Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kevin Ruybal

Jason Meyer

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Rajit Johri

Walter Joseph Ortmann

Jose Velazquez Alcantar

Xiaoyong Wang

Matthew John Shelton

Michael Glenn Fodor

Todd Mccullough

Ming Lang Kuang

Fazal Urrahman Syed

Steven Anatole Frait

Bhavesh Paradkar

Kenneth James Miller

Mark Steven Yamazaki

Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar

Thomas Scott Gee

Joseph Jay Torres

Maruthi Ravichandran

Walt Joseph Ortmann

Justin Panhans

Mary Catherine Farmer

Jacob Gregory Powers

David Farrell

Dushyant Palejiya

Ravi Kumar Tumu

Christopher Golecki

Nicholas Kuhajda

An electric vehicle includes an electric drive motor, transmission, and centrifugal clutch. The centrifugal clutch is drivingly coupled in a torque transmission path between the electric drive motor and the transmission. The centrifugal clutch includes a first friction plate, second friction plate, biasing member, and counterweight. The first friction plate is rotatable about an axis. The second friction plate is rotatable about the axis and axially movable relative to the first friction plate. The second friction plate is configured to frictionally engage the first friction plate to transmit torque therebetween. The biasing member biases the second friction plate toward the first friction plate. The counterweight assembly is coupled to the second friction plate and configured to apply a counterweight force on the second friction plate away from the first friction plate in response to a rotational speed of the second friction plate exceeding a predetermined rotational speed.

Electric vehicle with powertrain having reverse-acting centrifugal clutch

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, torque capacity of a driveline disconnect is coordinated with torque control of an electric machine immediately following engine starting. The electric machine and the driveline disconnect clutch may assist starting of an engine, or alternatively, the engine may be started via a starter motor.

System and method for coordinating disconnect clutch and electric machine torque

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a estimated torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch. The estimated torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch is based on a combined inertia of a dual mass flywheel and the driveline disconnect clutch.

Method for operating a vehicle having a driveline disconnect clutch

Methods and systems are provided for coordinating engine and motor torque in a hybrid vehicle system. The systems and methods use an engine torque command to obtain a motor torque command, and adjust the engine torque command based on an estimate of a time delay between commanded and actual motor torque prior to the engine command being sent to an engine controller. In this way, crankshaft torque accuracy may be improved.

Systems and methods for hybrid vehicle engine and motor torque coordination

Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during launch conditions from rest. In one example, a driver demand torque is held constant until a threshold vehicle speed is reached when a constant accelerator pedal position is present so that closing of a transmission input clutch may result in reduced driveline torque disturbances while a desired driver demand torque is delivered.

Methods and system for launching a hybrid vehicle

A method for operating a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, selection of an engine starting device is based on a value of an engine starting torque reserve. The engine starting torque reserve may be dynamically adjusted so that life spans of engine starting devices may meet expectations.

Methods and system for selecting an engine starting device

A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.

Methods and system for starting an internal combustion engine

Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during launch conditions from rest. In one example, a threshold speed below which a clutch is closed during a vehicle launch is adjusted so that driver demand wheel torque is held constant for a constant accelerator pedal position until the clutch is closed.

Hybrid vehicle launching methods and system

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a four wheel drive vehicle that includes a high gear ratio and a low gear ratio. The driveline may be operated to shift between the high gear ratio and the low gear ratio while the four wheel drive vehicle is moving. In one example, a clutch is opened during shifting from the high gear ratio to the low gear ratio, which allows the vehicle to continue traveling during the gear ratio change.

Methods and system for operating a four wheel drive electric vehicle

Methods and systems for operating a driveline that includes one or more electric machine providing torque to one or more axles are described. In one example, a requested vehicle speed is adjusted responsive to at least one of vehicle yaw, vehicle roll, and vehicle pitch so that vehicle speed may be maintained at a requested value.

Methods and system for operating a vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle powertrain, where the driveline includes an electric machine downstream of a dual clutch transmission, which is downstream of an engine. In one example, a method comprises communicating from a transmission, a torque to accelerate transmission components from a first speed to a second speed with first and second clutches of a dual transmission open, the communicating performed while an electric machine coupled to the dual clutch transmission at a location downstream of the dual clutch transmission is providing torque to propel a vehicle. In this way, wheel speed may remain substantially constant while the transmission is shifted and the engine is stopped.

Methods and systems for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle powertrain

Methods and systems are provided for providing off-road capabilities in electric vehicles with a single gear reduction. In one example, when a 4&#xd7;4 mode is selected in an electric vehicle, a relationship between motor torque and accelerator pedal position is changed so as to increase the vehicle creep wheel torque. A degree of increase of the creep wheel torque is adjusted as a function of the terrain on which the vehicle is off-roading.

Method and system for creep torque control

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, the engine is started and coupled to the driveline via closing a clutch of a dual clutch transmission. Speed of the engine and clutch pressure are controlled to reduce driveline torque disturbances and provide a desired wheel torque.

Methods and systems for a hybrid vehicle

Methods and systems for operating a driveline that includes a dual clutch transmission are described. In one example, clutches of the dual clutch transmission may be cooled via activating and adjusting a flow rate of an electric pump. Further, driveline operating modes may be entered or exited in response to clutch operating conditions so that driveline robustness may be enhanced.

Methods and system for operating a driveline

Methods and systems to operate a hybrid vehicle in a controlled lateral vehicle slip mode are described. The lateral vehicle slip mode may adjust torques applied to a vehicle's front wheels and operation of transmission clutches to induce lateral vehicle slip when requested. The vehicle may exit the lateral vehicle slip mode in response to applying vehicle brakes or releasing a vehicle accelerator pedal.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Kevin Ruybal