Patent ID: 6318486
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F16D,Y02T,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A hybrid vehicle including:an engine for generating a vehicle driving energy;a clutch for making and breaking the transfer of a mechanical force between said engine and wheels;a generator which is driven by said engine to generate electric power;an electric energy storage means for storing a generated output of said generator;a motor which generates a mechanical driving force and a braking force for the wheels through input and output of energy in said electric energy storage means; anda controller for controlling operation of said engine, said clutch, said generator, and said motor and for selectively operating the motor and the engine in either a series mode, a parallel mode, or both a series mode and a parallel mode of hybrid vehicle operation of the vehicle,wherein clutch trouble detecting means for detecting a condition indicative of trouble in said clutch is provided, and when said clutch trouble detecting means has detected a trouble in the clutch, said controller controls an operation of said clutch by operating said motor and said engine only in a series mode in which the clutch is disengaged and the wheels are driven or braked mechanically only by said motor.