269results about How to "Improve vehicle efficiency" patented technology

A system that enables a fleet of vehicles to be maintained is provided. The disclosed system allows a fleet operator to review the history of the vehicles in the fleet along with vehicle sensor data to identify earmarks in the vehicle sensor data that are predictive of faults that the vehicles have experienced. The operator develops statistical algorithms that can detect an earmark in vehicle sensor data. The system then collects vehicle sensor data and applies the statistical algorithms the vehicle data to determine if a potential fault is going to occur in a vehicle. In response to determining that a potential fault is going to occur, the disclosed system automatically alerts the vehicle driver, automatically schedule a maintenance visit, automatically check the fleet inventory for components required for a maintenance visit and order unavailable components, and automatically dispatch the components to the mechanic.

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle. The system including, a transmission device for transmitting torque to a first at least one drive wheel, a first electric energy conversion device coupled to an input of the transmission device, a second electric energy conversion device for transmitting torque to a second at least one drive wheel, and a control system, during a vehicle speed control operation where a speed of the vehicle is maintained at a desired speed, in response to acceleration resulting in vehicle speed beyond the desired speed, the acceleration not caused by vehicle operator input, the control system varying torque output of at least one of the first electric energy conversion device and the second electric energy conversion device to provide brake torque to at least one of the first at least one drive wheel and the second at least one drive wheel to decelerate the vehicle to the desired speed, selection of said one of the first and second electric energy conversion device based on an operating condition.

Methods, apparatuses, media and signals for supplying energy to an energy bus in communication with an energy generating device and with a regenerative braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle are disclosed. One such method includes controlling power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation. Another such method involves controlling energy contributions onto the energy bus from the energy generating device and from the regenerative braking system respectively, to prevent the contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution. The energy generating device may include an auxiliary power unit, such as fuel cell, or a generator coupled to a prime mover such as an internal combustion engine, for example.

In one embodiment, a hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises at least one drive wheel; a first motor coupled to the drive wheel, said first motor configured to selectively generate electrical energy from kinetic energy received at the drive wheel; a second motor configured to selectively generate electrical energy from kinetic energy received at the drive wheel; a transmission including a first end coupled to the first motor and a second end coupled to the second motor; and a control system configured to vary a level of electrical energy generated by the first motor relative to the second motor in response to a thermal condition of at least one of said first and second motors to provide vehicle braking.

Fuels used may be derived from existing waste streams such as animal wastes and streams of discarded or unwanted animal byproducts generated at animal slaughterhouses. A method of processing organic waste products into fuel includes homogenizing the waste products. The waste products are heated and pressurized. Water is removed from the waste products. Selected constituent of the waste products are separated from the waste products into a waste stream. The waste stream is blended with a fuel to form a bio-fuel mixture.

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle. The hybrid propulsion system including a multiple step fixed-gear transmission device for transmitting torque to a first at least one drive wheel, a first electric energy conversion device coupled to an input of the multiple step fixed-gear transmission device, and a control system, during a deceleration condition, the control system increasing negative torque output of the first electric energy conversion device to meet a desired wheel braking torque in response to the multiple step fixed-ratio transmission transitioning from a first gear ratio to a second gear that is higher than the first gear ratio.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a permanent magnet synchronous motor used in electric vehicles such as hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and the like. The method for controlling the permanent magnet synchronous motor preferably includes detecting an absolute angular position of a permanent magnet synchronous motor; calculating a rotational speed of the permanent magnet synchronous motor based on the detected absolute angular position; detecting a voltage of a battery as a power source; calculating a compensated speed, for which a battery voltage variation is compensated, from the rotational speed of the permanent magnet synchronous motor based on a torque command, the rotational speed of the permanent magnet synchronous motor, and the battery voltage; generating a d-axis current command and a q-axis current command corresponding to the torque command and the compensated speed using a predetermined current command map; converting three-phase currents flowing into the permanent magnet synchronous motor into a d-axis feedback current and a q-axis feedback current based on the detected absolute angular position; calculating a d-axis voltage command and a q-axis voltage command based on the d-axis current command, the q-axis current command, the d-axis feedback current, and the q-axis feedback current; converting the d-axis voltage command and the q-axis voltage command into three-phase voltage commands based on the detected absolute angular position; and controlling the operation of the permanent magnet synchronous motor based on the three-phase voltage commands.

The object of the invention is to provide a lockup device that can improve a fuel efficiency of a vehicle. The lockup device (6) has a piston (61), an output plate (63), a first coil spring (65), an inertia member (64), and a second coil spring (66). The output plate (63) is coupled to a turbine (4) such that it can rotate as an integral unit with the turbine (4). The first coil spring (65) elastically couples the piston (61) to the output plate (63) in a rotational direction. The inertia member (64) is provided such that it can rotate relative to the output member (63). The second coil spring (66) elastically couples the inertia member (64) to the output plate (63) in a rotational direction.

