Control system for vehicle having fuel cell

• US 20010008192A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 07/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Morisawa, Kunio
• Granted Patent: US 6,615,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/197
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/354 having separate mechanical assemblies for transmitting drive to the front or to the rear wheels or set of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 including control of fuel cells
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

A control system of a vehicle including a fuel cell and an electric motor that drives drive wheels of the vehicle with electric energy generated by the fuel cell is provided wherein a traction controller controls the output of the drive wheels so as to secure tractive force of the vehicle when a certain traction control start condition is satisfied.

Claims

1. A control system of a vehicle including a fuel cell and an electric motor that drives drive wheels of the vehicle with electric energy generated by the fuel cell, comprising:

a traction controller configured to control output of the drive wheels so as to secure tractive force of the vehicle when a predetermined traction control start condition is satisfied.

2. The control system as defined in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a fuel cell output controller configured to control output of the fuel cell during traction control by said traction controller.

3. The control system as defined in

claim 2

, further comprising:

an electric motor output controller configured to control output of the electric motor; and

an electric energy storage device;

wherein said fuel cell output controller reduces the output of the fuel cell, thereby to reduce the output of the electric motor during traction control by said traction controller; and

wherein, if the output of the electric motor is to be subsequently increased, said electric motor output controller increases output torque of the electric motor by using electric energy from the electric energy storage device.

4. The control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the vehicle includes a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels, one of said first set and said second set comprising front wheels, the other of said first set and said second set comprising rear wheels, and wherein said first set of wheels are driven by an engine, and said second set of wheels are driven by the electric motor.

5. The control system as defined in

claim 4

, further comprising:

an electric motor output controller; and

an electric energy storage device;

wherein said traction controller reduces output of the engine that drives the first set of wheels so as to perform traction control, and said electric motor output controller drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from at least one of the electric energy storage device and the fuel cell.

6. The control system as defined in

claim 4

, further comprising:

an electric motor output controller;

wherein the vehicle further includes a generator that is driven by the engine, and said electric motor output controller drives the electric motor that drives the second set of wheels, using electric energy supplied from the generator, and drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from the fuel cell when electric power generation of the generator is restricted.

7. The control system as defined in

claim 4

, further comprising:

an electric motor output controller; and

an electric energy storage device;

wherein the vehicle further includes a generator that is driven by the engine, and said electric motor output controller drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from at least one of the electric energy storage device, the generator, and the fuel cell.

8. The control system as defined in

claim 7

, further comprising a coordination controller configured to coordinate operations of the electric energy storage device, the generator, and the fuel cell, so as to adjust quantities of electric energy respectively supplied from the electric energy storage device, the generator, and the fuel cell, to the electric motor.

9. The control system as defined in

claim 4

, further comprising a fuel distribution device that distributes fuel to the fuel cell and the engine, said traction controller controlling the fuel distribution device during traction control.

10. The control system as defined in

claim 9

, wherein the fuel distribution device reduces fuel to be supplied to the engine when an amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank of the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

11. The control system as defined in

claim 4

, wherein said traction controller restricts output of the fuel cell when driving of the electric motor is controlled by the output of the fuel cell during traction control.

12. The control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the vehicle includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, and wherein one of the pairs of front wheels and rear wheels is driven by a first electric motor, and the other of the pairs of front wheels and rear wheels is driven by a second electric motor.

13. The control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein said traction controller performs traction control by operating wheel brakes that apply braking force to wheels of the vehicle.

14. The control system as defined in

claim 1

, further comprising a correcting unit that corrects traction control by said traction controller, based on an operating condition of the fuel cell.

15. A control system of a vehicle including a fuel cell and an electric motor that drives drive wheels of the vehicle with electric energy generated by the fuel cell, comprising:

means for determining whether a predetermined traction control start condition is satisfied or not; and

traction controller means for controlling output of the drive wheels so as to secure tractive force of the vehicle when the predetermined traction control start condition is satisfied.

16. The control system as defined in

claim 15

, further comprising:

fuel cell output controller means for controlling output of the fuel cell during traction control by said traction controller means.

17. The control system as defined in

claim 16

, further comprising:

electric motor output controller means for controlling output of the electric motor; and

electric energy storage means;

wherein said fuel cell output controller means reduces the output of the fuel cell, thereby to reduce the output of the electric motor during traction control by said traction controller means; and

wherein, if the output of the electric motor is to be subsequently increased, said electric motor output controller means increases output torque of the electric motor by using electric energy from the electric energy storage means.

18. The control system as defined in

claim 15

, wherein the vehicle includes a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels, one of said first set and said second set comprising front wheels, the other of said first set and said second set comprising rear wheels, and wherein the first set of wheels are driven by an engine, and the second set of wheels are driven by the electric motor.

19. The control system as defined in

claim 18

, further comprising:

electric motor output controller means; and

electric energy storage means;

wherein said traction controller means reduces output of the engine that drives the first set of wheels so as to perform traction control, and said electric motor output controller means drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from the electric energy storage means and the fuel cell.

