US 5,991,683 A · Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same

Abstract

The present invention prevents a decrease in efficiency due to energy circulation in a power transmission path in a power output apparatus having an engine and a motor as power source. In the power output apparatus, a planetary gear 120 has a sun gear shaft linked with a generator MG1, a ring gear shaft linked with a motor MG2, and a planetary carrier linked with an output shaft of an engine 150. The power output apparatus carries out a control procedure to avoid energy circulation, which goes through the planetary gear 120, the motor MG2, and generator MG1, and the planetary gear 120, and thereby prevent a decrease in efficiency. The energy circulation occurs when the motor MG2 converts the power output from the engine 150 to electric power and the generator MG1 carries out power operation with the regenerated electric power. The control procedure monitors a torque command value of the motor MG2 and shifts a driving point of the engine 150 to another driving point of higher revolving speed when the torque command value is not greater than a threshold value Tref.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A power output apparatus for outputting power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft linked therewith;
power regulation means connected with said output shaft and said drive shaft for transmitting power output from said engine to said drive shaft and regulating magnitude of the transmitted power through transformation of electric power;
a motor linked with said drive shaft for receiving and transmitting power from and to said drive shaft;
drive-shaft target power state setting means for setting a revolving speed of said drive shaft and a torque output to said drive shaft as a target power state of said drive shaft;
engine target power state setting means for setting a revolving speed of said engine and a torque to be output from said engine as a target power state of said engine, based on the target power state of said drive shaft and a working efficiency of said engine;
and
control means for controlling said motor and said power regulation means, in order to enable the target power state of said engine to be converted to the target power state of said drive shaft and output to said dive shaft, and driving said engine in a power state that enables an output torque of said motor to be not less than a predetermined torque during the control of said motor and said power regulation means.

4 more elements

A power output apparatus for outputting power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft linked therewith;
power regulation means connected with said output shaft and said drive shaft for transmitting power output from said engine to said drive shaft and regulating magnitude of the transmitted power through transformation of electric power;
a motor linked with said drive shaft for receiving and transmitting power from and to said drive shaft;
drive-shaft target power state setting means for setting a revolving speed of said drive shaft and a torque output to said drive shaft as a target power state of said drive shaft;
memory means for storing a relationship between the revolving speed of said drive shaft, the power output from said engine, and a power state of said engine that enables said motor to be driven with a torque of not less than a predetermined torque;
revolving speed input means for inputting the revolving speed of said drive shaft;
engine target power state setting means for setting the power state of said engine obtained by referring to the relationship stored in said memory means as a target power state of said engine, based on a power to be output from said engine, which is set based on the target power state of said drive shaft, and the input revolving speed of said drive shaft;
and
control means for controlling said engine to be driven in the target power state of said engine, and controlling said motor and said power regulation means, so as to enable the power state of said engine to be converted to the target power state of said drive shaft and output to said drive shaft.

6 more elements

A power output apparatus for outputting power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft linked therewith;
power regulation means connected with said output shaft and said drive shaft for transmitting power output from said engine to said drive shaft and regulating magnitude of the transmitted power through transformation of electric power;
a motor linked with said output shaft for receiving and transmitting power from and to said output shaft;
drive-shaft target power state setting means for setting a revolving speed of said drive shaft and a torque output to said drive shaft as a target power state of said drive shaft;
engine target power state setting means for setting a revolving speed of said engine and a torque to be output from said engine as a target power state of said engine, based on the target power state of said drive shaft and a working efficiency of said engine;
and
control means for controlling said motor and said power regulation means, in order to enable the target power state of said engine to be converted to the target power state of said drive shaft and output to said drive shaft, and driving said engine in a power state that enables an output torque of said motor to be not greater than a predetermined torque during the control of said motor and said power regulation means.

4 more elements

A power output apparatus for outputting power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft linked therewith;
power regulation means connected with said output shaft and said drive shaft for transmitting power output from said engine to said drive shaft and regulating magnitude of the transmitted power through transmission of electric power;
a motor linked with said output shaft for receiving and transmitting power from and to said output shaft;
drive-shaft target power state setting means for setting a revolving speed of said drive shaft and a torque output to said drive shaft as a target power state of said drive shaft;
memory means for storing a relationship between the revolving speed of said drive shaft, the power output from said engine, and a power state of said engine that enables said motor to be driven with a torque of not greater than a predetermined torque;
revolving speed input means for inputting the revolving speed of said drive shaft;
engine target power state setting means for setting the power state of said engine obtained by referring to the relationship stored in said memory means as a target power state of said engine, based on a power to be output from said engine, which is set based on the target power state of said drive shaft, and the input revolving speed of said drive shaft;
and
control means for controlling said engine to be driven in the target power state of said engine, and controlling said motor and said power regulation means, so as to enable the power state of said engine to be converted to the target power state of said drive shaft and output to said drive shaft.

6 more elements

A method of controlling a power output apparatus for outputting power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft;
power regulation means connected with said output shaft of said engine and said drive shaft for transmitting power output from said engine to said drive shaft and regulating magnitude of the transmitted power through transformation of electric power;
and a motor for receiving and transmitting power from and to said drive shaft,
said method comprising the steps of:
(a) setting a revolving speed of said drive shaft and a torque output to said drive shaft as a target power state of said drive shaft;
(b) setting a revolving speed of said engine and a torque to be output from said engine as a target power state of said engine, based on the target power state of said drive shaft and a working efficiency of said engine;
and
(c) controlling said motor and said power regulation means, in order to enable the target power state of said engine to be converted to the target power state of said drive shaft and output to said drive shaft, and driving said engine in a power state that enables an output torque of said motor to be not less than a predetermined torque during the control of said motor and said power regulation means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same

Life of this patent

Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32