Electric Engine Patents (Class 477/3)
  • Patent number: 9162675
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device of a hybrid system. The control device selectively performs first and second modes for concomitantly using an EV mode for operating the electric motor (12) with the engine operation being stopped and an HV mode for selectively operating the engine and stopping the engine operation with the electric motor being operated by switching the EV and HV modes according to a predetermined switching condition set such that a proportion of an engine operation time in the first mode is smaller than that in the second mode. When an actual acceleration pedal manipulation amount is smaller than a first manipulation amount, an amount of the hybrid system power increased according to the increasing of the actual acceleration pedal manipulation amount in the first mode is made larger than that in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9150215
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle comprises an engine and an electric propulsion motor, and the vehicle is operable in an HEV mode in which the engine may be switched on automatically during a drive-cycle by a controller and an electric vehicle (EV)-only mode. The vehicle is operable in a plurality of attribute modes in which operating parameters of the vehicle are changed by the controller responsive to the identity of the selected attribute mode, wherein, when in the HEV mode and a first attribute mode is selected, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and continued operation in the first attribute mode, and, when in the HEV mode and a second attribute mode is selected, selection of the EV-only mode results in assumption of the EV-only mode and automatic de-selection of the second attribute mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Berry, Timothy Holton, Elliot Hemes
  • Patent number: 9145122
    Abstract: A clutch in a vehicle with DCT having an ISG function is controlled for an engine speed to be decreased rapidly when the engine enters into the ISG so that a ring gear of an engine and a gear of a starter motor are meshed more rapidly when a vehicle restarts, to thereby prevent a response delay when restarting the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Young Min Yoon, Seong Hwan Cheong, Ho Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9145061
    Abstract: A hybrid-vehicle power generator control apparatus. Based on a difference electric power value, which corresponds to the difference between an electric power generator power command value given by a higher-hierarchy control unit and an output voltage value of an electric power generator, an electric power generator control unit calculates an electric power generator rotation speed command value and based on the calculated electric power generator rotation speed command value, the electric power generator control unit PWM-controls an output of the electric-power conversion system that performs electric conversion between the electric power generator and a battery, so that the rotation speed of the electric power generator is made to keep track of the electric power generator rotation speed command value and the output electric power value of the electric power generator is made to keep track of the electric power generator power command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Wada, Hisanori Yamasaki, Keita Hatanaka, Hidetoshi Kitanaka, Yuruki Okada
  • Patent number: 9145124
    Abstract: An electric four wheel drive system of a dual clutch type includes dual clutches selectively preventing power from being transmitted to both driving wheels from a motor. A motor housing is mounted on the motor and a hydraulic valve assembly mounted on the motor housing providing operating hydraulic pressure to the dual clutches. The hydraulic valve assembly controls the dual clutches using the hydraulic pressure generated by a hydraulic pressure generator of a regenerative braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ji Yoel Joeng
  • Patent number: 9132747
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle drive device includes: a hydraulic power transmission device including an input-side rotating element to which power from an engine is input and an output-side rotating element outputting power to drive wheels; a first electric motor directly or indirectly coupled to the input-side rotating element; and a second electric motor directly or indirectly coupled to the drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Koichi Okuda, Kenta Kumazaki, Keita Imai, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Patent number: 9127765
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle drive device includes a mechanical oil pump, a hydraulic power transmission device transmitting power of the engine and the electric motor to drive wheels via an interposed engagement device when it is engaged. While the electric motor drives the mechanical oil pump while an operation of the engine is stopped, the control device executing neutral control of putting the engagement device into a slip state or released state to suppress power transmission between the hydraulic power transmission device and the drive wheels, the hydraulic power transmission device including a lockup clutch mechanically coupling input and output members of the hydraulic power transmission device when engaged, the lockup clutch being engaged during executing of the neutral control. Also, after it is determined that the engine is likely to be restarted after a stop of operation while the vehicle remains stopped, the lockup clutch being released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Eto, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Yukihiko Ideshio
  • Patent number: 9126588
    Abstract: A powertrain including an engine and torque machines is configured to transfer torque through a multi-mode transmission to an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain includes employing a closed-loop speed control system to control torque commands for the torque machines in response to a desired input speed. Upon approaching a power limit of a power storage device transferring power to the torque machines, power limited torque commands are determined for the torque machines in response to the power limit and the closed-loop speed control system is employed to determine an engine torque command in response to the desired input speed and the power limited torque commands for the torque machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Hessell, Robert L. Morris, Sean W. McGrogan, Anthony H. Heap, Gil J. Mendoza
