# US 9,981,650 B2 · Method of turning off a combustion engine of a driving vehicle

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- Number: US 9,981,650 B2
- Document ID: US9981650B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/106,818
- Filed: 2014-12-23
- Published: 2017-01-05
- Granted: 2018-05-29
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-23
- Assignees: Scania CV AB
- Applicants: Scania CV AB
- Inventors: Johan Lindström; Mathias Björkman; Mikael Bergquist; Niklas Pettersson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9981650B2

## CPC

- B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)}
- B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor
- B60K 6/365: with the gears having orbital motion
- B60K 6/387: Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
- B60K 6/40: characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
- B60K 6/44: Series-parallel type
- B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type
- B60K 6/46: Series type
- B60K 6/48: Parallel type
- B60K 17/02: characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
- B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- B60W 10/115: with planetary gears
- B60W 10/12: including control of differentials
- B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
- B60W 20/15: Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
- B60W 20/20: Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
- B60W 20/30: Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio {(control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H)}
- 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)}
- B60W 30/18: Propelling the vehicle
- B60W 30/18027: {Drive off, accelerating from standstill}
- B60W 30/181: {Preparing for stopping}
- B60W 30/18109: {Braking}
- B60W 30/1886: {Controlling power supply to auxiliary devices}
- F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine}
- F02D 41/062: {for starting (F02D41/061 takes precedence)}
- F02D 41/26: using computer, e.g. microprocessor
- F02D 41/3005: {Details not otherwise provided for}
- F16H 3/728: {with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing}
- B60K 6/547: the transmission being a stepped gearing
- B60W 10/10: including control of change-speed gearings
- B60W 30/18009: {related to particular drive situations}
- B60W 2400/00: Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
- B60W 2510/125: Locking status
- B60W 2520/40: Torque distribution
- B60W 2710/021: Clutch engagement state
- B60W 2710/06: Combustion engines, Gas turbines
- B60W 2710/0644: Engine speed
- B60W 2710/081: Speed
- B60W 2710/083: Torque
- B60W 2710/1038: Output speed
- B60W 2710/105: Output torque
- B60W 2710/125: Locking status
- B60W 2710/248: Current for loading or unloading
- B60W 2710/30: Auxiliary equipments
- B60W 2710/305: target power to auxiliaries
- B60W 2720/40: Torque distribution
- B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles
- B60Y 2300/18: Propelling the vehicle
- B60Y 2300/18025: Drive off, accelerating from standstill
- B60Y 2300/18091: Preparing for stopping
- B60Y 2300/188: Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
- B60Y 2300/19: Improvement of gear change, e.g. synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
- B60Y 2300/43: Control of engines
- B60Y 2300/60: Control of electric machines, e.g. problems related to electric motors or generators
- B60Y 2300/78: Power split
- B60Y 2300/84: Differential locking
- B60Y 2400/73: Planetary gearings
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y10S 903/903: having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
- Y10S 903/91: Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
- Y10S 903/93: Conjoint control of different elements
- Y10S 903/945: Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
- 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
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- F16H: GEARING
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

