Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Stephen John Kotre

David Lee Boggs

Mark W Peters

Jerry Dean Robichaux

Stephen Richard Burke

Paul Michael Deniston

David Crist Gabriel

Deepa Ramaswamy

Joanne Theresa Woestman

Mary Theresa Breida

Darren Bisaro

A method and system to control engine shutdown in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) are provided. Tailpipe emissions are reduced during the many engine shutdowns and subsequent restarts during the course of an HEV drive cycle, and evaporative emissions are reduced during an HEV 'soak' (inactive) period. The engine shutdown routine can ramp off fuel injectors, control engine torque (via electronic throttle control), control engine speed, stop spark delivery by disabling the ignition system, stop purge vapor flow by closing a vapor management valve (VMV), stop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow by closing an EGR valve, and flush the intake manifold of residual fuel (vapor and puddles) into the combustion chamber to be combusted. The resulting exhaust gas byproducts are then converted in the catalytic converter.

Controlled engine shutdown for a hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid electric vehicleand a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicleis provided. Combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engineonly after the crankshaftof the enginehas been rotated by an electric motor or generatorto a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profilethereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engineallowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheelsand allowing for a smoother operation of the vehicleThe fuel injectorsthrottle plateand spark plugsare also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converterto be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engineis operating.

Hybrid electric vehicle and a method for operating a hybrid electric vehicle

A method and system to control engine shutdown for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is provided. Tailpipe emissions are reduced during the many engine shutdowns and subsequent restarts during the course of an HEV drive cycle, and evaporative emissions are reduced during an HEV &ldquo;soak&rdquo; (inactive) period. The engine shutdown routine can ramp off fuel injectors, control engine torque (via electronic throttle control), control engine speed, stop spark delivery by disabling the ignition system, stop purge vapor flow by closing a vapor management valve (VMV), stop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow by closing an EGR valve, and flush the intake manifold of residual fuel (vapor and puddles) into the combustion chamber to be combusted chamber to be combusted. The resulting exhaust gas byproducts are then converted in the catalytic converter.

A hybrid electric vehicle and a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicle in which combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engine only after the crankshaft of the engine has been rotated by an electric motor or generator to a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profile thereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engine allowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheels and allowing for a more smoother operation of the vehicle The fuel injectors throttle plate and spark plugs are also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converter to be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engine is operating.

This invention is a method and system for determining whether the engine should be running in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle during vehicle idle conditions. Specifically, a controller determines if the vehicle is in idle and if engine operation is necessary. To determine whether engine operation is necessary, the controller determines whether the battery needs charging, whether vacuum needs to be replaced in the climate control system or brake system reservoir, whether the vapor canister requires purging, whether the adaptive fuel tables require fast adapting, whether the engine or catalyst temperatures are unacceptable, or whether the air conditioning has been requested. Once the controller determines that the engine must be running, the controller determines in which control mode to run the engine, either speed control mode (using powertrain controllers) or torque control mode (using a generator and generator controller). Finally, the controller optimizes engine running conditions, to the extent possible depending upon the control mode, to perform any necessary functions during vehicle idle.

Engine on idle arbitration for a hybrid electric vehicle

Electric coolant pump control strategy for hybrid electric vehicles

A method of controlling an engine during engine shutdown to reduce evaporative emissions is provided. The method includes a step of shutting off a fuel pump of the engine . The method also includes a step of burning off the fuel from a fuel rail in a cylinder of the engine after the fuel pump is shut off. During the burning off of the fuel, a duty cycle of each fuel injector of engine is controlled to allow the engine to operate generally cyclically about a predetermined air/fuel ratio. The predetermined air/fuel ratio is preferably stoichiometric. By burning off the fuel in the fuel rail after the fuel pump is shut off, the fuel pressure in the fuel rail is reduced. The reduced fuel pressure in the fuel rail results in reduced evaporative emissions from the engine

Method for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine shutdown to reduce evaporative emissions

The present invention provides a method and system for purging a vapor canister in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle during vehicle idle conditions. The present invention first determines whether purging is necessary by measuring fuel tank pressure and the time since the last purge. If either of these elements exceeds a calibratable threshold, the controller determines that the engine needs to be on and that purging must occur. An electronic throttle controller can also be used to command the throttle plate to low positions to increase intake manifold vacuum while purging. This allows for very rapid ingestion of the fuel vapor without risk of engine stalls, if used in an HEV where the engine speed is controlled by an electric motor. Upon completion of the purging process, the engine is shut &ldquo;off&rdquo; and the vehicle is returned to its normal idle conditions.

