such that while the internal combustion engine is coasting, a pressure of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is maintained substantially constant.

15. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of increasing a torque of the electric motor torque, arising during the coasting of the internal combustion engine, to assist with the start of the internal combustion engine.

5. A method of operating a motor vehicle drive train having a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and an automatic transmission with a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and one of another clutch and a torque converter located, along the drive train, between the electric motor and the automatic transmission, whereby when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor, the internal combustion engine is started by engagement of the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor,

the method comprising the steps of:

during a downshift, engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor of the hybrid drive to start the internal combustion engine,

starting the internal combustion engine during the downshift such that, while the internal combustion engine is coasting, a pressure of at least one of a shifting component of the automatic transmission, to be engaged during the downshift and a shifting component to be disengaged during the downshift, is maintained substantially constant.