Abstract: A dynamotor capable of operating as either a motor or a generator is used with both the armature portion and the field portion thereof capable of being rotated. In the case where a pulley operatively interlocked with the output shaft of the prime mover is mounted on the rotary shaft of the armature portion, the drive shaft of the compressor is mounted on the rotating field portion. Once the dynamotor is operated in motor mode, the rotational speed of the compressor is increased to the sum of the input rotational speed and the rotational speed of the dynamotor. The compressor is stopped by disconnecting a power feed circuit. When the input rotational speed is too high, the dynamotor is operated in generator mode. In this way, the rotational speed is reduced in accordance with the generated electric energy.

Abstract: A rotary actuator has a synchronous motor and an internally meshing planetary reduction gear having a first shaft rotated by the synchronous motor, an outer gear mounted to said first shaft with an eccentric part so as to be eccentrically rotatable around said first shaft, an inner gear with which said outer gear meshes internally, and a second shaft connected to said outer gear with a transmission means that only transmits said outer gear rotation on its axis to the second shaft. The synchronous motor and the internally meshing planetary reduction gear are accommodated inside a housing, and the first shaft doubles as a rotor shaft of the synchronous motor. An incremental encoder provided along a rotary shaft of the synchronous motor detects the rotation angle of a rotor of the synchronous motor.

Abstract: A control device is provided in a hybrid-driven auxiliary system using an engine and a motor as driving force. The control device includes: an auxiliary unit into which the motor is integrally assembled; current controlling means for controlling an electric current of the motor for driving or generating; current detecting means for detecting the electric current of the motor; and load torque computing means for computing, based on the electric current of the motor, a load torque when the auxiliary unit is operated.

Abstract: A dynamotor capable of operating as either a motor or a generator is used with both the armature portion and the field portion thereof capable of being rotated. In the case where a pulley operatively interlocked with the output shaft of the prime mover is mounted on the rotary shaft of the armature portion, the drive shaft of the compressor is mounted on the rotating field portion. Once the dynamotor is operated in motor mode, the rotational speed of the compressor is increased to the sum of the input rotational speed and the rotational speed of the dynamotor. The compressor is stopped by disconnecting a power feed circuit. When the input rotational speed is too high, the dynamotor is operated in generator mode. In this way, the rotational speed is reduced in accordance with the generated electric energy.

Abstract: A composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle has proper startup performance in starting an engine. The composite auxiliary machine has a compressor for compressing a refrigerant inside a refrigeration cycle device, a rotary machine connected to the compressor and rotated together therewith, a drive pulley for operating the rotary machine in response to a driving force from the vehicle engine, and a clutch device for transmitting and terminating the driving force of the drive pulley. The rotary machine functions as a generator and an electric motor. A variable displacement mechanism is provided in the compressor to vary an amount of discharge per revolution. A control unit controls to engage the clutch device in starting the vehicle engine, and actuates the rotary machine as an electric motor to actuate the vehicle engine. Then, an amount of discharge of a refrigerant is controlled to become smaller than that necessary in the refrigeration cycle device.

Abstract: A composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle and an accompanying control unit to control a compressor. The composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle includes a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a rotary machine that acts as an electric motor and a generator, and a torque and power distributing mechanism for distributing engine torque and power from a drive shaft to a compressor shaft and a rotary machine shaft, and from the rotary machine shaft to the drive shaft and compressor shaft. An intermittent mechanism is provided to the torque and power distributing mechanism so as to connect and disconnect any two of the drive shaft, the compressor shaft, and the rotary machine shaft. A locking mechanism is provided for restricting rotation of the compressor shaft. The compressor includes variable displacement mechanism for varying the amount of discharge per turn of the compressor shaft.

Abstract: In a hybrid compressor for a vehicle where a vehicle engine is stopped when the vehicle is temporally stopped, a pulley, a motor and a compressor can be driven in independent from each other, and are connected to a sun gear, planetary carriers and a ring gear of a planetary gear. A rotational speed of the motor is adjusted by a controller, so that a rotational speed of the compressor is changed with respect to a rotational speed of the pulley. Accordingly, production cost of the hybrid compressor and the size thereof can be reduced, while a cooling function can be ensured even when the vehicle engine is stopped.

Abstract: A dynamotor capable of operating as either a motor or a generator is used with both the armature portion and the field portion thereof capable of being rotated. In the case where a pulley operatively interlocked with the output shaft of the prime mover is mounted on the rotary shaft of the armature portion, the drive shaft of the compressor is mounted on the rotating field portion. Once the dynamotor is operated in motor mode, the rotational speed of the compressor is increased to the sum of the input rotational speed and the rotational speed of the dynamotor. The compressor is stopped by disconnecting a power feed circuit. When the input rotational speed is too high, the dynamotor is operated in generator mode. In this way, the rotational speed is reduced in accordance with the generated electric energy.

Abstract: A single actuator such as an electric motor is used to actuate a shift range changing mechanism of an automatic transmission. The motor has a plurality of torque generating units each of which is capable of generating a torque sufficient to effect any shift range changes of the shift range changing mechanism. All of the torque generating units are driven electrically normally in response to a shift range change command. Operation of each torque generating unit is monitored separately from each other. When one of the torque generating units fails in operation, the torque generating unit in failure is not driven but the other torque generating units are driven to effect a shift range change. The failure of the torque generating units is indicated on an indicator in a vehicle. The motor may be a brushless type or a reluctance type.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle in which, by using a continuously variable transmission inserted between output shafts of a heat engine such as an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a torque distributor, the torque acting upon the driving wheels is distributed to the two and the distribution ratio between the engine and motor is changed, and control is performed so that the speed and/or torque of the heat engine becomes a predetermined constant value and the exhaust emission and fuel consumption are enhanced.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises a motor driving the vehicle's wheels, multiple batteries supplying electric power to the motor, and a generator driven by an internal combustion engine to generate electric power for charging the batteries. Battery sensors detect terminal voltages of the batteries. An ECU controls a DC/DC converter to distribute electric power to independently charge the batteries through charge lines in accordance with the shortage of charge in respective batteries when excess electrical power is available from the generator even after a required amount of electrical power from the generator is used to rotate wheels.

