US 2006/0231306 A1 · Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Claims45

Dependent claims

1-16. (canceled)

A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a second AC electric motor;
an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power;
a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor;
and
a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption, wherein said controller is further operable to:
start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle;
disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine, wherein said vehicle load comprises road load, electrical load incurred when operating said engine to store DC energy in the electrical storage device, and accessory load when supplying accessories;
and
enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation.

10 more elements

A method of control of a hybrid vehicle, said hybrid vehicle comprising:

at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a second AC electric motor;
an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power;
a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor;
and
a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption;
wherein said controller performs the following additional steps:
starts and stops said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle;
disables engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine, wherein said vehicle load comprises road load, electrical load incurred when operating said engine to store DC energy in the electrical storage device, and accessory load when supplying accessories;
and
enables engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation.

11 more elements

A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

operating a first alternating current (AC) electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle, comprising:
providing direct current (DC) from an electrical storage device to a DC side of a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter;
the first AC-DC converter converting the DC to AC;
providing the AC to the first AC electric motor to drive the AC electric motor;
and
providing power to at least two wheels of the hybrid vehicle;
starting and operating an engine comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the vehicle and/or drive a second AC electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to generate electric power, comprising providing power to the at least two wheels and/or the second AC electric motor respectively;
converting the generated electric power from AC to DC using a second AC-DC converter;
storing the converted electric power in the electrical storage device, wherein the electrical storage device is coupled to a DC side of the second AC-DC converter;
and
disabling engine operation when vehicle load on the engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of the engine, wherein the vehicle load comprises road load, electrical load incurred when storing DC energy in the electrical storage device, and accessory load when supplying accessories;
wherein said starting and operating the engine comprises starting and operating the engine at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except when the vehicle load on the engine results in torque less than 20% of the MTO of the engine;
and
wherein said disabling and said starting and operating occurs independently of speed of the hybrid vehicle.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/429,458Filed 8 May 2006

Priority

14 Sep 1998

Published

19 Oct 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification107 codes

B60L 53/00
Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles
B60H 1/004
For vehicles having an electrical drive, e.g. hybrid or fuel cell: for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid…
B60H 1/3222
Using compression: characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives
B60K 1/02
Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units: comprising more than one electric motor

Family

Application60/100,095Us provisional application · filed 14 Sep 1998

Application60/122,296Us provisional application · filed 1 Mar 1999

Application09/264,817Continuation in part · filed 9 Mar 1999

Application09/392,743Continuation in part · filed 9 Sep 1999

Application09/822,866Division · filed 2 Apr 2001

Application09/822,866Continuation in part · filed 2 Apr 2001

Application10/382,577Division · filed 7 Mar 2003

Application11/429,458Division · filed 8 May 2006

Application10/382,577Continuation in part

US 2001/0039230 A1Published application

US 2003/0217876 A1Published application