Vehicle and method of operating

• US 9,371,785 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schwanke, Jason, Sterniak, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US14/542,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/101, 701/201, 701/103, 701/109, 180/65.28, 123/179.25, 123/179.28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• 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 10/11 Stepped 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 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/185 Overhead end-pivot rocking arms
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/06 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/186 Split rocking arms, e.g. rocker arms having two articulated parts and means for varying the relative position of these parts or for selectively connecting the parts to move in unison
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2305/00 Valve arrangements comprising rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 73/00 Combinations of two or more engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/12 Engine control specially adapted for a transmission comprising a torque converter or for continuously variable transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 : the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 : the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0844 : with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/004 : Aiding engine start by using decompression means or variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/912 : Drive line clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle is provided with an electric machine connected to a battery of less than 150 volts and coupled to an internal combustion engine such that a crankshaft of the engine rotates at all times the electric machine operates to supply power from the battery and all times the electric machine operates to capture power for storage in the battery. Motive force is provided to the vehicle with power output by the internal combustion engine. During movement of the vehicle, ignition of the engine is ceased in response to an engine load below a specified threshold. Pumping losses and drive train drag are reduced by altering at least one mechanical property of the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an internal combustion engine;

providing an electric machine connected to a battery of less than 150 volts and coupled to the internal combustion engine such that a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates at all times the electric machine operates to supply power from the battery and all times the electric machine operates to capture power for storage in the battery;

providing motive force to the vehicle with power output by the internal combustion engine;

during movement of the vehicle, ceasing ignition of the internal combustion engine in response to an engine load below a threshold; and

with ignition ceased, altering at least one mechanical property of the internal combustion engine to reduce pumping losses to reduce drive train drag.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a transmission between the internal combustion engine and at least one vehicle wheel; and

placing the transmission into a neutral position during movement of the vehicle when the engine load is below the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing an input from a human operator of the vehicle; and

resuming ignition of the internal combustion engine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the input includes a depression of an accelerator pedal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the input includes a depression of a brake pedal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising decelerating the vehicle with a regenerative braking process whereby the electric machine generates electrical power for storage in the battery in response to the depression of the brake pedal.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the electric machine is an integrated starter generator, the method further comprising energizing the electric machine to start the internal combustion engine while the at least one mechanical property is altered to reduce pumping losses.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a torque converter between an internal combustion engine and an electric machine; and

wherein providing motive force to the vehicle includes transmitting internal combustion engine power to at least one vehicle wheel through the torque converter.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a torque converter between an electric machine and at least one vehicle wheel; and

wherein providing motive force to the vehicle includes transmitting internal combustion engine power to the at least one vehicle wheel through the torque converter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein altering at least one mechanical property of the internal combustion engine includes manipulating a valve train.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein manipulating the valve train includes collapsing a plurality of roller finger followers such that actuation of the plurality of roller finger followers by a camshaft does not result in opening of a corresponding plurality of valves of the valve train.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein altering at least one mechanical property of the internal combustion engine includes adjusting the timing of at least one exhaust valve and at least one intake valve to produce a negative valve overlap.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein altering at least one mechanical property of the internal combustion engine includes substituting a high compression ratio for a low compression ratio in at least one piston cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

14. A vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine; and

an electric machine connected to a battery of less than 150 volts and coupled to the internal combustion engine such that a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine rotates at all times the electric machine is supplying power from the battery and at all time the electric machine is capturing power for storage in the battery,

wherein the vehicle is operable in a first mode of operation in which the vehicle is powered by the internal combustion engine, and

wherein, activated by the detection of an engine load below a threshold, the vehicle is operable in a second mode of operation in which ignition of the internal combustion engine is ceased and at least one mechanical property of the internal combustion engine is altered to reduce pumping losses and drive train drag.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to switch from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation via an input from a human operator of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the input includes a depression of an accelerator pedal.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the input includes a depression of a brake pedal.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the electric machine is operable to generate electrical power for storage in the battery in response to the depression of the brake pedal.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the electric machine is an integrated starter generator operable to start the internal combustion engine when energized.

20. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a torque converter located between the electric machine and at least one vehicle wheel or between the electric machine and the internal combustion engine.