Abstract: A series hybrid vehicle includes a generator to be driven by an engine, a battery to be charged by the output power of the generator, and a motor for driving the vehicle using the output power sent from the generator and the output power sent from the battery. In an engine control system for the series hybrid vehicle, the values of power demanded by the vehicle when the vehicle is running (i.e., power demand values) are derived based on various engine operation indicative sensor signals, and a running state of the vehicle is estimated based on a frequency distribution of the power demand and a mean value of such power demand values. The system selects one of prestored control patterns depending on the estimated vehicle running state and controls the engine based on the selected control pattern so as to further control the output power of the generator. The system is also applicable to a parallel hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A series hybrid vehicle comprises a generator 30 driven by an internal combustion engine 40, a battery 20 chargeable by generator 30, an electric motor 10 rotated by electric power of generator 30 and battery 20. A parallel hybrid vehicle comprises. a battery 200 chargeable by an electric motor 100, and selectively uses an internal combustion engine 400 and electric motor 100 as driving source for driving vehicle wheels 900. In these -hybrid vehicles, there is provided a sensor 21 or 201 for detecting the state of charge (SOC) of battery 20 or 200. An output of generator 30 or internal combustion engine 400 is controlled based on each the SOC and a variation the SOC.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for a rechargeable storage battery is disclosed which charges the battery at a constant current. The charging apparatus monitors a variation in voltage of the battery during charge and finds a minimum value thereof to estimate the amount of capacity of the battery consumed before charge for determining the charge time required for charging the battery fully based on the estimate of the amount of capacity and the temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A braking force control system of an electric vehicle includes a regenerative-controllable motor for driving driven wheels, wheel cylinders for braking non-driven wheels, respectively, and a master cylinder connected to a brake pedal for producing a master cylinder pressure in proportion to a depression amount of the brake pedal. A mechanical braking force control unit is further provided in a working fluid passage from the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders. The mechanical braking force control unit includes a proportioning valve and a free-piston cylinder arranged in parallel with each other in the working fluid passage. The proportioning valve is operated to output a wheel cylinder pressure to the wheel cylinders when the depression amount of the brake pedal is no more than a given value. On the other hand, the free-piston cylinder is operated to output a wheel cylinder pressure to the wheel cylinders when the depression amount of the brake pedal is more than the given value.

Abstract: A battery condition monitoring system which may be employed in an electric vehicle is disclosed. This system determines a terminal voltage of a battery under discharge of a given current and a consumption of electric energy stored in the battery and calculates a rate of change in terminal voltage of the battery relative to change in consumption of electric energy. When a difference between the rate of change in terminal voltage of the battery and a reference rate representing a rate of change in terminal voltage of a normal battery relative to change in consumption of electric energy is greater than a given value, the system determines that memory effect is occurring in the battery.

Abstract: A braking force controller for an electric vehicle properly carries out an anti-lock braking operation by keeping a slip ratio in a stable range. The vehicle has a motor 1 to drive wheels. A central controller 4 calculates regenerative energy according to output signals from an ammeter 51 and a voltmeter 52. If a brake sensor 62 detects a sudden braking operation, the central controller 4 controls the regenerative braking force of the motor 1 through a motor controller 2, to maintain the regenerative energy around a maximal value.

Abstract: A battery power monitoring apparatus for use in an electric automobile is provided. The battery power monitoring apparatus determines the amount of available reserve electric power remaining in a storage battery based on electric power discharged from the storage battery to an electric motor and a battery characteristic stored in a memory, representing a relation between a voltage level at which a given level of current flows from the storage battery and the then discharged electric power. The battery characteristic is updated based on the latest detected voltage of the storage battery and current flowing from the storage battery. The battery power monitoring apparatus determines that charge polarization has occurred when a voltage level of the storage battery from which the given level of current flows is increased, and prohibits the updating of the battery characteristic. With this operation, the amount of available electric power is calculated correctly even under the influence of charge polarization.

Abstract: A battery state judging apparatus comprising a voltage detector detecting a voltage at a terminal of a battery, a current detector detecting a charge/discharge current of the battery and an arithmetic operation circuit calculating a residual capacity index of the battery relating to a value obtained by subtracting a quantity of electric charge from a reference capacity value of the battery and calculating a power consumption of the battery from the detected terminal voltage and charge/discharge current. The arithmetic operation circuit estimates a charge/discharge current as a function of the battery residual capacity index and battery power consumption and successively estimates a charge/discharge current in a predetermined power consumption pattern to successively calculate a battery residual capacity index from the estimated charge/discharge current.

Abstract: In order to keep the braking torque of a motor always maximal and to execute suitable ABS regenerative braking, a controller of an electric car has a motor (1) connected to the road wheels, and its central controller confirms that regenerative energy calculated from output signals from an ammeter (51) and from a volt meter (52) after the braking operation begins reaches a maximum value, and stores a braking torque calculation value obtained from a signal from a motor number-of-revolution sensor (63), as a maximum braking torque value. When the difference between the braking torque command value applied to the motor (1) and the braking torque calculation value exists within a predetermined range, the braking torque command value is thereafter increased or decreased in accordance with the difference between the maximum braking torque value described above and a present braking torque calculation value, and when the difference is out of this predetermined range, the braking torque command value is decreased.