Electric Engine Patents (Class 477/3)
  • Patent number: 8323145
    Abstract: A transmission control system for a hybrid electric vehicle including an electric machine includes an energy storage device that is selectively charged by the electric machine and that selectively powers the electric machine. A driver input device generates a driver input signal. A control module receives the driver input signal, determines a torque load of the electric machine based on a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage device and determines a transmission ratio based on the torque load and the driver input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Ed E. Han
  • Patent number: 8323144
    Abstract: A vehicle hybrid drive supplies torque to an axle. The drive includes a first engine and a transmission which couples the first engine to the axle. The drive also includes a second engine, a flywheel driven by the second engine, an electric generator driven by the flywheel, a generator controller coupled between the generator and a motor controller, and an electric motor coupled to the motor controller. A gearbox is coupled between the electric motor and the axle. The vehicle drive may also include a further flywheel driven by the first engine, with the transmission being driven by the second flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shi Bin, Andrew K. Rekow, Janet R. Willett
  • Patent number: 8323146
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control device for a vehicular drive apparatus with a structure of enabling the suppression of gearshift shock occurring during concurrent shifting executed of a first shifting portion and a second shifting portion. When the concurrent shifting are executed around the same time in which a down shift in one of a differential portion (first shifting portion) and an automatic shifting portion (second shifting portion) and an upshift in the other of them are executed, a first electric motor is caused to control a rotation speed of a second rotary element (sun gear). Thus, a shifting progress state upon the concurrent shifting is controlled. This causes shifting directions i.e., variation of the engine rotation speed in shifting of a shifting mechanism to be set in a unidirectional, enabling the suppression of gearshift shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20120302396
    Abstract: A system for determining disablement of driving of a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The system for determining disablement of driving of a hybrid vehicle may include: power electronic components having a battery at which DC electricity is stored, an inverter converting the DC electricity of the battery into AC electricity, and a motor receiving the AC electricity from the inverter and generating driving torque; an engine burning a fuel so as to generate driving torque and being selectively connected to the motor; an engine clutch selectively connecting the engine to the motor; a transmission connected to the motor to receive the driving torque of the motor or the driving torque of the engine; and a control portion controlling operations of the power electronic components, the engine, and the engine clutch, wherein the control portion turns off a system ready indication in a case that driving of the vehicle is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Daero Park, Seok Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 8317652
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine drives, via a belt drive, a first and a second auxiliary unit embodied respectively as a water pump and an air-conditioning compressor and drives a starter-generator operating as a starter and as a generator depending on the operating mode. The belt drive is connected through a clutch element, which has a freewheel, to the internal combustion engine such that, when the internal combustion engine is at standstill, only the two auxiliary units, but not at the same time the internal combustion engine, are driven by the starter-generator. The clutch element which has a freewheel allows a stepless transition of the drive mode from the internal combustion engine to the starter-generator. In order to start the internal combustion engine, the clutch element is engaged only for a short time, so that the drive power of the starter-generator is transmitted to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Marc Hladun, Marcel Zirwes, Kai Bohnstedt, Ekkehard Pott, Georg Kruse
  • Patent number: 8321100
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of operating range states. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining a permissible range of input operating points to the input member, determining ranges of motor torques for the torque machines, determining an available power range from the energy storage device, selecting a candidate input operating point within the permissible range of input operating points, and determining maximum and minimum achievable output torques transferable to the output member for the candidate engine operating point within the ranges of motor torques for the torque machines and within the available power range from the energy storage device in a candidate operating range state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8313413
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving device is capable of causing a motor-powered travel of a hybrid vehicle in which only an electric motor is used as a drive force source, by driving the electric motor with electric power from an electric storage device while a rotational driving of an internal combustion engine has been stopped. A control device for the hybrid vehicle driving device includes a rotational drive portion that determines whether or not supply of a lubrication oil to at least a portion of the power transmission device by the lubrication oil supply device is necessary based on a travel distance in the motor-powered travel following a stop of the rotational driving of the internal combustion engine, and rotationally drives the internal combustion engine based on determination as to need for the supply of the lubrication oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nomasa, Koichi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8306720
    Abstract: In a power output apparatus, when the fuel vapor concentration is high and the target purge rate is high, an operating point on a purge priority operating line is selected as a target operating point of an engine. As a result, the intake manifold negative pressure greater than that when an operating point on an optimum fuel efficiency operating line is selected, so that the flow rate of purge gas released from a canister is increased. When the fuel vapor concentration does not fall within a high-concentration range, the necessity to immediately purge fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the intake pipe is low, and thus an operating point on the optimum fuel efficiency operating line is selected to keep the engine operating at high fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamazaki, Shunsuke Fushiki
  • Patent number: 8306707
    Abstract: A system and method of dithering speed and/or torque for shifting a transmission of a vehicle having an engine, a reversible, variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump which can be driven by the engine, a hydraulic accumulator supplied by said motor/pump, and at least one reversible hydraulic driving motor for propelling the vehicle supplied with fluid by the hydraulic accumulator and/or by said motor/pump operating as a pump. A transmission unit connects the engine with the variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump during a first mode of operation (city mode) and connects the engine to a vehicle drive wheel during a second mode of operation. The system utilizes stored hydraulic energy to dither the output of the driving motor in order to achieve quick and smooth shifts between city and highway mode, or between various ranges within the city mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Yisheng Zhang, John Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20120277059
    Abstract: A moving apparatus that is capable of properly driving an accessory while preventing driven parts from being driven when the accessory is driven in a state where the driven parts are at rest. In the moving apparatus VE1, out of first to third elements S, C, and R configured such that they rotate during transmission of motive power therebetween while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed, the first element S is mechanically connected to a first rotor 13 of a first rotating machine 11, one of the second and third elements C and R is mechanically connected to an output portion 3a of a prime mover 3 and an input portion 32 of an accessory 31, and the other of the second and third elements C and R is mechanically connected to driven parts DW and DW.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Akutsu, Shinji Fujimoto, Mitsuhiro Takeda, Noriyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20120277058
    Abstract: Provided is a starting method for hybrid electric vehicle, which includes the steps of: (a1)) as the temperature of a battery module of the hybrid electric vehicle is below a first threshold temperature, allowing the vehicle control unit of the hybrid electric vehicle to turn on a first switch; (a2) converting the DC power transmitted from the battery module to an integrated starter generator of the vehicle through the first switch into a first AC power by the integrated starter generator which is operating under the starter mode, and starting the internal combustion engine of the vehicle with the first AC power; and (a3) executing a heating process to warm up the battery module by a battery heater, in which the charging line between the integrated starter generator and the battery module is cut off and the integrated starter generator is operating under a rectifier sub-mode, thereby allowing the integrated starter generator to supply electric power to the battery heater in order to heat the battery module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Yasuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8298116
    Abstract: Control of operation of a hybrid powertrain is provided, wherein mechanical power flow to an output is controlled through selective actuation of torque-transfer clutches. Electric machines are coupled to an energy storage system for electric power flow. The electro-mechanical transmission is operated in a continuously variable operating range state, and, operation of the transmission is monitored. Absence of a mismatch between the commanded continuously variable operating range state and an actual operating state of the transmission is determined. Presence of a mismatch between the commanded operating range state and the actual operating state of the transmission may be determined. Operation of the powertrain is modified when a mismatch between the commanded operating range state and the actual operating state of the transmission is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ryan D. Martini, Charles J Van Horn, Peter E. Wu, Andrew M. Zettel, Osama Almasri, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8301324