Canister purge strategy for a hybrid electric vehicle

The present invention provides a method and system for determining &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A controller determines that the engine is necessary and then checks the current &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status. If the engine is not currently running, the controller proceeds to start the engine by commanding the generator to spin or &ldquo;motor&rdquo; the engine. The controller then starts fuel and spark within the engine to create combustion. Measuring devices are then used to determine the ion current/breakdown voltage across a spark gap in the engine. The controller receives this measurement and determines whether the measured ion current/breakdown voltage exceeds a calibratable threshold. If the calibratable threshold is exceeded, combustion is occurring and the engine is on. The controller then turns on the &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status flag.

Engine ready signal using peak engine cylinder pressure detection

The present invention provides a method and system for determining &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A controller determines the engine is necessary and then checks the current &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status. If the engine is not currently running, the controller proceeds to start the engine by commanding the generator to spin or &ldquo;motor&rdquo; the engine. The controller then starts fuel flow and spark within the engine to create combustion. A measuring device is then used to determine the crankshaft speed. The controller receives this measurement and determines whether the measured variations in crankshaft speed exceed a calibratable threshold. If the calibratable threshold is exceeded, combustion is determined to be occurring and the engine is on. The controller then turns on the &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status flag.

Engine ready detection using crankshaft speed feedback

A method of determining an operating state of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle drive system comprising an internal combustion engine having an output shaft which is coupled to a generator. The engine includes a fuel injector responsive to a fuel command. The method comprises the steps of determining an ON/OFF status of the fuel command and determining the generator torque. The generator torque provides an indication of the actual engine torque. An engine running flag is set ON when the fuel command is ON and the generator torque value is greater than a predetermined value. Otherwise, the engine running flag is set OFF.

Hybrid electric vehicle system

This invention is a method and system for cooling Hybrid Electric Vehicle (&ldquo;HEV&rdquo;) components. The present invention cools HEV components, including an A/C system, an Internal Combustion Engine and its associated parts, an electric drive system and its associated parts, including an inverter, a DC/DC Converter, a generator motor, and a traction motor. Cooling these components, is accomplished by implementing a cooling system that is comprised of fluid filled cooling loops, radiators, fans, pumps, an air conditioning condenser and a controller. The pumps move the fluid through the cooling loops, allowing the fluid to absorb heat from the components and vent through the radiators with help from the fan's airflow. The controller monitors component temperature data by measuring actual component temperature or corresponding coolant temperature and compares the component temperature data to a calibratable threshold to determine whether the fan should operate. By controlling fan speed, the controller regulates airflow across the radiator and air condenser, to maintain coolant temperature, and subsequently component temperatures within acceptable parameters.

Power electronics cooling for a hybrid electric vehicle

This invention is a method and system for a hybrid electric vehicle adaptive fuel strategy to quickly mature an adaptive fuel table. The strategy adaptively alters the amount of fuel delivered to an internal combustion engine to optimize engine efficiency and emissions using engine sensors. Before the adaptive fuel strategy is permitted, an engine &ldquo;on&rdquo; idle arbitration logic requires the HEV to be in idle conditions, with normal battery state of charge, normal vacuum in the climate control and brake system reservoir; and, the vapor canister not needing purging. The strategy orders the engine throttle to sweep different airflow regions of the engine to adapt cells within the adaptive fuel table. In the preferred configuration, a generator attached to the vehicle drive train, adds and subtracts torque to maintain constant engine speed during the throttle sweeps.

Adaptive fuel strategy for a hybrid electric vehicle

Periodic shutdown of the internal combustion engine ( ) during operation of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is achieved by shutdown of a vapor management valve (VMV) of the engine evaporative emission control system and an EGR valve ( ) of the tailpipe emission control system at the time an engine shutdown command is provided to a controlled engine shutdown routine that, after closing of the VMV and EGR valves, then commands disabling of the engine fuel injectors ( ) in a manner to stop engine operation.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Stephen John Kotre