IP Library Granted Patent US 12687144
Granted Patent B2
US 12687144 · App. 19/045,627 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Vehicle control apparatus

Inventors: Tetsu Matsuzaki (Tokyo, JP); Akihiro Kawakami (Tokyo, JP); Yusuke Inokuchi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
F02N11/0851B60K6/442F02N11/0803F16H45/02B60K6/48B60Y2200/92F02N2200/0801F16H2045/005F16H2045/0215
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687144
App. No.
19/045,627
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus includes a lock-up control valve that controls a lock-up piston and a control system. A spool valve stem of the rock-up control valve is configured to move to an engagement position where working fluid is supplied to an apply oil path, a disengagement position where the working fluid is supplied to a release oil path, and the intermediate position. The control system is configured to perform a first starting control in which an engine is cranked in a state where the spool valve stem is held at the intermediate position and the clutch is engaged. The control system is configured to perform, when a start of the engine by the first starting control fails, a second starting control in which the engine is cranked in a state where the spool valve stem is moved to the disengagement position and the clutch is engaged.

Claims (19)

1 . A vehicle control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

an engine coupled to wheels via a power transmission path;

a clutch provided in the power transmission path;

a torque converter provided in the power transmission path and disposed between the engine and the clutch;

a lock-up piston contained in a case of the torque converter and configured to define an apply chamber and a release chamber in the case;

a lock-up control valve coupled to the apply chamber via an apply oil path and coupled to the release chamber via a release oil path; and

a control system comprising a processor and a memory coupled so as to be communicable with each other, wherein

a spool valve stem of the lock-up control valve is configured to move to an engagement position where working fluid is supplied to the apply oil path and the working fluid is discharged from the release oil path, a disengagement position where the working fluid is supplied to the release oil path and the working fluid is discharged from the apply oil path, and an intermediate position located between the engagement position and the disengagement position, and

the control system is configured to

perform, when a starting condition of the engine is satisfied in a state where the spool valve stem is moved to the intermediate position and the clutch is engaged, a first starting control in which the engine is cranked in a state where the spool valve stem is held at the intermediate position and the clutch is engaged, and

perform, when a start of the engine by the first starting control fails, a second starting control in which the engine is cranked in a state where the spool valve stem is moved to the disengagement position and the clutch is engaged

the intermediate position of the spool valve stem is a position where both the apply oil path and the release oil path are shut off.

2 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

a flow rate of the working fluid supplied to the torque converter when the spool valve stem is moved to the intermediate position is less than a flow rate of the working fluid supplied to the torque converter when the spool valve stem is moved to the engagement position, and

the flow rate of working fluid supplied to the torque converter when the spool valve stem is moved to the intermediate position is less than a flow rate of working fluid supplied to the torque converter when the spool valve stem is moved to the disengagement position.

3 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control system engages the clutch when the engine is stopped and a vehicle speed of the vehicle is below a threshold.

4 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

a driving motor coupled to the wheels.