METHOD AND APPARATUS TO EVALUATE A STARTER FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
First Claim
1. Method for monitoring pinion and motor solenoids of an electrically-powered motor for a starter of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- monitoring current and electrical energy consumed by said pinion and motor solenoids of the starter during an engine starting event;
determining electrical energy consumed by the pinion and motor solenoids during the engine starting event;
monitoring current ringing associated with activation of the pinion and motor solenoids during the engine starting event; and
identifying a fault in one of the pinion solenoid and the motor solenoid based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumed by the pinion and motor solenoids during the engine starting event.
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Abstract
An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. Method for monitoring pinion and motor solenoids of an electrically-powered motor for a starter of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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monitoring current and electrical energy consumed by said pinion and motor solenoids of the starter during an engine starting event; determining electrical energy consumed by the pinion and motor solenoids during the engine starting event; monitoring current ringing associated with activation of the pinion and motor solenoids during the engine starting event; and identifying a fault in one of the pinion solenoid and the motor solenoid based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumed by the pinion and motor solenoids during the engine starting event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification