Multi-wheel drive hybrid vehicle with multi-mode functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023365120-A1
Application number	US-202118018955-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 25, 2021
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Nov 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosures relate to methods and systems for a hybrid powertrain. The hybrid powertrain system includes an integrated axle configured to provide mechanical power to a first pair of wheels, the integrated axle comprising a first motor-generator and a first drive axle such that the first motor-generator and at least a portion of the first drive axle are mechanically coupled to a common housing. The system also includes a second motor-generator configured to be mechanically coupled with an engine via a first clutch and mechanically coupled with a second drive axle via a second clutch, the second drive axle mechanically coupled with a second pair of wheels. A controller is electrically coupled with the first and second motor-generators, the engine, and the first and second clutches, the controller configured to enable a fully electric mode, a series hybrid mode, a parallel hybrid mode, and a regenerative mode of operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hybrid powertrain system comprising:
an integrated axle configured to provide mechanical power to a first pair of wheels, the integrated axle comprising a first motor-generator and a first drive axle such that the first motor-generator and at least a portion of the first drive axle are mechanically coupled to a common housing; a second motor-generator configured to be mechanically coupled with an engine via a first clutch and mechanically coupled with a second drive axle via a second clutch, the second drive axle mechanically coupled with a second pair of wheels; and a controller electrically coupled with the first and second motor-generators, the engine, and the first and second clutches, the controller configured to enable a fully electric mode, a series hybrid mode, a parallel hybrid mode, and a regenerative mode of operation.

2 . The hybrid system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of sensors, a user interface, and a global positioning system (GPS) electrically coupled with the controller, wherein the controller comprises a mode determination module configured to determine which of the modes to activate based on input data obtained from the plurality of sensors, the user interface, and the GPS.

3 . The hybrid system of claim 2 , the controller configured to:
obtain the input data from the sensors, the user interface, and the GPS; determine a mode in which to operate the hybrid system; engage or disengage at least one of the first or second clutch in response to the determination; and activate or deactivate at least one of the first motor-generator, the second motor-generator, or the engine in response to the determination.

4 . The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to enable an advanced fully electric mode that provides greater driving power than the fully electric mode, an advanced parallel hybrid mode that provides greater driving power than the parallel hybrid mode, and an advanced regenerative mode that provides greater braking power than the regenerative mode.

5 . The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid system is implemented in a transmission-less hybrid vehicle in which the engine is configured to provide mechanical power to the second drive axle when the hybrid vehicle is operating within a predetermined revolutions-per-minute (RPM) threshold range.

6 . The hybrid system of claim 5 , further comprising a third pair of wheels mechanically coupled with a second integrated axle.

7 . The hybrid system of claim 6 , further comprising a fourth pair of wheels.

8 . The hybrid system of claim 6 , the second integrated axle comprising a third motor-generator coupled with a third drive axle.

9 . The hybrid system of claim 7 , wherein the regenerative mode of operation enables regenerative braking on the first, second, and third drive axles.

10 . The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine (ICE) such that the ICE and the second motor-generator form an integrated ICE that is mechanically coupled to the common housing.

11 . The hybrid system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chassis connecting the first and second pairs of wheels, the chassis comprising two side frame rails each connecting the first pair of wheels with the second pair of wheels, and a battery disposed in a space between the two side frame rails and electrically coupled with the first and second motor-generators.

12 . The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the regenerative mode of operation enables regenerative braking on both the first and second drive axles.

13 . A controller for a hybrid vehicle powertrain system, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive data signals from one or more of: sensors, user interface, or global positioning system (GPS); a mode determination module configured to determine whether to enable a fully electric mode, a series hybrid mode, a parallel hybrid mode, or a regenerative mode of operation based on the received data signals; and a transmitter configured to transmit, based on the determination, control signals to:
an integrated axle configured to provide mechanical power to a first pair of wheels, the integrated axle comprising a first motor-generator and a first drive axle such that the first motor-generator and at least a portion of the first drive axle are mechanically coupled to a common housing, and
an engine, a first clutch, a second clutch, and a second motor-generator configured to be mechanically coupled with the engine via the first clutch and mechanically coupled with a second drive axle via the second clutch, the second drive axle mechanically coupled with a second pair of wheels.

14 . The controller of claim 13 , wherein the control signals are configured to:
engage or disengage at least one of the first or second clutch in response to the determination; and activate or deactivate at least one of the first motor-generator, the second motor-generator, or the engine in response to the determination.

15 . The controller of claim 13 , the mode determination module further configured to determine whether to enable an advanced fully electric mode that provides greater driving power than the fully electric mode, an advanced parallel hybrid mode that provides greater driving power than the parallel hybrid mode, or an advanced regenerative mode that provides greater braking power than the regenerative mode.

16 . A method of powering a powertrain system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
receiving, by a receiver, data signals from one or more of: sensors, user interface, or global positioning system (GPS); determining, by a mode determination module based on the received data signals, whether to enable one of the following modes: a fully electric mode, a series hybrid mode, a parallel hybrid mode, or a regenerative mode of operation; and transmitting, by a transmitter based on the determined mode, control signals to at least one of: an integrated axle, an engine, a first clutch, a second clutch, or a second motor-generator, the integrated axle configured to provide mechanical power to a first pair of wheels, the integrated axle comprising a first motor-generator and a first drive axle such that the first motor-generator and at least a portion of the first drive axle are mechanically coupled to a common housing, and the second motor-generator configured to be mechanically coupled with the engine via the first clutch and mechanically coupled with a second drive axle via the second clutch, the second drive axle mechanically coupled with a second pair of wheels.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein transmitting the control signals further comprise:
engaging or disengaging at least one of the first or second clutch in response to the determination; and activating or deactivating at least one of the first motor-generator, the second motor-generator, or the engine in response to the determination.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining, by the mode determination module based on the received data signals, whether to enable: an advanced fully electric mode that provides greater driving power than the fully electric mode, an advanced parallel hybrid mode that provides greater driving power than the parallel hybrid mode, or an advanced regenerative mode that provides greater braking power than the regenerative mode.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Ramakrishnan Kesavan
• Narula Manik

Classifications

• B60W20/20 Primary

  Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration · CPC title

• B60W20/14

  in conjunction with braking regeneration · CPC title

• B60W10/02

  including control of driveline clutches · CPC title

• B60W30/18127

  Regenerative braking · CPC title

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title