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission, a speed encoder for the motor, and a control system. The control system compensates for angular wobble in an encoder signal. The control system receives, via a hybrid control processor (HCP), the encoder signal from the speed encoder, and determines a set of wobble characteristics of the encoder signal below a threshold motor speed. The control system also calculates a wobble-compensated speed value via the HCP using the wobble characteristics, and uses the wobble-compensated speed value as at least part of the input signals when controlling the motor. A lookup table tabulates a learned wobble value relative to the angular position value, and a learned wobble value is subtracted from a current angular wobble value to generate an error-adjusted wobble value. A method compensates for wobble in the encoder signal using the above control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Morris
  • Patent number: 8292778
    Abstract: The idle-stop restart control system includes: a sensorless synchronous motor-generator which operates as a generator and a starting motor; an induced-signal detecting circuit for detecting an induced signal output from an armature winding; a field drive circuit for controlling energization of a field winding; and a restart control circuit output, to the field drive circuit, a drive signal for controlling the energization of the field winding to amplify the induced signal while calculating the number of revolutions and an angular position of a rotor based on the detected induced signal when an engine stop command is input and a level of the detected induced signal is equal to or less than a predetermined value and output the drive signal for controlling the energization of the armature winding to restart the engine based on the calculated number of revolutions and angular position of the rotor when a restart command is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsushi Watanabe, Masaaki Taruya, Katsuya Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 8296002
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle provided with: a rotating electrical machine capable of inputting or outputting a torque with respect to an input shaft; and a transmission, which is disposed between the input shaft and an output shaft coupled with an axle, which is provided with a plurality of engaging apparatuses, which transmits a torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, and which can establish a plurality of gear stages having mutually different transmission gear ratios in accordance with engagement states of the plurality of engaging apparatuses, the transmission gear ratio being a ratio between a rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed of the output shaft, the vehicle control apparatus provided with: a detecting device for detecting a braking operation amount of a driver; and an input shaft torque controlling device for controlling a torque of the input shaft such that in cases where the detected braking operation amount changes in a reducing dire
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 8292777
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle during regenerative deceleration, the method including: determining deceleration of the vehicle; upon determining deceleration of the vehicle, operating a reversible electric machine as a generator to regenerate part of the kinetic energy of the vehicle; establishing a respective minimum speed of an internal combustion engine for each gear of a servocontrolled mechanical power train; determining and engaging the highest gear which, combined with the current state of motion of the vehicle, runs the internal combustion engine at higher than the respective minimum speed; keeping the gear engaged as long as the internal combustion engine runs at higher than the respective minimum speed; and downshifting by one gear when the internal combustion engine runs at lower than the respective minimum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Ente Per Le Nuove Tecnologie, L'Energia E L'Ambiente-Enea, Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Puccetti, Giovanni Maria Gaviani
  • Patent number: 8287426
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring voltage of an energy storage device. The method further includes modifying a preferred voltage limit when the voltage of the energy storage device transgresses a trigger voltage limit, and determining the power constraint of a first power actuator based on the estimated output power of the energy storage device when the voltage of the energy storage device transgresses the preferred voltage limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen
  • Patent number: 8287425
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission includes a gear-change mechanism section that shifts power from a driving source and outputs the power to an output shaft; and a hydraulic system that supplies hydraulic pressure from an oil pump to the gear-change mechanism section via a check valve. The check valve includes a cylindrical valve case in which a passage is formed, a valve stored within the valve case so as to be freely movable in an axial direction of the valve case, a valve seat that is formed at one end portion of the passage in the valve case and that closes the passage when the valve sits thereon, a spring for urging the valve so as to sit on the valve seat, and a spring seat fixed on an axially opposite side of the valve seat in the valve case to support the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Omote, Satoru Wakuta, Shinji Kawakami, Masato Fujikawa, Masatoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 8287427