  • Patent number: 9108499
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Allison Transmisssion, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Charles T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9108624
    Abstract: A dual-mode electro-mechanical variable speed transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft system, a gear system having at least three branches, two electric machines, and at least a clutch. The first electric machine couples to a branch of the gear system, the output shaft system couples to another branch of the gear system, the input shaft couples to the remaining branch or one of the remaining branches of the gear system, and the second electric machine selectively couples either to the same branch that is coupled to the output shaft system with a speed ratio or to one of the remaining branches that is not coupled to the first electric machine with a different speed ratio. The transmission provides at least two power splitting modes to cover different speed ratio regimes. The transmission can also provide at least a fixed output shaft to input shaft speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventors: Rui Xue, Zhonghe Xue, Xiaozhi Al, Xiaolin Al
  • Patent number: 9102223
    Abstract: The invention concerns a kinetic energy recovery system for use in a vehicle driveline. The system has a flywheel (24) serving to store energy. A continuously variable transmission (32) serves to transfer drive between the flywheel and a driveline of the vehicle at a steplessly variable CVT speed ratio. The continuously variable transmission has a variator (34) which has a rotary variator input (40) and a rotary variator output (42). The variator serves to transfer drive between its input and output at a continuously variable variator speed ratio. The continuously variable transmission further comprises a shunt gear arrangement (36) having a first rotary shunt input which is drivably coupled to the rotary variator input, a second rotary shunt input which is drivably coupled to the rotary variator output, and a shunt rotary output which is drivably coupled to the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Christopher John Greenwood
  • Patent number: 9096219
    Abstract: The drive apparatus (1) controls a rotating speed of a ring gear (Ri) of a power split mechanism (6) by controlling a first motor generator (3) after a rotating speed of an engine (2) is deemed to be zero by executing an engine stop control for stopping the engine (2), when a condition which a control to a clutch (31) or a parking mechanism (30) is performed is satisfied while the engine (2) is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeru Okuwaki
  • Patent number: 9090245
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an axle torque determination module, an engine torque determination module, a torque security module, and an engine torque control module. The axle torque determination module determines an axle torque request based on a driver input and a vehicle speed. The engine torque determination module determines an engine torque request based on the axle torque request and at least one of a first turbine speed and whether a clutch of a torque converter is applied. The torque security module determines a secured torque request based on at least one of the driver input, the vehicle speed, and an engine speed. The engine torque control module controls an amount of torque produced by an engine based on one of the engine torque request and the secured torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Ryan Z. Goode, Richard B. Jess, Michael L. Waterman, Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9073536
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle for reducing a variation in accelerator position when an EV mode is switched to a HV mode is provided. A controller executes the following process during running in the EV mode. The controller sets an increase of the accelerator position from a first accelerator position to a switching accelerator position at which a switch to the HV mode is to be made as a first increase when an output of a motor has reached an output upper limit at the first accelerator position. The controller sets an increase of the accelerator position from a second accelerator position to the switching accelerator position as a second increase which is smaller than the first increase when the output of the motor has reached the output upper limit at the second accelerator position which is larger than the first accelerator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Endo, Masaya Yamamoto, Kensuke Kamichi, Yusuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9065361
    Abstract: In a hybrid construction machine, there is provided a drive control device which realizes in, as a simple a structure as possible, control means of a motor generator, which is capable of preventing rapid decreases in the state of charge. The control means, which calculates a motor torque command value to be output to the motor generator, is characterized by calculating the motor torque command value, based on a difference between an actual state-of-charge and a prescribed target state-of-charge and a torque margin obtained by a difference between a maximum torque of an engine determined based on an actual rotational speed of the engine and an actual torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Ishihara, Shinya Imura, Seiji Ishida, Masatoshi Hoshino, Manabu Edamura, Mitsuo Sonoda, Takatoshi Ooki, Takako Satake
  • Patent number: 9061676
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an opening degree determination unit that determines the opening degree of a throttle valve based on an accelerator operation amount, and a change suppression unit that reduces a time rate of changing of the opening degree of the throttle valve in a gear change period with a decrease of the rotation speed of the engine, when the opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a value at which an output torque is greater than a load torque input from a transmission path to an engine toward a boundary value where the output torque is equal to the load torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Iizuka, Yasunori Murayama
