Method for fast starting of a hybrid vehicle

• US 7,766,108 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Miranda, Paulo, Rimaux, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano; S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US11/817,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.265, 180/65.275, 180/65.28, 180/65.285, 903/946, 701/22, 123/179.1, 123/179.3
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• 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: B60L 15/2072 for drive off
• 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 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 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 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/08 the gearing being of friction type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• 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 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

The invention essentially concerns a method for fast starting of a hybrid vehicle. Said method uses a power transmission device (1.1) comprising a traction chain consisting of a heat engine (2), a clutch (3), an electrical machine (4), and wheels (6). The invention is characterized in that said method, in order to rapidly accelerate the vehicle when it is stopped, consists in starting the heat engine (2) concurrently with the actuation of the electrical machine, using a starting system (7) mechanically independent of the electrical machine (4).

Claims

1. Method for fast setting in motion of a vehicle, this method utilizing a power transmission device having an electrical machine connected firstly to a heat engine via a clutch and secondly to a shaft of wheels, in which, to make the vehicle accelerate quickly when it is stopped, wherein the method comprises:

powering on the electrical machine, and

starting the heat engine by transmitting to it a breakaway torque (CARR), at the same time as the electrical machine is powered on, using a starting system connected to the heat engine and mechanically independent of the electrical machine, and

once the heat engine has been started, allowing the heat engine to run through its first compressions so that it is autonomous, then

cutting off the starting system, and

in a time period from a time when the clutch starts transmitting torque to a time period when the clutch becomes fully closed, making the torque (CMTH) of the heat engine and the torque (CMEL) of the electrical machine converge toward respective optimal setpoint values with respect to fuel consumption of the heat engine.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

during startup of the heat engine, releasing the clutch and leaving the clutch disengaged during a predetermined time.

3. Method according to claim 2, further comprising:

operating the electrical machine at its peak torque (CMELMAX) as long as the clutch remains disengaged.

4. Method according to claim 2, further comprising:

after the heat engine has been started and the electrical machine has been powered on, increasing a rotation speed (WMTH) of the heat engine until the rotation speed of the heat engine becomes greater than a rotation speed (WMEL) of the electrical machine.

5. Method according to claim 2, further comprising:

after the heat engine has been started and the electrical machine has been powered on, making plates of the clutch slide with respect to one another, one of the plates of this clutch being connected to a shaft of the heat engine, another plate of this clutch being connected to a shaft of the electrical machine.

6. Method according to claim 5, further comprising:

making a rotation speed (WMTH) of the heat engine converge toward a rotation speed (WMEL) of the electrical machine, and

engaging the clutch when the rotation speed (WMTH) of the heat engine is substantially equal to the rotation speed (WMEL) of the electrical machine.

7. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when the clutch is engaged, operating the electrical machine either (i) at its peak torque (CMELMAX) or (ii) at a lower torque tending to comply with a setpoint torque (CCONS).

8. Method according to claim 1, comprising:

initiating the method when an acceleration pedal is pushed by an angle higher than a threshold angle, or when an angular variation of this pedal is higher than a threshold value.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

at the beginning of the method, the rotation speed (WMTH) of the heat engine and the rotation speed (WEL) of the electrical machine are zero.