    Abstract: A multi-mode, electrically variable, hybrid transmission and improved shift control methods for controlling the same are provided herein. The hybrid transmission configuration and shift control methodology presented herein allow for shifting between different EVT modes when the engine is off, while maintaining propulsion capability and minimum time delay for engine autostart. The shift control maneuver is able to maintain zero engine speed while producing continuous output torque throughout the shift by eliminating transition through a fixed gear mode or neutral state. Optional oncoming clutch pre-fill strategies and mid-point abort logic minimize the time to complete shift, and reduce the engine start delay if an intermittent autostart operation is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Brendan M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 8277360
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a differential mechanism and an electric motor operatively connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and which is operable to control a differential state between a rotating speed of its input shaft connected to an engine and a rotating speed of its output shaft by controlling an operating state of the electric motor, and (b) a transmission portion which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path and which functions as an automatic transmission portion, the control apparatus including a shifting control portion configured to set a shifting point of the transmission portion, on the basis of a delay of a response of a change of an operating speed of the engine to a change of a required vehicle drive force to be transmitted through the vehicular power transmitting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Taku Akita
  • Patent number: 8272987
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an engine, an input member, an output member, and a stationary member, and includes a single planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third member. The input member is connected for common rotation with the engine and the output member is connected for common rotation with the second member. A single motor/generator is continuously connected for common rotation with the third member. A starter motor is operatively connected to the engine for starting the engine. A first torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the input member for rotation with the first member. A second torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to ground the first member to the stationary member. A third torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to ground the third member to the stationary member. The powertrain is operable in an electric-only operating mode, an engine-only operating mode, and an electrically-variable operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Awadesh Tiwari, Ravikanth G V, Atul Kumar Agrawal, Deepa Kesavan
  • Patent number: 8271173
    Abstract: A control method for vehicular hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a transmission gear selector, and determining an operator torque request based upon the operator inputs to the accelerator pedal and the transmission gear selector. Torque output from the electric machine is commanded based upon the operator torque request. Engine output is controlled based upon the operator torque request and the commanded torque output from the electric machine. Vehicle hood position is monitored and the engine output is controlled correlative to the operator input to the accelerator pedal when the monitored position of the vehicle hood is open and the operator input to the transmission gear selector is one of a PARK and a NEUTRAL position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marek L. Wilmanowicz, Matthew Leonard Kaufer, Mark J. Potter, Anthony H. Heap, William R. Cawthorne, Michael Bolton
  • Patent number: 8267208
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft, a friction clutch with a pressure plate, which can be moved in the axial direction by an actuating arrangement, with a clutch plate, and with a clutch disk arrangement, positioned between these first two components and is connected to the crankshaft. The drive unit also includes an electric machine, which is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the friction clutch, with a stator attached to a stator carrier and with a rotor. The friction clutch comprises a clutch hub, which serves to create at least an indirect connection of the clutch disk arrangement to the crankshaft is detachably connected to the clutch disk arrangement outside the radial dimension of the pressure plate and the clutch plate. An assembly method for assembling such a drive unit is also described, where a preassembled unit including at least the electric machine and the friction clutch is attached to an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Christoph Kleuker
  • Patent number: 8265849
    Abstract: A drive system of an electrically driven dump truck is capable of achieving an operational feeling in which the operation amount of the accelerator pedal is well balanced with the output horsepower of the electric motors, particularly at the time of slow traveling. To achieve this, the target motor output horsepower Pm0 corresponding to the operation amount of an accelerator pedal 1 is calculated. The target motor torque Tr1R, Tr1L is calculated on the basis of the target motor output horsepower Pm0 and the rotational speed ?R, ?L of electric motors 12R, 12L respectively. The acceleration torque limit values of the electric motors 12R, 12L corresponding to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 1 are calculated, respectively. Then, smaller values are selected, as motor torque instruction values TrR, TrL, between the acceleration torque limit value and the target motor torque Tr1R, Tr1L to control inverters 73R, 73L, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Tanaka, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takashi Yagyu, Yutaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120225750