  • Publication number: 20150148186
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, first and second motor generators, a power split device, a propeller shaft, an automatic transmission, and an ECU. The power split device includes a carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear respectively coupled to a crankshaft of the engine, a rotor of the first motor generator, and a rotation shaft of the second motor generator. The automatic transmission is provided between the second motor generator and a propeller shaft. When the first motor generator has a malfunction, the ECU restricts gear shift performed by the automatic transmission, as compared with a case where the second motor generator has a malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Kenji Uchida
  • Patent number: 9037331
    Abstract: A two-wheeled inverted pendulum vehicle includes: single-winding first and second motors respectively rotating one of two wheels; first and second control systems respectively supplying drive currents to the first and second motors; a sensor detecting a physical quantity that varies with a turn of the vehicle; a dynamic brake unit being able to switch between active and inactive states of dynamic brake being applied to the first motor; and a control unit, when the control unit has determined that the vehicle is turning about the second motor side on the basis of the physical quantity while supply of drive current from the first control system to the first motor is inhibited, activating dynamic brake in the dynamic brake unit. The first control system, when an abnormality has been detected in the first control system, inhibits supply of drive current from the first control system to the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Taira, Hiroshi Bitoh
  • Publication number: 20150133263
    Abstract: Provided is a driving device for rear wheels of a 4 wheel driving electric vehicle, which can minimize a loss in the drive power during 4-wheel by transmitting the drive power to the rear wheels based on a disconnector input shaft, rather than a clutch, after synchronizing a rotating speed of the disconnector input shaft based on a first motor with a rotating speed of a hub based on rear wheels. Other aspects of the present invention provide a driving device for rear wheels of a 4 wheel driving electric vehicle, which can prevent a loss in the drive power during 2-wheel driving by preventing a load based on a differential device from being generated by connecting the differential device between a reduction gear group and the disconnector input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Wia Corporation
    Inventor: Hong Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 9028362
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jing He, Hongping He
  • Patent number: 9028366
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle in which at least two shift ranges can be selected for a single running direction includes an engine, a motor generator, an EHC raising the temperature of a catalyst for cleaning up an exhaust gas from the engine, and an ECU. While the vehicle is running, if the engine is stopped and, of the two shift ranges, a shift range where larger decelerating force is produced by regenerative braking of the motor generator has been selected, the ECU causes the EHC to raise the temperature of the catalyst using electric power generated by the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9026289
    Abstract: A control method for idling anti-rollback of a pure electric vehicle is provided, where the pure electric vehicle has a vehicle controller, a motor controller, a motor, a brake pedal, a handbrake device, an accelerator pedal, and a power battery. The method makes use of the differences between a pure electric vehicle from conventional cars, and collects the states of individual parts of the vehicle through the vehicle controller, and controls the output of the torque of the motor based on the state information of various control components, to prevent the vehicle located on a slope from rolling back, and makes the vehicle move forward at idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Shanghai Zhongke Shenjiang Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qingwen Zeng, Li Lin, Yingqi Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150119190
    Abstract: A first shaft and a second shaft configured to connect the engine to the driving shaft and connectable/disconnectable to/from the engine, and a differential mechanism configured to connect the first shaft, the second shaft, and a rotating electrical machine to one another are provided, wherein, at the time of upshift to a gear shift stage of the second shaft from a state in which the engine is connected to the driving shaft through a gear shift stage of the first shaft, power transmission to the driving shaft through the second shaft is blocked, the second shaft is connected to the engine, power of the engine is transmitted to the second shaft by output control of the rotating electrical machine, the first shaft is disconnected from the engine, and the engine is connected to the driving shaft through the gear shift stage of the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruo Isomura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150119189
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle operates in an electric-drive-only mode and one or more modes using an internal combustion engine. A control pedal is movable to respective positions by a driver for indicating a desired vehicle motion. A controller selectably activates the engine according to instantaneous values of a variable wheel output demand and a variable pull-up threshold. The pedal position is converted to a respective instantaneous wheel output demand in response to an initial value from a mapping relationship that is modified in response to a difference between the initial value and the variable pull-up threshold. The pull-up threshold may preferably be dynamically determined according to a state of charge of a battery for powering the electric drive. The modification to the wheel output demand preferably reduces the slope of the mapping relationship near the pull-up threshold to reduce pedal position sensitivity in a region near the dynamically varying pull-up threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carol L. Okubo, Thomas S. Gee
