Control device for hybrid vehicle drive apparatus
View Patent ↗When the power transmitting path in an automatic shifting portion ( 20 ) is interrupted, a Co-lock control is executed to allow a differential portion ( 11 ) to be placed in a non-differential or nearly non-differential state with rotary elements (RE 1 to RE 3 ) kept in a unitary rotation. Thus, an engine ( 8 ), a first electric motor (M 1 ) and a second electric motor (M 2 ) rotate at an identical or nearly identical speed. Then, for the purpose of controlling the second electric motor (M 2 ) at a rotation speed below a permit rotation speed, it may suffice for the first and second electric motors (M 1 ) and (M 2 ) to be driven in a direction to lower relevant rotation speeds while monitoring any one of an engine rotation speed, a first-motor rotation speed and a second-motor rotation speed. This allows such a control to be easily executed, thereby preventing the second electric motor from reaching a high speed rotation.
1. A control device for a hybrid vehicle drive apparatus in which the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus comprises an electrically controlled differential portion including a differential mechanism, connected to an engine in a drive-force transmissive state, whose differential state is controlled with controlling an operating state of a first electric motor, a second electric motor connected such that power can be transmitted between drive wheels and the second electric motor, and a shifting portion or an engaging element forming a part of the power transmitting path;
the control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus, comprising:
the differential mechanism including a differential action limiting device for limiting a differential action thereof; and
the control device being operative to cause the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when the shifting portion is placed in a neutral state with the power transmitting path being interrupted.
2. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device causes the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when a vehicle speed lies at a high vehicle speed exceeding a given vehicle speed determining value.
3. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the given vehicle speed determining value is a function of a speed ratio of the shifting portion.
4. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device causes the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when an output torque delivered from the engine lies at a high torque exceeding a given engine torque determining value.
5. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device causes the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when a rotation speed of the second electric motor lies at a high rotation speed exceeding a given second-motor rotation speed determining value.
6. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device causes the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when a rotation speed of an input shaft of the shifting portion lies at a high rotation speed exceeding a given input-shaft rotation speed determining value.
7. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device causes the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when a rotation speed of an engaging element incorporated in the shifting portion lies at a high rotation speed exceeding a given engaging-element rotation speed determining value.
8. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the differential mechanism includes a first rotary element connected to the engine in the drive-force transmissive state, a second rotary element connected to the first electric motor in the drive-force transmissive state, and a third rotary element connected to the drive wheels in the drive-force transmissive state; and
the differential action limiting device suppresses a relative rotation of at least two rotary elements among the first rotary element to third rotary element for limiting the differential action of the differential mechanism.
9. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically controlled differential portion operates as a continuously variable transmission with controlling the operating state of the first electric motor.
10. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according claim 1 , wherein when the shifting portion is in the neutral state during the vehicle running, the determination whether to cause the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism is executed based on output torque of the engine and the rotation speed of the second electric motor.
11. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the neutral state of the shifting portion during the vehicle running, the differential action limiting device operates to limit the differential action when the rotation speed of the second electric motor exceeds a given first-motor rotation speed determining value for determining whether to cause the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action.
12. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein in the neutral state of the shifting portion during the vehicle running, the differential action limiting device operates to limit the differential action when the rotation speed of the second electric motor exceeds a given second-motor rotation speed determining value lower than the given first-motor rotation speed determining value, and output torque of the engine exceeds the given engine torque determining value.
13. A control device for a hybrid vehicle drive apparatus in which the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus comprises an electrically controlled differential portion including a differential mechanism, connected to an engine in a drive-force transmissive state, whose differential state is controlled with controlling an operating state of a first electric motor, a second electric motor connected such that power can be transmitted between drive wheels and the second electric motor, and drive-force connecting/disconnecting means operative to connect and disconnect a power transmitting path;
the control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
the differential mechanism including a differential action limiting device for limiting a differential action of the differential mechanism; and
the control device is operative to cause the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism, when the drive-force connecting/disconnecting means disconnects the power transmitting path.
14. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the differential mechanism includes a first rotary element connected to the engine in the drive-force transmissive state, a second rotary element connected to the first electric motor in the drive-force transmissive state, and a third rotary element connected to the drive wheels in the drive force transmissive state; and
the differential action limiting device suppresses a relative rotation of at least two rotary elements among the first rotary element to third rotary element for limiting the differential action of the differential mechanism.
15. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the electrically controlled differential portion operates as a continuously variable transmission with controlling the operating state of the first electric motor.
16. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according claim 13 , wherein when the shifting portion is in the neutral state during the vehicle running, the determination whether to cause the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action of the differential mechanism is executed based on output torque of the engine and the rotation speed of the second electric motor.
17. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein in the neutral state of the shifting portion during the vehicle running, the differential action limiting device operates to limit the differential action when the rotation speed of the second electric motor exceeds a given first-motor rotation speed determining value for determining whether to cause the differential action limiting device to limit the differential action.
18. The control device for the hybrid vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein in the neutral state of the shifting portion during the vehicle running, the differential action limiting device operates to limit the differential action when the rotation speed of the second electric motor exceeds a given second-motor rotation speed determining value lower than the given first-motor rotation speed determining value, and output torque of the engine exceeds the given engine torque determining value.