Methods and systems for stopping an engine

• US 10,450,979 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gibson, Alex O'Connor, Oshinsky, David, Hippley, Richard John, Zdravkovski, Danny, Cabadas, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Staubach, Carl C
• Application Number:
  US15/244,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20160363072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/30 characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/192 Power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/43 Control of engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/162 Flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0245 Shutting down engine, e.g. working together with fuel cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0005 during deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 43/04 using only digital means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 : characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0844 : with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0851 : characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0855 : during engine shutdown or after engine stop before start command, e.g. pre-engagement of pinion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 : Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 : Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 : Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 : Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a stop/start vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine throttle position is adjusted in response to whether or not a starter engages a flywheel during engine stopping. The throttle may be adjusted to a more open position if the starter engages the flywheel or to a more closed position if the starter does not engage the flywheel.

Claims

1. A method for stopping rotation of an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

ceasing fuel delivery to engine cylinders combusting air and fuel via a controller;

commanding engagement of a starter pinion from a state not engaged with a flywheel of the engine to a state engaged with the flywheel of the engine, where the commanding engagement of the starter pinion is based on a first condition of engine speed being less than a first vibration speed threshold and engine speed being greater than a second vibration speed threshold; and

adjusting a position of a throttle based on whether or not the starter pinion engages the flywheel of the engine via the controller in response to commanding engagement of the starter pinion and engine speed reaching zero.

2. The method of claim 1, where the throttle is adjusted to a first position when the starter pinion does not engage the flywheel of the engine.

3. The method of claim 2, where the throttle is adjusted to a second position when the starter pinion engages the flywheel of the engine, the second position more open than the first.

4. The method of claim 1, where the commanding engagement of the starter pinion is based on a second condition of engine speed being less than the first vibration speed threshold, engine speed being less than the second vibration speed threshold, and engine speed being greater than an engagement speed.

5. The method of claim 4, where the engagement speed is an engine speed below which the engine may rotate in a reverse direction while the engine is being stopped.

6. The method of claim 1, where engine speed is decreasing during commanding engagement of the starter pinion, and where a dual mass flywheel and a driveline disconnect clutch are mechanically coupled to the engine.

7. A method for stopping rotation of an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

ceasing fuel delivery to engine cylinders combusting air and fuel via a controller;

commanding engagement of a starter pinion that is not engaged to a flywheel of the engine to engage the flywheel of the engine via the controller, where the commanding engagement of the starter pinion is based on a first condition of engine speed being less than a first vibration speed threshold, engine speed being less than a second vibration speed threshold, and engine speed being greater than an engagement speed;

adjusting a position of a throttle to a first position when the starter pinion engages the flywheel of the engine via the controller;

adjusting the position of the throttle to a second position when the starter pinion does not engage the flywheel of the engine via the controller, the second position less open than the first position;

cranking the engine via a starter with the throttle in the first position before engine stopping in response to an operator change of mind via the controller and stopping the engine speed to zero in response to an absence of the operator change of mind via the controller.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising cranking the engine with the throttle in the second position after engine stop in response to vehicle operating conditions.

9. The method of claim 7, where the commanding engagement of the starter pinion is based on a second condition of engine speed being less than the first vibration speed threshold and engine speed being greater than the second vibration speed threshold.

10. The method of claim 7, where ceasing fuel delivery is based on conditions to automatically stop the engine.

11. The method of claim 7, where ceasing fuel delivery includes sequentially ceasing fuel injection.

12. A vehicle system, comprising:

an engine including a throttle;

a dual mass flywheel (DMF) including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;

a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;

a starter including a base state where the starter is not engaged to the engine;

a transmission selectively coupled to the engine via the driveline disconnect clutch; and

a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to adjust a position of the throttle during an engine stop based on engine speed being less than a first vibration speed threshold, engine speed being less than a second vibration speed threshold, engine speed being greater than a starter pinion engagement speed, and engine speed being zero.

13. The vehicle system of claim 12, where the throttle is adjusted to a first position in response to the starter not engaging the engine.

14. The vehicle system of claim 13, where the throttle is adjusted to a second position in response to the starter engaging the engine, the second position more open than the first position.

15. The vehicle system of claim 12, further comprising additional instructions to adjust the position of the throttle in response to an engine speed.

16. The vehicle system of claim 12, further comprising additional instructions to crank the engine via the starter in response to an operator change of mind.

17. The vehicle system of claim 16, where the operator change of mind is indicated via releasing a brake pedal.

18. The vehicle system of claim 12, further comprising additional instructions to not attempt to engage the starter at engine speeds below the starter pinion engagement speed and above zero engine speed.