  • Publication number: 20150105216
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine is started and idled before engine torque is required so that driveline torque response may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20150105199
    Abstract: An actuator for an aircraft is provided. The actuator comprises a first motor, a second motor and an actuator output, which are interconnected by a gear assembly. The actuator output is driveable by the first motor independently of the second motor; the actuator output is driveable by the second motor independently of the first motor; and the actuator output is driveable by the first and second motors in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Terence Ross Golding
  • Publication number: 20150105213
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine includes automatically stopping the engine in response to vehicle power demand dropping below currently available electrical power while trailering, and automatically starting the engine when vehicle power demand is at a first offset below currently available electrical power. A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a trailer hitch, and a controller configured to, in response to the vehicle trailering, command the engine to start at a torque offset below an unladen vehicle engine torque pull up schedule, where the torque offset is based on vehicle loading. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having a trailer hitch includes detecting the trailer hitch being in use, commanding an engine to stop, and commanding the engine to start in response to a torque to accelerate being within a predetermined offset below an unladen vehicle torque pull up schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wright, Bernard D. Nefcy, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 9008883
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a first running mode with an engine stopped and a second running mode with the engine operating. An ECU monitors information related to the frequency of intermittent startup of the engine in response to the startup and stoppage of the engine during vehicle running. The ECU executes running control such that startup of the engine is suppressed during the first running mode when in an operation pattern in which the frequency of intermittent startup is high. Accordingly, discomfort to the driver and degradation in fuel efficiency caused by repeating stoppage and startup of the engine frequently in a short period of time can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichimoto
  • Patent number: 9005075
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline may selectively enter a sailing mode to provide quick driveline torque response with reduced impact on fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8998770
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and method of control include an internal combustion engine and at least one traction motor operated such that engine speed is a function of vehicle speed and target engine power. Target engine power, in turn, is a function of target wheel torque, vehicle speed, and battery state of charge. Target wheel torque, in turn, is a function of vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position. In a select shift mode, these calculations are adjusted based on a virtual gear number which varies in response to driver activation of shift selectors. The adjustments result in decreased engine speed and decreased wheel torque when higher virtual gear number are selected for given accelerator pedal positions and vehicle speeds. The ratio of engine speed to vehicle speed is not necessarily constant when operating in select shift mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Ryan Abraham McGee, Jason Meyer
  • Publication number: 20150094188
    Abstract: A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential device including four rotary elements; and an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor and an output rotary member which are respectively connected to the four rotary elements. One of the four rotary elements is constituted by a rotary component of a first differential mechanism and a rotary component of a second differential mechanism which are selectively connected to each other through a clutch, and one of the rotary components of the first and second differential mechanisms which are selectively connected to each other through the clutch is selectively fixed to a stationary member through a brake. The drive control device comprises: a clutch engagement control portion configured to place the clutch in an engaged state when a warm-up operation of the hybrid vehicle is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kiyokami, Koki Ueno, Yoshiteru Hagino, Satoru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150094189
    Abstract: A vehicular system includes a crankshaft, a drive shaft, a plurality of electromagnetic machines mechanically coupling the crankshaft to the drive shaft, a power controller electrically coupled to the plurality of electromagnetic machines and configured to control current and/or voltage provided to, or received from, each electromagnetic machine of the plurality of electromagnetic machines, a supervisory controller communicatively coupled with the power controller and configured to establish an operational mode for the power controller, and a storage device electrically coupled to the power controller to store energy captured by the power controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Bogdan I. Epureanu
  • Publication number: 20150087474
    Abstract: A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential device including four rotary elements; and an engine, first and second electric motors and an output rotary member which are respectively connected to the four rotary elements. One of the four rotary elements is constituted by a rotary component of a first differential mechanism and a rotary component of a second differential mechanism selectively connected through a clutch, and one of the rotary components is selectively fixed to a stationary member through a brake. The drive control device comprises: an engagement control portion configured to place the clutch or the brake in a slipping state in a decelerating state of the hybrid vehicle in a hybrid drive mode in which the engine is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Hiroaki Kiyokami
