Patent Publication Number: US-2003221884-A1

Title: Hybrid power driving apparatus and its controlling method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention is a hybrid power driving apparatus and its controlling method. More specifically, the invention involves different types of power sources working in conjunction to power a motor vehicle; but in situation when plural power sources is not necessary, the invention can still power the vehicle with just one of its sources, saving energy.  
       [0003] 2. Background of the Invention  
       [0004] In recent years, as rapid development of the human race is entering a stage of convenient, civilized lifestyle, the price we pay is far greater than what we could have imagined. Not only are we endangering the lives of everyone on this planet, but also the planet itself and all other life forms living on it. As a more recent example, the hole in the ozonosphere, caused by none else but humanity, is causing some serious problems worldwide, such as global warming and the various forms of pollution. The phenomenal increase of temperatures and strange occurrences, like snow falling in June, all result from our own selfish wants. In conclusion, if we do not address these problems soon, the future of the human race lies on the path to destruction.  
       [0005] According to current studies, the main source of pollution is mostly from automobiles and other transportation vehicles. Through the mobility of transportation vehicles, pollution inherits its mobility and is able to contaminate every corner of our planet. On land, cars, motorcycles, and other land transportation vehicles emit harmful gases in every city. In the air, airplanes spread their pollutants through the air, onto land, and into the sea. By sea, vessels empty their waste products directly into the ocean, contaminating the aquatic environment. This kind of “3-dimensional” pollution intensifies the contamination already present from stationary units. Therefore, if there is a much more environment-friendly energy solution or a way to minimize fuel consumption without sacrificing efficiency, then we should most certainly consider it. In the last 20 years, an environmental awareness gradually took shape; scientists and biologists alike strive on a path to advance development without doing further damage to our environment. With the invention of the electric vehicle, the use of solar power, and the development of anthracite technology, we are well on our way towards a greener future.  
       [0006] Looking back at prior arts, we only have a single source of power, which is evident in all of the following: diesel engines, gasoline engines, solar-powered systems, electric-powered systems, etc. Some of these systems are very efficient and durable, but lack an environmental concept; some are very clean, but inefficient. For example, electric automobiles and solar-powered automobiles both have very low emissions, but their energy potentials and efficiencies have technical limitations. As implied above, using only one form of power source will not work; therefore, the new technology and design of combining two different types of power sources is developed after thorough research. With this design, not only can the vehicle reach its required efficiency and durability, but it also possesses an environmental standpoint. This new idea and design is the core feature of this invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The main objective of this invention is to save energy by using the traditional internal combustion engine and the electric motor together or alone under different circumstances. With the advantage of having two power sources, it can use its two power sources together, just the electric motor, or just the internal combustion engine to achieve the greatest efficiency and to save the most energy.  
       [0008] The secondary objective is to reduce emissions of the propulsion system in order to protect the environment. When only the electric motor is used or only the internal combustion engine is running at high efficiency, there will be less pollution released by the vehicle. In fact, if the majority of automobiles switch to a hybrid power source system, the amount of pollution emitted per year will decrease drastically and the preservation of the environment will become easier.  
       [0009] This energy-saving, low-emission hybrid propulsion system that uses both electric motor and combustion engine has the following features: the engine does not necessarily need to be in idle running when the vehicle is temporarily stopped, energy may be retrieved when applying the brakes, reduces the amount of time the engine is running at low speed and/or low loading conditions, the electric motor assists the propulsion system to achieve the maximum acceleration. These features effectively save the motor vehicle&#39;s energy and greatly reduce pollution to protect our environment. 
     
    
    
     [0010] To approach aforesaid objectives, please refer to following figures for more detail.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a scheme of a system structure of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a scheme of a related hardware structure of the method for the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a scheme of internal controlling functions of a system controlling apparatus for the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 to FIG. 19 are preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0016] The present invention is a hybrid power driving apparatus and its controlling method, and it is to cooperate a traditional fuel device and system with an electric power system becoming a hybrid power structure with multi-function, high efficiency and high performance.  