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to increase the operational range of a turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a turbine coupled to a driveshaft; a drive-train coupled to the driveshaft; a first torque convertor coupled to the drive-train, the first torque convertor being configured to deliver an operational torque to the drive-train; a second torque convertor coupled to the first torque convertor, the second torque convertor being configured to deliver a torque to the first torque convertor; a first motor coupled to the second torque convertor, the first motor being configured to deliver a power input to the second torque convertor; and a control system operably connected to at least one of the first torque convertor and the second torque convertor, the control system configured to monitor and adjust a speed of the drive-train by controlling at least one of the operational torque provided by the first torque converter and the torque provided by the second torque converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin Aaron Allen, Jason Dean Fuller, Karl Dean Minto, Brian Allen Rittenhouse, Daniel Richard Waugh
  • Patent number: 8257222
    Abstract: In a powertrain for a motor vehicle that includes a power source, a transmission driveably connected to the power source and wheels of the vehicle, an electric machine able to operate as an electric motor for transmitting power to at least some of the vehicle wheels, a method for controlling the powertrain includes operating the power source and the transmission in a desired gear to produce a first wheel torque in response to a demanded wheel torque, increasing the demanded wheel torque while turning the vehicle along a curved path, and using the electric motor to provide a second wheel torque, such that a combined magnitude of the first wheel torque produced in the desired gear and the second wheel torque is equal to or greater than the increased demanded wheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Silveri, Ihab S. Soliman
  • Patent number: 8257221
    Abstract: A method of operating a hybrid drive system with an internal combustion engine and a supplemental electric machine for a motor vehicle including first and second gear changing partial drives each with gear changing gearwheels, wherein during operation there is torque flow from one gear changing partial drive to the other partial drive results in a gear change between gearwheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fev Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Leufgen
  • Patent number: 8251848
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes at least two driving shafts to which power is transmitted from a power source, a driven shaft to which power is transmitted from the driving shafts, drive transmission mechanisms disposed between the driving shafts and the driven shaft, and a switching mechanism that selectively enables power transmission via the drive transmission mechanisms. The driving shafts are disposed concentrically and fitted rotatably relative to each other. The driving shafts are parallel to the driven shaft. A first drive unit is disposed coaxially with the driving shafts. A second drive unit is disposed coaxially with the driven shaft. The first and second drive units are interconnected so as to send and receive powers changed in energy form to and from each other. The transmission thus constructed is excellent in power transmission efficiency, quietness, vehicle mountability, etc., and can realize continuously variable speed change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Murakami, Makoto Funahashi, Takahiro Shiina
  • Patent number: 8251864
    Abstract: A control device for hybrid vehicle drive apparatus which executes an internal-combustion-engine rotation control for rotating an engine output shaft under a circumstance where a consecutive travel distance LM involved in a motor drive running mode exceeds a given consecutive travel distance determining value L1. The rotation of the engine output shaft results in an effect of accelerating the lubrication of an engine. Once the engine output shaft is rotated, no component parts of the engine actually take the completely same attitudes at time before and after such rotation. This avoids the component parts of the engine from continuously remaining contact with each other in the same attitudes when encountered with running vibrations during the motor drive running mode, minimizing adverse affect on durability of the engine due to the running vibrations occurring in the motor drive running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Yuji Iwase, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Patent number: 8246507
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, including an engine speed limiting device configured to limit operating speed of engine to an upper limit determined according to speed ratio of automatic transmission portion, so as to prevent a rise of operating speed of first electric motor into excessive rise range, so that the excessive rise of the first electric motor speed due to a shifting action of the automatic transmission portion is prevented to improve the durability of the first electric motor. For example, the speed of the engine is limited to the upper limit when the automatic transmission portion is shifted to a failure gear position established as a result of a failure of the automatic transmission portion to perform a shifting action following a shifting boundary line map, so that the vehicle can be driven upon the failure of the automatic transmission portion, while preventing an excessive rise of the first electric motor speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 8249768