In one embodiment, a hybrid propulsion system for a passenger vehicle is provided. The system comprises at least one drive wheel; a first motor coupled to the drive wheel; a second motor; a transmission including a first end coupled to the drive wheel and a second end coupled to the second motor; and a control system configured to control operation of the first and second motor to each provide vehicle braking torque, wherein transmission state is adjusted in response to an amount of braking torque provided by the first motor and an amount of braking torque provided by the second motor.

An intelligent multiple-loop electric vehicle cooling system includes a battery pack, an electric drive module, a battery radiator, an electric drive module radiator, electric pumps, pass-through valves, three-way valves, a PTC heater, a heat exchanger. The cooling system is provided with two electric pumps, two pass-through valves, and three three-way valves that are connected through pipelines to form multiple loops. Compared with the prior art, by means of the present invention, multiple three-way valves and pass-through valves are disposed, to connect pipelines to form loops meeting different cooling or heating requirements. These loops are selectively opened or closed according to features and working states of a battery pack and an electric drive module of an electric vehicle, to ensure temperature balance of the electric vehicle and efficient operation of the electric vehicle.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a battery assembly comprises: a battery module comprising a plurality of unit batteries; an exterior case for housing the battery module in an internal space; and a heat-dissipating film which is inserted between the plurality of unit batteries and fitted tightly against each of the plurality of unit batteries, and is attached to the inside surface of the exterior case; and the heat-dissipating film comprises: first and second heat-dissipating layers which are formed of a thermally conductive material and discharge the heat of the unit batteries; and an adhesive layer which is formed between the first and second heat-dissipating layers and adheres the first and second heat-dissipating layers.

A hybrid propulsion system for a passenger vehicle is provided. The system comprises a first and second electric motor in the drivetrain, in addition to a transmission. When each of the motors are providing braking torque, the transmission state is adjusted in response to the amounts of braking torque provided by the first and second motors.

A surge voltage generated by the switching operation of an IGBT element and voltage variation generated in an equivalent series resistance of a capacitor are superimposed on an input voltage of an inverter. The equivalent series resistance has a temperature dependence that a resistance value increases with a decrease in a capacitor temperature. The IGBT element has a temperature dependence that an element withstand voltage decreases with a decrease in an inverter temperature. When capacitor temperature is lower than a predetermined threshold value, a control device reduces an upper limit value of the input voltage by an amount corresponding to the voltage variation from its upper limit value at a high temperature, and controls a target voltage of a boost converter such that an output voltage does not exceed the upper limit value. Consequently, the allowable range of the surge voltage can be ensured.

An automatic transmission includes a single-pinion first planetary gear, a double-pinion second planetary gear, a single-pinion third planetary gear, a single-pinion fourth planetary gear, clutches C1, C2, C3, and C4, and brakes B1 and B2. First to ninth forward speeds and a reverse speed are established by engaging three of the clutches C1 to C4 and the brakes B1 and B2 and disengaging the remaining three clutches and brakes.

The invention relates to a parallel-connection type hydraulic-electro hybrid power driving system, belonging to a driving system of a vehicle. An engine of the power driving system is sequentially and mechanically connected with a clutch and a speed changer; an input shaft of a torque coupler is mechanically connected with an output shaft of the speed changer; an inverter is respectively connected with a motor and a storage battery, and the other end of the motor is sequentially and mechanically connected with output shafts of an electromagnetic clutch and a hydraulic pump / motor; an oil inlet port of an overflow valve is communicated with an oil way port of high-pressure hydraulic energy storage; an oil inlet port of a hydraulic pump / motor control assembly is communicated with an oil outlet port of a reducing valve; the oil outlet port of the hydraulic pump / motor, the oil outlet port of the hydraulic pump / motor control assembly and the oil outlet port of the overflow valve are communicated with an oil tank; and the oil outlet port of a two-position and two-way electro-hydraulic directional valve is communicated with the oil inlet port of the hydraulic pump / motor. The invention has the advantages of simple structure, mature technology, high reliability, low cost, attention of low-speed area and high-speed area of the vehicle, improvement of the power performance of the vehicle and elongation of the service life of the vehicle.

A power control apparatus for a vehicle battery that includes a relay configured to interrupt or connect electric power supplied from the battery to a vehicle; current sensors configured to detect a battery discharging current supplied to a load of the vehicle through the relay, and a battery charging current introduced from an alternator of the vehicle. In addition, the apparatus includes a controller configured to output a control signal to execute an on / off drive of the relay based on detection values of the current sensors to control the electric power supplied from the battery to the vehicle. The relay, the current sensors, and the controller are mounted to the battery, and the current sensor includes a high current sensor having a substantially large current measurement range and a low current sensor having a substantially small current measurement range.

The invention discloses a CVT (continuously variable transmission) hybrid electric vehicle power source torque optimizing distribution method which comprises the steps of (1) building a whole vehicle transmission system dynamics equation which is related to an accelerator pedal opening value by taking the accelerator pedal opening value, accelerator pedal speed and power supply SOC (state of charge) as optimizing state variables and taking a required torque value as basic; (2) taking engine power as required input power of a whole vehicle, and setting power consumed for overcoming traveling resistance of the vehicle and storage battery power as output power of a system, and combining the whole vehicle transmission system dynamics equation in step (1) so as to obtain final required output power of the system; and (3) defining system efficiency according to the ratio of the required output power and the required input power, taking the highest system efficiency as an optimizing target, and optimizing to obtain power source target torque. The method of the invention can improve the whole vehicle working efficiency, solves a torque distribution problem at a driving working state, and can be widely applied to the field of hybrid electric vehicles.