  • Patent number: 8978799
    Abstract: A starting clutch running in oil is present in the drive train of a motor vehicle which has an internal combustion engine and a starter generator. The rotor of the starter generator is supported on a clutch cover, at least indirectly, and the clutch cover is rotationally fixed to the clutch bell of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Oliver Noehl, Ivo Agner
  • Patent number: 8983700
    Abstract: Objects are to set up control of a plurality of motor generators in a case where a battery is charged or discharged, to secure both a target driving force and target charging/discharging, and to have the breath of control of using electric power of the battery under a more specific condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Ito, Masaaki Tagawa, Masakazu Saito, Hitoshi Ohkuma, Yukihiro Hosoe
  • Publication number: 20150066265
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically allocating engine torque and motor torque in a hybrid vehicle to meet operator torque demand. The allocation is adjusted by constraining the maximum engine torque allowable under selected conditions to provide a better trade-off between performance and fuel economy. A maximum engine torque that provides best fuel economy is learned during engine operation at different engine speed-load conditions based on a deviation in spark retard torque ratio from a threshold ratio as spark timing is moved to MBT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Ted Haladyna, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 8960132
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of carrying out low-load control when an IG OFF operation is performed, when a vehicle is running, and when stop of an engine is not permitted, carrying out gate cut-off control, ending low-load control and gate cut-off control when a brake pedal has been operated, when a vehicle speed is lower than a threshold value, or when a prescribed time period has elapsed since the IG OFF operation, permitting stop of the engine, and carrying out fuel cut control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Yaguchi, Takeshi Hoshiba, Akihiro Kimura, Masahiro Naito
  • Patent number: 8965658
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a wheel speed sensor, a skid sensor, an upper limit calculator, and a motive power controller. The wheel speed sensor is configured to detect rotational speed of driving wheels. The skid sensor is configured to determine whether or not the driving wheels are skidding based on an output of the wheel speed sensor. The upper limit calculator is configured to calculate an upper limit of rotational speed of the driving wheels if the skid sensor determines that the driving wheels are skidding. The motive power controller is configured to control motive power output from the driving source so that rotational speed of the driving wheels is equal to or smaller than the upper limit calculated by the upper limit calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Youji Yasuoka, Masafumi Amano, Takayuki Yamasaki, Kazuhiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 8965614
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided in which after a determination is made as to whether the remaining capacity is higher than a first threshold value, any one of a first running mode, a second running mode, and a third running mode is selected depending on first speed, second speed, or third speed so that the vehicle runs in the mode, whereby the vehicle can run by easily selecting an appropriate series hybrid mode or an appropriate parallel hybrid mode in each range depending on whether the remaining capacity is higher than the first threshold value, and running control can be made stable and easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nissato
  • Patent number: 8958970
    Abstract: A vehicle control system and a vehicle control device can switch control of a supporting device for support a drive of a vehicle between an ordinary travel in which the vehicle travels in a state that a power source for causing the vehicle to travel is operated and an inertia travel in which the vehicle travels in a state that an operation of the power source is stopped. Accordingly, since the vehicle control system and the vehicle control device switch the control of the supporting device between the ordinary travel and the inertia travel, the vehicle control system and the vehicle control device achieve an effect that the vehicle can be caused to appropriately travel by inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Nobukazu Ueki, Hiroshi Tsujii, Koji Ito
  • Publication number: 20150038286
    Abstract: A total driving force according to an acceleration request of a driver is secured, and deterioration of acceleration performance, such as slowness at the time of starting, is suppressed. When an engine torque is converted into motor torque through a generator, a power distribution ratio ? from the engine torque to the motor torque is set. Additionally, as a road surface gradient ? is smaller on an upward slope side, the power distribution ratio ? is limited. Specifically, when the road surface gradient ? is more than or equal to a predetermined ?1 on the upward slope side, the power distribution ratio ? is set to a predetermined maximum value ?MAX. When the road surface gradient ? is less than or equal to ?2, which is smaller than ?1, on the upward slope side, the power distribution ratio ? is set to a minimum value ?MIN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shougo Hane
  • Publication number: 20150038287
    Abstract: In a vehicle and a vehicle control method, when conditions i) and ii) are satisfied, an electronic control unit is configured to control an internal combustion engine so as to delay starting of the internal combustion engine, which is based on a condition where a vehicle request power is greater than a start threshold value, in a first mode than that in a second mode. The condition i) is a condition in which the driving mode is the first mode and the condition ii) is a condition in which the vehicle request power requested by the vehicle is greater than the start threshold value. The start threshold value is a value with which the internal combustion engine in a stopped state is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroki ENDO, Koji HOKOI
