JPH06165309A - Hybrid type electric motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The engine is maintained in good condition by running it once during running after stopping the engine for a predetermined time. [Constitution] In a hybrid electric vehicle that travels with the rotational energy of a motor 5 and charges a battery 3 from a generator 2 coupled to an engine 1, a timer 9 that measures the stop time of the engine 1 and a measurement time of the timer 9. And a means 8 for starting the engine at the time of the next running when the value exceeds a certain value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a hybrid electric vehicle in which a battery-powered motor is used as a driving power source and a battery is charged by a generator coupled to an engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a hybrid electric vehicle equipped with a motor that is rotated by battery power and a generator driven by an engine, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-185204 is known.

This adopts a motor as a driving power source,
It is an electric vehicle that runs by rotating the motor with the electric current supplied from the battery via the controller.However, a generator connected to the engine is installed on the vehicle, and the engine is operated as necessary to generate electricity. It is configured to operate the machine to charge the battery.

[0004]

By the way, in such a hybrid electric vehicle, the battery can be charged not only by a generator mounted on the vehicle but also at home or in a dedicated charging station. It is also conceivable to replace the battery itself with a charged one.

However, if the energy supply from the outside or the battery replacement is routinely performed in this way, there is a high possibility that the engine will not be operated for a long period of time, and as a result, the engine will not be operated. It will be difficult to maintain good condition. In addition, when some trouble occurs in the engine, it becomes late to notice the fact.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow an engine to be operated at least once in a fixed period in a hybrid electric vehicle.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a motor for driving power, a battery for supplying electric power to the motor, a generator for charging the battery, and an engine for rotationally driving the generator. In a hybrid electric vehicle that drives the engine to charge the battery from the generator in response to a decrease in the amount of charge, the timer that measures the engine stop time and the time when the timer measurement time exceeds a certain value And means for starting the engine during traveling.

[0008]

When the time measured by the timer exceeds a certain value, the engine is started during the next running to prevent the engine from being stopped for a long period of time.

[0009]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

The hybrid electric vehicle shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a motor 5 as a driving power source and travels by transmitting the rotation of the motor 5 to wheels 20.

The motor 5 is rotated by a current supplied from the battery 3 via the motor controller 4. An accelerator depression amount signal from an accelerator depression amount sensor 6 that detects the depression amount of the accelerator is input to the motor controller 4, and the motor controller 4 receives the signal from the motor 5 based on this signal.
By controlling the rotation of the vehicle, the vehicle runs at a speed corresponding to the accelerator depression amount.

The battery 3 is connected to the generator 2 connected to the engine 1 and is charged by the current supplied by the operation of the generator 2. Further, the motor 5 has a regenerative power generation function, and when the rotational energy exceeds the energy required for traveling, power is generated by the surplus energy, and regenerative current is supplied to the battery 3 via the motor controller 4, and this battery 3 is supplied to the battery 3. Recharge.

The operation of the engine 1 is controlled by the engine controller 8. The engine controller 8 includes a charge amount sensor 7 for detecting the charge amount of the battery 3, the engine 1
Is connected to a timer 9 for measuring the time during which the driving of the engine is stopped and a switch sensor 10 for detecting the position of the key switch, and the battery charge amount detected by these sensors, the engine stop time and the key switch position are respectively input as signals. It The timer 9 is configured to continue measuring time even when the key switch is in the disconnected state.

Next, the operation will be described.

This hybrid vehicle runs by the motor controller 4 controlling the rotation of the motor 5 in accordance with the accelerator pedal depression amount detected by the accelerator pedal depression amount sensor 6.

On the other hand, the engine controller 8 starts the engine 1 when the charge amount of the battery 3 detected by the battery charge amount sensor 7 falls below the lower limit value, and stops the operation of the engine 1 when it exceeds the upper limit value. As a result, the charge amount of the battery 3 is maintained within a certain range.

Further, in order to prevent the engine 1 from being stopped for a long period of time, the engine controller 8 operates the engine 1 by the control process shown in FIG.

That is, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time after the engine 1 is stopped, which is input from the timer 9, exceeds a preset value (step 1), and if it exceeds, a key switch is performed by a signal from the switch sensor 10. It is determined whether or not is on (step 2). Then, when these two conditions are satisfied, the engine 1 is started (step 3).