In a method for controlling a vehicle with a drive system comprising an output shaft in a combustion engine, a planetary gear and a first and second electrical machine connected to the planetary gear, the turning off of the combustion engine is achieved when the vehicle is driven with the combustion engine running, and a transition to operation of the vehicle with the electrical machines is achieved by ensuring that the second electrical machine's rotor is connected with the combustion engine's output shaft, that injection of fuel into the combustion engine is interrupted and that the second electrical machines rotational speed is controlled towards and until a standstill, whereupon the combustion engine's output shaft is disconnected from the second electrical machine and the planetary gear.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a vehicle with a drive system, wherein the drive system comprises an output shaft in a combustion engine, a first electrical machine, comprising a stator and a rotor, a planetary gear comprising three components in the form of a sun wheel, a ring gear and a planetary wheel carrier, wherein the combustion engine's output shaft is connected with a first of said components in the planetary gear, so that a rotation of such shaft leads to a rotation of such first of said components, wherein an output shaft of the planetary gear is connected with a second of said components in the planetary gear, for transmission of torque for the propulsion of the vehicle, so that a rotation of such shaft leads to a rotation of such second of said components, and the electrical machine's rotor is connected with a third of said components in the planetary gear, so that a rotation of the rotor leads to a rotation of such third of said components, wherein the drive system also comprises a first locking means, which may be moved between a locked position in which two of said components are locked together so that the three components rotate with the same rotational speed, and a release position in which the components are allowed to rotate at different rotational speeds, wherein the control is implemented for a vehicle, whose drive system also comprises a second electrical machine with a stator and a rotor, connected with the output shaft of the combustion engine, between the combustion engine and said first component, and a second locking means, which may be moved between a locked position in which the combustion engine's output shaft is locked together with the second electrical machine's rotor and said first of said components, and a release position in which the combustion engine's output shaft is disconnected from the second electrical machine's rotor and said first of said components, and is allowed to rotate independently of these, and at least one electrical energy storage means for exchange of electric power with the first and second electrical machine, and
wherein the method comprises the following operations for turning off the combustion engine and transitioning to operation of the vehicle with the electrical machines while the vehicle is driven with the combustion engine running, said method comprising the steps of:
a) ensuring that the first locking means is in a release position;
b) controlling the first electrical machine to achieve, throughout the progress of the entire method, a requested torque for transmission to said output shaft of the planetary gear;
c) controlling the second electrical machine and the combustion engine towards and up to a synchronous rotational speed of the second electrical machine's rotor and the combustion engine's output shaft;
d) shifting of the second locking means to a locked position, when said synchronous rotational speed has been achieved;
e) ceasing injection of fuel into the combustion engine;
f) controlling the rotational speed of the second electrical machine, towards and until a standstill; and
g) moving the second locking means to the release position,
wherein the steps c) and d) are skipped, if the second locking means are in the locked position when the method is started.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
h) controlling the rotational speed of the second electrical machine towards and up to the rotational speed of the planetary gear's output shaft; and
i) moving the first locking means to a locked position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a gearbox with an input shaft, which is connected with said output shaft of the planetary gear.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein control of electric power to/from said electric energy storage means, and/or electrical auxiliary units and/or loads in the vehicle, is implemented through control of the second electrical machine in parallel with the performance of steps a)-e).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein said control of output takes place in order to achieve power balance, wherein a free selection occurs, within the general limitation specified for the drive system, of charge current to, or discharge current from said electrical energy storage means, and/or electrical auxiliary units and/or loads, in accordance with the prevailing operational situation of the vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the maintenance of power balance is temporarily waived where needed, when said control is carried out.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the planetary gear's sun wheel is said first component and its ring gear is said third component.

