Hybrid electric vehicle and method of selectively operating the hybrid electric vehicle

• US 7,017,542 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wonderland Investment Group Inc
• Original Assignee: Transportation Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Schmitz, Robert W., Anderson, Joshua J., Wilton, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Argenbright, Tony M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Katrina B.
• Application Number:
  US10/621,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.02, 123/193.3, 123/362, 123/396, 290/35
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/00 Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units heating the interior space B60H; cooling internal combustion engines per se F01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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 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 2510/0628 Inlet air flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/32 : Engine outcoming fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/185 : for alternators or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 : for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 : for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/00 : Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A series type hybrid electric vehicle that controls an internal combustion engine, generator, and electric motor for reducing the load applied to the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is restarted, lowers the thermal stresses to the internal combustion engine when the engine is turned off and is able to remove excess fuel when turning off the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A method for adaptively starting an internal combustion engine connected to a generator, comprising

operating the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine;

raising the oil pressure of the engine to a predetermined oil pressure;

applying an ignition spark in the engine after the predetermined oil pressure is obtained in the internal combustion engine;

supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine after a stable ignition spark has been achieved;

removing the generator as the motor to start the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined rotation; and

raising the temperature of the internal combustion engine before maximizing an output of the internal combustion engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a pump is used to raise the oil pressure of the engine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised while in an idle mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the engine is raised by an external device prior to starting.

5. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator connected to the internal combustion engine; and

a controller that;

operates the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine;

raises the oil pressure of the engine to a predetermined oil pressure;

applies an ignition spark in the engine after the predetermined oil pressure is obtained in the internal combustion engine;

supplies fuel to the internal combustion engine after a stable ignition spark has been achieved;

removes the generator as the motor to start the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined rotation; and

raises the temperature of the internal combustion engine before maximizing an output of the internal combustion engine.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein a pump is integral with the generator in order the raise the oil pressure.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the temperature of the internal combustion engine is raised while in an idle mode.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the temperature of the engine is raised by an external device prior to starting.

9. A method for adaptively operating an internal combustion engine connected to a generator, comprising:

starting the internal combustion engine by;

operating the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine;

raising the oil pressure of the engine to a predetermined oil pressure;

applying an ignition spark in the engine after the predetermined oil pressure is obtained in the internal combustion engine;

supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine after a stable ignition spark has been achieved;

removing the generator as the motor to start the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined rotation; and

raising the temperature of the internal combustion engine before maximizing an output of the internal combustion engine; and

stopping the internal combustion engine by;

activating a cooling system in order to lower a temperature of the internal combustion engine to a first predetermined temperature;

shutting off the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is below the first predetermined temperature level;

turning off an ignition spark in the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has stopped; and

turning off the cooling system after the temperature of the internal combustion engine is lowered to a second predetermined temperature which is lower than the first predetermined temperature.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator connected to the internal combustion engine; and

a controller that controls the internal combustion engine, wherein when the controller starts the internal combustion engine, the controller;

operates the generator as a motor to start the internal combustion engine;

raises the oil pressure of the engine to a predetermined oil pressure;

applies an ignition spark in the engine after the predetermined oil pressure is obtained in the internal combustion engine;

supplies fuel to the internal combustion engine after a stable ignition spark has been achieved;

removes the generator as the motor to start the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined rotation; and

raises the temperature of the internal combustion engine before maximizing an output of the internal combustion engine, wherein when the controller stops the internal combustion engine, and

when the controller stops the internal combustion engine, the controller;

activates a cooling system in order to lower a temperature of the internal combustion engine to a first predetermined temperature;

shuts off the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine is below the first predetermined temperature level;

turns off an ignition spark in the internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has stopped; and

turns off the cooling system after the temperature of the internal combustion engine is lowered to a second predetermined temperature which is lower than the first predetermined temperature.