# US 11,554,658 B2 · Hybrid vehicle

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- Number: US 11,554,658 B2
- Document ID: US11554658B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/995,975
- Filed: 2020-08-18
- Published: 2021-02-25
- Granted: 2023-01-17
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-20
- Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Fumiaki Ito; Koji Kiyooka; Tasuku Inoue; Masato Arata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11554658B2

## CPC

- B60K 6/52: Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
- B60K 17/354: having separate mechanical assemblies for transmitting drive to the front or to the rear wheels or set of wheels
- B60K 6/24: characterised by the combustion engines
- B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators
- B60K 6/38: characterised by the driveline clutches (shift clutches within the gearing or transmission B60K6/36)
- B60K 6/387: Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
- B60K 6/448: Electrical distribution type
- B60K 6/485: Motor-assist type
- B60K 6/543: the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
- B60K 6/547: the transmission being a stepped gearing
- B60K 17/02: characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
- B60K 17/342: having a longitudinal, endless element, e.g. belt or chain, for transmitting drive to wheels
- B60K 23/08: for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)}
- B60K 26/02: of initiating means or elements
- B60W 20/19: for achieving enhanced acceleration
- B60W 30/18027: {Drive off, accelerating from standstill}
- B60W 30/18127: {Regenerative braking}
- B60K 2001/001: {one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle}
- B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor}
- B60K 2025/024: {with variable ratio}
- B60W 2300/362: Buggies; Quads
- B60Y 2200/124: Buggies, Quads
- B60Y 2200/221: Tractors
- B60Y 2200/23: Ridable golf cars
- B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles
- B60Y 2300/18025: Drive off, accelerating from standstill
- B60Y 2300/182: Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
- B60Y 2400/82: Four wheel drive systems
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- 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
- 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
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine that drives first wheel, and a motor that drives second wheel. The hybrid vehicle includes (1) a minute speed launch support mode where the hybrid vehicle is driven only by the motor as a drive source, (2) a sudden launch support mode where the hybrid vehicle is driven by the engine and motor as the drive source, and (3) a smooth launch support mode where the hybrid vehicle is driven only by the motor as the drive source in an early stage, is driven by the engine and motor in a middle stage, and is driven only by the engine in a late stage, and if an operation amount of an acceleration instruction unit is not 0 or is substantially not 0, any one of the support modes is executed according to an operation status of the acceleration instruction unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine that drives first wheels; and
a motor that drives second wheel separated from the first wheel in a front-rear direction, wherein
the hybrid vehicle includes:
(1) a minute speed launch support mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven only by the motor serving as a drive source;
(2) a sudden launch support mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the engine and the motor serving as the drive source; and
(3) a smooth launch support mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven only by the motor serving as the drive source in an early stage, is driven by the engine and the motor serving as the drive source in a middle stage, and is driven only by the engine serving as the drive source in a late stage, and
if an operation amount of an acceleration instruction unit is not 0 or is substantially not 0, any one of the support modes is executed in accordance with an operation status of the acceleration instruction unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, comprising: a control device that controls the motor and the engine, wherein
if the operation amount of the acceleration instruction unit is less than a first predetermined value and a vehicle speed is equal to or less than a predetermined speed, the control device executes the minute speed launch support mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the minute speed launch support mode is executable even if the operation amount is 0, and
when the minute speed launch support mode is executed, a relationship between a torque of the motor and the operation amount is a relationship in which a predetermined torque is generated if the operation amount is 0.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the first wheel driven by the engine is rear wheel, and the second wheel driven by the motor is front wheel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, comprising: a control device that controls the motor and the engine, wherein
if the operation amount of the acceleration instruction unit is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value more than a first predetermined value, and a time change rate of the operation amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined time change rate, the control device executes the sudden launch support mode, and
when the sudden launch support mode is executed, a degree by which a torque of the motor increases in accordance with an increase in the operation amount is more than a degree by which a torque of the motor increases in accordance with an increase in the operation amount when the minute speed launch support mode is executed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein when the sudden launch support mode is executed, a relationship between a torque of the motor and the operation amount is a relationship in which a predetermined torque is generated if the operation amount is 0.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the first wheel driven by the engine is rear wheel, and the second wheel driven by the motor is front wheel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, comprising: a control device that controls the motor and the engine, wherein
when the smooth launch support mode is executed, the control device raises and then lowers an output of the motor, and increases an output of the engine over time from a time when the output of the motor is near a maximum value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 8, comprising: a CVT including a belt engaged with a driving pulley connected to an output shaft of the engine via a centrifugal clutch and a driven pulley fixed to an input shaft of a wheel-side power transmission unit, wherein the centrifugal clutch disconnects the connection between the output shaft and the driving pulley if a rotation speed of the engine is less than a predetermined speed, and connects the output shaft and the driving pulley if a rotation speed of the engine is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the first wheel driven by the engine is rear wheel, and the second wheel driven by the motor is front wheel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle is an off-road type utility vehicle or a tractor including a loading platform, the off-road type utility vehicle or the tractor being for traveling on rough terrain.