### Claim 8

A computer program product for controlling a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a drive system comprising an output shaft in a combustion engine, a first electrical machine, comprising a stator and a rotor, a planetary gear comprising three components in the form of a sun wheel, a ring gear and a planetary wheel carrier, wherein the combustion engine's output shaft is connected with a first of said components in the planetary gear, so that a rotation of such shaft leads to a rotation of such first of said components, wherein an output shaft of the planetary gear is connected with a second of said components in the planetary gear, for transmission of torque for the propulsion of the vehicle, so that a rotation of such shaft leads to a rotation of such second of said components, and the electrical machine's rotor is connected with a third of said components in the planetary gear, so that a rotation of the rotor leads to a rotation of such third of said components, wherein the drive system also comprises a first locking means, which may be moved between a locked position in which two of said components are locked together so that the three components rotate with the same rotational speed, and a release position in which the components are allowed to rotate at different rotational speeds, wherein the control is implemented for a vehicle, whose drive system also comprises a second electrical machine with a stator and a rotor, connected with the output shaft of the combustion engine, between the combustion engine and said first of said components, and a second locking means, which may be moved between a locked position in which the combustion engine's output shaft is locked together with the second electrical machine's rotor and said first component, and a release position in which the combustion engine's output shaft is disconnected from the second electrical machine's rotor and said first of said components, and is allowed to rotate independently of these, and at least one electrical energy storage means for exchange of electric power with the first and second electrical machine,
wherein the computer program product is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprises computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions configured to turn off the combustion engine and transition to operation of the vehicle with the electrical machines while the vehicle is driven with the combustion engine running, wherein the executable portion comprises computer code to cause an electronic processor to:
a) ensure that the first locking means is in a release position;
b) control the first electrical machine to achieve, throughout the progress of the entire method, a requested torque for transmission to said output shaft of the planetary gear;
c) control the second electrical machine and the combustion engine towards and up to a synchronous rotational speed of the second electrical machine's rotor and the combustion engine's output shaft;
d) shift the second locking means to a locked position, when said synchronous rotational speed has been achieved;
e) cease injection of fuel into the combustion engine;
f) control the rotational speed of the second electrical machine, towards and until a standstill; and
g) move the second locking means to the release position;
and wherein said wherein the executable portion comprises computer code to cause the electronic processor to skip the steps embodied in the executable portions in c) and d) if the second locking means are in the locked position when the method is started.

### Claim 9

An electronic control device for controlling a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a drive system comprising an output shaft in a combustion engine, a first electrical machine, comprising a stator and a rotor, a planetary gear comprising three components in the form of a sun wheel, a ring gear and a planetary wheel carrier, wherein the combustion engine's output shaft is connected with a first of said components in the planetary gear, so that a rotation of such shaft leads to a rotation of such first of said components, wherein an output shaft of the planetary gear is connected with a second of said components in the planetary gear, for transmission of torque for the propulsion of the vehicle, so that a rotation of such shaft leads to a rotation of such second of said components, and the electrical machine's rotor is connected with a third of said components in the planetary gear, so that a rotation of the rotor leads to a rotation of such third of said components, wherein the drive system also comprises a first locking means, which may be moved between a locked position in which two of said components are locked together so that the three components rotate with the same rotational speed, and a release position in which the components are allowed to rotate at different rotational speeds, wherein the control is implemented for a vehicle, whose drive system also comprises a second electrical machine with a stator and a rotor, connected with the output shaft of the combustion engine, between the combustion engine and said first of said components, and a second locking means, which may be moved between a locked position in which the combustion engine's output shaft is locked together with the second electrical machine's rotor and said first component, and a release position in which the combustion engine's output shaft is disconnected from the second electrical machine's rotor and said first of said components, and is allowed to rotate independently of these, and at least one electrical energy storage means for exchange of electric power with the first and second electrical machine,
wherein said electronic device comprises:
a storage device;
an electronic processor operatively coupled to the storage device; and
a computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium on the storage device and comprising computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions configured to turn off the combustion engine and transition to operation of the vehicle with the electrical machines while the vehicle is driven with the combustion engine running, wherein the executable portion comprises computer code to cause an electronic processor to:
a) ensure that the first locking means is in a release position;
b) control the first electrical machine to achieve, throughout the progress of the entire method, a requested torque for transmission to said output shaft of the planetary gear;
c) control the second electrical machine and the combustion engine towards and up to a synchronous rotational speed of the second electrical machine's rotor and the combustion engine's output shaft;
d) shift the second locking means to a locked position, when said synchronous rotational speed has been achieved;
e) cease injection of fuel into the combustion engine;
f) control the rotational speed of the second electrical machine, towards and until a standstill; and
g) move the second locking means to the release position;
and wherein said executable portion comprises computer code to cause the electronic processor to skip the steps embodied in the executable portions in c) and d) if the second locking means are in the locked position when the method is started.