METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR STARTING AN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED ENGINE OF A TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of starting an engine including an engine control unit (ECU) of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the method comprising:
- transmitting a message, via a TRS controller, to the ECU at a predetermined rate to hold one or more switches of the ECU in a closed state; and
supplying power from a battery to a starter of the engine to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods for starting an electronically controlled engine of a TRS by supplying power from a battery, are provided. The engine is electronically controlled by an engine control unit (ECU). The systems and methods can achieve a complete engine start even when the ECU experiences a reset during the startup of the engine.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of starting an engine including an engine control unit (ECU) of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the method comprising:
-
transmitting a message, via a TRS controller, to the ECU at a predetermined rate to hold one or more switches of the ECU in a closed state; and supplying power from a battery to a starter of the engine to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of starting an electronically controlled engine of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the electronically controlled engine being configured to supply power to a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) of the TRS, the electronically controlled engine including an engine control unit (ECU), the TRU including a TRS controller, the electronically controlled engine further including a starter for initiating operation of the engine, the method comprising:
-
activating a keyswitch signal, via the TRS controller, for closing a first switch of the ECU and supplying current from a battery to the ECU; activating a run signal, via the TRS controller, for setting the ECU and the electronically controlled engine to a pre-crank state, wherein a first side of a starter relay contact is connected to the battery, a second side of the starter relay contact is connected to a starter coil, current is supplied from the battery to a first side of a starter relay activator, and a current carrying contact side of a starter relay is open at the first side; and transmitting a CAN (Controller Area Network) message via the TRS controller, for closing a second switch of the ECU to supply power from the battery to the starter, wherein when the battery is in a low voltage profile for a first duration, the CAN message is transmitted at a predetermined rate to keep the keyswitch signal and the run signal active, and the first switch and the second switch are held in a closed state for a predetermined second duration, the predetermined second duration being longer than the first duration.
-
-
13. A system for starting an electronically controlled engine of a transport refrigeration system (TRS) that includes a transport refrigeration unit (TRU), the electronically controlled engine configured to supply power to the TRU, the system comprising:
-
a TRS controller; an engine control unit (ECU); a TRS controller to ECU interface configured to transmit a message between the TRS controller and the ECU; and a starter control connected to the ECU and configured to control power supply from a battery to a starter of the engine so that power is supplied from the battery to the starter to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification