Methods and systems for a vehicle driveline

• US 8,998,771 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pietron, Gregory Michael, Banker, Adam Nathan, Reed, Dennis Craig, Lee, Seung-Hoon, McCallum, James William Loch
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US13/652,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 477/5, 477/8, 477/174, 477/180, 477/901, 903/912, 903/915, 903/946
• US Class Current: 477/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/026 of lock-up 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 10/119 including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle B60W10/14 takes precedence
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• 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: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/186 excessive wear or burn out of friction elements, e.g. clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/08 said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operating modes may be manually selected to improve hybrid driveline operation during off road conditions. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual driver input for a driveline operating mode parameter; and

adjusting engaging of a driveline disconnect clutch positioned between an engine and a motor in response to the driveline operating mode parameter and further in response to an accelerator pedal input, where a prompting of a driver occurs in response to the driver selecting a four wheel drive mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the manual driver input includes one of a display input and a switch.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting disengaging the driveline disconnect clutch in response to the driveline operating mode parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, where adjusting engaging of the driveline disconnect clutch includes locking the driveline disconnect clutch in a closed position such that the engine is mechanically coupled to the motor.

5. The method of claim 1, where adjusting engaging of the driveline disconnect clutch includes unlocking the driveline disconnect clutch to an open position such that the engine is not mechanically coupled to the motor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising where the driveline disconnect clutch is automatically closed in response to a state of battery charge being lower than a threshold charge level.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the driver with control over the driveline disconnect clutch during a hill descent mode, the hill descent mode selected by the driver.

8. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual driver input for a driveline operating mode parameter comprising providing motive power via solely by an engine, solely by a motor, or by a combination of the engine and the motor in response to a request for a four wheel drive mode of operation; and

adjusting activation of a driveline integrated electric machine in response to the driveline operating mode parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, where the driveline integrated electric machine is a driveline integrated starter/generator located in the hybrid vehicle driveline at a location between a disconnect clutch and a transmission.

10. The method of claim 8, where adjusting activation of the driveline integrated electric machine includes not activating the driveline integrated electric machine.

11. The method of claim 8, where adjusting activation of the driveline integrated electric machine includes increasing driveline integrated electric machine output in response to the driveline operating mode parameter, and where the driveline operating mode parameter is a hill descent mode parameter selected by a driver.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting activation of an engine in response to the driveline operating mode parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a state of a driveline disconnect clutch in response to the driveline operating mode parameter.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising indicating the driveline integrated electric machine is unavailable if a battery state of charge is less than a threshold level.

15. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual hill descent control input for a driver; and

providing a manual driver input for adjusting activation of a driveline disconnect clutch in response to a state of the hill descent control input.

16. The method of claim 15, where the driveline disconnect clutch is closed to couple an engine to an electric machine in response to a hill descent mode being activated via the hill descent control input.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting engine braking and braking of a motor in response to earth grade under the hybrid vehicle driveline.

18. The method of claim 17, where engine braking and braking of the motor is increased as earth grade increases.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising including increasing consumption of electrical energy within a vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising a hill assent control input for the driver, and adjusting activation of the driveline disconnect clutch in response to a state of the hill assent control input.