Patent application EP18162979A (EP), filed 2018-03-20
Publication number: EP3378719A1
Title: METHOD OF THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OF A HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Abstract: A method of thermal management of an internal combustion engine of a hybrid propulsion system comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor-generator connected to a transmission, the method, in cold-start conditions of the internal combustion engine, comprises at least the following steps: acquiring and modifying a nominal torque curve (NT) of the internal combustion engine to obtain a limited torque curve (LT), distinct from said nominal torque curve (NT); controlling said electric motor-generator so as to provide a resistant torque, to said internal combustion engine, complementary to a required torque (UT), so that a total torque value supplied by the internal combustion engine belongs to said limited torque curve (LT).
IPC codes: B60W  10/    06            A I
B60W  10/    08            A I
B60W  20/    11            A I
B60W  20/    15            A I
B60W  20/    16            A I
B60W  30/   192            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: A method of thermal management of an internal combustion engine of a hybrid propulsion system comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor-generator connected to a transmission, the method, in cold-start conditions of the internal combustion engine, comprises at least the following steps:
number: 2
text: The method according to claim 1, wherein said limited torque curve is variable as a function of an operating condition of said internal combustion engine.
number: 3
text: The method according to claim 2, wherein said limited torque curve is a function of a temperature of a lubricating oil of said internal combustion engine and optionally also of a respective pressure.
number: 4
text: The method according to claim 3, wherein said oil pressure is measured downstream and at a remote point from a main gallery of a lubrication circuit of the internal combustion engine, for example, at the crankcase of a turbine turbocharger assembly of the internal combustion engine.
number: 5
text: The method according to one of claims from 2 to 4, wherein said limited torque curve (LT) is obtained from said nominal torque curve as follows:
number: 6
text: The method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising, prior to a start of the internal combustion engine, a procedure to verify that a sufficient capacity is provided in the vehicular batteries so as to store power produced by said electric motor-generator during said thermal management to provide said resistant torque to the internal combustion engine.
number: 7
text: The method according to claim 6, wherein said verification procedure comprises the following preliminary steps:
number: 8
text: The method according to claim 7, wherein said estimate of the energy produced by the electric motor-generator is a function both of the initial temperature of the engine oil and of the energy required for propulsion.
number: 9
text: The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said energy required is estimated on the basis of a statistical value of a requested torque.
number: 10
text: The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control of said electric motor-generator to provide resistant torque to the internal combustion engine is obtained when a position of a vehicular accelerator pedal is considered stable and interrupted when said position is varied.
number: 11
text: A computer program comprising program encoding means adapted to perform all the steps of any one of the claims from 1 to 10, when said program is run on a computer.
number: 12
text: A computer-readable means comprising a recorded program, said computer-readable means comprising program encoding means adapted to perform all the steps of any one of the claims from 1 to 10, when said program is run on a computer.
number: 13
text: A hybrid propulsion system comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor-generator connected to a transmission wherein, in the cold-start conditions of the internal combustion engine, the system is configured to perform at least the following steps:
number: 14
text: The system according to claim 13, wherein said limited torque curve is variable as a function of at least one operating condition of said internal combustion engine.
Office action: search_report, dated 2018-09-26
Rejection reasons: novelty_epc_54
Prior art cited: ref_id: US2006213186A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: WO2014070086A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP1182074A2
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP2907716A2
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: DE102006051832A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: DE102015204090B3
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP1182074
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: DE102006051832
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: WO2014070086
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: EP2907716
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: DE102015204090
ref_type: patent
severity: background
Final disposition: pending (2018-09-26)