Engine Clutch Oil Leakage Detection Using Hybrid Vehicle Sensor Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid electric vehicles face unintended propulsion due to oil leakage in the hydraulic pressure line of the engine clutch, leading to increased manufacturing costs from the necessity of a separate hydraulic pressure sensor.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that determine oil leakage in the hydraulic pressure line of the engine clutch using driving information such as shift speed stage, engine speed, motor speed, and vehicle speed, without requiring a separate hydraulic pressure sensor, by analyzing the driving mode and turning off the engine to prevent unintentional propulsion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate hydraulic pressure sensor is installed in the hydraulic pressure line to detect oil leakage, then the reliability of detecting clutch failure is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing sensors (engine speed sensor, motor speed sensor, shift speed stage sensor) to self-diagnose clutch failure conditions. The controller analyzes the relationship between engine speed, motor speed, and shift speed stage to detect oil leakage, eliminating the need for dedicated hydraulic pressure sensors while maintaining detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Existing sensors in the hybrid vehicle system are made multi-functional. The engine speed sensor, motor speed sensor, and shift speed stage sensor not only perform their primary functions but also contribute to clutch failure detection by providing data for analyzing the relationship between rotational speeds and gear positions, thereby reducing the need for additional specialized sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If existing sensors are used to detect oil leakage without additional sensors, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the measurement precision of hydraulic pressure detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidhydraulic pressure measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary that indirectly measures hydraulic pressure conditions by analyzing the relationship between engine speed, motor speed, and shift speed stage. Instead of directly measuring hydraulic pressure, the system uses rotational speed data as intermediary parameters to infer clutch engagement status and detect oil leakage, achieving acceptable detection precision without direct pressure sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/hydraulic measurement system (hydraulic pressure sensor) with an electrical/control-based detection system. The controller uses electrical signals from existing speed sensors and gear position sensors to detect clutch failure, substituting direct hydraulic measurement with an indirect control-system-based approach that achieves sufficient detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10464546B2Apparatus and method for determining failure of engine clutch

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for determining a failure of an engine clutch is provided. The apparatus includes an engine clutch that is disposed between an engine generating power and a motor and a driving information detector that senses driving information including a shift speed stage, an engine speed, a motor speed, a SOC of a battery, and a vehicle speed. A controller then determines a driving mode of the engine from the detected driving information and determines whether oil leakage of the engine clutch is generated from the driving information and the driving mode.