Methods and systems for conditionally entering a driveline sailing mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9610935-B2
Application number	US-201514686498-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	May 4, 2012
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline may selectively enter a sailing mode to provide quick driveline torque response with reduced impact on fuel economy.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A driveline operating method, comprising:
providing torque to a driveline coupled to vehicle wheels via an engine and a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG);
entering a sailing mode during select conditions, the sailing mode including providing DISG torque to the driveline and idling the engine without providing engine torque to the driveline; and
adjusting a driveline disconnect clutch responsive to the sailing mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the engine is a direct fuel injection engine, and wherein the disconnect clutch is coupled between the engine and the DISG.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising stopping the engine; and closing the disconnect clutch to rotate and start the engine.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising stopping the engine; and starting the engine based on a battery state of charge.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a torque converter clutch slip during the sailing mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting the engine torque responsive to the sailing mode when adjusting the torque converter clutch slip.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the engine is idled at a sailing mode idle speed that is a lower idle speed than a base idle speed when the engine is coupled to the DISG.

8. A driveline operating method, comprising:
providing torque to a driveline coupled to vehicle wheels via an engine and a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG);
entering a sailing mode during select conditions, the sailing mode including providing DISG torque to the driveline and idling the engine without providing engine torque to the driveline;
advancing spark timing and reducing an engine air amount in response to entering the sailing mode; and
during hill holding operation, tying up a transmission output of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting a disconnect clutch between the engine and the DISG based on the sailing mode, where the select conditions include where a catalyst temperature is less than a threshold temperature and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

10. The method of claim 8 , where the select conditions include where a fuel vapor canister is storing more than a threshold amount of fuel vapor and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

11. The method of claim 8 , where the select conditions include where a vacuum level is less than a threshold vacuum and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

12. The method of claim 8 , where the select conditions include where an engine coolant temperature is less than a threshold temperature and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

13. The method of claim 8 , where the select conditions include where a driver has selected a sport driving mode and where an energy storage device state of charge is equal to or greater than a threshold state of charge.

14. The method of claim 8 , where the engine is idled at a sailing mode idle speed that is a lower idle speed than a base idle speed when the engine is coupled to the DISG.

15. A vehicle system, comprising:
a direct injection engine;
a dual mass flywheel including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;
a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;
a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) including a first side coupled to a second side of the driveline disconnect clutch;
a transmission selectively coupled to the engine via the driveline disconnect clutch; and
a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to enter a sailing mode during select conditions with the disconnect clutch open, where the engine is operated at a sailing mode idle speed without providing engine torque to the transmission and where DISG torque is provided to the transmission, where the select conditions include a battery state of charge being equal to or greater than a threshold battery charge.

16. The vehicle system of claim 15 , further comprising additional instructions to purge fuel vapors during the sailing mode.

17. The vehicle system of claim 15 , further comprising additional instructions to generate vacuum during the sailing mode.

18. The vehicle system of claim 15 , further comprising additional instructions to increase catalyst temperature during the sailing mode.

19. The vehicle system of claim 15 , further comprising additional instructions to increase engine temperature during the sailing mode.

20. The vehicle system of claim 15 , where the threshold battery charge is a rated battery charge.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Reed Dennis Craig
• Gibson Alex O'Connor
• Doering Jeffrey Allen
• Banker Adam Nathan
• Lee Seung-Hoon

Classifications

• F02D41/0032

  Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions · CPC title

• B60W2030/1809

  Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral · CPC title

• B60W10/06

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title

• B60W20/00

  Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} · CPC title

• B60W10/02 Primary

  including control of driveline clutches · CPC title