Means for suppressing engine output torque fluctuations
First Claim
1. In an internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, means for suppressing the output torque fluctuations including electric power generating means adapted to be driven by the engine to supply the output shaft with a negative torque directed opposite to a direction of rotation of the output shaft, electric motor means for applying to the output shaft a positive torque which is in the direction of rotation of the output shaft, engine operating condition detecting means for producing an engine condition signal representing an engine operating condition, control means to operate the generating means in the high output torque period and to operate the motor means in the low output torque period, engine output shaft phase detecting means for producing an output shaft phase signal representing the rotational phase of the engine output shaft, engine speed detecting means for producing an engine speed signal, said control means including means for controlling operating timings of the power generating means and the motor means in accordance with said phase signal and said engine speed signal, and timing control means for receiving a signal from said control means and producing first and second motor starting timings and first and second generator starting timings, the operating timings of each of the generating means and the motor means being switched as an engine speed above changes to an engine speed below an engine speed at which torque fluctuations by combustion in the engine is substantially equal to those by inertia of the engine moving parts and vice versa.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An engine has an output shaft which is connected with a generator and a motor. A control device is provided to operate the generator in a high output torque period and to operate the motor in a low output torque period in an operating cycle of the engine. Thus, the generator applies a negative torque to the output shaft whereas the motor applies a positive torque to the output shaft to thereby moderate the output torque fluctuations.
69 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. In an internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, means for suppressing the output torque fluctuations including electric power generating means adapted to be driven by the engine to supply the output shaft with a negative torque directed opposite to a direction of rotation of the output shaft, electric motor means for applying to the output shaft a positive torque which is in the direction of rotation of the output shaft, engine operating condition detecting means for producing an engine condition signal representing an engine operating condition, control means to operate the generating means in the high output torque period and to operate the motor means in the low output torque period, engine output shaft phase detecting means for producing an output shaft phase signal representing the rotational phase of the engine output shaft, engine speed detecting means for producing an engine speed signal, said control means including means for controlling operating timings of the power generating means and the motor means in accordance with said phase signal and said engine speed signal, and timing control means for receiving a signal from said control means and producing first and second motor starting timings and first and second generator starting timings, the operating timings of each of the generating means and the motor means being switched as an engine speed above changes to an engine speed below an engine speed at which torque fluctuations by combustion in the engine is substantially equal to those by inertia of the engine moving parts and vice versa.
- 10. In an internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, torque fluctuation suppressing means including fixed coil means provided on a stationary part of the engine for defining stator coil means of an AC generator means and for defining stator magnetic body means of a motor means, first rotating coil means provided on a rotating part of the engine and connected in parallel with said stator magnetic body means to provide electromagnet means which defined armature means of the motor means, second rotating coil means provided on a rotating part of the engine in a waved configuration to define a field coil means of said AC generator means, control means for providing a current supply to said fixed coil means and first rotating coil means to operate the motor means so that a positive torque is applied to said output shaft and to said second rotating coil means and for connecting the fixed coil means to rectifying means to operate said generator means to thereby apply a negative torque to said output shaft, said control means including first timing control means for controlling timing of the current supply to said fixed coil means so that said motor means is operated in the low output torque period, and second timing control means for controlling timing of current supply to said second rotating coil means so that said AC generator means is operated in the high output torque period.
Specification