When a certain time has passed after the engine 1 was started, the charge amount of the battery 3 is checked (step 4,
5) If it is determined that charging is unnecessary, the operation of the engine 1 is stopped (step 6).

As a result, if the engine 1 is not operated for a set period of time or longer, the engine 1 automatically continues for a certain period of time when the key switch is turned on so that the vehicle can travel next. Be driven. As a result, as long as the automobile is regularly driven, the engine 1 is also regularly driven, and the engine 1 can be maintained in a good condition. Further, even if some malfunction of the engine 1 occurs, it can be detected early.

3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a vehicle speed sensor 11 for detecting the vehicle speed is provided in place of the switch sensor 10, and the vehicle speed signal detected by the vehicle speed sensor 11 is input to the engine controller 8. The engine controller 8 controls the operation of the engine 1 according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, when the engine 1 is stopped for a certain period of time (step 11), the current vehicle speed and the vehicle speed one second before are determined (steps 12, 1).
3) The engine 1 is started immediately after the automobile starts running (step 14). The following steps 15 to 17 are the same as steps 4 to 6 of the first embodiment.

In the case of this embodiment, even if the engine 1 has not been operated for a set period of time or longer, the engine 1 cannot be started only by turning on the key switch, that is, after the vehicle starts running, that is, It starts after the energy consumption of the battery 3 starts. Therefore, even if the battery 3 is fully charged prior to traveling, there is no fear of overcharging due to the operation of the engine 1.

5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

Here, in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment, a brake depression amount sensor 12 for detecting the brake depression amount is provided as shown in FIG. 5, and the brake depression amount detected by the brake depression amount sensor 12 is provided. The signal is input to the engine controller 8. The engine controller 8 controls the operation of the engine 1 according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, when the engine 1 has been stopped for a certain period of time (step 21), it is judged from the output of the vehicle speed sensor 11 whether the current vehicle speed is a certain speed or more (step 22). Then, the brake depression amount sensor 12
It is determined from the output of the above whether or not the brake is depressed (step 23). When all of these conditions are satisfied, the engine 1 is operated (step 24). The control of steps 25 to 27 after the engine 1 is started is the same as steps 4 to 6 of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, when the engine 1 is not operated for a set period of time or longer, the engine 1 is not operated until the brake is depressed after the vehicle starts running and accelerates to a certain speed or more. Will start.

When the brake is depressed, the rotational energy of the motor 5 that has been spent for traveling becomes unnecessary, regenerative power generation is performed by this energy, and the regenerative current is recharged in the battery 3.

When the engine 1 is started, it is necessary to operate the starter motor, which consumes a large current. By starting the engine 1 during recharging with the regenerative current, the battery 3 Loss energy is supplemented, and the load on the battery 3 associated with the start of the engine 1 can be reduced.

[0031]

As described above, in the hybrid electric vehicle of the present invention, when the engine is not operated for a certain period of time, the engine is started at the next running, so that the engine can be used for a long time. As long as the automobile is regularly driven without stopping the operation, the engine is also regularly driven. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engine from being out of order due to a long-term operation stop, and always maintain the engine in good condition. In addition, even if something goes wrong with the engine, it can be detected early. Therefore, it is effective in preventing the breakdown of the hybrid vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power unit for a hybrid vehicle showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise a flowchart illustrating a control process of the engine controller.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a power unit for a hybrid vehicle showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is likewise a flowchart illustrating a control process of the engine controller.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a power unit for a hybrid vehicle showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is likewise a flowchart illustrating a control process of the engine controller.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 engine 2 generator 3 battery 5 motor 8 engine controller 9 timer

Front page continued (72) Inventor Hirotaka Kumakura 2 Takara-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Mitsunori Ishii 2 Takara-cho, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa (72) Inventor Shinwa No. 2 Takaracho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor ▲ Yoshi ▼ Shigeki Oka, 2 Takara-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A motor for traveling power, a battery for supplying electric power to the motor, a generator for charging the battery, and an engine for rotationally driving the generator, and the engine according to a decrease in charge amount of the battery. In a hybrid electric vehicle that drives the car to charge the battery from the generator,
A hybrid electric vehicle comprising: a timer for measuring an engine stop time; and a means for starting the engine at the next running when the timer measurement time exceeds a certain value.