     [0017] Referring to FIG. 1, which is a scheme of a system structure of the present invention; a plurality of wheels  700  and a differential mechanism  600  show positions relative to a layout in a vehicle, and the wheels can be a pair of front wheels or rear wheels, because the present invention suits both situations of front wheel driving and rear wheel driving, the present invention adopts a way of combining a plurality of power sources to drive a vehicle, the power sources are as following: electric power, fuel, solar energy, etc., the present invention is to join electric power and fuel together to form a type of hybrid power; hence a single power source can also be applied when not using both power sources, the present invention comprises: at least one controlling system apparatus  100 , which controls coordinating actions among components of the present invention; at least one electric driving apparatus  200 , which is a first driving source of the present invention and driven by electric power, generally the electric driving apparatus  200  is a motor, and further including a controlling motor unit  210  for being as a middle role to let the controlling system apparatus  100  handling electric driving apparatus  200 ; at least one fuel driving apparatus  400 , which is a second driving source of the present invention and driven by fuel, the fuel can be one of following: gasoline, diesel oil, etc., the fuel driving apparatus  400  is normally an engine, further including a controlling engine unit  410  for controlling system apparatus  100  handling fuel driving apparatus  400 ; at least one auto-control clutch apparatus  300 , which handles clutching actions between fuel driving apparatus  400  and electric driving apparatus  200 , namely the auto-control clutch apparatus  300  is in between fuel driving apparatus  400  and electric driving apparatus  200  to separate and combine both of them, auto-control clutch apparatus  300  further includes an auto-control clutch  310  and a continuous variable transmission  320 , the auto-control clutch  310  departs and combines fuel driving apparatus  400  and electric driving apparatus  200  for parallel connection driving, the continuous variable transmission  320  and electric driving apparatus  200  are always combined together of a mechanism, fuel driving apparatus  400  and auto-control clutch  310  of auto-control clutch apparatus  300  are always departed of a mechanism, which is driven by auto-control clutch apparatus  300  for combining, that is when vehicle needs more power, auto-control clutch apparatus  300  is able to connect with fuel driving apparatus  400  in parallel connection immediately for adding more power, and vise versa, furthermore fuel driving apparatus  400  is with a feature of fast starting as well; at least one integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , which connects to fuel driving apparatus  400 , and thus the integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , fuel driving apparatus  400  and auto-control clutch apparatus  300  are connected in series, integrated power assistant apparatus  500  further includes a starting generator  510 , a multi-stage power switch unit  520  and a controlling battery unit  530 , a condition of not having enough power and fuel driving apparatus  400  is added to supply more power, fuel driving apparatus  400  is fast started by the starting generator  510 , after fuel driving apparatus  400  being started, integrated power assistant apparatus  500  is then changed its role as a generator by multi-stage power switch unit  520  for sharing running loading of fuel driving apparatus  400 , on the other hand, if further power is still needed, integrated power assistant apparatus  500  immediately switches to a role of auxiliary power via multi-stage power switch unit  520 , besides, integrated power assistant apparatus  500  starts fuel driving apparatus  400  by means of the controlling battery unit  530  for offering electric power and cooperates with multi-stage power switch unit  520  to reclaim spare electric power from fuel driving apparatus  400  when fuel driving apparatus  400  is in normal operation.  
