Method to control a series hybrid car and corresponding series hybrid car
OwnerFabrizio FAVARETTOinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method to control a car having: a frame, which develops along a longitudinal direction having a front-rear orientation; at least two drive wheels; at least one electric motor connected to the two drive wheels; and a generation assembly having an electric generator and an internal combustion engine provided with a drive shaft, which is mechanically connected only to the electric generator and, therefore, is mechanically independent of the drive wheels. The control method comprises the steps of: determining a rotation speed of the rear drive wheels; and varying the rotation speed of the first internal combustion engine based on the rotation speed of the rear drive wheels.
Claims13
1) A method to control a car (1) comprising:
- a frame (2), which develops along a longitudinal direction (L) having a front-rear orientation;
- at least two drive wheels (4);
- at least one electric motor (6) connected to the two drive wheels (4);
- and
- a first generation assembly (7) comprising a first electric generator (9) and a first internal combustion engine (8) provided with a first drive shaft (11), which is mechanically connected only to the electric generator (9) and, therefore, is mechanically independent of the drive wheels (4);
- the control method comprises the steps of:
- establishing at least a group of virtual gears having respective gear ratios;
- allowing a driver of the car (1) to choose whether to determine a virtual engaged gear based on upshift and downshift commands given by the driver or by simulating the behaviour of an automatic transmission to maximise an energy efficiency of the first internal combustion engine (8);
- determining a rotation speed (ωW) of the drive wheels (4);
- changing a rotation speed (ωE) of the first internal combustion engine (8) based on of the rotation speed (ωW) of the drive wheels (4) and also based on the virtual engaged gear;
- establishing a first group of virtual gears, which is used only when the choice of the virtual engaged gear is made by the driver of the car (1);
- and
- establishing a second group of virtual gears, which is different from the first group of virtual gears and is used only when the choice of the virtual engaged gear is made by simulating the behaviour of an automatic transmission.
13) A car (1) comprising:
- a frame (2), which develops along a longitudinal direction (L) having a front-rear orientation;
- at least two drive wheels (4);
- at least one electric motor (6) connected to the two drive wheels (4);
- a generation assembly (7) comprising an electric generator (9) and an internal combustion engine (8) provided with a drive shaft (11), which is mechanically connected only to the electric generator (9) and, therefore, is mechanically independent of the drive wheels (4);
- and
- a control unit (CU) configured to:
- establish a group of virtual gears having respective gear ratios;
- allow a driver of the car (1) to choose whether to determine a virtual engaged gear based on upshift and downshift commands given by the driver or by simulating the behaviour of an automatic transmission to maximise an energy efficiency of the first internal combustion engine (8);
- determine a rotation speed (ωW) of the drive wheels (4);
- changing a rotation speed (ωE) of the first internal combustion engine (8) based on of the rotation speed (ωW) of the drive wheels (4) and also based on the virtual engaged gear;
- establish a first group of virtual gears, which is used only when the choice of the virtual engaged gear is made by the driver of the car (1);
- and
- establish a second group of virtual gears, which is different from the first group of virtual gears and is used only when the choice of the virtual engaged gear is made by simulating the behaviour of an automatic transmission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.