Internal combustion engines for hybrid powertrain

• US 7,028,793 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Vision Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Green Vision Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Hu, Haoran, Merrion, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/360,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.5, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 180/65.8, 322/39, 322/40, 322/9, 123/357, 123/370, 123/371, 123/375, 607/16, 607/17, 607/19
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2027 whilst maintaining constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 : for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2510/068 : Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2430/10 : by modifying inlet or exhaust valve timing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0842 : Nitrogen oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0871 : Regulation of absorbents or adsorbents, e.g. purging by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2013 : using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/32 : Miller cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0406 : Layout of the intake air cooling or coolant circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/00 : Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/24 : by using pumps or turbines with adjustable guide vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 : changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0273 : Multiple actuations of a valve within an engine cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 : for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 : Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 : Multiple injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/01 : Internal exhaust gas recirculation, i.e. wherein the residual exhaust gases are trapped in the cylinder or pushed back from the intake or the exhaust manifold into the combustion chamber without the use of additional passages
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/05 : High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/10 : having means to increase the pressure difference between the exhaust and intake system, e.g. venturis, variable geometry turbines, check valves using pressure pulsations or throttles in the air intake or exhaust system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/23 : Layout, e.g. schematics
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/33 : controlling the temperature of the recirculated gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 hybrid powertrain and method for operating same in which the operation of the engine is modified to effect an improvement in the fuel economy and/or emissions performance of the hybrid powertrain. In one embodiment, the battery of the powertrain is employed to provide auxiliary heat to an engine aftertreatment system to thereby improve the effectiveness of the aftertreatment system. In another embodiment, various components of the engine, such as a water pump, are wholly or partly operated by electric motors that receive power from the battery of the powertrain. In another embodiment, engine braking can be employed in situations where regenerative braking does not provide sufficient braking torque. In a further embodiment, the engine valves may be selectively opened to reduce pumping losses associated with the back-driving of the engine.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a diesel engine with a plurality of intake valves, a plurality of exhaust valves and an exhaust after treatment system having an electric heater;

a motor/regenerative brake coupled to the diesel engine;

a transmission coupled to the diesel engine and the motor/regenerative brake;

at least one electrically powered engine component selected from a group consisting of a motor-assisted turbocharger, a cooling fan, a water pump, an engine decompression device, and an engine exhaust brake;

a battery coupled to the motor/regenerative brake, the electric heater and the at least one electrically powered engine component; and

a controller coupled to the battery, the motor/regenerative brake, the electric heater and the at least one electrically powered engine component, the controller selectively controlling power from the battery to the electric heater to heat the after treatment system to a predetermined temperature prior to operating the diesel engine, the controller further controlling power from the battery to operate at least one electrically powered engine component, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor/regenerative brake in a braking mode and to operate the engine brake if a deceleration torque is greater than a braking torque provided by the motor/regenerative brake;

wherein the diesel engine, the motor/regenerative brake and the transmission at least partially form a hybrid power train and wherein the controller is operable for selectively operating the hybrid powertrain in one of a first mode in which only the diesel engine provides rotary power to the transmission, a second mode in which both the diesel engine and the motor/regenerative brake provide rotary power to the transmission, and a third mode in which only the motor/regenerative brake provides rotary power to the transmission;

wherein during operation of the hybrid powertrain in the third mode, at least a portion of the intake valve, the exhaust valves or both the intake and exhaust valves are opened to reduce pumping losses.