Hybrid Power Path Switching Torque Control for Drive Shaft Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles with series hybrid and engine traveling configurations, switching between power transmission paths leads to delayed torque adjustments, causing vibration in the drive shaft due to differential rotation, resulting in prolonged switching times.

Innovation Solution

A power transmission method and device that utilize a controller to perform synchronized rotation and torque control between the traveling motor and internal combustion engine, employing feedforward control to adjust torque slopes and timing to minimize vibration, allowing for prompt switching between power transmission paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the torque of the power source is adjusted to suppress drive shaft vibration during clutch engagement, then vibration is reduced, but the torque shifting time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive shaft vibrationVSAvoidpower transmission path switching time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary torque adjustment on the power source in the power transmission path after switching before clutch engagement. By pre-adjusting the torque to match the target torque, the system eliminates the need for post-engagement torque correction, thereby suppressing drive shaft vibration without prolonging the overall switching time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the actual torque of the power source and compares it with the target torque, dynamically adjusting the torque output. This feedback mechanism ensures precise torque control during the switching process, suppressing vibrations while maintaining efficient timing by making real-time corrections rather than using conservative pre-adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If a meshing clutch mechanism is used for cost advantage, then device complexity is reduced, but differential rotation causes vibration during engagement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclutch mechanism complexityVSAvoiddrive shaft vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the power source and the meshing clutch mechanism. By precisely controlling the torque of the power source during engagement, the controller mediates the interaction between the clutch components, ensuring smooth meshing while suppressing vibrations caused by differential rotation, thus maintaining the simplicity of the mechanical clutch design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the torque parameter of the power source during clutch engagement. By adjusting the torque magnitude and rate of change, the system optimizes the engagement process to minimize differential rotation effects and suppress vibrations, allowing the use of simple meshing clutch mechanisms without suffering from their inherent vibration problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4039554B1Power transmission method for vehicle use and power transmission device for use in vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4039554B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4039554B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4039554B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method includes, based on a torque variation of a drive shaft after an engagement timing of an engine clutch 21 and before a release timing of a motor clutch 19 when switching a power transmission path from a first power transmission path 24 to a second power transmission path 25, increasing a slope of a torque increase of a power generation motor 4 in an absolute value with respect to a slope of a torque decrease of a traveling motor 2 in at least a part of a period from a timing T12 to a timing T14, and increasing a slope of a torque decrease of the power generation motor 4 in the absolute value with respect to a slope of a torque increase of the traveling motor 2 in at least a part of a period from the timing T14 to a timing T16.