A rear fairing system for a vehicle includes a roof foil on top of the vehicle roof and sidewall foils pivotally mounted to the vehicle sidewalls. The roof foil includes downwardly facing concavity and a roof foil curved convex upper surface extending laterally across the vehicle roof. A spring extends laterally across the vehicle roof in the downwardly facing concavity. A door foil extends aft of the roof foil with a curved convex upper surface continuing the roof foil curved convex upper surface. Cables extend from the vehicle rear doors to the sidewall foils adjacent the sidewall foil free edges. The cables are taut and strain the sidewall foils toward the vehicle rear doors with the vehicle rear doors closed.

The invention provides a finished hybrid power automobile torque distribution system and method based on parallel control and relates to the field of hybrid power automobile control. The finished hybrid power automobile torque distribution system based on the parallel control consists of a real system and an artificial system, wherein the real system is responsible for driving of actual running of a real automobile, the artificial system is responsible for real automobile modeling and controller parameter optimization in a real automobile real-time running state and parallel execution. The real system consists of a sensor detection circuit, a signal conditioning circuit, a controller and a liquid crystal display. The artificial system consists of a sensor detecting circuit, a signal conditioning circuit and a computer processing system. The finished hybrid power automobile torque distribution system based on the parallel control is simple in structure, easy to achieve and high in reliability, improves the engine fuel utilization rate, reduces emission and effectively improves the actual running performance and working efficiency of the real automobile within a whole service life.

A method is disclosed for controlling cylinder valve switching between a first valve condition and a second valve condition for transitioning between combustion modes of an engine. The method includes adjusting timing of a signal to switch between the valve conditions based on an oil degradation condition from an oil sensor, wherein the combustion modes include spark ignition and homogenous charge compression ignition.

A low pressure fuel pump controlling method for a fuel feeding system of a GDI engine that includes a low pressure system and a high pressure system including controlling the low pressure fuel pump against various problems that may occur during the driving of the engine by variable control of the low pressure fuel pump of the low pressure system for the improvement of fuel efficiency of a vehicle. In various situations, the method drives the low pressure fuel pump under a relatively higher pressure than the fuel efficiency pressure.

Systems, methods and media for reducing the aerodynamic drag of vehicles are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments may include at least one fan for directing air into a lower pressure region behind a vehicle in motion in order to reduce pressure drag. Embodiments may also include one or more internal air ducts for directing air from other parts of the vehicle to the at least one fan. In one embodiment, the operation of the at least one fan may be controlled based on sensed conditions, user control, or other means.

A method for operating a vehicle hybrid propulsion system is described. During a vehicle speed control operation where a speed of the vehicle is maintained at a desired speed, in response to acceleration resulting in vehicle speed beyond the desired speed, the acceleration not caused by vehicle operator input, the torque output of an upstream and / or downstream electric energy conversion device provides brake torque to a drive wheel to decelerate the vehicle to the desired speed. The selection of the electric energy conversion device may be based on an operating condition to achieve improved control and efficiency.

An integrated steering gear and frame structure is designed to modularize a sub-frame as a suspension system and a steering gear as a steering system. Thus, a separate assembly process for the sub-frame and the steering gear is not required, so that a production process can be simplified and an assembly capability can be improved.

A first power supply system is constituted by an alternator and a main battery while a second power supply system is constituted by electrical equipment and a sub-battery. Further, a switch is provided between the first power supply system and the second power supply system. During vehicle deceleration, the switch is switched to a disconnected state, whereby the first power supply system and the second power supply system are disconnected. As a result, a generation voltage of the alternator can be raised, enabling an increase in the generation amount, without applying an excessive voltage to the electrical equipment. Hence, the main battery can be charged sufficiently during deceleration, and therefore the alternator can be halted during acceleration and steady travel. Furthermore, by halting the alternator, an engine load can be reduced, and as a result, an improvement in the fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be achieved.

An integrated steering gear and frame structure is designed to modularize a sub-frame as a suspension system and a steering gear as a steering system. Thus, a separate assembly process for the sub-frame and the steering gear is not required, so that a production process can be simplified and an assembly capability can be improved.

The present invention provides a canister mounted in a vehicle to reduce the discharge of fuel gas and, more particularly, a canister with a heater configured such that fuel gas adsorbed onto active carbon filled in the canister is more easily desorbed from the active carbon and introduced into an engine. The canister with the heater according to the present invention includes a canister housing including a tank port and a purge port, which are provided at the top thereof, and a plurality of inlet holes provided on one side thereof to introduce air; and a heater connected to the top of the plurality of inlet holes of the canister housing and including an air port provided at the top thereof, an open bottom, and a heater module provided therein.