METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A VEHICLE DRIVELINE

• US 20150210270A1
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• 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: Pietron, Gregory Michael, Banker, Adam Nathan, Reed, Dennis Craig, Lee, Seung-Hoon, McCallum, James William Loch
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• 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 10/119 including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle B60W10/14 takes precedence
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• 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 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/186 excessive wear or burn out of friction elements, e.g. clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/08 said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operating modes may be manually selected to improve hybrid driveline operation during off road conditions. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual driver input for a driveline operating mode parameter;

adjusting engaging of a driveline disconnect clutch positioned between an engine and a motor in response to the driveline operating mode parameter; and

further adjusting a first schedule for automatically idling an engine and decoupling the engine from the hybrid vehicle driveline via the driveline disconnect clutch in response to a condition of a driving surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically restarting the engine in response to the condition of the driving surface degrading to a threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting disengaging the driveline disconnect clutch in response to the driveline operating mode parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the engine to stop rotating in response to the condition of the driving surface.

5. The method of claim 1, where adjusting engaging of the driveline disconnect clutch includes unlocking the driveline disconnect clutch to an open position such that the engine is not mechanically coupled to the motor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising where the driveline disconnect clutch is automatically closed in response to a state of battery charge being lower than a threshold charge level.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second schedule that is applied when the hybrid vehicle is operated in a four wheel drive mode.

8. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual driver input for a driveline operating mode parameter comprising providing motive power via solely by an engine, solely by a motor, or by a combination of the engine and the motor in response to a request for a four wheel drive mode of operation;

adjusting activation of a driveline integrated electric machine in response to the driveline operating mode parameter; and

commanding a torque to a torque converter impeller while the hybrid vehicle is operated in the four wheel drive mode that is different than a torque supplied to the torque converter impeller during similar operating conditions while the hybrid vehicle is operated in a two wheel drive mode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising operating the engine for a longer engine idle time after automatic engine stop conditions other than idle time have been met while the hybrid vehicle is operated in the four wheel drive mode as compared to engine idle time after automatic engine stop conditions other than idle time have been met while the hybrid vehicle is operated in the two wheel drive mode.

10. The method of claim 8, where adjusting activation of the driveline integrated electric machine includes not activating the driveline integrated electric machine.

11. The method of claim 8, where adjusting activation of the driveline integrated electric machine includes increasing driveline integrated electric machine output in response to the driveline operating mode parameter, and where the driveline operating mode parameter is a hill descent mode parameter selected by a driver.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising automatically restarting the engine in response to a threshold desired wheel torque amount while the hybrid vehicle is not operating in the four wheel drive mode.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting opening and closing conditions for a driveline disconnect clutch in response to operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive mode.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising indicating the driveline integrated electric machine is unavailable if a battery state of charge is less than a threshold level.

15. A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising:

providing a manual hill descent control input for a driver;

providing a manual driver input for adjusting activation of a driveline disconnect clutch in response to a state of the hill descent control input; and

automatically restarting a stopped engine in response to a driver selecting a four wheel drive range.

16. The method of claim 15, where the driver selects four wheel drive range while in a two wheel drive range.

17. The method of claim 15, where the four wheel drive range is a high or low gear range.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising opening and closing the driveline disconnect clutch according to a first schedule based on operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive range.

19. The method of claim 15, where automatically restarting the stopped engine includes closing the driveline disconnect clutch.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising stopping engine rotation in response to a vehicle battery reaching a first threshold state of charge based on operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive range.