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the hybrid drive of a motor vehicle having the following components: internal combustion engine (VKM), manual transmission (SG), at least one electrical machine (Emi), at least one clutch (Kj) and an energy storage device (ES), and at least one driven axle (HA; VA) are intended to provide maximum efficiency and service life of the components. To this end, a decision is made about which operating modes (AMK) are possible on the basis of a driver input (FW) and operating state, a division is made about which gears (Gj) are available for the possible operating modes (AMK), so that a larger number of modes (AMGK) are available for selection, operating points which correspond to the driver input are determined for all these modes (AMGK), taking into account the operating state and system state (SZA), the modes (AMGK) are assessed and the mode (AMGK*) which is assessed as being most expedient is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Mori, Theodor Schöberl, Helmut Martin, Florian Kramer, Clemens Burow, Jan-Erik Hein, Manfred Posch
  • Patent number: 8246506
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a differential mechanism and a first electric motor connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and which is operable to control a differential state between rotating speeds of its input and output shafts by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, and (b) a step-variable transmission portion which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and a drive wheel of a vehicle, the control apparatus including a coasting-shift-down control portion configured to implement a coasting shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion during a coasting run of the vehicle, only when a parameter correlating with a shaft torque of the step-variable transmission portion during the coasting run is held within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20120208672
    Abstract: A method includes determining a machine shaft torque demand and a machine shaft speed, in response to the machine shaft torque demand and the machine shaft speed, determining a machine power demand, determining a power division description between an internal combustion engine, a first electrical torque provider, and a second electrical torque provider, determining a hybrid power train configuration as one of series and parallel, determining a baseline power division description in response to a vehicle speed and the machine power demand, determining a state-of-charge (SOC) deviation for an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to the first electrical torque provider and the second electrical torque provider, and adjusting the baseline power division description in response to the SOC deviation and the hybrid power train configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Vivek Anand Sujan, Martin T. Books, Patrick O. Djan-Sampson, Praveen Muralidhar
  • Patent number: 8241175
    Abstract: Switching conditions are defined by a threshold ?1 for switching from “power OFF control” to “power ON control”, and a threshold ?2 for switching from the “power ON control” to the “power OFF control”. During a period of a shift operation, the thresholds are changed toward thresholds ?1 and ?2 smaller than ?1 and ?2 depending on a shift progress degree PRG, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Suzuki, Keiichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8241173
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission that is operatively connected with an engine includes an input member operatively connected with the engine, at least one intermediate member, and an output member. A plurality of selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanisms enable the input member to be selectively operatively connected to the at least one intermediate member through the first gearing arrangement by engagement of different ones of a first set of the torque-transmitting mechanisms. A single motor/generator is operatively connectable to the at least one intermediate member and is selectively operatively connected to the output member in two alternative ways through the second gearing arrangement by selective engagement of two respective ones of a second set of the torque-transmitting mechanisms to establish two different torque ratios between the at least one intermediate member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan G. Holmes, Brendan M. Conlon
  • Publication number: 20120202645
    Abstract: A power plant that is capable of attaining downsizing and reduction of manufacturing costs and enhancing the degree of freedom in design thereof. In the power plant 1, a first rotating machine 11 includes a first rotor 14 having a predetermined plurality of magnetic poles 14a, a stator 13 that generates a predetermined plurality of armature magnetic poles to thereby generate a rotating magnetic field, and a second rotor 15 having a predetermined plurality of soft magnetic material elements 15a. The ratio between the number of the armature magnetic poles, the number of the magnetic poles, and the number of the soft magnetic material elements is set to 1:m:(1+m)/2 (m?1.0). One of the rotors 14 and 15 is mechanically connected to an output portion 3a of a heat engine 3, and the other of the rotors 14 and 15 and a rotor 23 of a second rotating machine 21 are mechanically connected to driven parts DW and DW.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Akutsu, Kota Kasaoka, Masashi Bando, Noriyuki Abe, Satoyoshi Oya
