Patent ID: 8036798
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F16H,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including a continuously-variable transmission portion operable as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission and having a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first electric motor and a power transmitting member, a second electric motor configured to transmit power to a drive wheel and to receive power from the drive wheel, and a differential limiting device provided in said differential mechanism and operable to limit a differential function of the differential mechanism, for limiting an operation of said continuously-variable transmission portion as the electrically controlled continuously variable transmission, said control apparatus comprising: electric-energy restriction control means for placing said differential mechanism in a non-differential state or a partially power transmitting state, when the amount of the electric energy transmitted through the continuously-variable transmission portion operating as the electrically controlled continuously variable transmission has increased to a predetermined thermal limit.