     [0018] Referring to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart of a method of the present invention; the present invention adopts the way of combining a plurality of power sources to drive a vehicle, the power sources are as following: electric power, fuel, solar energy, etc., and its method comprises following steps:  
     [0019] step 1: a plurality of message receiving and dispatching apparatuses  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  (refer to FIG. 3) receive plural related messages, which including conditions of neat status, gradient status, loading, etc. of road;  
     [0020] step 2: the plural messages are transferred and recorded to related plural controlling apparatus, and the plural controlling apparatus record some other messages relative to the plural messages, wherein, the plural controlling apparatuses include the controlling engine unit  410 , handling fuel driving apparatus  400 , multi-stage power switch unit  520 , handling integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , controlling motor unit  210 , handling electric driving apparatus  200 , and controlling battery unit  530 , handling integrated power assistant apparatus  500 ;  
     [0021] step 3: the plural controlling apparatus transmit messages to controlling system apparatus  100 , which internal software executes following functions (refer to FIG. 4): message acquirement  80 , message communication  81 , controlling system derivation  82 , plural instruments&#39; messages recording  83  and messages judgments  84 , wherein, the controlling system derivation  82  is capable to execute plural power sources combining modes selections  821  and plural power sources operation conditions judgments  822  depending on external conditions of vehicles;  
     [0022] step 4: controlling system apparatus  100  reads and handles messages;  
     [0023] step 5: the messages, read and handled by controlling system apparatus  100 , is transformed to instructions, which are transferred to their relative controlling apparatuses as well;  
     [0024] step 6: the relative controlling apparatuses compare the transformed and transferred instructions with the plural messages in step 2, if not, then moving to next step, if yes, then moving to step 8;  
     [0025] step 7: adjusting the instructions for equivalent of instructions and messages, then going to step 1;  
     [0026] step 8: the instructions are thus delivered to message receiving and dispatching apparatuses  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23 ;  
     [0027] step 9: message receiving and dispatching apparatuses  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  send the instructions out to relative apparatuses for execution, the relative apparatuses include electric driving apparatus  200 , fuel driving apparatus  400  and integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , wherein, electric driving apparatus  200  can be a motor, fuel driving apparatus  400  can be an engine, integrated power assistant apparatus  500  further includes starting generator  510 , multi-stage power switch unit  520  and controlling battery unit  530 , auto-control clutch  310  separates and combines electric driving apparatus  200  and fuel driving apparatus  400  for driving in parallel connection, hence the hybrid driving method of the present invention is achieved via motions of the apparatuses.  
     [0028] Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a scheme of a related hardware structure of the method for the present invention; from bottom of the FIG. 3, each message is acquired by related message receiving and dispatching apparatuses, such as message receiving and dispatching apparatuses  20  to  23 , received messages are sent to related controlling apparatuses by means of a controlling CAN bus  50 , for instance, the related controlling apparatuses are as controlling engine unit  410 , multi-stage power switch unit  520 , controlling motor unit  210  and controlling battery unit  530 , and aforesaid apparatuses record the received messages simultaneously, continuously, messages are conveyed to controlling system apparatus  100  via controlling CAN bus  50 , and controlling system apparatus  100  can read and control those messages for transforming to instructions, again the instructions, transformed messages, are relocated to controlling engine unit  410 , multi-stage power switch unit  520 , controlling motor unit  210  and controlling battery unit  530 , the controlling units compare the previously recording messages with the instructions transferred from serial communication interfaces  34 ,  35 ,  36  and  37  to a collating tool  30 , plural diagnosis tools  31 ,  32  and  33 , if so, instructions are brought to message receiving and dispatching apparatus  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23 , finally instructions are collected and consulted by controlling system apparatus  100  for coordinating complicate motions, if not, then instructions must be adjusted for equivalent of instructions and messages and go back to their related message receiving and dispatching apparatuses for resending new instructions.  
     [0029] Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a scheme of internal controlling functions of a system controlling apparatus for the present invention; and there are a plurality of function block diagrams  80 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  and  84  showing different functions, function block diagram  80  in controlling system apparatus  100  is to acquire messages from controlling CAN bus  50 , function block diagram  81  in controlling system apparatus  100  is to communicate delivered messages, function block diagram  82  in controlling system apparatus  100  is to derive system control, and motions of derivation include function block diagram  821  of plural power sources combining modes selections and function block diagram  822  of plural power sources operation conditions judgments, function block diagram  83  in controlling system apparatus  100  is to record plural instruments&#39; messages, thus after integrating aforesaid functions, cooperation of software and hardware is then completed.  
     [0030] Please refer to FIGS.  5  to  15 , which are preferred embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 5 shows only electric driving apparatus  200  executes driving motion, meanwhile fuel driving apparatus  400  does not connect to auto-control clutch apparatus  300  yet, rotation rate range is between 0 and 6000 rpm for electric driving apparatus  200 , an arrow means the driving motion is activated by electric driving apparatus  200 ; FIG. 6 shows also electric driving apparatus  200  executes driving motion but under conditions of starting move and slow speed of vehicle, rotation rate range is between 0 and 4500 rpm for electric driving apparatus  200 , an arrow means the driving motion is activated by electric driving apparatus  200 ; FIG. 7 shows electric driving apparatus  200  connects to fuel driving apparatus  400  in parallel via auto-control clutch apparatus  300  for driving under conditions of middle/low speed and general loading, simultaneously running loading in high efficiency area of fuel driving apparatus  400  can be adjusted by means of integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , rotation rate range for fuel driving apparatus  400  is between 0 and 4500 rpm, two arrows mean driving motion is driven by electric driving apparatus  200  and fuel driving apparatus  400 ; FIG. 8 shows fuel driving apparatus  400  executes driving motion under conditions of high speed and general loading, meanwhile running loading in high efficiency area of fuel driving apparatus  400  can be adjusted by means of integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , rotation rate range for fuel driving apparatus  400  is between 0 and 4500 rpm, an arrow means driving motion is driven by fuel driving apparatus  400 ; FIG. 9 shows fuel driving apparatus  400  executes driving motion under conditions of high speed and heavy loading, meanwhile integrated power assistant apparatus  500  can approach power assistant, and its rotation rate range is between 0 to 4500 rpm, two arrows mean driving motion is driven by fuel driving apparatus  400  and power assistant is from integrated power assistant apparatus  500 ; FIG. 10 shows fuel driving apparatus  400  cooperates with electric driving apparatus  200  in parallel under conditions of middle speed and heavy loading, meanwhile maximum power output can be approached via integrated power assistant apparatus  500 , and rotation rate is between 0 to 4500 rpm, three arrows mean fuel driving apparatus  400  adds electric driving apparatus  200  and integrated power assistant apparatus  500  up for driving motion; FIG. 11 shows a condition of a battery (not shown in figure) in integrated power assistant apparatus  500  is low energy respectively, and electric driving apparatus  200  is in motion of brake, kinetic energy is transformed to electric energy at first moment, incessantly the electric energy is capable to be recharged back to the battery, arrow means electric driving apparatus  200  are enhanced reverse driving by brake; FIG. 12 shows a condition of a battery (not shown in figure) in integrated power assistant apparatus  500  is low energy respectively, and electric driving apparatus  200  is in motion of brake, kinetic energy is transformed to electric energy, incessantly the electric energy is capable to be recharged back to the battery, then internal combustion engine apparatus  400  helps to execute engine brake for maximum brake assistant, rotation rate range is between 0 to 4500 rpm, two arrows mean electric driving apparatus  200  and fuel driving apparatus  400  engage reverse driving and energy recharged back to battery; FIG. 13 shows high energy in battery is because of engine brake recharging, rotation rate range is between 0 and 4500 rpm, arrow means electric power being recharged back to battery via engine brake; FIG. 14 shows electric driving apparatus  200  voluntarily executes reverse driving to move back vehicle, rotation rate range is between 0 and 4500 rpm, arrow means reverse driving and vehicle moving of electric driving apparatus  200 ; FIG. 15 shows fuel driving apparatus  400  can attach an external power source  150  to start fuel driving apparatus  400  for generating power in high rotation rate under condition of battery being without any power; FIG. 16 shows electric driving apparatus  200  combines fuel driving apparatus  400  and integrated power assistant apparatus  500  to produce maximum climbing power under condition of initial climbing, rotation rate range is between 0 and 6000 rpm, three arrows mean power cooperation of electric driving apparatus  200 , fuel driving apparatus  400  and integrated power assistant apparatus  500 .  
     [0031] The present invention which system construction has several extensional embodiments depending on different types of power source cooperation:  
     [0032] 1. referring to FIG. 17, moving electric driving apparatus  200  and auto-control clutch  310  of auto-control clutch apparatus  300  to a rear axis of continuous variable transmission  320 , at the embodiment, motor must be with higher torque and running area.  
     [0033] 2. referring to FIG. 18, moving auto-control clutch  310  of auto-control clutch apparatus  300  to a rear axis of continuous variable transmission  320 , and repositioning electric driving apparatus  200  to a hub of wheels  700 , same, motor must be with higher torque and running area.  
     [0034] 3. referring to FIG. 19, and if there is a space frame for power sources&#39; cooperation, starting generator  510  of integrated power assistant apparatus  500  may shift to outside and be driven by a belt  540 .  
     [0035] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, and in terms of the illustrative drawings, it should be not considered as limited thereby. Thus, the present invention is infinitely used. However, various possible modification, omission, and alterations could be conceived of by one skilled in the art to the form and the content of any particular embodiment, without departing from the scope and the sprit of the present invention.  
     [0036] The invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only the scope of the appended claims and its equivalent area.