  • Patent number: 8235867
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprising a drive aggregate with at least one electric machine. During operation of the drivetrain according to the method, when an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are not actuated, the drivetrain is operated in a speed-regulated crawling mode and during this mode a nominal speed value is compared with an actual speed value and, on the basis of the difference between these speed values, a crawling torque is produced as a control output. During a purely electrical speed-regulated crawling operation, if a positive crawling torque is produced as the control output, then the torque produced by the electric machine is regulated such that the actual speed value is approximately equal to the nominal speed value and, during such operation, an electrical energy accumulator of the drivetrain is discharged more intensively since the electric machine is operated as a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20120196721
    Abstract: A kinetic hybrid device and method for a vehicle may include a planetary gear system configured as a continuously variable transmission comprised of three or four ports. The kinetic hybrid device and method may include a flywheel connected to a first port of the system, a final drive connected to a second port of the system, and the variator for the flywheel connected to a third or fourth port of the system. The prime mover and/or other power sources may share a port with the flywheel, but do not share a port with the final drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Jing He, Hongping He
  • Patent number: 8234025
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid powertrain determines operator demands, a powertrain operating state, and operating conditions based upon the inputs; selects an operating strategy based upon the operator demands, the powertrain operating state, and the operating conditions; determines a preferred powertrain operating state; and controls the powertrain to the preferred powertrain operating state based upon the selected operating strategy, the operator demands and the operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brendan M. Conlon, Alan G. Holmes, Edward D. Tate, Jr., Eric M. Rask
  • Publication number: 20120190498
    Abstract: A method for controlling a propulsion system for a vehicle including a transmission coupling an output shaft of the internal combustion engine to a drive wheel of the vehicle, wherein said transmission includes a lash region, the method comprising of adjusting an operating parameter of the engine so that at least one cylinder of the engine is transitioned between a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode, and varying a timing of said transition responsive to whether the transmission is operating within the lash region of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Harald Stoffels, Klemens Grieser
  • Patent number: 8226524
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle drivetrain having, along a power flow, an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission and a drive output. The transmission is associated with a main and auxiliary hydraulic pumps, and an internal or an external starting element. When the engine is at rest and the clutch and starting element are both disengaged, to start with the electric motor, with the brake pedal actuated, the auxiliary hydraulic pump is operated at a first power level to supply the transmission with pressure for maintaining a defined gear. Then, upon recognizing a desire to start, the auxiliary hydraulic pump is changed from a first to a second power level to supply pressure to the transmission to produce starting torque and, only after lapse of a time interval, is the speed of the motor increased to produce the desired starting power or torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Oliver Gloge
  • Patent number: 8226525
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes an engine having a crankshaft, and a hybrid transmission having an input member, an output member, and at least one motor/generator operable to provide or receive torque. A damper connects the crankshaft with the input member. A bi-directional rotational position sensing system operatively connects with either the crankshaft or an input side of the damper, and is configured to sense the rotational position and direction of the crankshaft, and provide a position signal indicative thereof. At least one controller is configured to receive the position signal and to provide a torque command to the motor/generator based at least in part on the position signal. The torque command is operable to cause the motor/generator to substantially cancel an expected engine torque pulse associated with the sensed rotational position during starting of the engine with the damper open. A method for controlling the hybrid powertrain is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shawn H. Swales, Hong Yang, Antonio E. Bartolomeo
  • Publication number: 20120178584
    Abstract: A method of operating a hybrid vehicle propulsion system includes selectively operating the engine to consume fuel stored on-board the vehicle based on a residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle and further based on a profile of ambient conditions over the residence time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Jon Andri
  • Patent number: 8219304
