Patent ID: 8645042
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A hybrid powertrain including: a combustion engine; an electric machine arrangement; a gearbox operable to receive rotational power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement, the gearbox being operable to provide motive power to a load; a control unit coupled in communication with the combustion engine, the electric machine arrangement and the gearbox for controlling their operation; wherein the powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state, the combustion engine requiring to be cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state; wherein application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with the gearbox being engaged to couple motive power to the load of the powertrain; wherein one or more of rotational shafts of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement are provided with one or more sensors for determining a measure of torque coupled to the combustion engine when cranking the combustion engine and causing it to be activated, such measure of torque being processed using a torque simulation of the powertrain executed in operation on computing hardware of the control unit for providing control of the electric machine arrangement for at least partially compensating any abrupt changes in torque occurring in the powertrain; and wherein application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially termporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.