Hybrid electric vehicle and method for controlling a powertrain therein

• US 9,168,825 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ortmann, Walter Joseph, Colvin, Daniel Scott, Kraska, Marvin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFREY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/466,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 477 1- 5, 701/61, 701/67, 701/68
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/16 for vehicles comprising converters between the power source and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/20 Braking by supplying regenerated power to the prime mover of vehicles comprising engine-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 20/30 : 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 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/104 : Output speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 : Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 : Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0422 : by an electric machine, e.g. by accelerating or braking the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/10 : by adjusting the axis of a pulley F16H7/0827 takes precedence
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator

Abstract

A method for controlling a hybrid electric powertrain includes, in response to a request to increase a powertrain braking force on at least one of a plurality of traction wheels, (i) commanding at least one clutch to increase a gear ratio of a transmission, and (ii) during clutch stroke, commanding an electric machine to act as a generator such that the electric machine applies a braking force to at least one of the traction wheels.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a controller,

in response to a request to increase a powertrain braking force on a traction wheel,

commanding at least one clutch of a transmission to increase a gear ratio of the transmission, and

during stroking of the clutch, commanding an electric machine to act as a generator such that the electric machine applies a braking force to the traction wheel.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising commanding the electric machine to act as a generator before commanding the at least one clutch to increase the gear ratio of the transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, subsequent to stroking of the clutch, commanding the electric machine to act as a motor such that the electric machine applies a propulsion force to at least one of the traction wheels.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the electric machine is commanded to act as a motor when a speed ratio of the transmission has achieved a first target value.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the command to act as a motor is removed when the speed ratio of the transmission has achieved a second target value.

6. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a plurality of fraction wheels;

an engine;

a transmission mechanically connected with the engine and including at least one clutch to alter a gear ratio of the transmission;

an electric machine mechanically connected with at least one of the traction wheels; and

a controller configured to, in response to a request to increase a powertrain braking force on at least one of the traction wheels, (i) command the at least one clutch to increase the gear ratio of the transmission and (ii) during stroking of the clutch, command the electric machine to act as a generator such that the electric machine applies a braking force to at least one of the traction wheels.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to command the electric machine to act as a generator before commanding the at least one clutch to increase the gear ratio of the transmission.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to, subsequent to stroking of the clutch, command the electric machine to act as a motor such that the electric machine applies a propulsion force to at least one of the traction wheels.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to command the electric machine to act as a motor when a speed ratio of the transmission has achieved a first target value.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the command to act as a motor is removed when the speed ratio of the transmission has achieved a second target value.

11. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the at least one traction wheel is a front traction wheel.

12. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the at least one traction wheel is a rear traction wheel.