Vehicle drive device

• US 9,139,195 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US13/853,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/48, 701/70, 701/71, 701/81, 180/6.28, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/65.21, 180/65.225, 180/65.285, 180/243, 180/248, 180/249, 180/308, 903/911, 903/947
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/381 characterized by driveline brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/24 Steering angle
• 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 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/463 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/465 : Slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 : by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 : by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 : Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 : relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/106 : for maintaining or recovering the adhesion of the drive wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 : by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 : Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 : including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 2556/00 : Input parameters relating to data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 : Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/14 : Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 : Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/427 : One-way clutches
• 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: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

An electric motor-generator controller (8) is configured to control a left electric power of the left electric motor-generator (2A) and a right electric power of the right electric motor-generator (2B), based on the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power, wherein the left electric power is defined as an electric power generated or consumed by the left electric motor-generator (2A) and, the right electric power is defined as an electric power generated or consumed by the right electric motor-generator (2B). The electric motor-generator controller (8) control the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator such that the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power becomes a constant value, when the rotation restrictor controller (8) controls the rotation restrictor (60A, 60B) such that the rotation restrictor releases the third rotation elements.

Claims

1. A vehicle drive device comprising:

a left electric motor-generator connected to a left wheel of a vehicle;

a left speed changer disposed on a power transmission path between the left wheel and the left electric motor-generator;

a right electric motor-generator connected to a right wheel of the vehicle;

a right speed changer disposed on a power transmission path between the right wheel and the right electric motor-generator; and

an electric motor-generator controller configured to control the left electric motor-generator and the right electric motor-generator,

wherein each of the left speed changer and the right speed changer comprises first to third rotation elements,

the left electric motor-generator is connected to the first rotation element of the left speed changer,

the right electric motor-generator is connected to the first rotation element of the right speed changer,

the left wheel is connected to the second rotation element of the left speed changer, the right wheel is connected to the second rotation element of the right speed changer, and

the third rotation element of the left speed changer and the third rotation element of the right speed changer are connected to each other,

the vehicle drive device further comprises;

a rotation restrictor switched to be in a released state or in a locked state and configured to restrict rotations of the third rotation elements in the locked state; and

a rotation restrictor controller configured to control the rotation restrictor,

wherein the electric motor-generator controller is configured to control a left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and a right electric power of the right electric motor-generator, based on the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power, wherein the left electric power is defined as an electric power generated or consumed by the left electric motor-generator, and the right electric power is defined as an electric power generated or consumed by the right electric motor-generator, and

wherein the electric motor-generator controller controls the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator such that the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power becomes a constant value, when the rotation restrictor controller controls the rotation restrictor such that the rotation restrictor is in the released state.

2. The vehicle drive device of claim 1,

wherein the electric motor-generator controller is further configured to control a first difference between a torque of the left electric motor-generator and a torque of the right electric motor-generator or a second difference between a drive power of the left electric motor-generator and a drive power of the right electric motor-generator, and

wherein the electric motor-generator controller controls the first difference or the second difference such that the first difference or the second difference becomes a constant value,

when the rotation restrictor controller controls the rotation restrictor such that the rotation restrictor is in the released state.

3. The vehicle drive device of claim 1, further comprising;

a third rotation element state amount obtaining unit configured to obtain a rotation state amount of the third rotation elements,

wherein the electric motor-generator controller stops controlling the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator, when the rotation state amount of the third rotation elements is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

4. The vehicle drive device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotation state amount obtaining unit configured to obtain a rotation state amount of the left electric motor-generator, the first rotation element of the left speed changer, the right electric motor-generator or the first rotation element of the right speed changer, and

wherein the electric motor-generator controller stops controlling the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator,

when the rotation state amount obtained by the rotation state amount obtaining unit is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

5. The vehicle drive device of claim 1, wherein the constant value is substantially zero.

7. The vehicle drive device of claim 2, further comprising;

a third rotation element state amount obtaining unit configured to obtain a rotation state amount of the third rotation elements,

wherein the electric motor-generator controller stops controlling the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator, when the rotation state amount of the third rotation elements is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

8. The vehicle drive device of claim 2, further comprising:

a rotation state amount obtaining unit configured to obtain a rotation state amount of the left electric motor-generator, the first rotation element of the left speed changer, the right electric motor-generator or the first rotation element of the right speed changer, and

wherein the electric motor-generator controller stops controlling the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator,

when the rotation state amount obtained by the rotation state amount obtaining unit is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

9. The vehicle drive device of claim 1,

wherein, when the rotation restrictor controller controls the rotation restrictor such that the rotation restrictor is in the released state, the third rotation element of the left speed changer and the third rotation element of the right speed changer are connected to each other such that left and right torques equal to each other in an absolute value but opposite to each other in a direction can be transmitted to the left and right wheels, respectively.

6. A vehicle drive device comprising:

a left electric motor-generator connected to a left wheel of a vehicle;

a left speed changer disposed on a power transmission path between the left wheel and the left electric motor-generator;

a right electric motor-generator connected to a right wheel of the vehicle;

a right speed changer disposed on a power transmission path between the right wheel and the right electric motor-generator; and

an electric motor-generator controller configured to control the left electric motor-generator and the right electric motor-generator,

wherein each of the left speed changer and the right speed changer comprises first to third rotation elements,

the left electric motor-generator is connected to the first rotation element of the left speed changer,

the right electric motor-generator is connected to the first rotation element of the right speed changer,

the left wheel is connected to the second rotation element of the left speed changer,

the right wheel is connected to the second rotation element of the right speed changer, and

the third rotation element of the left speed changer and the third rotation element of the right speed changer are connected to each other,

the vehicle drive device further comprises;

a rotation restrictor switched to be in a released state or in a locked state and configured to restrict rotations of the third rotation elements in the locked state; and

a rotation restrictor controller configured to control the rotation restrictor,

wherein the electric motor-generator controller is configured to control a left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and a right electric power of the right electric motor-generator, based on the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power, wherein the left electric power is defined as an electric power generated or consumed by the left electric motor-generator, and the right electric power is defined as an electric power generated or consumed by the right electric motor-generator,

wherein the electric motor-generator controller is further configured to control a first difference between a torque of the left electric motor-generator and a torque of the right electric motor-generator or a second difference between a drive power of the left electric motor-generator and a drive power of the right electric motor-generator,

wherein in a state where the rotation restrictor controller controls the rotation restrictor such that the rotation restrictor is in the locked state, and the electric motor-generator controller controls the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator such that the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power is substantially zero while controlling the first difference or the second difference such that the first difference or the second difference becomes a constant value, when a torque or a drive power being equal to or more than a grip limit is generated or predicted to be generated at either the left wheel or the right wheel, the rotation restrictor controller controls the rotation restrictor such that the rotation restrictor is switched from the locked state to the released state, and the electric motor-generator controller controls the left electric power of the left electric motor-generator and the right electric power of the right electric motor-generator such that the sum of the left electric power and the right electric power maintains substantially zero while controlling the first difference or the second difference such that the first difference or the second difference maintains the constant value.

10. The vehicle drive device of claim 6,

wherein, when the rotation restrictor controller controls the rotation restrictor such that the rotation restrictor is in the released state, the third rotation element of the left speed changer and the third rotation element of the right speed changer are connected to each other such that left and right torques equal to each other in an absolute value but opposite to each other in a direction can be transmitted to the left and right wheels, respectively.