Method For Controlling A Drivetrain For A Hybrid Vehicle

• US 20090005925A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: FLECKNER, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/105 the accumulator being a flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/24 with additional mechanical or electromagnetic braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/024 including control of torque converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/026 of lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A method for controlling a drivetrain for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The drivetrain has at least one internal combustion engine, a torque converter and an operational link to at least one drivable axle, an electrical energy store, and an electrical machine, which is usable as a generator for charging the electrical energy store during a recuperation operation. The electrical machine is provided on the pump wheel and the operational link being provided on the turbine wheel of the torque converter. A torque is introduced from the drivable axle via the operational link and through the turbine wheel into the liquid of the torque converter in recuperation operation in order to be dissipated as heat.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a drivetrain of a hybrid vehicle, the drivetrain having at least one internal combustion engine, a torque converter and an operational link to at least one drivable axle, an electrical energy store, and an electrical machine usable as a generator for charging the electrical energy store during a recuperation operation, the method comprising the acts of:

providing the electrical machine on a pump wheel of the torque converter and the operational link on a turbine wheel of the torque converter;

introducing a torque from the at least one drivable axle, via the operational link and through the turbine wheel, into a liquid of the torque converter in recuperation operation; and

dissipating the introduced torque in the liquid of the torque converter as heat.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of introducing the torque through the turbine wheel into the liquid of the torque converter further comprises the act of opening a converter bypass clutch of the torque converter in the recuperation operation.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the act of providing speed regulation of the electrical machine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of introducing the torque into the liquid of the torque converter is performed when energy generated in the recuperation operation as electrical energy may no longer be all stored in the electrical energy store.

5. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a drivetrain for a hybrid vehicle, the drivetrain including at least one internal combustion engine, a torque converter and an operational link to at one drivable axle, an electrical energy store, and an electrical machine usable as a generator for charging the electrical energy store during a recuperation operation, the electrical machine being provided on a pump wheel of the torque converter and the operational link being provided on a turbine wheel of the torque converter; and

a control unit for controlling the drivetrain of the hybrid vehicle, the control unit being operatively configured to control the introduction of a torque from the at least one drivable axle, via the operational link and through the turbine wheel, into a liquid of the torque converter in the recuperation operation for dissipating the introduced torque as heat.

6. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a converter bypass clutch of the torque converter, the converter bypass clutch being opened in the recuperation operation in order to introduce the torque through the turbine wheel into the liquid of the torque converter.

7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control unit regulates a speed of the electrical machine.

8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control unit introduces the torque into the liquid of the torque converter when energy generated in the recuperation operation as electrical energy may no longer all be stored in the electrical energy store.