Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft

Hermann Oetting

Paulus Heidemeyer

Frank Zimmermann

A method for operating a vehicle having an automatic, continuously variable speed transmission comprising at least three control phases. During a first control phase, the engine speed is maintained at a substantially constant value while the transmission gear ratio is increased to the maximum transmission gear ratio. During a second control phase, the transmission gear ratio is maintained at the maximum transmission gear ratio while the engine speed is increased to the maximum engine speed possible at the maximum gear ratio and selected throttle valve angle. During a third control phase, the transmission gear ratio is decreased from the maximum transmission gear ratio, so that higher vehicle traveling speeds may be obtained. During the third control phase the transmission gear ratio may be rapidly changed to a ratio corresponding to maximum engine power when the accelerator pedal is placed in a kickdown position. Increased force on the accelerator pedal may be required to place the accelerator pedal in the kickdown position.

Method for operating a vehicle having an automatic, continuously

The invention concerns a hybrid drive arrangement for vehicles, with an engine drive and with a flywheel storage drive, which includes a storage flywheel supported concentrically relative to the crankshaft for storing kinetic energy during such operations as braking operations of the vehicle. Both drives can be connected with the driving wheels of the vehicle by means of a common, preferably continuously variable, transmission. In order to obtain a faster response of the engine drive on suddenly occurring power demands and in order to achieve a more favorable design of the storage flywheel, there is to be provided in accordance with the invention, in addition to a storage flywheel, an engine flywheel associated with the reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine, which compensates for torque irregularities of the engine. The engine flywheel can be connected with a crankshaft by means of a first clutch and with the storage flywheel by means of at least one further clutch.

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Brunswick, Germany

Hermann Oetting