SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE

• US 20140324305A1
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Larsson, Lena
• Granted Patent: US 9,096,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/54
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0627 Fuel flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/18083 without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/023 Drive-off gear selection, i.e. optimising gear ratio for drive off of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/58 dependent on signals from the steering
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

A system and a method for operating an engine of a vehicle are provided wherein a transmission coupled to the engine has a freewheeling mode. The engine is switched off by setting the transmission into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle. A gear in the transmission is selected proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine.

Claims

1. A method for operating an engine (20) of a vehicle (10), particularly a commercial vehicle, wherein a transmission (22) coupled to the engine (20) has a freewheeling mode, characterized by

switching off the engine (20) by setting the transmission (22) into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine (20) in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle (10);

selecting a gear in the transmission (22) proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle (10) anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine (20).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized by

in a first case, when a steering action is anticipated on or after restarting the engine (20), selecting a gear in the transmission (22) generating higher engine revolutions than when no steering action is anticipated, or

in a second case, when no steering action is anticipated on or after restarting the engine (20), selecting a gear in the transmission (22) generating lower engine revolutions than would have been chosen when a steering action would have been anticipated.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by adapting the gear as a function of a vehicle speed.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by restarting the engine (20) when one or more conditions are fulfilled, the conditions comprising

a steering action above a predetermined steering angle (α

) and/or a predetermined steering force (SF) is required actually or within a predetermined time limit;

a braking action is required actually or within a predetermined time limit by activating a brake actuator (16);

a system (100) responsive to approaching objects detects an approaching object;

a lane detecting system (110) of the vehicle (10) requires a steering action within a predetermined time limit and/or spatial range ahead of the vehicle (10);

an air pressure in a pressurized air system (120) is at or below a air pressure limit;

a battery charge in a battery system (130) of the vehicle (10) is at or below a battery charge limit.

5. The method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by switching off the engine (20) only when one or more conditions are fulfilled, the conditions comprising

no steering action above a predetermined steering angle is required actually or within a predetermined time limit;

no braking action is required actually or within a predetermined time limit;

air pressure (P) in a pressurized air system (120) is available above a air pressure limit;

a battery charge in a battery system (130) of the vehicle (10) is above a battery charge limit.

6. The method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by prohibiting switching off of the engine (20) in case a lane detecting system (110) of the vehicle (10) requires a steering action within a predetermined time limit and/or spatial range ahead of the vehicle (10).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by restarting the engine (20) in case a steering angle (α

) is anticipated of at least 5°

, preferably of at least 10°

on or after restart of the engine (20).

8. A control system for operating an engine (20) of a vehicle (10), particularly a commercial vehicle, wherein a transmission (22) coupled to the engine (20) has a freewheeling mode, by employing a method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by providing means (50) for

switching off the engine (20) by setting the transmission (22) into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine (20) in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle (10);

selecting a gear in the transmission (22) proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle (10) anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine (20).

9. The system according claim 8, characterized in that the means (50) are coupled to a system (100) responsive to approaching objects.

10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the means (50) are coupled to a lane detecting system (110) of the vehicle (10).

11. The system according to any one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the means (50) are responsive to a steering angle (α

) and/or a steering force (SF) and/or a braking force (BF).

12. A vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle, comprising a control system (50) according to anyone of the claims 8 to 11.

13. Computer program comprising a computer program code adapted to perform a method or for use in a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 when said program is run on a programmable microcomputer.

14. Computer program according to claim 12 adapted to be downloadable to a control unit (50) or one of its components when run on a computer which is connected to the internet.

15. Computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising a program code for use in a method according to one of claims 1 to 7 on a computer.

16. A method for operating an engine of a vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle, wherein a transmission coupled to the engine has a freewheeling mode, characterized by

switching off the engine by setting the transmission into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle;

selecting a gear in the transmission proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized by

in a first case, when a steering action is anticipated on or after restarting the engine, selecting a gear in the transmission generating higher engine revolutions than when no steering action is anticipated, or

in a second case, when no steering action is anticipated on or after restarting the engine, selecting a gear in the transmission generating lower engine revolutions than would have been chosen when a steering action would have been anticipated.

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized by adapting the gear as a function of a vehicle speed.

19. The method according to claim 16, characterized by restarting the engine when one or more conditions are fulfilled, the conditions comprising

a steering action above a predetermined steering angle and/or a predetermined steering force is required actually or within a predetermined time limit;

a braking action is required actually or within a predetermined time limit by activating a brake actuator;

a system responsive to approaching objects detects an approaching object;

a lane detecting system of the vehicle requires a steering action within a predetermined time limit and/or spatial range ahead of the vehicle;

an air pressure in a pressurized air system is at or below a air pressure limit;

a battery charge in a battery system of the vehicle is at or below a battery charge limit.

20. The method according to claim 16, characterized by switching off the engine only when one or more conditions are fulfilled, the conditions comprising

no steering action above a predetermined steering angle is required actually or within a predetermined time limit;

no braking action is required actually or within a predetermined time limit;

air pressure in a pressurized air system is available above a air pressure limit;

a battery charge in a battery system of the vehicle is above a battery charge limit

21. The method according to claim 16, characterized by prohibiting switching off of the engine in case a lane detecting system of the vehicle requires a steering action within a predetermined time limit and/or spatial range ahead of the vehicle.

22. The method according to claim 16, characterized by restarting the engine in case a steering angle is anticipated of at least 5°

, preferably of at least 10°

on or after restart of the engine.

23. A control system for operating an engine of a vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle, wherein a transmission coupled to the engine has a freewheeling mode, by employing a method according to claim 16, characterized by providing means for

switching off the engine by setting the transmission into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle;

selecting a gear in the transmission proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine.

24. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that the means are coupled to a system responsive to approaching objects.

25. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that the means are coupled to a lane detecting system of the vehicle.

26. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that the means are responsive to a steering angle and/or a steering force and/or a braking force.

27. A vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle, comprising a control system according to claim 23.

28. Computer program comprising a computer program code adapted to perform a method or for use in a method according to claim 16 when said program is run on a programmable microcomputer.

29. Computer program according to claim 28 adapted to be downloadable to a control unit or one of its components when run on a computer which is connected to the internet.

30. Computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising a program code for use in a method according to claim 16 on a computer.