  • Publication number: 20150024901
    Abstract: An all-wheel drive vehicle includes a first drive axle and a second drive axle, a transaxle, an internal combustion engine, and an electric motor. The first drive axle and second drive axle are separated by a distance, and each drive axle is coupled with a respective pair of drive wheels. The transaxle is disposed in mechanical communication with the first drive axle, and is coupled to the internal combustion engine through a driveshaft. The electric motor is circumferentially disposed about the driveshaft, between the internal combustion engine and the transaxle, and is in mechanical communication with the second drive axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Gary R. Valler
  • Publication number: 20150024902
    Abstract: A drive device of a hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric motor acting as power sources, and further includes: a first rotating member coupled to the electric motor; a second rotating member to which power from the engine is transmitted; and a gear pair made up of helical gears formed on the first rotating member and the second rotating member to couple the first rotating member and the second rotating member in a power transmittable manner, within a case, an inner wall extending from an outer wall of the case toward an inside of the case is in the case, and an elastic member pressing the first rotating member toward the inner wall is provided in a preloaded state between the first rotating member and the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hori, Hiroatsu Endo, Kenji Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 8938351
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an output control device for an internal combustion engine for generating a drive force of a vehicle. The output control device includes a braking request detection sensor for detecting whether or not a braking request operation has been performed, and a controller programmed to limit an output of the internal combustion engine when the braking request operation is started, completely lift output limitation of the internal combustion engine over a predetermined limitation lifting time when the braking request operation is finished and shorten the limitation lifting time when a predetermined condition holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Iriyama
  • Patent number: 8932178
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission between an engine and a drive wheel and includes a differential mechanism (planetary gear mechanism) between the engine and an engagement device (transmission). A controller (ECU) included in the vehicle calculates a variation rate in the whole rotation energy of the planetary gear mechanism when it is in the inertia phase of a shift. The ECU increasingly corrects an engine generated power and decreasingly corrects a transmission transfer power when the variation rate is higher than 0. The ECU decreasingly corrects the engine generated power and increasingly correct the transmission transfer power when the variation rate is lower than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Akihiro Kimura, Yuma Mori, Hideki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20150011358
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a hybridized drive train and a low-voltage onboard power supply system. The low voltage onboard power supply system includes electric consuming devices, an energy accumulator and a starter for an internal-combustion engine. The low-voltage onboard power supply system further includes a support accumulator and a first switch between the support accumulator and the rest of the low-voltage onboard power supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Hartmut PROEBSTLE
  • Patent number: 8924108
    Abstract: A method of managing available operating states in an electrified powertrain includes: identifying a plurality of operating states; determining an allowable hardware operating speed range for each of the plurality of operating states; determining a real operating speed range for each of the plurality of operating states; determining an ideal operating speed range for each of the plurality of operating states, the ideal operating speed range being a subset of the allowable real operating speed range; indicating an operating state of the plurality of operating states as ideal-allowed if an actual output speed of the electrified powertrain is within the ideal operating speed range for that operating state; and commanding the electrified powertrain to operate within one of the operating states that is indicated as ideal-allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Samantha Victoria Lado, John Janczak
  • Publication number: 20140364273
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine restarts in a hybrid vehicle. In response to a wide-open pedal tip-in, maximum torque is rapidly provided by cranking an engine while advancing intake cams and while discharging compressed air from an accumulator into the engine intake. Motor torque can be transitioned out faster since maximum engine torque output is enabled earlier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Publication number: 20140364272
    Abstract: A system and method, the system including a transportation device configured to operate under at least a first condition and a second condition, wherein the transportation device is configured to operate without a human induced change in an electrical current during the second condition. a disengageable motor configured to operate the transportation device under the first condition and coupled to the transportation device, a disengageable energy storage device configured to operate the transportation device under the second condition and coupled to the transportation device, wherein the disengageable energy storage device may be automatically recharged by a charging device when the energy storage device is disengaged and, a mechanical processing unit for mechanically controlling the motion of the transportation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Ron SHAPIRA, Elad HALEVI, Shai COHEN