Hybrid vehicle having multi-mode controller
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle having a power system with multi-mode power capability, the power system comprising:
- a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power;
an electrical power input for accepting electrical power from an external source;
an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel;
a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably coupled to the flywheel by a torsional coupling, the hollow rotor shaft causing the first motor/generator to rotate in unison with the engine and being non-disengagable from the engine, and adapted to provide rotational force to the internal combustion engine to start the internal combustion engine, and adapted to receive rotational force from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power;
a second motor/generator rotatably coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and adapted to provide rotational force to the at least one wheel when receiving electrical power, and adapted to generate electrical power when receiving rotational force from the at least one wheel;
a selectively engagable clutch disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator configured to fixedly couple the flywheel with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator so that the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel, and configured to selectively engage and disengage the internal combustion engine rotating in unison with the first motor/generator, from the second motor/generator to provide additional rotational force to the at least one wheel when the clutch is engaged;
a mode selection switch configured to permit a driver to select between a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
the first operating mode defined by deactivation of the internal combustion engine and operation of the vehicle by electrical power provided from the battery to the second motor/generator;
the second operating mode defined by the activation of the internal combustion engine to provide rotational force to the first motor/generator to generate electrical power to charge the battery system and/or provide additional electrical power to the second motor/generator; and
a control system configured to control the electrical power provided to the battery system by the first motor/generator, by the second motor/generator and/or by the external source, the control system configured to control;
the starting and stopping of the internal combustion engine;
the first motor/generator to provide rotational force to the internal combustion engine or receive rotational force from the internal combustion engine; and
the second motor/generator to provide rotational force to the at least one wheel or accept rotational force from the at least one wheel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle includes a multi-mode power system. The power system includes a battery, an electrical power input, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, and a clutch. A first operating mode is defined by deactivation of the internal combustion engine and the operation of the vehicle by electrical force provided from the battery to the second motor/generator. In a second operating mode, activation of the internal combustion engine generates electrical power by providing rotational force to the first motor/generator. In a third operating mode, engagement of the clutch couples the internal combustion engine and the second motor/generator to provide rotational force to the wheels. In a fourth operating mode, engagement of the clutch couples the internal combustion engine with the second motor/generator, and the first motor/generator further provides rotational force to the wheels.
25 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle having a power system with multi-mode power capability, the power system comprising:
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a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power; an electrical power input for accepting electrical power from an external source; an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a flywheel; a first motor/generator having a hollow rotor shaft rotatably coupled to the flywheel by a torsional coupling, the hollow rotor shaft causing the first motor/generator to rotate in unison with the engine and being non-disengagable from the engine, and adapted to provide rotational force to the internal combustion engine to start the internal combustion engine, and adapted to receive rotational force from the internal combustion engine to generate electrical power; a second motor/generator rotatably coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle, and adapted to provide rotational force to the at least one wheel when receiving electrical power, and adapted to generate electrical power when receiving rotational force from the at least one wheel; a selectively engagable clutch disposed between the flywheel and the first motor/generator configured to fixedly couple the flywheel with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator so that the hollow rotor shaft rotates in unison with the flywheel, and configured to selectively engage and disengage the internal combustion engine rotating in unison with the first motor/generator, from the second motor/generator to provide additional rotational force to the at least one wheel when the clutch is engaged; a mode selection switch configured to permit a driver to select between a first operating mode and a second operating mode; the first operating mode defined by deactivation of the internal combustion engine and operation of the vehicle by electrical power provided from the battery to the second motor/generator; the second operating mode defined by the activation of the internal combustion engine to provide rotational force to the first motor/generator to generate electrical power to charge the battery system and/or provide additional electrical power to the second motor/generator; and a control system configured to control the electrical power provided to the battery system by the first motor/generator, by the second motor/generator and/or by the external source, the control system configured to control; the starting and stopping of the internal combustion engine; the first motor/generator to provide rotational force to the internal combustion engine or receive rotational force from the internal combustion engine; and the second motor/generator to provide rotational force to the at least one wheel or accept rotational force from the at least one wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification