# US 8,540,602 B2 · Drive device for hybrid vehicle

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- Number: US 8,540,602 B2
- Document ID: US8540602B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/137,853
- Filed: 2011-09-19
- Published: 2012-03-22
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-22
- Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Masatoshi Ishikawa
- Inventors: Masatoshi Ishikawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540602B2

## CPC

- B60W 20/40: Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)}
- B60K 6/383: One-way clutches or freewheel devices
- B60K 6/48: Parallel type
- B60L 7/18: Controlling the braking effect (B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence)
- B60L 15/2009: {for braking}
- B60L 15/2054: {by controlling transmissions or clutches}
- B60L 15/2072: {for drive off}
- B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
- B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches
- B60W 10/026: {of lock-up clutches}
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)}
- H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle}
- H02K 7/108: with friction clutches
- B60K 2006/268: {Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor}
- B60L 2240/12: Speed
- B60L 2240/421: Speed
- B60L 2240/441: Speed
- B60L 2240/443: Torque
- B60L 2240/507: Operating parameters
- B60L 2260/26: Transition between different drive modes
- B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed
- B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position
- B60W 2540/12: Brake pedal position
- B60Y 2400/426: Hydrodynamic couplings, e.g. torque converters
- F16H 2045/002: {comprising a clutch between prime mover and fluid gearing}
- F16H 2045/005: {comprising a clutch between fluid gearing and the mechanical gearing unit}
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- F16H: GEARING
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A drive device for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine and a motor generator. A one-way clutch is provided between the engine and the motor generator. Power is transmitted from the engine to the motor generator, while power from the motor generator to the engine is blocked. As a result, the electric motor can be operated without operating the engine. Furthermore, a torque converter is connected to the motor generator, and the engine is connected to the torque converter via a starting clutch. As a result, if a one-way clutch is provided, the motor generator can serve as a starter motor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive device for a hybrid vehicle that has an engine and an electric motor connected to a drive wheel, the drive device comprising:
a one-way clutch that is disposed between the engine and the electric motor, connects the engine and the electric motor when the engine speed reaches to the motor speed, and disconnects the engine and the electric motor when the engine speed falls below the motor speed; and
a starting clutch that is disposed between the engine and the electric motor and is switched between a fastened state for connecting the engine and the electric motor and a released state for disconnecting the engine and the electric motor;
wherein upon motor traveling and regenerative braking, the engine is disconnected from the electric motor by the one-way clutch, and upon engine startup, the starting clutch is engaged so as to connect the engine to the electric motor;
wherein a torque converter is provided between the electric motor and the drive wheel, and the starting clutch is connected to the electric motor via the torque converter; and
the torque converter has a lock-up clutch; and
upon engine startup the drive device for a hybrid vehicle is switched between a first startup mode in which power is transmitted from the electric motor to the engine via the torque converter and the starting clutch and a second startup mode in which power is transmitted from the electric motor to the engine via the starting clutch, depending on the vehicle state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drive device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
an oil pump is provided that is driven by the electric motor;
a running clutch is provided that is disposed between the electric motor and the drive wheel and is switched between a fastened state for transmitting power and a released state for blocking power; and
when the engine is stopped before vehicle startup, the oil pump is driven by the electric motor while the running clutch is put in the released state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drive device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
a torque converter is provided that is provided between the electric motor and the drive wheel; and
upon motor traveling, power is transmitted from the electric motor to the drive wheel via the torque converter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The drive device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein power is transmitted from the electric motor to the engine via the starting clutch upon engine startup.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The drive device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein power is transmitted from the engine to the drive wheel via the one-way clutch after engine startup.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The drive device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
a torque converter that is equipped with a lock-up clutch is provided between the electric motor and the drive wheel; and
upon regenerative braking, power is transmitted from the drive wheel to the electric motor via the lock-up clutch.