    Abstract: An ECU includes: a feedforward torque calculation unit for calculating a feedforward term of torque which reduces vibrations of a vehicle, by inputting a sum of a first requested driving force, which is identified as torque requested by a driver, and brake force into a vehicle model; a feedback torque calculation unit for calculating a feedback term of the torque which reduces vibrations of the vehicle, by inputting second requested driving force calculated from a revolution speed of wheels into the vehicle model; a second driving force calculation unit for calculating driving force to be achieved by an MG, by subtracting driving force to be achieved by an engine and an MG from a sum of the first requested driving force, the brake force, and the feedforward term and the feedback term of the torque which reduces vibrations of the vehicle; and an MG control unit for controlling MG to achieve the calculated driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaya Soma
  • Patent number: 8219272
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle drive unit, which comprises at least two individual drives, at least one of which is able to provide a negative torque. A vehicle control unit is provided, within which a continuous torque comparison is performed within a monitoring level. A permissible torque is ascertained therein. Using a torque range checker it is established whether ascertained setpoint torques lie within torque ranges of the at least two individual drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Seel, Holger Niemann, Oliver Kaefer, Per Hagman
  • Patent number: 8214096
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for controlling an accelerator for electric vehicles. The method comprises steps of: acquiring an actual accelerator pedal depth value and a current vehicle speed; determining a maximum output torque of motor under the current vehicle speed based on the current vehicle speed; and controlling the output torque of motor in such a way that the growth rate of the output torque higher than that of the actual accelerator pedal depth value at the beginning and then closed to that of the actual accelerator pedal depth value during the actual accelerator pedal depth value growing. The invention makes the output torque grown rapidly within the shallow range of accelerator pedal depth, while makes the output torque grown closed to that of the accelerator pedal depth within the relative deep range of accelerator pedal depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: BYD Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yingwu Xu, Xuguang Zhou, Xiaohua Tang, Jian Gong, Nan Liu, Guangming Yang, Ming Yu
  • Patent number: 8214114
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is mechanically coupled to a hybrid transmission to transmit mechanical power to an output member. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine includes determining an accelerator output torque request based upon an operator input to the accelerator pedal, and determining an axle torque response type. A preferred input torque from the engine to the hybrid transmission is determined based upon the accelerator output torque request. An allowable range of input torque from the engine which can be reacted with the hybrid transmission is determined based upon the accelerator output torque request and the axle torque response type. The engine is controlled to meet the preferred input torque when the preferred input torque is within the allowable range of input torque from the engine. The engine is controlled within the allowable range of input torque from the engine when the preferred input torque is outside the allowable range of input torques from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen
  • Patent number: 8210986
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus is basically provided with an engine, a motor/generator, an electric power source and a controller. The electric power source exchanges electric power with the motor/generator. The controller selects between an EV drive mode in which a drive force is produced solely from the motor/generator and an HEV drive mode in which the drive force is at least partially produced from the engine. The EV drive mode and the HEV drive mode are based on at least a state of charge of the electric power source. The controller changes a state of charge region in which the EV drive mode is selected based on a degradation degree of the electric power source such that as the degradation degree of the electric power source becomes larger, the state of charge region in which the EV drive mode is selected becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 8210985
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of states including, “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. The changeover is carried out based on a combination of a vehicle speed V and a required driving torque T. When the vehicle starts to drive, “the IN-Connection State” is selected. After the start of the vehicle and while the vehicle speed V is increasing, the changeovers to “the OUT-Connection State”, “the IN-Connection State”, and “the neutral state” are sequentially carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Kan Sasaki, Takeshige Miyazaki, Yousuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8197384
    Abstract: With an engine start-up device, an engine is started upon altering a start-up when shifting an automatic shifting portion relative to when the automatic shifting portion is not shifting. Thus, start-up of the engine is prevented from adversely affecting the shifting of the automatic shifting portion. The engine starts during the shifting of the automatic shifting portion, enabling further improved response in acceleration required by a driver than that achieved when the operation is commenced after the automatic shifting portion has completed the shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki