Control for a motor vehicle cranking system
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
- (a) from a time t0 to a time t2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine;
(b) beginning at time t2, providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil;
(c) beginning at a time t1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t1 is a predetermined amount of time after t0 ;
wherein t1 is selected to be a time at which said solenoid is fully actuated; and
wherein t1 is before t2.
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Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine includes a starter motor assembly having a cranking motor and a starter solenoid. An electronic controller independently controls actuation of the starter solenoid and a contactor which provides current to the cranking motor. In this embodiment of the invention, the starter solenoid has a single electrical coil. Further, the contactor is relocated from its typical location within the starter solenoid to within the electronic controller, located remotely from the starter motor assembly.
58 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
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(a) from a time t0 to a time t2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine; (b) beginning at time t2, providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil; (c) beginning at a time t1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t1 is a predetermined amount of time after t0 ; wherein t1 is selected to be a time at which said solenoid is fully actuated; and wherein t1 is before t2.
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2. A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
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(a) from a time t0 to a time t2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine; (b) beginning at time t2 ;
providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil;(c) beginning at a time t1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t1 is before or concurrent with time t2 and a predetermined amount of time after t0 ; wherein said drive mechanism includes a first gear and said engine includes a second gear, and wherein t1 is selected to be a time at which; (a) if said first gear is not in interference with said second gear, said first gear and said second gear are fully meshed; (b) if said first gear is in interference with said second gear, said solenoid is as fully actuated as possible in view of the interference of said first gear and said second gear. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
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(a) from a time t0 to a time t2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine; (b) beginning at time t2, providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil; (c) beginning at a time t1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t1 is a predetermined amount of time after t0 ; wherein time t1 is before time t2. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said system comprising:
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an electrical power source; a cranking motor; a drive mechanism coupled to said cranking motor for rotation therewith and adapted for movement into engagement with said engine; a solenoid mechanically coupled to said drive mechanism such that actuation of said solenoid moves said drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine, said solenoid further comprising an electrical coil which controls actuation of the solenoid; contactor means coupled to said electrical power source and to said cranking motor for switchably coupling said cranking motor to said electrical power source; and control circuitry adapted for independent electrical control of said solenoid and said contactor means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A cranking system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an electrical power source; a cranking motor; a drive mechanism coupled to said cranking motor for rotation therewith and adapted for movement into engagement with said engine; a solenoid coupled to said drive mechanism such that actuation of said solenoid moves said drive mechanism into engagement with said engine, said solenoid further comprising an electrical coil which controls actuation of the solenoid; contactor means coupled to said electrical power source and to said cranking motor for switchably coupling said cranking motor to said electrical power source; and control circuitry adapted for independent electrical control of said solenoid and said contactor means; wherein said control circuitry is located remotely from said cranking motor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification