WO2010075941A1

WO2010075941A1 - Vehicle and operating method

Info

Publication number: WO2010075941A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/008785
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adrian Bercovici
Original assignee: Deutsche Post Ag
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2009-12-09
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Also published as: DE102008063439A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle having a plurality of storage media. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that discharging and/or charging of at least one of the storage media takes place such that a charge state of said storage medium is below a prescribable lower target value. The invention further relates to a vehicle that can be operated by means of the method.

Description

Vehicle and operating procedures

The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating the motor vehicle.

Background of the invention:

In view of the more than ever raised demands to reduce the environmental impact caused by road traffic, vehicles with hybrid drives are receiving increasing attention. A hybrid drive means a drive which has both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor or a hydraulic drive unit as the drive motor. The hybrid drive is superior to a conventional drive with only one internal combustion engine in that the electric motor or the hydraulic drive unit of the hybrid drive, because of its large torque at low speeds facilitates the startup of a vehicle and thus reduces its fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.

The electric motor draws its energy from a rechargeable battery, which allows a further advantage of the hybrid drive: When braking the vehicle, the electric motor operates as a generator namely and recharges the battery, so that a part of the kinetic energy of the vehicle is recovered as electrical energy , which is available for the next acceleration process. A hybrid drive can be designed differently.

In a split-hybrid drive, one axle of a vehicle is conventionally driven by an internal combustion engine while another axle is driven by an electric motor that derives its power from a battery. In other embodiments of the split-hybrid drive, a plurality of electric motors are provided, which are designed, for example, as wheel motors. In a parallel hybrid drive, an internal combustion engine and an electric motor alternately or jointly drive a transmission input shaft. In this embodiment of the hybrid Anthebes, it is also possible that the internal combustion engine drives the electric motor as a generator and, if necessary, recharges the battery.

In a hybrid serial drive, the engine is mechanically disconnected from the drive wheels but firmly coupled to a generator. The drive of the drive wheels takes place in a serial hybrid drive basically via electric motors.

In a hydraulic hybrid drive, the hydraulic drive unit is mechanically coupled by means of a clutch to the drive train when braking the vehicle. The hydraulic drive unit pumps oil from a low pressure accumulator into a high pressure accumulator. As a result, the vehicle is braked and at the same time at least partially stores the kinetic energy as pressure energy in the high-pressure accumulator. The hydraulic drive unit remains coupled to the powertrain until the next acceleration event. During the acceleration process, the hydraulic drive unit converts the pressure energy stored in the high-pressure accumulator into mechanical energy and accelerates the vehicle. When the high-pressure accumulator is exhausted, the coupling between the hydraulic drive unit and the drive train is disengaged and only engaged again during the next deceleration.

Especially in city traffic, which is characterized by frequent deceleration and acceleration again, the hybrid drive for vehicles is becoming increasingly attractive, because the generator can recover electrical energy during braking, which is stored in the battery and is available for the next acceleration process , Therefore, it is usually possible in vehicles with hybrid drive under the operating conditions described, both the energy consumption, and the Reduce pollutant emissions compared to vehicles with conventional drive. The described operating conditions are more conspicuous for logistics vehicles used to deliver mail because they make numerous stops, even on a free route, to enable the delivery of mail at their respective destination. As the stop density increases, fuel and emission savings are increased by the hybrid drive,

From DE 198 31 487 C1 a method for operating a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle is known. The known method comprises acquiring information regarding the course of a route to be completed and a calculation of expected power requirements for the hybrid drive over the course of the route. The method also takes into account additional information collected in the form of traffic reports to optimally control the hybrid drive depending on the expected power requirements.

On this basis, it is an object of the present invention to further improve a method for controlling a vehicle, in particular a logistics vehicle.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1.

The invention proposes a method for operating a vehicle with a plurality of storage media.

This method is characterized in that discharging and / or loading of at least one of the storage media takes place in such a way that a charge state of this storage medium is below a predefinable lower desired value.

The term storage medium is to be understood in a broad sense. In particular, it comprises a carrier of electrical energy, for example a battery. It is however, it is also possible that this is another energy source, for example a motor vehicle fuel.

The concept of unloading is also to be understood in a broad sense. It comprises both the discharge of a battery serving as a storage medium and the removal of an energy carrier from a storage container, for example a tank.

An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the lower target value is dimensioned such that charging of the storage medium takes place in a charging device arranged outside the vehicle.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that discharging and / or loading of at least one further storage medium takes place in such a way that the further storage medium has the highest possible charge state.

A further embodiment of the invention provides for the method to be carried out in such a way that it comprises the following steps:

- Enter delivery addresses of goods;

- calculating the route;

- collecting additional information concerning the course of the calculated route; Calculating power requirements to the hybrid drive;

- Determine a drive plan for the hybrid drive along the calculated route to reduce the energy consumption and / or emissions of the logistics vehicle.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention are

Delivery addresses read in automatically. In a further development of the invention, this can be done without contact. This will be a particularly efficient processing of Delivery reached.

Advantageously, when determining the control plan of the hybrid drive, the environment of the route is taken into account. This includes, for example, the distinction whether the vehicle is traveling in a residential area or on a country road. Experience has shown that a lot of electrical energy is used within a residential area.

The state of charge of the battery is preferably controlled as a function of the expected stopping points of the logistics vehicle.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the route is calculated again after each breakpoint of the logistics vehicle. This is a dynamic route planning that constantly incorporates the current environmental situation into the new calculation. In this way it is ensured that

Information about the traffic situation, which arrive after the calculation of the first route, are taken into account in the further route planning. This measure also saves time, reduces the energy consumption of the logistics vehicle and reduces its emissions.

Advantageously, in a development of the invention, a message is sent to a recipient after each route change. The recipient may be the consignee of a consignment and / or an operations center of the logistics service provider. In a modification of this embodiment of the invention, however, a message is sent to a receiver only if the change of the route results in a change of the original travel time.

A further object of the present invention is to propose a logistics vehicle which is set up in such a way that it allows the method according to the invention to be carried out.

This object is achieved by a logistics vehicle according to claim 10. According to the invention, a motor vehicle, in particular a logistics vehicle is proposed which has a hybrid drive and a detection device. The detection device is set up so that it automatically detects delivery addresses of goods. Furthermore, a telematics system is provided, which is connected to the hybrid drive, with the detection device and navigation satellites for the exchange of information signals.

In one embodiment of the invention, the telematics system is set up so that it reads the delivery addresses from the detection device and calculates a travel route.

The detection device can advantageously have RFID reading devices.

In a development of the invention, it is provided that a transmission control of the logistics vehicle can be influenced by the telematics system.

Brief description of the drawing:

In the drawing, an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The same or corresponding components are provided in the drawing with the same reference numerals. Show it:

Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a hybrid drive, as it is known from the prior art; and

2 shows a schematic representation of the logistics vehicle according to the invention.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a vehicle 1 with a hybrid drive. The vehicle 1 has a driven axle 2 and a non-driven axle 3. The axles 2, 3 each carry two vehicle wheels 4. An internal combustion engine 6 is drivingly connected via a transmission 7 and a differential 8 to the driven axle 2. The transmission 7 is either a manually shifted transmission with a clutch or an automatic transmission. In addition, the transmission 7 is additionally connected on the input side to an electric motor 9. A rechargeable battery 11 supplies the electric motor 9 with the required electrical energy. The engine 6, the electric motor 9 and the battery 11 are signal-connected to a drive controller 12. The drive controller 12 is configured to implement driving commands of a driver according to predetermined operating strategies. FIG. 1, for example, shows an accelerator pedal 13 with which a driver issues an acceleration command.

Of course, the drive controller 12 also receives other driving parameters, such as the vehicle speed, the engaged gear, the accelerator pedal position and the like. These further parameters are shown as k | in FIG ... k _n . Typically, in a hybrid drive, the

Drive control 12 and the state of charge of the battery 11 via a signal line 14. If the vehicle shown in Figure 1 is equipped with an automatic transmission 7, the drive controller 12 also affects changing the switching stages of the transmission. In Figure 1, this option is shown by a dashed line 15 between the drive control 12 and the transmission 7.

From the totality of the acquired data, the drive controller 12 determines a consumption-optimized mode of operation of the hybrid drive, which is entered in FIG. 1 with a dot-dash line and is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 16.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a logistics vehicle according to the invention 1. The logistics vehicle 1 has a hybrid drive 16, which in his essential components with the hybrid drive 16 described in Figure 1 matches. In addition, the logistics vehicle 1 is provided with a detection device 17 which has a number of RFID reading devices to read the delivery addresses of parcels and parcels which are located in the storage space of the logistics vehicle 1. The individual consignments located in the storage room of the vehicle are provided with RFI D labels for this purpose, which, among other information, also contain the delivery address of the respective consignment. The delivery addresses are read out contactlessly and automatically. RF I D labels and the associated reading devices are known in the art and not the subject of the present invention.

RFID tags and RFID readers are cited in the context of the present invention only as an example of a system that allows the delivery addresses of the mailings to be detected contactlessly and automatically. Basically, any other technology is suitable for carrying out the invention, which allows the contactless reading of delivery addresses. For example, it is also possible that the delivery addresses on board the logistics vehicle 1 are automatically scanned.

In a simpler embodiment of the invention, it is quite possible for the driver of the logistics vehicle to manually enter the intended stopping points in the navigation system of the logistics vehicle. The method according to the invention is independent of the way in which the delivery addresses are entered, be it manually or automatically. The possibility of manual entry is provided even if the technical

Requirements for an automatic reading of the delivery addresses are available. The advantage of this is that even with technical breakdowns on the detection device 17, the delivery of the load remains feasible, albeit with a higher workload. Overall, a higher operational reliability is achieved in the delivery.

