Method for operating a hybrid drive device for a motor vehicle

• US 9,827,842 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2013
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Blasinski, Boris, Kasteneder, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Swenson, Brian L
• Application Number:
  US14/762,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20150367719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,438 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• 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 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/17 for noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A method for operating a hybrid drive device of a motor vehicle is disclosed, wherein the hybrid drive device includes an internal combustion engine, which can be operatively connected to a first axle of the motor vehicle, a first electric motor, which can also be operatively connected to the first axle of the motor vehicle, and a second electric motor, which can be operatively connected to a second axle of the motor vehicle. The electrical energy used for operating the second electric motor is generated in a first mode of operation by the first electric motor driven by the internal combustion engine while increasing the output of the internal combustion engine, and in a second mode of operation is derived exclusively from an energy storage device for electrical energy.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hybrid drive device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing the hybrid drive device, said hybrid drive device comprising an internal combustion engine operatively connectable with a first axle of the motor vehicle, a first electric motor operatively connectable with the first axle, and a second electric motor operatively connectable with a second axle of the motor vehicle, said hybrid drive device being operable in one of at least two operating modes;

in a first one and a second one of the at least two operating modes driving the first axle with the internal combustion engine and the second axle with the second electric motor, wherein in the first operating mode the second electric motor is operated with electric energy generated by driving the first electric motor with the internal combustion engine at an increased output of the internal combustion engine that is greater than the output provided by the second electric motor for driving the axle when the efficiencies are smaller than 1 of the first electric motor and the second electric motor, and wherein in the second operating mode the second electric motor is operated with electric energy withdrawn exclusively from an energy storage for electric energy; and

further comprising operating the hybrid drive device in the first operating mode when a charge state of the energy storage falls below a first threshold value at a time when demanding a torque generated by the second electric motor, and operating the hybrid device in the second operating mode when the charge state of the energy storage does not fall below the first threshold value at the time when demanding the torque generated by the second electric motor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the increased output of the internal combustion engine causes the first electric motor to generate an amount of electric energy sufficient to exclusively operate the second electric motor with the electric energy generated by the first electric motor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hybrid drive device is operable in a third operating mode in which the energy storage is charged by means of the first electric motor driven by the internal combustion engine at the increased output of the internal combustion engine.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising operating the hybrid drive device in the third operating mode when no torque generated by the second electric motor is requested and when an expected sound emission resulting from the increased output of the internal combustion engine during a charging of the energy storage is smaller than a first threshold value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hybrid drive device is only operated in the third operating mode when the charge state of the energy storage is smaller than a second threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine and the first electric motor are operated as parallel hybrid drive device.

7. A hybrid drive device of a motor vehicle, comprising,

an internal combustion engine operatively connectable with a first axle of the motor vehicle;

a first electric motor operatively connectable with the first axle; and

a second electric motor operatively connectable with a second axle of the motor vehicle, said hybrid drive device being operable in one of at least two operating modes,

wherein in a first one and a second one of the at least two operating modes the internal combustion engine drives the first axle and the second electric motor drives the second axle, wherein in the first operating mode the second electric motor is operated with electric energy generated the first electric motor driven with the internal combustion engine at an increased output of the internal combustion engine that is greater than the output provided by the second electric motor for driving the axle when the efficiencies are smaller than 1 of the first electric motor and the second electric motor,

wherein in the second operating mode the second electric motor is operated with electric energy withdrawn exclusively from an energy storage for electric energy, and

wherein the hybrid drive device is operated in the first operating mode when a charge state of the energy storage falls below a first threshold value at a time when demanding a torque generated by the second electric motor, and the hybrid device is operated in the second operating mode when the charge state of the energy storage does not fall below the first threshold value at the time when demanding the torque generated by the second electric motor.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a hybrid drive device, said hybrid drive comprising, an internal combustion engine operatively connectable with a first axle of the motor vehicle;

a first electric motor operatively connectable with the first axle; and

a second electric motor operatively connectable with a second axle of the motor vehicle, said hybrid drive device being operable in one of at least two operating modes, wherein in a first one and a second one of the at least two operating modes the internal combustion engine drives the first axle and the second electric motor drives the second axle,

wherein in the first operating mode the second electric motor is operated with electric energy generated by the first electric motor driven with the internal combustion engine at an increased output of the internal combustion engine that is greater than the output provided by the second electric motor for driving the axle when the efficiencies are smaller than 1 of the first electric motor and the second electric motor, wherein in the second operating mode the second electric motor is operated with electric energy withdrawn exclusively from an energy storage for electric energy, and

wherein the hybrid drive device is operated in the first operating mode when a charge state of the energy storage falls below a first threshold value at a time when demanding a torque generated by the second electric motor, and the hybrid device is operated in the second operating mode when the charge state of the energy storage does not fall below the first threshold value at the time when demanding the torque generated by the second electric motor.