Method of starting engine and apparatus therefor

• US 4,862,010 A
• Filed: 05/27/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Kyohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duncanson, Jr., W. E.
• Application Number:
  US07/203,361
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 290/28, 290/31, 290/36 R, 290/36 A, 290/38 R, 290/38 C, 290/38 E, 290/DIG. 1, 290/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 290/38.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2011 Control involving a delay; Control involving a waiting period before engine stop or engine start

Abstract

A power supply to various electric accesaries of a vehicle is stopped when an instruction of engine starting is given after a engine key switch is turned on. An excitation current of an electromagnetic switch of an engine starter increases gradually with time and after checking various conditions necessary to start the engine therafter, the supply of the excitation current is blocked until a completion of engine starting is decided when the checking shows some problem on engine start and a power supply to the various electric accessaries is allowed after a completion or blocking of the excitation current.

Claims

1. A method of starting an engine automatically comprising the steps of

stopping a current supply to electrical accessaries of a vehicle when an engine start instruction is given after a power source is connected by a key switch and starting an exciting current supply to an electromagnetic switch of an engine starter such that the exciting current supplied to said electromagnetic switch increases gradually,

checking various conditions necessary to start the engine before said electromagnetic is closed,

continuing the gradually increasing exciting current supply to said electromagnetic switch when said conditions are satisfied to close said electromagnetic switch to thereby supply a current to said starter so that the engine is started thereby and terminating said exciting current when a completion of engine start is confirmed,

stopping said exciting current for a time including a time period for which said checking step is executed and ending at a time when said completion of engine start is not confirmed, and

allowing a current supply to said accessaries after the termination or the stopping of said exciting current.

2. An automatic engine starting device comprising an engine starter having an electromagnetic switch and adapted to start an engine upon a closure of said electromagnetic switch, driving means for supplying an exciting current to said electromagnetic switch of said engine starter, a relay device for on-off controlling a current supply to various electric accessaries of a vehicle, detection means for detecting various conditions necessary to start said engine, an operating sensor for detecting an operating condition of said engine, and control means, said control means being adapted to actuate said relay device to stop a current supply to said accessaries when an engine start instruction is given after a power source is connected in circuit by a key switch and to actuate said driving means such that said exciting current increases with time, said control means being adapted to check output signals of said detecting means during a time from said actuation of said driving means up to a closure of said electromagnetic switch, to allow said increse of said exciting current to a value at which said electromagnetic switch is closed, to terminate an operation of said driving means when a completion of an engine start is confirmed by said operating signal of said operating sensor, to stop said operation of said driving means for a time including a time period for which said checking of said output signals of said detecting means are performed and ending at a time at which said completion of said engine start is not confirmed when any of said various conditions is not satisfied and to allow a current supply to said accessaries by said relay device after a termination or stoppage of operation of said driving means.