The delivery addresses are transmitted by the detection device 17 to a telematics system 18 in the logistics vehicle 1, which starts from the shortest possible route is calculated to the detected delivery addresses. The telematics system 18 is connected to navigation satellites in connection, which is illustrated in Figure 2 by a double arrow 19. The navigation satellites may be satellites of the GPS (Global Positioning System) or Galileo navigation system. The telematics system 18 also receives the regional traffic radio and regionally operating traffic control systems to dynamically adapt the routes to the urban traffic situation. In addition, after the delivery of a shipment, the telematics system 18 calculates the optimal next travel route for the onward journey to the next delivery depending on the traffic situation.

Thus, route changes are possible at any time if a traffic jam has been reported in the meantime. Such route changes are simultaneously transmitted to a Eiπsatzzentrale the logistics service provider, which forwards this information to customers, if delays the delivery of one or more shipments by the route change. In a development of the logistics vehicle according to the invention, the messages are transmitted, for example as an SMS message in addition to the recipient of shipments.

The travel route data provided by the telematics system 18 are used in the drive controller 12 to calculate the optimal operating strategy for the hybrid drive 16. Depending on the number of subsequent Zustellhalte the state of charge of the battery 11 is selectively influenced according to the invention. The influence of the state of charge of the battery 11 is also anticipatory. In this case, it is conceivable, for example, for the battery 11 to be completely charged during an overland journey in order to be able to be used in the subsequent ones

Deliveries in a residential area as low as possible to drive. The telematics system 18 controls the hybrid drive 16 in such a way that the deliveries in a residential area, the battery 11 is discharged as much as possible in order to fully recharge them only on the next overland travel. In this way, emissions within residential areas are kept to a minimum.

The prerequisite for this is that the telematics system 18 the delivery addresses or the delivery stops are available so that it the routes between the Can calculate delivery. This requirement is created by the exchange of information between the detection device 17 and the telematics system 18. Depending on the number of Zustellhalte or breakpoints and the routes, which lie between the individual Zustellhalten, the state of charge of the battery 11 is controlled. Conventional controls for hybrid lifting are not able to do this because of the lack of information about the breakpoints.

In a corresponding manner, in the case of a hydraulic drive unit, the charging or discharging of the high-pressure accumulator is controlled.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the delivery addresses of the items can also be determined in a logistics center where the logistics vehicle 1 is loaded. The delivery addresses are transmitted here as a complete data set in the telematics system 18 of the logistics vehicle 1. This can be done for example by means of a memory card or by a wireless or wired communication link between a computer in the logistics center and the telematics system 18 of the logistics vehicle 1. In a concrete example, the items of mail can be transported past the logistics center along a transport route or within a transport device to a bar code reader or RFID reading device, which record the respective delivery addresses and merge them in a data memory. On the basis of the collected delivery addresses, such consignments for a respective logistics vehicle are then summarized, which allow routing for the entirety of the logistics vehicles used. In the logistics vehicles 1, the delivery addresses are again used in the manner described above to allow the best possible operation of the vehicle, so that its energy consumption and emissions are reduced.

In the event that the logistics vehicle 1 is equipped with an automatic transmission 7, it is provided in a development of the invention that while driving with the internal combustion engine and the transmission control is influenced to minimize the number of switching stage change. For example Upshifts suppressed when the telematics system 18 recognizes from the present route data that shortly after the intended upshift again a lower speed is required, which requires a lower gear.

Bezugszeichenhste:

1 vehicle

2 driven axle 3 non-driven axle

4 vehicle wheels

6 internal combustion engine

7 gears

8 differential 9 electric motor

11 rechargeable battery

12 drive control

13 accelerator pedal

15 line 14 signal line

16 hybrid drive

17 detection device

18 telematics system

19 double arrow

Claims

claims:

1. A method for operating a vehicle with a plurality of storage media, wherein a discharging and / or loading of at least one of the

Storage media is carried out so that a state of charge of this storage medium is below a predetermined lower setpoint.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower setpoint value is dimensioned so that the storage medium is charged in a charging device arranged outside the vehicle.

3. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that discharging and / or loading of at least one further storage medium takes place such that the further storage medium has the highest possible state of charge.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

- Enter delivery addresses of goods; - calculating the route;

- collecting additional information concerning the course of the calculated route;

- calculating expected energy demand values of the vehicle for the course of the calculated travel route; - Adjusting the calculated route as a function of one

State of charge of one or more of the storage media and locations of charging stations.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a delivery address is automatically read in.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the delivery addresses are read in contactlessly.

7. Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that locations of charging stations are transmitted via a communication network, for example a mobile radio network.

8. The method according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the state of charge of the battery (11) is controlled in dependence on the expected stopping points of the vehicle (1).

9. Method according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that after each stopping point of the vehicle, the route is recalculated.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a message is sent to a receiver after a route change.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that a message is sent to a receiver only if the change of the route has a change of the original driving time result.

12. Multiple Storage Media Method It is contemplated that it includes a charge controller that may perform unloading and / or loading of at least one of the storage media such that a state of charge of that storage medium is below a predeterminable lower limit

Setpoint is.

13. Vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the charge control device contains means for processing further transport parameters.

14. Vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one of the further transport parameters is selected from the following group:

- delivery addresses of cargo;

- information about a course of a calculated route; - Expected energy demand values of the vehicle for the course of the calculated route and

- Information about locations of charging stations.