Hydraulic system and method for a hybrid vehicle

• US 9,108,499 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Long, Charles F., Taylor, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUAN G
• Application Number:
  US13/736,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20130118617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/14 Fluid pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0037 characterised by controlled fluid supply to lubrication circuits of the gearing see also lubrication control F16H57/0446
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0021 Generation or control of line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0025 Supply of control fluid; Pumps therefore
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0031 using auxiliary pumps, e.g. pump driven by a different power source than the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0206 Layout of electro-hydraulic control circuits, e.g. arrangement of valves for control of actuators selecting and moving final output members, e.g. shift forks F16H61/2807
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0644 One-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0652 the plurality of throttling means being arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/915 Specific drive or transmission adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85986 Pumped fluid control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86131 Plural

Abstract

A hydraulic system for a hybrid module which is located between an engine and a transmission includes a parallel arrangement of a mechanical pump and an electric pump. Each pump is constructed and arranged to deliver oil to other portions of the hydraulic system depending on the operational mode. Three operational modes are described including an electric mode, a transition mode, and a cruise mode. Various monitoring and control features are incorporated into the hydraulic system.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve, which is in direct fluid communication with said main regulator valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator valve;

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve;

a controller for controlling the operational status of each pump based on an operational mode of the hybrid electric vehicle;

a clutch trim valve;

a first control solenoid constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve;

a second control solenoid constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said clutch trim valve;

wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode; and

wherein said first control solenoid and second control solenoid each have an operational condition which is determined by which of the three operational modes represents the operational mode of the hybrid electric vehicle.

2. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator valve;

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode; and

wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said eMode, the first control solenoid is in an OFF operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an OFF operational condition.

3. The hydraulic system of claim 2 wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said eMode, all of the hydraulic fluid which is delivered from the sump to any of the valves of the hydraulic system is delivered by said electric pump.

4. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator valve;

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode; and

wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said transition mode, said first control solenoid is in an OFF operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an ON operational condition.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 4 wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said transition mode, the hydraulic fluid which is delivered from the sump to any of the valves of the hydraulic system is delivered in apportioned amounts by said electric pump and by said mechanical pump.

6. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator valve; and

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode; and

wherein said hybrid electric vehicle is in said cruise mode, said first control solenoid is in an ON operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an ON operational condition.

7. The hydraulic system of claim 6 wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said cruise mode, all of the hydraulic fluid which is delivered from the sump to any of the valve of the hydraulic system is delivered by said mechanical pump.

8. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid from said sump to said main regulator valve; and

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode, wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said eMode, the first control solenoid is in an OFF operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an OFF operational condition.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 8 wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said eMode, all of the hydraulic fluid which is delivered from the sump to any of the valves of the hydraulic system is delivered by said electric pump.

10. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid from said sump to said main regulator valve; and

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode, wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said transition mode, said first control solenoid is in an OFF operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an ON operational condition.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 10 wherein when said hybrid electric is in said transition mode, said first control solenoid is an OFF operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an ON operational condition.

12. A hydraulic system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a sump containing hydraulic fluid;

a main regulator valve;

a main regulator by-pass valve;

a mechanical pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in fluid communication with said main regulator valve for delivering hydraulic fluid from said sump to said main regulator valve; and

an electric pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication with said sump and in direct fluid communication with said main regulator by-pass valve for delivering hydraulic fluid directly from said sump to said main regulator by-pass valve, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle has three operational modes associated with the hydraulic system, including an eMode, a transition mode and a cruise mode, wherein said hybrid electric vehicle is in said cruise mode, said first control solenoid is in an ON operational condition and said second control solenoid is in an ON operational condition.

13. The hydraulic system of claim 12 wherein when said hybrid electric vehicle is in said cruise mode, all of the hydraulic fluid which is delivered from the sump to any of the valve of the hydraulic system is delivered by said mechanical pump.