Patent ID: 6376927
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F16H,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
A fuel management control method for a hybrid electric vehicle drive having a transmission with gear settings, an internal combustion engine and an electric motor arranged in parallel such that both can propel the vehicle; the system including an electric motor driven fuel pump and a programmable microprocessor the method comprising the steps of monitoring vehicle speed;sensing braking pressure; shutting-off fuel flow to the gas engine in response to vehicle braking at predetermined vehicle speeds and gear settings and maintaining the fuel shut off during vehicle coasting while controlling the electric motor to provide either engine starting or regenerative braking depending upon the vehicle speed; and a torque converter having a mechanical one-way clutch connected between the pump and turbine of the torque converter that free wheels in the input drive direction so that the engine can be started by the electric motor and wherein the one-way clutch locks to directly connect the torque converter turbine and impeller during any back drive produced during vehicle coasting to prevent engine stall.