Method for improving startability of a vehicle

• US 9,738,282 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: sbogrd, Mattias, Bringhed, Johan, Wennberg, Niclas
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/766,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 701 99
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/105 the accumulator being a flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/04 Vehicle stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A method for improving startability of a vehicle is provided, the vehicle being provided with a prime mover and a kinetic energy recuperation system. The prime mover is adapted to propel the vehicle either alone or in combination with the kinetic energy recuperation system which is operably coupled to the prime mover and to wheels of the vehicle and is adapted to store energy at times when there is an abundance of energy and to use energy at times when there is a demand for energy. A vehicle is also provided. The method includes determining that the vehicle is standing still or essentially standing still; detecting a take-off assistance condition; detecting a level of energy in the kinetic energy recuperation system; if the level of energy is found insufficient, connecting the prime mover to the kinetic energy recuperation system and running the prime mover such that energy from the prime mover is stored in the kinetic energy recuperation system; and when a driver requests the vehicle to take off, running the prime mover and consuming energy from the kinetic energy recuperation system such that the wheels of the vehicle initiate propelling thereof.

Claims

1. A method for improving startability of a vehicle, the vehicle being provided with a prime mover and a kinetic energy recuperation system, such that the prime mover is adapted to propel the vehicle either alone or in combination with the kinetic energy recuperation system which is operably coupled to the prime mover and to wheels of the vehicle and is adapted to store energy at times when there is an abundance of energy and to use energy at times when there is a demand for energy, the method comprising the steps of:

a. determining that the vehicle is standing still,

b. detecting a take-off assistance condition,

c. detecting a level of energy in the kinetic energy recuperation system,

d. determining that a level of energy is insufficient and connecting the prime mover to the kinetic energy recuperation system and running the prime mover such that energy from the prime mover is stored in the kinetic energy recuperation system, and

e. requesting the vehicle to take off and running the prime mover and consuming energy from the kinetic energy recuperation system such that the wheels of the vehicle initiate propelling thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the step of finding the level of energy insufficient involves finding that the level of energy is lower than a first predetermined energy value.

3. A method according to claim 2, if the level of energy is lower than the first predetermined energy value, the method further includes detecting whether the prime mover is running, and if it is not, starting up the prime mover.

4. A method according to claim 1, in which the vehicle is provided with a start/stop function, such that if a take-off assistance condition is detected and if the vehicle is standing still, the start/stop function is disabled from stopping the prime mover from running.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising perform the steps in an order of, first, a., second, b., third, c., fourth, d., and, fifth, e.

6. A method according to claim 1, in which the step of determining the take-off assistance condition includes any one or a combination of the following:

determining that the vehicle is standing in or at an upward slope, determining that the vehicle is loaded, or determining that the vehicle is being belated in relation to a desired schedule.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the take-off assistance condition includes determining that the vehicle is standing in or at an upward slope using inclination detecting means and determining if that the inclination detecting means detect an upwards slope being equal to or greater than a predetermined inclination value.

8. A method according to claim 7, in which the predetermined inclination value corresponds to an upward slope of at least 7.5%.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the take-off assistance condition includes determining that the vehicle is loaded weight sensing means and determining that the weight sensing means detect a payload in the vehicle being equal or greater than a predetermined weight value.

10. A method according to claim 9, in which the predetermined weight value corresponds to a payload of at least 30% in relation to a vehicle dead weight.

11. A method according to claim 1, in which the method further comprises prohibiting propelling the vehicle until the level of energy in the kinetic energy recuperation system is equal to or greater than a second predetermined energy value.

12. A vehicle comprising a prime mover and a kinetic energy recuperation system, such that the prime mover is adapted to propel the vehicle either alone or in combination with the kinetic energy recuperation system which is operably coupled to the prime mover and to wheels of the vehicle and is adapted to store energy at times when there is an abundance of energy and to consume energy at times when there is a demand for energy, the vehicle being configured to perform a method for improving startability of the vehicle, the vehicle being provided with a prime mover and a kinetic energy recuperation system, such that the prime mover is adapted to propel the vehicle either alone or in combination with the kinetic energy recuperation system which is operably coupled to the prime mover and to wheels of the vehicle and is adapted to store energy at times when there is an abundance of energy and to use energy at times when there is a demand for energy, the method comprising the steps of:

determining that the vehicle is standing still,

detecting a take-off assistance condition,

detecting a level of energy in the kinetic energy recuperation system,

determining that a level of energy is found insufficient and connecting the prime mover to the kinetic energy recuperation system and running the prime mover such that energy from the prime mover is stored in the kinetic energy recuperation system, and

requesting the vehicle to take off and running the prime mover and consuming energy from the kinetic energy recuperation system such that the wheels of the vehicle initiate propelling thereof.

13. A vehicle according to claim 12, in which the kinetic energy recuperation system is a flywheel.

14. A vehicle according to claim 12, in which the prime mover is an internal combustion engine.