IP Library Granted Patent US 9,254,838
Granted Patent B2
US 9,254,838 · App. 13/616,857 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Hybrid powertrain coordination during a diesel particulate filter regeneration event

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,254,838
App. No.
13/616,857
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes an electric motor in electrical communication with a traction battery, a diesel engine in power-flow communication with the electric motor and with an automatic transmission, and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are configured to provide a combined torque to the automatic transmission. The powertrain further includes an exhaust aftertreatment device in fluid communication with the diesel engine. The controller is configured to: receive a regeneration request from the exhaust aftertreatment device; determine if a state-of-charge of the fraction battery is within a predetermined range of a target value; initiate a regeneration event if the state-of-charge of the traction battery is within the predetermined range of the target value; receive an immediate torque request from the automatic transmission; and provide a torque command to the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request.

Claims (43)

1. A method of controlling a vehicle powertrain during an aftertreatment regeneration event, the powertrain including an electric motor in power-flow communication with a diesel engine, the method comprising:

receiving a regeneration request;

determining if a state-of-charge of a traction battery is within a predetermined range of a target value;

initiating the regeneration event if the state-of-charge of the traction battery is within the predetermined range of the target value;

receiving an immediate torque request from a transmission control module in response to a request for an automatic gear change, wherein the immediate torque request is a momentary negative torque request that is operative to decrease the torque transmitted through an automatic transmission to facilitate the automatic gear change; and

operating the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the regeneration event includes increasing the ratio of fuel-to-air provided to the diesel engine to a level greater than a stoichiometric balance.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request includes operating the electric motor as a generator to produce a negative output torque.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising drawing-down the state-of-charge of the traction battery if the state-of-charge is above the predetermined range.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising regenerating the state-of-charge of the traction battery if the state-of-charge is below the predetermined range.

6. A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain comprising:

an electric motor in electrical communication with a traction battery;

a diesel engine in power-flow communication with the electric motor and with an automatic transmission, the diesel engine and electric motor configured to provide a combined torque to the automatic transmission;

an exhaust aftertreatment device in fluid communication with the diesel engine, the exhaust aftertreatment device including a lean NOx trap;

a controller in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and the automatic transmission, the controller configured to:

receive a regeneration request from the exhaust aftertreatment device;

determine if a state-of-charge of the traction battery is within a predetermined range of a target value;

initiate a regeneration event if the state-of-charge of the traction battery is within the predetermined range of the target value;

receive an immediate torque request from the automatic transmission in response to a request for an automatic gear change, wherein the immediate torque request is a momentary negative torque request that is operative to decrease the torque transmitted through the automatic transmission to facilitate the automatic gear change; and

provide a torque command to the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request.

7. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate the regeneration event by increasing a ratio of fuel-to-air provided to the diesel engine to a level greater than a stoichiometric balance.

8. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the torque command provided to the electric motor is configured to operate the electric motor as a generator to produce a negative output torque from the motor.

9. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to draw down the state-of-charge of the traction battery if the state-of-charge is above the predetermined range.

10. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to regenerate the state-of-charge of the traction battery if the state-of-charge is below the predetermined range.

11. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the exhaust aftertreatment device is configured to provide a regeneration request when the pressure drop across the aftertreatment device exceeds a threshold pressure drop.

12. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the immediate torque request includes a request for an immediate change in combined torque; and

wherein the electric motor supplies substantially all of the immediate change in combined torque in response to the immediate torque response during the regeneration event.

13. A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain comprising:

an electric motor in electrical communication with a traction battery;

a diesel engine in power-flow communication with the electric motor and with an automatic transmission, the diesel engine and electric motor configured to provide a combined torque to the automatic transmission;

an exhaust aftertreatment device in fluid communication with the diesel engine, the exhaust aftertreatment device including a lean NOx trap;

a controller in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an the automatic transmission, the controller configured to:

receive a regeneration request from the exhaust aftertreatment device;

determine if a state-of-charge of the traction battery is within a predetermined range of a target value;

initiate a regeneration event if the state-of-charge of the traction battery is within the predetermined range of the target value;

receive an immediate torque request from the automatic transmission in response to a request for an automatic gear change, the immediate torque request including a request for the combined torque to momentarily approach zero to facilitate the gear change; and

provide a negative torque command to the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request.

14. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 13 , wherein the negative torque command provided to the electric motor is configured to operate the electric motor as a generator to produce a negative output torque from the motor.

15. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to draw down the state-of-charge of the traction battery if the state-of-charge is above the predetermined range.

16. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to regenerate the state-of-charge of the traction battery if the state-of-charge is below the predetermined range.

17. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 13 , wherein the exhaust aftertreatment device is configured to provide a regeneration request when the pressure drop across the aftertreatment device exceeds a threshold pressure drop.

18. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6 , wherein the immediate torque request includes a request for an immediate change in combined torque; and

wherein the electric motor supplies substantially all of the immediate change in combined torque in response to the immediate torque response during the regeneration event.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0415 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2013
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030694/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2012
From: WHITNEY, CHRISTOPHER E.; SCAVONE, LUCA; HEAP, ANTHONY H.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 028974/0378 →