Accessory drive system and method for a parallel electric hybrid vehicle
First Claim
1. An accessory drive system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
- an engine including a plurality of intake valves, a plurality of exhaust valves, and a crankshaft;
a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission;
a selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine and the transmission, wherein said torque transmitting device is disengageable to de-couple the engine and the motor/generator from the transmission;
a drive pulley connected to the engine;
a driven pulley connected to an accessory;
a drive belt operatively connecting said drive pulley and said driven pulley and operable to transfer drive forces between said drive pulley and said driven pulley;
a controller operatively connected to the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator, said controller configured to control the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator to ensure that the accessory is sufficiently powered to remain fully operational by the engine when the engine is running or by said motor/generator when the engine is not running; and
wherein the controller is configurable to manipulate the intake valves and the exhaust valves when the accessory is being driven by power from the motor/generator through the engine crankshaft, in order to reduce crankshaft rotational resistance and engine pumping losses, and thereby improve the efficiency of the accessory drive system.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an accessory drive system for a parallel electric hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes an engine and a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission. At least one torque-transmitting device selectably connects an engine and a motor/generator with a transmission. A drive pulley is connected to an output shaft of the engine. A plurality of driven pulleys are each connected to an accessory. A drive belt connectively couples the drive pulley and the plurality of driven pulleys, and is operable to transfer drive forces between the drive pulley and the plurality of driven pulleys. A controller is operatively connected to the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator, and is configured to control the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator to ensure the plurality of accessories are adequately powered.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An accessory drive system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
-
an engine including a plurality of intake valves, a plurality of exhaust valves, and a crankshaft; a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission; a selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine and the transmission, wherein said torque transmitting device is disengageable to de-couple the engine and the motor/generator from the transmission; a drive pulley connected to the engine; a driven pulley connected to an accessory; a drive belt operatively connecting said drive pulley and said driven pulley and operable to transfer drive forces between said drive pulley and said driven pulley; a controller operatively connected to the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator, said controller configured to control the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator to ensure that the accessory is sufficiently powered to remain fully operational by the engine when the engine is running or by said motor/generator when the engine is not running; and wherein the controller is configurable to manipulate the intake valves and the exhaust valves when the accessory is being driven by power from the motor/generator through the engine crankshaft, in order to reduce crankshaft rotational resistance and engine pumping losses, and thereby improve the efficiency of the accessory drive system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An accessory drive system for a parallel electric hybrid vehicle comprising:
-
an engine including a plurality of intake valves, a plurality of exhaust valves, and a crankshaft; a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission; a storage device operatively connected to the motor/generator, said storage device being configured to store energy from the motor/generator when the engine is producing excess power or when braking power is being recuperated; a first selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine and the transmission; a second selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the motor/generator and the transmission, wherein said second torque transmitting device is disengageable to de-couple the motor/generator from the transmission; a drive pulley connected to the engine; a plurality of driven pulleys each of which is connected to one of a plurality of accessories; a drive belt operatively connecting said drive pulley and said plurality of driven pulleys and operable to transfer drive forces between said drive pulley and said plurality of driven pulleys; a controller operatively connected to the torque-transmitting devices, the engine and the motor/generator, said controller configured to control the torque-transmitting devices, the engine and the motor/generator to ensure that said plurality of accessories are sufficiently powered to remain fully operational by transferring energy from one of the engine and the motor/generator to ensure that the speed at which the accessories are driven does not fall below a predefined minimum speed; and wherein the controller is configurable to manipulate the intake valves and the exhaust valves when the accessories are being driven by power from the motor/generator through the engine crankshaft, in order to reduce crankshaft rotational resistance and engine pumping losses, and thereby improve the efficiency of the accessory drive system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for operating an accessory drive system of a parallel electric hybrid vehicle comprising:
-
providing an engine and a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission; providing a first selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine and the transmission, and a second selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the motor/generator and the transmission; transferring energy from one of the engine and the motor/generator to a plurality of accessories; establishing a predefined minimum speed at which all of said plurality of accessories must be driven in order to remain fully operational; controlling the transfer of energy from the engine and the motor/generator to ensure that the speed at which the accessories are driven does not fall below the predefined minimum speed; and manipulating a plurality of intake valves and exhaust valves of the engine when the accessories are being driven by power from the motor/generator through an engine crankshaft, in order to reduce crankshaft rotational resistance and engine pumping losses, and thereby improve the efficiency of the accessory drive system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. An accessory drive system for an hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
-
an engine and a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission, wherein the engine includes a plurality of intake valves, a plurality of exhaust valves, and a crankshaft; a selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine and the transmission, wherein said torque transmitting device is disengageable to de-couple the engine and the motor/generator from the transmission; a drive pulley connected to the engine; a driven pulley connected to an accessory; a drive belt operatively connecting said drive pulley and said driven pulley and operable to transfer drive forces between said drive pulley and said driven pulley; and a controller operatively connected to the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator, said controller configured to control the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator to ensure that the accessory is sufficiently powered to remain fully operational by the engine when the engine is running or by said motor/generator when the engine is not running; wherein the controller is configurable to manipulate the intake valves and the exhaust valves when the accessory is being driven by power from the motor/generator through the engine crankshaft, in order to reduce crankshaft rotational resistance and engine pumping losses, and thereby improve the efficiency of the accessory drive system.
-
Specification