STARTING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ENGINES

• US 20100048353A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwase, Yuji, Tabata, Atsushi, Kakinami, Takuma
• Granted Patent: US 8,496,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/167
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1015 Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/027 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/28 Control for reducing torsional vibrations, e.g. at acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0215 in relation with elements of the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0802 : Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/122 : Atmospheric temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 5/04 : of inertia type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/131 : Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/134 : Clutch connection

Abstract

A starting control system that starts an engine by an electric motor, including: a starting device including a plurality of the electric motors for starting the engine; and a starting device controller that controls the starting device to prevent an occurrence of a resonance when starting the engine by the electric motor of the starting device. The starting control system can prevent an occurrence of vibration and noise in a power transmission route from an electric motor to an engine.

Claims

1. A starting control system for starting an engine by an electric motor, comprising:

a starting device including a plurality of the electric motors for starting the engine; and

a starting device control means for controlling the starting device to prevent an occurrence of a resonance when starting the engine by the electric motor of the starting device.

2. The starting control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the starting device control means includes a means for controlling the starting device to prevent an occurrence of a resonance in a power transmission route from the starting device to the engine, when starting the engine under low temperature.

3. The starting control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first transmission unit to which the torque is transmitted from the engine; and

clutch mechanisms arranged downstream of the first transmission unit.

4. The starting control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the electric motors are connected with the first transmission unit in a power transmittable manner.

5. The starting control system as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

a second transmission unit arranged downstream of the first transmission unit; and

wherein the second transmission unit includes the clutch mechanisms.

6. The starting control system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of electric motors; and

wherein any one of the electric motors is arranged in a route between the first transmission unit and the clutch mechanism.

7. The starting control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the first transmission unit includes a continuously variable transmission capable of controlling a speed change ratio thereof between an input revolution and an output revolution continuously by controlling outputs of the electric motors;

the starting device includes the continuously variable transmission; and

a speed change ratio of the second transmission unit between an input revolution and an output revolution thereof can be controlled by controlling torque capacities of the clutch mechanisms.

8. The starting control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the starting device control means includes a means for increasing an inertia moment in the power transmission route from the starting device to the engine, to prevent an occurrence of a resonance when starting the engine.

9. The starting control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the continuously variable transmission includes a planetary gear mechanisms having more than three rotary elements capable of rotating differentially among each other;

the electric motors are connected individually to the different rotary elements of the planetary gear mechanism; and

the starting device control means includes a means for selecting the electric motor for starting the engine to prevent an occurrence of a resonance when starting the engine.

10. The starting control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

the engine and the plurality of electric motors are connected individually with the plurality of the rotary elements of the planetary gear mechanism thereby arranging the engine between the electric motors in a nomographic diagram showing more than three rotary elements.

11. The starting control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the first transmission unit includes an electrical continuously variable transmission in which a speed change ratio thereof is controlled electrically and varied continuously; and

the second transmission unit includes a geared transmission in which a gear stage thereof is changed stepwise.

12. The starting control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the electrical continuously variable transmission and the geared transmission are connected in tandem so as to input power outputted from any one of those transmissions to the other one.

13. The starting control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

a total speed change ratio of the drive unit is set by both of the electrical continuously variable transmission and geared transmission.

14. The starting control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the electrical continuously variable transmission includes a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism having a carrier functioning as an input element, a sun gear functioning as a reaction element, and a ring gear functioning as an output element.

15. The starting control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the second transmission unit is constructed of two sets of planetary gear mechanisms and a plurality of engagement devices; and

the clutch mechanism includes a plurality of engagement devices.

16. The starting control system as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

the two sets of planetary gear mechanisms include a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism;

the sun gears of the first and the second planetary gear mechanisms are connected with each other, and the carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism and the ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism are connected with each other; and

the plurality of engagement devices include

a first clutch connecting the ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism and the output element of the power distribution mechanism selectively;

a second clutch connecting the sun gear of the first planetary gear mechanism and the sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism with the output element of the power distribution mechanism selectively;

a first brake fixing the sun gears of the first and the second planetary gear mechanisms selectively; and

a second brake fixing the carrier of the second planetary gear mechanisms selectively.

17. The starting control system as claimed claim 5, wherein:

the second transmission unit is constructed of three sets of planetary gear mechanisms and a plurality of engagement devices; and

the clutch mechanism includes the plurality of engagement devices.

18. The starting control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the planetary gear mechanisms include a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism;

sun gears of first and second planetary gear mechanisms are connected with each other;

a ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism, a carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism and a carrier of the third planetary gear mechanism are connected to one another; and

a ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism and a sun gear of the third planetary gear mechanism are connected with each other; and

the engagement device includes

a first clutch connecting the ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism and the sun gear of the third planetary gear mechanism with the electrical continuously variable transmission unit selectively;

a second clutch connecting the sun gears of the first and second planetary gear mechanisms with the electrical continuously variable transmission unit selectively;

a first brake fixing the sun gears of the first and second planetary gear mechanisms selectively;

a second brake fixing the carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism selectively; and

a third brake fixing the ring gear of the third planetary gear mechanism selectively.

19. A starting control method for starting an engine by an electric motor, comprising:

starting the engine by a starting device including a plurality of the electric motors; and

controlling the starting device to prevent an occurrence of a resonance when starting the engine by the electric motor of the starting device.

20. A starting control system for starting an engine by an electric motor, comprising:

a starting device including a plurality of the electric motors for starting the engine; and

a starting device controller for controlling the starting device to prevent an occurrence of a resonance when starting the engine by the electric motor of the starting device.