# US 10,308,239 B2 · Powersplit hybrid powertrain with overdrive clutch

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- Number: US 10,308,239 B2
- Document ID: US10308239B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/503,610
- Filed: 2014-10-01
- Published: 2016-04-07
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-01
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann; Bernard D. Nefcy; Daniel Scott Colvin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308239B2

## CPC

- B60W 20/40: Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)}
- B60K 6/36: characterised by the transmission gearings
- B60K 6/383: One-way clutches or freewheel devices
- B60K 6/387: Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
- B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type
- B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- B60W 20/13: in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
- B60W 20/14: in conjunction with braking regeneration
- B60W 20/20: Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
- F16D 41/14: the effective stroke of the pawl being adjustable
- F16D 48/06: Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
- B60W 2510/06: Combustion engines, Gas turbines
- B60W 2510/18: Braking system
- B60W 2510/242: for electrical energy
- B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed
- B60W 2520/105: Longitudinal acceleration
- B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position
- B60W 2540/103: Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
- B60W 2540/106: Rate of change
- B60W 2540/12: Brake pedal position
- B60W 2556/10: Historical data
- B60W 2710/021: Clutch engagement state
- B60W 2710/08: Electric propulsion units
- B60W 2710/081: Speed
- F16D 2500/1022: Electromagnet
- F16D 2500/10462: Dog-type clutch
- F16D 2500/10493: One way clutch
- F16D 2500/1066: Hybrid
- F16D 2500/30401: On-off signal indicating the engage or disengaged position of the clutch
- F16D 2500/3101: Detection of a brake actuation by a sensor on the brake
- F16D 2500/3108: Vehicle speed
- F16D 2500/3109: Vehicle acceleration
- F16D 2500/50858: Selecting a Mode of operation
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y10S 903/93: Conjoint control of different elements
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A hybrid vehicle powertrain includes an internal combustion engine, first and second electric machines, traction wheels, and an output shaft having meshing gears configured to establish a final drive ratio between the output shaft and the traction wheels. The powertrain additionally includes a first mechanical linkage and a second mechanical linkage. The first mechanical linkage is configured to selectively transmit engine torque to the fraction wheels and selectively transmit electric machine torque to the traction wheels. The second mechanical linkage is configured to selectively transmit engine torque to the traction wheels. When transmitting engine torque to the wheels, the second mechanical linkage defines a fixed overdrive speed relationship between the engine and the fraction wheels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hybrid vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
a first electric machine;
traction wheels;
an output shaft drivingly coupled to the traction wheels by a gearing arrangement configured to establish a final drive ratio between the output shaft and the traction wheels;
a second electric machine drivingly coupled to the output shaft;
a first gearing arrangement configured to selectively transmit torque from the engine and first electric machine to the output shaft;
a second gearing arrangement configured to selectively transmit torque from the engine to the output shaft in an overdrive speed and torque relationship, the second gearing arrangement including a clutch; and
a controller configured to engage the clutch in response to an acceleration event followed by a decrease in power demand; and
disengage the clutch in response to a third operating condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the clutch is a dog clutch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the clutch is an electromagnetic one-way clutch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the clutch in an engaged position in response to a second operating condition, the second operating condition comprising a change in a vehicle charging mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the third operating condition is:
a decrease in driver power demand, the decrease exceeding a first associated threshold;
receiving a brake pedal position signal exceeding a second associated threshold;
an increase in driver power demand, the increase exceeding a third associated threshold;
a generally constant driver power demand and a decrease in vehicle speed, the decrease exceeding a fourth associated threshold; or
an engine shutdown request.

### Claim 6

A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle having a powersplit powertrain and an overdrive mechanical linkage selectively engageable to transmit engine torque to the wheels in a fixed speed relationship, the method comprising:
operating the powersplit powertrain in a continuously variable mode; and
engaging the overdrive mechanical linkage in response to an acceleration event followed by a decrease in power demand.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the powersplit powertrain includes a generator and the overdrive mechanical linkage includes an electromagnetic one-way clutch selectively coupled to the engine, and wherein engaging the overdrive mechanical linkage comprises:
overrunning the clutch by rotating the generator in a disengagement direction;
electronically activating the one-way clutch while overrunning;
engaging the activated clutch by rotating the generator in an engagement direction until the clutch is engaged to prevent further rotation in the engagement direction;
transferring engine torque carried by the generator to the activated clutch; and
turning off the generator after the engine torque is transferred.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the powersplit powertrain includes a generator and the overdrive mechanical linkage includes a dog clutch selectively coupled to the engine, and wherein engaging the overdrive mechanical linkage comprises:
controlling the generator according to a target speed range to synchronize the clutch;
engaging the clutch;
transferring engine torque carried by the generator to the engaged clutch; and
turning off the generator after the engine torque is transferred.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
in response to the overdrive mechanical linkage being engaged and a second operating condition, maintaining the overdrive mechanical linkage in an engaged state.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the second operating condition comprises a change in a vehicle charging mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
in response to the overdrive mechanical linkage being engaged and a third operating condition, disengaging the overdrive mechanical linkage to de-establish the overdrive speed relationship.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the third operating condition is:
a decrease in driver power demand, the decrease exceeding a first associated threshold;
an actuation of a brake pedal exceeding a second associated threshold;
an increase in driver power demand, the increase exceeding a third associated threshold;
a generally constant driver power demand and a decrease in vehicle speed, the decrease exceeding a fourth associated threshold; or
an engine shutdown request.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the powersplit powertrain includes a generator and the overdrive mechanical linkage includes an electromagnetic one-way clutch selectively coupled to the engine, and wherein disengaging the overdrive mechanical linkage comprises:
turning on the generator while the clutch is activated and engaged;
rotating the generator to overrun and disengage the clutch; and
deactivating the clutch while overrunning.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the powersplit powertrain includes a generator and the overdrive mechanical linkage includes a dog clutch selectively coupled to the engine, and wherein disengaging the overdrive mechanical linkage comprises:
turning on the generator while the clutch is engaged;
transferring torque to the generator from the clutch; and
disengaging the clutch.

### Claim 15

A hybrid vehicle powertrain comprising:
an engine;
an electric machine;
a first mechanical linkage, including a planetary gearset, configured to selectively transmit engine torque to vehicle traction wheels and selectively transmit electric machine torque to the wheels;
a second mechanical linkage configured to selectively transmit engine torque to the wheels, the second mechanical linkage defining a fixed speed relationship between the engine and the wheels when transmitting torque; and
a controller configured to engage the second mechanical linkage in response to an acceleration event followed by a decrease in power demand.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The hybrid vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the second mechanical linkage in an engaged position to operate the powertrain in an overdrive mode during a change in vehicle charging mode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The hybrid vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to disengage the second mechanical linkage to exit overdrive mode in response to:
a decrease in driver power demand, the decrease exceeding a first associated threshold;
an actuation of a brake pedal exceeding a second associated threshold;
an increase in driver power demand, the increase exceeding a third associated threshold;
a generally constant driver power demand and a decrease in vehicle speed, the decrease exceeding a fourth associated threshold; or
an engine shutdown request.