Patent ID: 8469859
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F16D,F16H,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle comprising: power supplying elements including at least a first electric motor, a second electric motor, and an internal combustion engine; a power transmission mechanism comprising a plurality of rotational elements which can mutually perform differential rotation and which includes a first rotational element coupled with the first electric motor, a second rotational element coupled with the second electric motor, and a third rotational element coupled with the internal combustion engine, the power transmission mechanism performing power transmission between a drive shaft coupled with an axle and the power supplying elements in accordance with a power transmission mode determined in accordance with a state of each of the plurality of rotational elements; and an engaging mechanism comprising a first engaging element coupled with a locked element as one of the plurality of rotational elements, a second engaging element which is opposed to and can engage with the first engaging element and which is coupled with a fixed element which cannot rotate or a locking element as one rotational element other than the locked element of the plurality of rotational elements, and a driving device capable of driving the first or second engaging element in a direction opposed to the second or first engaging element, respectively, the engaging mechanism capable of changing the state of the locked element between (1) a lock state in which the locked element engages with the locking element and which is realized by eliminating play formed between the first and second engaging elements in their rotational direction to bring the first and second engaging elements into contact in the rotational direction in a situation in which the first and second engaging elements are coupled with the locked element and the locking element and (2) a release state in which the locked element is released from the locking element, said control apparatus comprising: a first controlling device for controlling one power supplying element corresponding to the locked element out of the power supplying elements such that the locked element and the locking element are in a rotation synchronous state in response to a locking request to transfer the locked element to the lock state; a second controlling device for controlling the driving device such that the first or second engaging element is driven in the opposed direction to form the play if the locked element and the locking element are in the rotation synchronous state; and a third controlling device for controlling the one power supplying element such that the first engaging element rotates in a direction of eliminating the formed play in a situation in which the play is formed and such that an impulse when the first engaging element comes into contact with the second engaging element is reduced.