Hybrid system for motor vehicle with internal combustion engine and motor-generator
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsShizuo Sasaki, Jayant V. Sarlashkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid system for powering a vehicle and a method of controlling the hybrid system. The hybrid system has both an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator. The vehicle is controlled in response to the combination of states of five control parameters of the vehicle: polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park). A control unit receives data from the vehicle representing these states, and determines an associated control mode. In at least one of the control modes, the engine both drives the vehicles and provides power to the generator.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of operating a hybrid system for a motor vehicle, the vehicle having at least a motor/generator (MG), an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft, and a transmission, the MG having a rotor and stator, comprising:
- defining at least five control parameters of the vehicle as the following:
- polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park);
- defining a number of operational modes, each mode associated with a different combination of states of the control parameters;
- using a gear system to mechanically couple the gears of the engine crankshaft and the stator;
- mechanically coupling the rotor to the driveshaft through the transmission;
- adjusting the gearing of the rotor and stator so that certain operational modes cause the engine to both drive the vehicle and generate electrical energy;
- using an on-board control unit to receive data representing the state of each control parameter and to generate control signals to control the vehicle based on the associated operational mode.
A computer-implemented control unit for controlling a hybrid system for a motor vehicle, the vehicle having at least a motor/generator (MG), an internal combustion engine, a crankshaft, and a transmission, the MG having a rotor and stator, comprising:
- Memory and processing devices programmed to perform the following tasks:
- To receive mechanical state data from the vehicle representing the states of the following five control parameters of the vehicle:
- polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park);
- to store data defining a number of operational modes, each mode associated with a different combination of states of the control parameters;
- to select a mode in response to the mechanical state data;
- to generate control signals to control the vehicle based on the associated operational mode;
- wherein at least one of the modes is a mode in which the engine both drives the vehicle and generates electrical energy.
A hybrid system for powering a vehicle driveshaft, the vehicle further having a transmission for providing at least park, reverse, and drive shift positions, and having a clutch for performing transmission shifts, the hybrid system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft;
- a motor/generator (MG) having a rotor and a stator;
- a gear system for mechanically coupling the gears of the engine crankshaft and the stator;
- wherein the rotor is mechanically coupled to the driveshaft through the transmission;
- wherein the gearing of the rotor and stator is configured so that certain operational modes cause the engine to both drive the vehicle and generate electrical energy;
- a control unit having memory and processing devices programmed to perform the following tasks:
- To receive mechanical state data from the vehicle representing the states of the following five control parameters of the vehicle:
- polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park);
- to store data defining a number of operational modes, each mode associated with a different combination of states of the control parameters;
- to select a mode in response to the mechanical state data;
- to generate control signals to control the vehicle based on the associated operational mode;
- wherein at least one of the modes is a mode in which the engine both drives the vehicle and generates electrical energy.
A hybrid system for powering a vehicle driveshaft, the vehicle further having a transmission for providing at least park, reverse, and drive shift positions, and having a clutch for performing transmission shifts, the hybrid system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft;
- a motor/generator having a rotor and a stator;
- a gear system for mechanically coupling the crankshaft and the stator;
- wherein the rotor is coupled to the driveshaft via the transmission and can rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the drive shift position;
- and
- wherein the gear system is further operable to reduce the engine rotation speed to a stator rotation speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.