Method for operating a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a generator

• US 8,676,423 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Blasinski, Boris, Kasteneder, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Application Number:
  US13/700,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 701/54, 701/55, 180/165, 180/65.21, 180/65.28, 318/139
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

It is known to charge the battery in a hybrid vehicle with a generator such that the efficiency (electric power per fuel quantity) is maximal. It is known that the consumption-optimized mode can be terminated in order to charge the battery faster. A mathematical calculation rule is applied to the optimal value of the efficiency in order to determine a value for an efficiency which then indicates a load point shift for the internal combustion engine. In particular, constant percentages can be used which are applied to the inverse efficiency.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a generator, said internal combustion engine producing a total torque, comprising:

during operation of the internal combustion engine, controlling a gear unit with a controller of the vehicle to divert from the total torque a partial torque to a generator shaft,

applying the partial torque to the generator and producing with the generator from the partial torque an electric current,

in a first mode, setting with the controller the partial torque so that an efficiency is adjusted to an optimum value, and

in a second mode, setting with the controller the partial torque so that the efficiency is adjusted to an additional value, wherein the additional value is determined by applying a predetermined calculation rule to the optimum value, and wherein a reciprocal value of the additional value differs from a reciprocal value of the optimum value by a predetermined percentage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimum value is a maximum value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined percentage is between 1% and 10%.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined percentage is between 2% and 7.5%.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generator is operated as an electric drive.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electric current at least partially charges a battery for the electric drive.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mode is automatically implemented under predetermined operating conditions.

5. The method of 1, herein the predetermined percentage is between 4% and 6%.