Vehicle and control method for generating compressed air using an electric machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle and a control method for generating compressed air using a motor. The vehicle and the control method are capable of generating compressed air using a motor of a hybrid vehicle in order to perform cleaning / maintenance of the hybrid vehicle without requiring an additional or separate device. The vehicle includes an engine, an opening degree control valve, and a motor, the engine includes an intake pipe configured to intake outside air and an exhaust pipe configured to discharge inside air, the opening degree control valve is provided at a rear end of the exhaust pipe, and the motor is configured to generate power for driving a wheel and configured to drive a piston of the engine by using a part of the power. In response to the opening degree control valve being in a closed state and in response to the engine being in a non-combustion state, the piston of the engine is driven by using the power of the motor to thereby generate compressed air in the exhaust pipe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly, to a hybrid vehicle comprising an engine and an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is configured to generate compressed air for cleaning / maintenance of the vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Beyond being a means of transportation, vehicles are increasingly being used as living spaces, leading to a growing interest in keeping their interiors clean. Consequently, the demand for vehicle maintenance products such as car vacuum cleaners is increasing. Furthermore, due to the trend towards lighter vehicles, more vehicles are including tire repair kits for flat tires, rather than just a spare tire. Additionally, for tire maintenance, people can purchase tire air compressors to manage tire pressure.

[0003] Using existing vehicle maintenance products typically requires purchasing separate products, which can be expensive and inconvenient. Furthermore, there are inconveniences such as the need for an external power source and separate storage space. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention provides a hybrid vehicle and a control method thereof, which is capable of generating compressed air using an electric motor to perform cleaning / maintenance of the hybrid vehicle. As provided herein, the hybrid vehicle may be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). According to the present invention, compressed air can be generated without the need for additional devices, thereby increasing user convenience and reducing costs.

[0005] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a vehicle includes an engine, an opening control valve, and an electric motor. The engine includes an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, the intake manifold being configured to draw in external air and the exhaust manifold being configured to discharge internal air. The opening control valve is disposed at the rear end of the exhaust manifold. The electric motor is configured to generate power for driving wheels and to drive a piston of the engine by utilizing a portion of the power. In response to the opening control valve being closed and in response to the engine being in a non-combustion state, compressed air is generated in the exhaust manifold by driving the piston of the engine using the power of the electric motor.

[0007] The vehicle may further include a compressed air outlet disposed on a first side of the exhaust pipe and through which internal air of the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside.

[0008] The vehicle may further include a pressure regulating device disposed on the second side of the exhaust pipe to regulate the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe.

[0009] The compressed air outlet can be configured to allow the air gun to be connected to it.

[0010] The vehicle may further include an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device, an exhaust-side connecting pipe, and a compressed air outlet. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device is disposed between the exhaust pipe and the intake pipe. The exhaust-side connecting pipe is configured to connect the EGR device to the exhaust pipe. The compressed air outlet is disposed on one side of the exhaust-side connecting pipe and discharges the internal air of the exhaust pipe to the outside through the compressed air outlet.

[0011] EGR devices may include a recirculation control valve, and the pressure of the internal air in the exhaust pipe can be regulated by the recirculation control valve.

[0012] The compressed air outlet can be configured to allow the air gun to be connected to it.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle control method is provided, the vehicle including an engine, an opening control valve, and a motor, the engine including an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, the intake manifold being configured to draw in external air, the exhaust manifold being configured to discharge internal air, the opening control valve being disposed at the rear end of the exhaust manifold, the motor being configured to generate power for driving wheels and to drive the piston of the engine by utilizing a portion of the power, the control method comprising: in response to the opening control valve being in a closed state and in response to the engine being in a non-combustion state, generating compressed air in the exhaust manifold by driving the piston of the engine using the power of the motor.

[0014] The control method may further include a compressed air outlet, which is located on the first side of the exhaust pipe, through which the internal air of the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside.

[0015] The control method may further include a pressure regulating device disposed on the second side of the exhaust pipe to regulate the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe.

[0016] The compressed air outlet can be configured to allow the air gun to be connected to it.

[0017] The control method may further include an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device, an exhaust-side connecting pipe, and a compressed air outlet. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device is disposed between the engine's exhaust pipe and intake pipe. The exhaust-side connecting pipe is configured to connect the EGR device to the exhaust pipe. The compressed air outlet is disposed on one side of the exhaust-side connecting pipe and discharges the internal air of the exhaust pipe to the outside through the compressed air outlet.

[0018] EGR devices may include a recirculation control valve, and the pressure of the internal air in the exhaust pipe can be regulated by the recirculation control valve.

[0019] The compressed air outlet can be configured to allow the air gun to be connected to it.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicle includes an engine, an opening control valve, a compressed air outlet, and an electric motor. The engine includes an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. The intake manifold is configured to draw in external air, and the exhaust manifold is configured to discharge internal air. The opening control valve is located at the rear end of the exhaust manifold. The compressed air outlet is located on a first side of the exhaust manifold and discharges internal air from the exhaust manifold to the outside through the compressed air outlet. The electric motor is configured to generate power for driving wheels and to drive the piston of the engine by utilizing a portion of the power. In response to the opening control valve being closed and in response to the engine being in a non-combustion state, compressed air is generated in the exhaust manifold by driving the piston of the engine using the power of the electric motor. The compressed air outlet can be configured to allow an air gun to be connected thereto.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicle includes an engine, an opening control valve, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device, an exhaust-side connecting pipe, a compressed air outlet, and an electric motor. The engine includes an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, the intake manifold being configured to draw in external air and the exhaust manifold being configured to discharge internal air. The opening control valve is located at the rear end of the exhaust manifold. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device is located between the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold. The exhaust-side connecting pipe is configured to connect the EGR device to the exhaust manifold. The compressed air outlet is located on one side of the exhaust-side connecting pipe and discharges internal air from the exhaust manifold to the outside through the compressed air outlet. The electric motor is configured to generate power for driving wheels and to drive the engine piston by utilizing a portion of the power. In response to the opening control valve being closed and in response to the engine being in a non-combustion state, compressed air is generated in the exhaust manifold by driving the engine piston using the power of the electric motor.

[0022] EGR devices may include a recirculation control valve, and the pressure of the internal air in the exhaust pipe can be regulated by the recirculation control valve.

[0023] The compressed air outlet can be configured to allow the air gun to be connected to it. Attached Figure Description

[0024] These and / or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily understood from the following description of embodiments presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This shows the air gun (or air spray gun) connected to... Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the status of the vehicle;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This shows the air gun (or air spray gun) connected to... Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the status of the vehicle;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] It should be understood that the terms "vehicle" or "of a vehicle" or other similar terms as used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger vehicles including SUVs, buses, trucks, and various commercial vehicles, vessels including various boats and ships, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., vehicles derived from non-petroleum fuels). As mentioned herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more power sources, such as both gasoline and electric power. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0032] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that when the terms “comprising” and / or “including” are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of the stated feature, value, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or inclusion of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items. Throughout this specification, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the word “comprising” and variations such as “including” or “including” should be understood to imply the inclusion of the stated element but not exclude any other element. Furthermore, the terms “unit,” “device,” “component,” and “module” described in this specification mean a unit for performing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

[0033] Furthermore, the control logic of this invention can be embodied in a non-volatile computer-readable medium containing executable program instructions that are executed by a processor, controller, etc. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, optical disc (CD)-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash drive, smart card, and optical data storage device. The computer-readable medium can also be distributed across a network-connected computer system, allowing it to be stored and executed in a distributed manner, for example, via a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN).

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle in which an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device is not installed in the engine 102. Figure 1 The vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) comprising an engine 102 and an electric motor 112. Accordingly, Figure 1 The vehicle can receive power from engine 102 or electric motor 112, or from both engine 102 and electric motor 112.

[0035] exist Figure 1In this configuration, when the engine 102 is in a state of no fuel injection and no ignition, the piston movement of the engine 102 can be performed using the power of the electric motor 112. In this situation, "intake" (drawing outside air into the engine 102) and "exhaust" (expelling air from the engine 102 to the outside) are performed within the engine 102. That is, when fuel is not injected into the combustion chamber of the engine 102 and ignition is not performed, the piston movement of the engine 102 is performed by the electric motor 112, thereby performing the intake and exhaust of air from the engine 102.

[0036] The intake of engine 102 is performed through intake pipe 104, and the exhaust of engine 102 is performed through exhaust pipe 106.

[0037] In the exhaust pipe 106, a pressure switch 120 is located near the engine 102, while an opening control valve 108 is located away from the engine 102. The pressure switch 120 is a pressure regulating device and is configured to regulate the air pressure between the engine 102 and the opening control valve 108. The opening control valve 108 is configured to adjust its opening. As the opening of the opening control valve 108 increases, exhaust from the engine 102 can be fully executed. Conversely, when exhaust from the engine 102 is executed with the opening of the opening control valve 108 at 0 (zero), that is, one end of the exhaust pipe 106 is completely closed by the opening control valve 108, the air is compressed inside the exhaust pipe 106. In this case, since the air is compressed without combustion in the engine 102, the relatively clean air drawn into the engine 102 remains unchanged as compressed air in the exhaust pipe 106.

[0038] In this state, the pressure of the compressed air inside the exhaust pipe 106 can be continuously maintained at a desired level through fine adjustments to the pressure switch 120. That is, when the air pressure inside the exhaust pipe 106 is higher than the target pressure, the pressure switch 120 is adjusted to reduce the air pressure inside the exhaust pipe 106 to the target pressure. Conversely, when the air pressure inside the exhaust pipe 106 is lower than the target pressure, the pressure switch 120 is adjusted to increase the air pressure inside the exhaust pipe 106 to the target pressure. In this case, the power of the electric motor 112 can be increased to increase the amount of air drawn into the engine 102.

[0039] The "target pressure" can be determined based on the intended use of the blown high-pressure air. For example, if a user wants to use the blown high-pressure air to clean / maintain a vehicle, the "target pressure" is either sufficient to remove dust or foreign objects by blowing them away to clean the vehicle, or sufficient to replenish the tire pressure of the vehicle.

[0040] Engine 102 and electric motor 112 operate as compressors to generate compressed air inside exhaust pipe 106. A nozzle 130, serving as a compressed air outlet, is formed on a first side of exhaust pipe 106. The nozzle 130 functions as a discharge port to expel compressed air from inside exhaust pipe 106 to the outside. That is, compressed air inside exhaust pipe 106 can be discharged to the outside through nozzle 130.

[0041] Figure 2 This shows the air gun (or air spray gun) connected to... Figure 1 The diagram shows the state of the vehicle. An air gun (or air spray gun) 250 refers to a device that uses relatively strong force to blow air out.

[0042] The above text Figure 1 The description describes engine 102 and electric motor 112 as operating as compressors to generate compressed air in exhaust pipe 106, and the compressed air inside exhaust pipe 106 is discharged to the outside through nozzle 130.

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, when the air gun 250 is connected to the nozzle 130 formed on the first side of the exhaust pipe 106, compressed air inside the exhaust pipe 106 can be blown out by the air gun 250. When the air compressed inside the exhaust pipe 106 and having high pressure is blown out to the outside by the air gun 250, dust on the vehicle can be removed by using the powerfully blown air.

[0044] Furthermore, when the tip used to inject air into the tire is connected to the air gun 250, air can be injected into the vehicle's tires. That is, by injecting compressed air from inside the exhaust pipe 106 into the tire through the air gun 250, the tire pressure can be increased to the target level.

[0045] Therefore, the specifications (outer diameter, inner diameter, etc.) of the nozzle 130 can be matched with the standard specifications of a commercially available air gun 250. In this case, according to one embodiment, the vehicle user can purchase a commercially available air gun 250 to connect to the nozzle 130, so the user can use the generally readily available air gun 250 for vehicle cleaning / maintenance.

[0046] Furthermore, when the specifications (outer diameter, inner diameter, etc.) of the nozzle 130 are difficult to match with the standard specifications of the air gun 250 available on the market, the nozzle 130 can be formed to proprietary specifications, and the air gun 250 that matches the proprietary specifications of the nozzle 130 can be sold separately by the vehicle manufacturer or can be provided at the time of vehicle sale.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3The control method shown involves utilizing Figure 1 and Figure 2 The apparatus shown is configured to generate compressed air.

[0048] like Figure 3 As shown, the airflow of the exhaust pipe 108 is limited by adjusting the opening of the opening control valve 108 at the rear end of the exhaust pipe 106 (step 302). That is, in order to generate compressed air, the rear end of the exhaust pipe 108 is closed by setting the opening of the opening control valve 108 to 0 (zero).

[0049] With the exhaust pipe 108 closed at the rear end, the electric motor 112 connected to the engine 102 is driven (step 304). At this time, the engine 102 is in a state of no fuel injection and no ignition, that is, the engine 102 is not burning fuel.

[0050] The power generated by the electric motor 112 is transmitted to the engine 102 to drive the piston of the engine 102, thereby creating pressure inside the exhaust pipe 108 (step 306). As the piston of the engine 102 continues to be driven by the power of the electric motor 112, the pressure inside the exhaust pipe 108 increases further.

[0051] When the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe 108 increases to a certain level, the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe 108 is controlled by adjusting the pressure switch 120 to maintain it at the target pressure (step 308). The "target pressure" can be determined based on the purpose of the blown high-pressure air. For example, if the user wants to use the blown high-pressure air to clean / maintain the vehicle, the "target pressure" is sufficient to remove dust or foreign objects by blowing them away to clean the vehicle, or sufficient to replenish the tire pressure of the vehicle.

[0052] Compressed air inside the exhaust pipe 108 is delivered to the air gun 250 via the nozzle 130 (step 310). The user (driver) can use the high-pressure compressed air delivered to the air gun 250 to perform vehicle cleaning / maintenance.

[0053] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device in engine 402. Figure 4 The vehicles are hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), including engine 402 and electric motor 412. Accordingly, Figure 4 The vehicle can receive power from engine 402 or electric motor 412, or from both engine 402 and electric motor 412.

[0054] exist Figure 4 In this configuration, when the engine 402 is in a state of no fuel injection and no ignition, the piston movement of the engine 402 can be executed using the power of the electric motor 412. In this situation, the engine 402 performs "intake" (drawing in outside air) and "exhaust" (expelling air from inside the engine 402). That is, when fuel is not injected into the combustion chamber of the engine 402 and ignition is not performed, the piston movement of the engine 402 is executed by the electric motor 412, thereby performing the intake and exhaust of air from the engine 402.

[0055] The intake of engine 402 is performed through intake pipe 404, and the exhaust of engine 402 is performed through exhaust pipe 406.

[0056] An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device 440 is disposed between the exhaust pipe 406 and the intake pipe 404. The EGR device 440 is also referred to as an exhaust gas reduction device. The EGR device 440 recirculates a portion of the exhaust gas burned in the engine 402 back to the engine 402 to lower the temperature of the combustion chamber of the engine 402, thereby inhibiting nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and thus reducing exhaust gas and pollutant emissions. In other words, by recirculating the exhaust gas, the temperature of the combustion chamber can be lowered, and in the process, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions can be reduced. The EGR device 440 is connected to the exhaust pipe 406 via an exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 and to the intake pipe 404 via an intake-side connecting pipe 446. Accordingly, a recirculation path is formed between the engine 402 and the EGR device 440. The EGR device 440 includes a recirculation control valve 442. The recirculation control valve 442 is configured to regulate the amount of recirculated gas by adjusting its opening. Furthermore, the recirculation control valve 442 can regulate the amount of air circulating through the circulation path by adjusting its opening. Therefore, the recirculation control valve 442 can be operated as a pressure control device to regulate the pressure of the air inside the exhaust pipe 406 and the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444.

[0057] In the exhaust pipe 406, the opening control valve 408 can be installed remotely from the engine 402. The opening control valve 408 is configured such that its opening is adjustable. As the opening of the opening control valve 408 increases, exhaust from the engine 402 can be fully executed. Conversely, when exhaust from the engine 402 is executed with the opening of the opening control valve 408 at 0 (zero), that is, one end of the exhaust pipe 406 is completely closed by the opening control valve 408, the air is compressed inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444. In this case, since the air is compressed without combustion in the engine 402, the relatively clean air drawn into the engine 402 remains unchanged as compressed air in the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444.

[0058] In this state, the pressure of compressed air inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 can be continuously maintained at a desired level through fine adjustments to the recirculation control valve 442 of the EGR device 440. Specifically, when the air pressure inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 is higher than the target pressure, the recirculation control valve 442 is adjusted to reduce the pressure in the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 to the target pressure. Conversely, when the air pressure inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 is lower than the target pressure, the recirculation control valve 442 is adjusted to increase the air pressure inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 to the target pressure. In this situation, the power of the electric motor 412 can be increased to increase the amount of air drawn into the engine 402.

[0059] The "target pressure" can be determined based on the intended use of the blown high-pressure air. For example, if a user wants to use the blown high-pressure air to clean / maintain a vehicle, the "target pressure" is either sufficient to remove dust or foreign objects by blowing them away to clean the vehicle, or sufficient to replenish the tire pressure of the vehicle.

[0060] Engine 402 and electric motor 412 operate as compressors to generate compressed air inside exhaust-side connecting pipe 444. A nozzle 430, serving as a compressed air outlet, is formed on one side of exhaust-side connecting pipe 444. The nozzle 430 functions as a discharge port to expel the compressed air inside exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 to the outside. That is, compressed air inside exhaust pipe 406 can be discharged to the outside through nozzle 430.

[0061] Figure 5 This shows the air gun (or air spray gun) connected to... Figure 4 The diagram shows the state of the vehicle. An air gun (or air spray gun) 550 refers to a device that uses relatively strong force to blow air out.

[0062] The above text Figure 4 The description describes the engine 402 and the electric motor 412 as operating as compressors to generate compressed air in the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444, and the compressed air in the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 is discharged to the outside through the nozzle 430.

[0063] like Figure 5 As shown, when the air gun 550 is connected to the nozzle 430 formed on one side of the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444, compressed air inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 can be blown out by the air gun 550. When the air compressed inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 and having high pressure is blown to the outside by the air gun 550, dust on the vehicle can be removed by using the powerfully blown air.

[0064] Furthermore, when the tip used to inject air into the tire is connected to the air gun 550, air can be injected into the vehicle's tires. That is, by using compressed air inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 to inject into the tire through the air gun 550, the tire pressure can be increased to the target level.

[0065] Therefore, the specifications (outer diameter, inner diameter, etc.) of nozzle 430 can be matched with the standard specifications of commercially available air guns 550. In this case, according to one embodiment, the vehicle user can purchase a commercially available air gun 550 to connect to nozzle 430, so the user can use the generally readily available air gun 550 for vehicle cleaning / maintenance.

[0066] Furthermore, when the specifications (outer diameter, inner diameter, etc.) of the nozzle 430 are difficult to match with the standard specifications of the air gun 550 available on the market, the nozzle 430 may be formed to proprietary specifications, and the air gun 550 that matches the proprietary specifications of the nozzle 430 may be sold separately by the vehicle manufacturer or may be provided at the time of vehicle sale.

[0067] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The control method shown involves utilizing Figure 4 and Figure 5 The apparatus shown is configured to generate compressed air.

[0068] like Figure 6 As shown, the airflow of the exhaust pipe 408 is limited by adjusting the opening of the opening control valve 408 at the rear end of the exhaust pipe 406 (step 602). That is, in order to generate compressed air, the rear end of the exhaust pipe 408 is closed by setting the opening of the opening control valve 408 to 0 (zero).

[0069] With the exhaust pipe 408 closed at the rear end, the electric motor 412 connected to the engine 402 is driven (step 604). At this time, the engine 402 is in a state of no fuel injection and no ignition, that is, the engine 402 is not burning fuel.

[0070] The power generated by the electric motor 412 is transmitted to the engine 402 to drive the piston of the engine 402, thereby creating pressure inside the exhaust pipe 408 (step 606). As the piston of the engine 402 continues to be driven by the power of the electric motor 412, the pressure inside the exhaust pipe 408 further increases. Correspondingly, the pressure inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 also increases.

[0071] When the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe 408 increases to a certain level, the internal pressure of the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 is controlled by adjusting the recirculation control valve 442 of the EGR device 440 to maintain the target pressure (step 608). The "target pressure" can be determined based on the intended use of the blown high-pressure air. For example, if the user wants to use the blown high-pressure air to clean / maintain the vehicle, the "target pressure" is sufficient to remove dust or foreign objects by blowing them away to clean the vehicle, or sufficient to replenish the tire pressure of the vehicle.

[0072] Compressed air inside the exhaust-side connecting pipe 444 is delivered to the air gun 550 via the nozzle 430 (step 610). The user (driver) can use the high-pressure compressed air delivered to the air gun 550 to perform vehicle cleaning / maintenance.

[0073] As is evident from the above description, compressed air can be generated using the electric motor of a vehicle such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), thereby performing vehicle cleaning / maintenance without the need for additional equipment, thus increasing user convenience and reducing costs.

[0074] Although some embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: An engine, comprising an intake manifold for drawing in outside air and an exhaust manifold for discharging internal air; An opening control valve is located at the rear end of the exhaust pipe; as well as An electric motor, configured to generate power for driving wheels and configured to drive the pistons of an engine by utilizing a portion of that power. In this process, in response to the opening control valve being closed and the engine being in a non-combustion state, compressed air is generated in the exhaust pipe by using the power of the electric motor to drive the engine piston.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: A compressed air outlet is provided on the first side of the exhaust pipe, and the internal air of the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside through the compressed air outlet.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: A pressure regulating device is installed on the second side of the exhaust pipe to regulate the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: The compressed air outlet is configured to allow the air gun to be connected thereto.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: An exhaust gas recirculation device is installed between the exhaust pipe and the intake pipe; An exhaust-side connecting pipe is configured to connect the exhaust recirculation device to the exhaust pipe; as well as A compressed air outlet is provided on the first side of the exhaust-side connecting pipe, and the internal air of the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside through the compressed air outlet.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein: The exhaust gas recirculation device includes a recirculation control valve. The pressure of the air inside the exhaust pipe is regulated by the recirculation control valve.

7. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein: The compressed air outlet is configured to allow the air gun to be connected thereto.

8. A method for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine, an opening control valve, and a motor, the engine comprising an intake manifold for drawing in external air and an exhaust manifold for discharging internal air; the opening control valve being disposed at the rear end of the exhaust manifold; the motor being configured to generate power for driving wheels and configured to drive pistons of the engine by utilizing a portion of the power, the control method comprising: In response to the opening control valve being closed and the engine being in a non-combustion state, compressed air is generated in the exhaust pipe by using the power of the electric motor to drive the engine piston.

9. The vehicle control method according to claim 8, further comprising: A compressed air outlet is provided on the first side of the exhaust pipe, and the internal air of the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside through the compressed air outlet.

10. The vehicle control method according to claim 9, further comprising: A pressure regulating device is installed on the second side of the exhaust pipe to regulate the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe.

11. The vehicle control method according to claim 9, wherein, The compressed air outlet is configured to allow the air gun to be connected thereto.

12. The vehicle control method according to claim 8, further comprising: An exhaust gas recirculation device is installed between the exhaust pipe and the intake pipe; An exhaust-side connecting pipe is configured to connect the exhaust recirculation device to the exhaust pipe; as well as A compressed air outlet is located on one side of the exhaust-side connecting pipe, and the internal air of the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside through the compressed air outlet.

13. The vehicle control method according to claim 12, wherein: The exhaust gas recirculation device includes a recirculation control valve. The pressure of the air inside the exhaust pipe is regulated by the recirculation control valve.

14. The vehicle control method according to claim 12, wherein, The compressed air outlet is configured to allow the air gun to be connected thereto.

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