START SYSTEM FOR A COMBUSTION ENGINE OF A VEHICLE

• US 20120090569A1
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DTI Group BV
• Original Assignee: DTI Group BV
• Inventors: Van Druten, Roell Marie, Vroemen, Bas Gerard, Serrarens, Alexander Franciscus Anita
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/105 the accumulator being a flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• 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: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/02 Gearing between starting-engines and started engines; Engagement or disengagement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/022 the starter comprising an intermediate clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 5/04 of inertia type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A drive mechanism 1 comprises a combustion engine 3 and a start system 5 which has an output 7 that is connected to a camshaft 9 of the combustion engine. The start system further includes a flywheel 11 and connecting means connecting the flywheel to the output. The connecting means comprise a clutch 13 and a gear reduction 15.

The start system 5 further includes a drive source 17 formed by an electromotor which is directly connected to the flywheel 11 or which is connected to the connecting means between the clutch 13 and the flywheel 11. The maximum power that can be delivered by the drive source 17 is just sufficient to maintain the flywheel at the proper r.p.m. If the drive source 17 is turned on, it thus delivers just sufficient power to maintain the flywheel at the proper r.p.m. The maximum power of the drive source is in this case 50 W.

Claims

1. A start system for a combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising an output which can be coupled to the camshaft of the combustion engine, a flywheel, connecting means connecting the flywheel to the output and comprising a coupling, and a drive source coupled to the connecting means or to the flywheel, characterised in that the drive source is connected to the flywheel or, between the clutch and the flywheel, is connected to the connecting means while the drive source, if turned on, delivers sufficient power to have the flywheel maintain its speed.

2. A start system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the maximum power that can be delivered by the drive source preferably is just sufficient to maintain the flywheel at the proper speed.

3. A start system as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the maximum power of the drive source is 500 W.

4. A start system as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the maximum power of the drive source is 50 W.

5. A start system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting means further comprise a gear reduction which is positioned between the output and the clutch.

6. A start system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting means further comprise a further gear reduction which is positioned between the flywheel and the clutch.

7. A start system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterised in that a freewheel clutch or freewheel bearing is positioned parallel to the clutch and the gear reduction or further gear reduction.

8. A start system as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that the clutch and the gear reduction or the further gear reduction are preferably formed by a brake and a planetary gear set comprising at least three rotational members, of which a first rotational member is connected to the output, a second rotational member is connected to the flywheel and a third rotational member is connected to the brake.

9. A start system as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the brake is formed by the drive source which is arranged as an electromotor or in that the brake is formed by an electromotor and/or generator.

10. A start system as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the flywheel is formed by the rotor of the electromotor and/or generator or in that the flywheel is connected thereto.

11. A start system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a further freewheel clutch or a further freewheel bearing is positioned between the flywheel or the brake and the output.

12. A start system as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, characterised in that a further brake is coupled to the electromotor and/or generator or to the flywheel.

13. A start system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the brake or clutch is open in a non-actuated state and is kept open by means of a spring or centrifugal element.

14. A start system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a further clutch is positioned between the clutch and the output.

15. A start system as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the further clutch is preferably arranged as a centrifugal decoupling, which decouples beyond a certain speed.

16. A start system as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the centrifugal decoupling is preferably directly coupled with one side to the camshaft.

17. A start system as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the centrifugal decoupling is combined with the clutch that can be actively actuated.

18. A drive mechanism for a vehicle comprising a combustion engine, as well as a start system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, of which the output is connected to the camshaft of the combustion engine.

19. A drive mechanism as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the combustion engine comprises a multi-belt, as well as a pulley conveying the multi-belt and connected to an end of the camshaft, the output of the start system being connected to said end of the camshaft.

20. A drive mechanism as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the output of the start system is connected to a further pulley which is connected to the camshaft via the multi-belt.

21. A drive mechanism as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the output of the start system is connected to the end of the camshaft of the combustion engine via an additional pulley transmission.