Methods and systems for conditionally entering a driveline sailing mode

• US 9,610,935 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• 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: Reed, Dennis Craig, Gibson, Alex O'Connor, Doering, Jeffrey Allen, Banker, Adam Nathan, Lee, Seung-Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US14/686,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• 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 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/206 related or induced by the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18118 Hill holding
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0032 Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1508 with particular means during idling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline may selectively enter a sailing mode to provide quick driveline torque response with reduced impact on fuel economy.

Claims

1. A driveline operating method, comprising:

providing torque to a driveline coupled to vehicle wheels via an engine and a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG);

entering a sailing mode during select conditions, the sailing mode including providing DISG torque to the driveline and idling the engine without providing engine torque to the driveline; and

adjusting a driveline disconnect clutch responsive to the sailing mode.

2. The method of claim 1, where the engine is a direct fuel injection engine, and wherein the disconnect clutch is coupled between the engine and the DISG.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the engine;

and closing the disconnect clutch to rotate and start the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the engine;

and starting the engine based on a battery state of charge.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a torque converter clutch slip during the sailing mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising adjusting the engine torque responsive to the sailing mode when adjusting the torque converter clutch slip.

7. The method of claim 1, where the engine is idled at a sailing mode idle speed that is a lower idle speed than a base idle speed when the engine is coupled to the DISG.

8. A driveline operating method, comprising:

providing torque to a driveline coupled to vehicle wheels via an engine and a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG);

entering a sailing mode during select conditions, the sailing mode including providing DISG torque to the driveline and idling the engine without providing engine torque to the driveline;

advancing spark timing and reducing an engine air amount in response to entering the sailing mode; and

during hill holding operation, tying up a transmission output of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting a disconnect clutch between the engine and the DISG based on the sailing mode, where the select conditions include where a catalyst temperature is less than a threshold temperature and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

10. The method of claim 8, where the select conditions include where a fuel vapor canister is storing more than a threshold amount of fuel vapor and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

11. The method of claim 8, where the select conditions include where a vacuum level is less than a threshold vacuum and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

12. The method of claim 8, where the select conditions include where an engine coolant temperature is less than a threshold temperature and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

13. The method of claim 8, where the select conditions include where a driver has selected a sport driving mode and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

14. The method of claim 8, where the engine is idled at a sailing mode idle speed that is a lower idle speed than a base idle speed when the engine is coupled to the DISG.

15. A vehicle system, comprising:

a direct injection engine;

a dual mass flywheel including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;

a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;

a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) including a first side coupled to a second side of the driveline disconnect clutch;

a transmission selectively coupled to the engine via the driveline disconnect clutch; and

a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to enter a sailing mode during select conditions with the disconnect clutch open, where the engine is operated at a sailing mode idle speed without providing engine torque to the transmission and where DISG torque is provided to the transmission, where the select conditions include a battery state of charge being equal to or greater than a threshold battery charge.

16. The vehicle system of claim 15, further comprising additional instructions to purge fuel vapors during the sailing mode.

17. The vehicle system of claim 15, further comprising additional instructions to generate vacuum during the sailing mode.

18. The vehicle system of claim 15, further comprising additional instructions to increase catalyst temperature during the sailing mode.

19. The vehicle system of claim 15, further comprising additional instructions to increase engine temperature during the sailing mode.

20. The vehicle system of claim 15, where the threshold battery charge is a rated battery charge.