Abstract: In a drive unit for a hybrid motor vehicle for coupling an internal combustion engine and/or a motor-generator to a transmission, wherein an input shaft of the drive unit is connected to the internal combustion engine and the motor-generator is connected to an output shaft of the drive unit and a clutch is arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the clutch is normally engaged and means are provided for opening the clutch depending on the speed of the output shaft and also a freewheeling coupling is arranged in the drive unit in parallel with the clutch for connecting the input shaft to the output shaft via the freewheeling coupling.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle launch using a transmission having an input, a current gear, an input clutch associated with a target gear and an output, an engine and an electric machine for driving the input, includes the steps of determining a desired magnitude of torque to be produced at the transmission output, producing a predetermined magnitude of torque capacity of the input clutch, operating the engine such that a magnitude of torque at the transmission output is substantially equal to the desired transmission output torque, determining an crankshaft speed error, determining a desired change in torque at the transmission input that will reduce the crankshaft speed error, adjusting a magnitude of torque produced by the first electric machine such that the magnitude of torque at the transmission input is substantially equal to the desired torque at the transmission input, and engaging the input clutch.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive system of a hybrid vehicle including (a) an engine, (b) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a first electric motor, and a differential mechanism operatively connected to the engine and the first electric motor and a differential state of which is controlled by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, (c) a mechanical transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path, and (d) a second electric motor connected to a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and a drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle, the control apparatus including a control portion which is operable when a terminal portion of a shifting action of the mechanical transmission portion and a starting operation of the engine overlap each other, the control portion being configured to implement one of the shifting action and the starting operation prior to the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting power between a shaft (10) of a heat engine (2) and a wheel (6) axle shaft (12) of a hybrid vehicle. The inventive method involves the use of: a power transmission device (1) comprising an electric machine (4) which is connected to (i) the heat engine by means of a clutch (3) and (ii) a wheel (6) axle shaft (12); and a starting system (31) which is mechanically independent of the electric machine (4) and which is connected to the heat engine (2). According to the invention, the heat engine (2) is started by applying a torque to the shaft (10) simultaneously using the starting system (31) and the clutch (3).

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, a starter generator motor, a traction motor, an automatic manual transmission system, a battery, an automatic-switching clutch, and a control unit assembly. The starter generator motor is coupled and synchronously rotates with the engine for starting the engine and serving as an assistant power. The automatic manual transmission system is coupled with the traction motor and performs a gear-shifting/speed changing by controlling the rotation speed of the starter generator motor and the traction motor. The automatic-switching clutch is coupled between the starter generator motor and the automatic manual transmission system to make them be engaged/disengaged so as to switch the power type. The hybrid vehicle control device gives a signal to the torque/rotation speed control device to control the automatic-switching clutch to engage/disengage the engine and the traction motor according to the running state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a vehicle, comprising an internal-combustion engine, a generator, an electric motor, an electric energy accumulator, and a connection device for establishing mechanical connections between the internal-combustion engine, the generator, the electric motor and the vehicle, and a control device.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and a transmission disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. The transmission includes an input clutch which is selectively engagable for facilitating torque transfer between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. When an engine start is requested, the motor/generator is operated, and a start mode for the engine is determined based on a number of vehicle parameters. The transmission input clutch is partially disengaged to at least partially isolate the vehicle drive wheels from engine torque disturbances when the engine is started. The disconnect clutch is engaged, and the engine is fueled, thereby facilitating torque production by the engine.

Abstract: A drive train is proposed for a motor vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine, having a single friction clutch which has an input element and an output element, wherein the input element is to be connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine; a step-by-step variable speed transmission which has an input shaft connected to the output element of the friction clutch; and an electric machine which can be connected via a clutch to an output shaft of the step-by-step variable speed transmission in order to be able to apply traction force to the output shaft when the friction clutch is opened or closed, and which can be connected as a starter generator to the crankshaft in order to start the internal combustion engine or be driven by the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a motor, a first clutch that transmits and cuts off driving force between the motor and an engine, a second clutch that transmits and cuts off driving force to a wheel side from either or both of the motor and the engine, and a control device that performs operation control for the motor, the first clutch and the second clutch. If there is an engine start request during driving of the wheel by the motor, the control device starts the engine by performing the operation control for the motor, the first clutch and the second clutch based upon control patterns that differ depending on a rotational speed of the motor that is directly or indirectly detected.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission for a hybrid vehicle mounting thereon an engine and a pair of electric motor/generators operates in a plurality of driving modes including EV mode in which the vehicle is powered by only the pair of motor/generators and EIVT mode in which the vehicle is powered by both the pair of motor/generators and the engine. The driving mode is shifted continuously and smoothly through a mode-shift transition process, in which the operating state is regulated to decrease the relative torque and/or the relative rotational speed between the contact elements of an engine clutch before engaging or disengaging the engine clutch.

Abstract: A method for starting an engine of a vehicle having a hybrid transmission is provided. The hybrid transmission is capable of providing motor running under a power of an electric motor only and hybrid running under a power of both of the engine and the electric motor. The power of an engine is supplied to the hybrid transmission by way of a clutch. The method includes, when the clutch is engaged for starting the engine during the motor running, issuing an engine start instruction when an engine speed increases to a startable speed with the progress of engagement of the clutch, and after the moment of issue of the engine start instruction, restricting increase of an engagement force of the clutch and thereby suppressing the progress of engagement of the clutch. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle mode shift control device comprises a drive force combining transmission that includes a differential gear device coupled to an engine, at least one motor, and an output member, an engine clutch configured to connect and disconnect the engine with the differential gear device, and a low brake configured to hold the drive force combining transmission at a lower side gear ratio. The hybrid vehicle is operated at least in an EV mode, an EV-LB mode, an E-iVT mode, and an LB mode. A mode shift control section is configured to select one of a mode shift route passing through the EV mode and a mode shift route passing through the LB mode when a mode shift request is issued to shift from the EV-LB mode to the E-iVT mode.

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

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus is provided for a vehicle capable of preventing a shock from being generated by disengaging a clutch disposed between a subordinate drive source and subordinate drive wheels during vehicle travel. When a transition determination is made in which the clutch will be released, e.g., from a four-wheel drive state to a two-wheel drive state, a clutch release section disengage the clutch, upon the drive torque of the drive source substantially reaching a target drive torque in which a difference between an output torque of the clutch and an input torque of the clutch is smaller than a prescribed value in response to the transition determination.

Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency while maintaining a desired driving force. Accordingly, in a case where an assisting possibility of a motor M is increased accompanying a relatively high state of charge SOC of a battery (YES side in step S02), and moreover in a case where a required torque TQAPCC is less than a predetermined value (NO side in step S03 or YES side in step S04), a “1” is set to a flag value of an LC_ON assistance flag F_LCOAST, and in a region for an accelerator pedal opening AP, and a vehicle speed VP, a region which maintains an LC_ON state where a lock-up clutch 21 is in an engaged state is enlarged compared to for a normal state where the flag value of the LC_ON assistance flag F_LCOAST is “0”. In the LC_ON region enlarging state, it is determined whether or not it is possible to shift to the normal state, according to the state of charge SOC and the required torque TQAPCC (step S07 to step S09).