20. The control system as defined in

claim 18

, further comprising:

an electric motor output controller means;

wherein the vehicle further includes a generator that is driven by the engine, and said electric motor output controller means drives the electric motor that drives the second set of wheels, using electric energy supplied from the generator, and drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from the fuel cell when electric power generation of the generator is restricted.

21. The control system as defined in

claim 18

, further comprising:

an electric motor output controller means; and

an electric energy storage means;

wherein the vehicle further includes a generator that is driven by the engine, and said electric motor output controller means drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from at least one of the electric energy storage means, the generator, and the fuel cell.

22. The control system as defined in

claim 21

, further comprising a coordination controller means for coordinating operations of the electric energy storage means, the generator, and the fuel cell, so as to adjust quantities of electric energy respectively supplied from the electric energy storage means, the generator, and the fuel cell, to the electric motor.

23. The control system as defined in

claim 18

, further comprising fuel distribution means for distributing fuel to the fuel cell and the engine, said traction controller means controlling the fuel distribution means during traction control.

24. The control system as defined in

claim 23

, wherein the fuel distribution means reduces fuel to be supplied to the engine when an amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank of the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

25. The control system as defined in

claim 18

, wherein said traction controller means restricts output of the fuel cell when driving of the electric motor is controlled by the output of the fuel cell during traction control.

26. The control system as defined in

claim 15

, wherein the vehicle includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, and wherein one of the pairs of front wheels and rear wheels is driven by a first electric motor, and the other of the pairs of front wheels and rear wheels is driven by a second electric motor.

27. A control system according to

claim 15

, wherein said traction controller means performs traction control by operating wheel brakes that apply braking force to wheels of the vehicle.

28. A control system according to

claim 15

, further comprising correcting means for correcting traction control by said traction controller means, based on an operating condition of the fuel cell.

29. A control method in a vehicle including a fuel cell and an electric motor, comprising the steps of:

driving drive wheels of the vehicle with electric energy generated by the fuel cell, and

using a traction controller to control output of the drive wheels so as to secure tractive force of the vehicle when a predetermined traction control start condition is satisfied.

30. The control method as defined in

claim 29

, further comprising:

using a fuel cell output controller to control output of the fuel cell during traction control by said traction controller.

31. The control method as defined in

claim 30

, further comprising:

using an electric motor output controller to control output of the electric motor;

using said fuel cell output controller to reduce the output of the fuel cell, thereby to reduce the output of the electric motor during traction control by said traction controller; and

when the output of the electric motor is to be subsequently increased, using said electric motor output controller to increase output torque of the electric motor by using electric energy from an electric energy storage device.

32. The control method as defined in

claim 29

, wherein the vehicle includes a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels, one of said first set and said second set comprising front wheels, the other of said first set and said second set comprising rear wheels, and wherein said first set of wheels are driven by an engine, and said second set of wheels are driven by the electric motor.

33. The control method as defined in

claim 32

, further comprising:

using an electric motor output controller to control output of the electric motor;

using an electric energy storage device; and

using said traction controller to reduce output of the engine that drives the first set of wheels so as to perform traction control, and using said electric motor output controller to drive the electric motor with electric energy supplied from the electric energy storage device and the fuel cell.

34. The control method as defined in

claim 32

, further comprising:

using an electric motor output controller to control output of the electric motor;

wherein the vehicle further includes a generator that is driven by the engine, and said electric motor output controller drives the electric motor that drives the second set of wheels, using electric energy supplied from the generator, and drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from the fuel cell when electric power generation of the generator is restricted.

35. The control method as defined in

claim 32

, further comprising:

using an electric motor output controller to control output of the electric motor; and

using an electric energy storage device;

wherein the vehicle further includes a generator that is driven by the engine, and said electric motor output controller drives the electric motor using electric energy supplied from at least one of the electric energy storage device, the generator, and the fuel cell.

36. The control system as defined in

claim 35

, further comprising the step of coordinating operations of the electric energy storage device, the generator, and the fuel cell, so as to adjust quantities of electric energy respectively supplied from the electric energy storage device, the generator, and the fuel cell, to the electric motor.

37. The control method as defined in

claim 32

, further comprising using a fuel distribution device to distribute fuel to the fuel cell and the engine, said traction controller controlling the fuel distribution device during traction control.

38. The control method as defined in

claim 37

, wherein the fuel distribution device reduces fuel to be supplied to the engine when an amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank of the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

39. The control method as defined in

claim 32

, further comprising restricting output of the fuel cell when driving of the electric motor is controlled by the output of the fuel cell during traction control.

40. The control method as defined in

claim 29

, wherein one of pairs of front wheels and rear wheels is driven by a first electric motor, and the other of the pairs of front wheels and rear wheels is driven by a second electric motor.

41. A control method as defined in

claim 29

, wherein said traction controller operates wheel brakes that apply braking force to wheels of the vehicle.

42. A control method as defined in

claim 29

, further comprising the step of correcting traction control by said traction controller, based on an operating condition of the fuel cell.