Hybrid drive system wherein clutch is engaged when engine speed has exceeded motor speed upon switching from motor drive mode to engine drive mode

• US 7,207,404 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Hiroatsu, Oba, Hidehiro, Ito, Masatoshi, Hoshiya, Kazumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bottorff; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/970,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 180/65.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/107 with endless flexible members
• 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 20/40 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 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/025 Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1066 Hybrid
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 9/18 : only one flange of each pulley being adjustable
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, (b) an electric motor, (c) a planetary gear device having a first rotary element connected to the engine, a second rotary element connected to the electric motor and connected through a first clutch to an output member connected to vehicle drive wheel, and a third rotary element connected through a second clutch to the output member, (d) a forward-motor-drive control device for engaging the first clutch and releasing the second clutch to thereby establish a forward motor drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in a forward direction by the electric motor, (e) a forward-engine-drive control device for engaging at least the second clutch to establish an engine-drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in the forward direction by the engine, and (f) a second-clutch control device operable upon switching of a vehicle drive mode from the forward motor drive mode to the forward engine drive mode, for engaging the second clutch only after the engine speed has exceeded the motor speed.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle drive power source including an engine operable by combustion of a fuel to generate a drive force, and an electric motor; and

non-cranking engine starting means operable upon switching of a vehicle drive mode from a forward motor drive mode in which the automotive vehicle is driven by operation of said electric motor only, to an engine drive mode in which the automotive vehicle is driven by operation of said engine, said non-cranking engine starting means starting said engine by merely controlling the starting of said engine without cranking of said engine, during a decrease of an operating speed of said engine down to a predetermined threshold, said controlling the starting of said engine comprising controlling a state in which said fuel is injected into said engine;

and wherein said predetermined threshold of the operating speed of said engine is a lower limit above which the engine can be started without cranking of the engine, said predetermined threshold being about 500 r.p.m.

2. The hybrid drive system according to claim 1, wherein said non-cranking engine starting means starts said engine by controlling an amount of injection of the fuel into the engine without cranking of the engine.

3. The hybrid drive system according to claim 1, further comprising engine-cranking starting means operable when the operating speed of said engine is not higher than said predetermined threshold, for cranking the engine with an engine starter to start the engine.

4. The hybrid drive system according to claim 1, wherein said non-cranking engine starting means starts said engine without cranking of said engine, upon switching of the vehicle drive mode from the forward motor drive mode to the engine drive mode after switching of the vehicle drive mode from the engine drive mode to the forward motor drive mode.

5. The hybrid drive system according to claim 4, wherein said non-cranking engine starting means starts said engine without cranking of said engine, before the operating speed of the engine is lowered to said predetermined threshold after the vehicle drive mode has been switched from the engine drive mode to the forward motor drive mode.

6. The hybrid drive system according to claim 4, wherein the switching of the vehicle drive mode from the engine drive mode to the forward motor drive mode is required as a result of a decrease in operator'"'"'s desired vehicle drive power, and the subsequent switching of the vehicle drive mode from the forward motor drive mode to the engine drive mode is required as a result of a subsequent increase in the operator'"'"'s desired vehicle drive power.