US 8,123,657 B2Granted

Method for the operation of a drive train

AssigneeZF Friedrichshafen AG

InventorsChristian Mittelberger, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Blattner

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method of operating a drive train comprising a hybrid drive with a combustion engine and an electric motor; a transmission positioned between the hybrid drive and the output; and a clutch positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor. When the electric motor exclusively drives the vehicle, the combustion engine can be started by engaging the clutch. At the time when the electric motor permanently or without traction force interruption is coupled to the output, and the rotational speed of the electric motor is greater than the starting rotational speed of the combustion engine, and a clutch, positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor, is engagedly and disengagedly controlled so that the clutch is brought into slippage, via partial engagement, to start the combustion engine, and thereafter the clutch is completely disengaged before reaching a synchronous rotational speed between the combustion engine and the electric motor.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle whereby the drive train comprises a hybrid drive with a combustion engine and an electric motor,

a transmission, positioned between the hybrid drive and the output, and
a clutch, positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor,
whereby, when the electric motor exclusively drives the motor vehicle, the combustion engine can be started by engaging the clutch, positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor,
further comprising that when the electric motor permanently or without traction force interruption is coupled to the output and a rotational speed of the electric motor is greater than a starting rotational speed of the combustion engine, and the method comprising the steps of:
engaging the clutch, positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor, in such a way that the clutch is brought to a slippage, via a partial engagement, to start the combustion engine, and
thereafter completely disengaging the clutch, meaning before reaching a synchronous rotational speed between the combustion engine and the electric motor.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/677,150Filed 16 Sep 2008
Priority: DE 10 2007 045 36522 Sep 2007
Published: US 2010/0204006 A112 Aug 2010
Granted: 28 Feb 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

B60W 20/40
Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles: controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between…
B60K 6/38
Characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs: characterised by the driveline clutches
B60K 6/48
Characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle: parallel type
B60W 10/02
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function: including control of driveline clutches