Cranking device for internal combustion engines

• US 6,308,674 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schramm, Dieter, Ruehle, Walter, Kramer, Claus, Seils, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/423,330
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.1, 123/179.3, 123/179.25, 290/38.R, 318/430, 318/431
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0851 characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0874 characterised by said switch being an electronic switch
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/047 Information about pinion position

Abstract

The invention relates to a cranking device for internal combustion engines, having a starter motor whose starter pinion initially shifts into the gear ring of the engine with a starting signal via an engagement magnet, before the starter motor trips the cranking process with full force. The shifting of the starter pinion and the switching of the starter motor are improved by providing that the starter motor (SM) with the starting signal (st) drives the starter pinion initially via a protective resistor (Rvor) with reduced torque, and the engagement magnet (EM) shifts it into the gear ring of the engine, and that after that, the engagement magnet (EM) presses the starter pinion all the way into the gear ring of the engine, and the starter motor (SM) turns the engine over with full torque by bypassing the protective resistor (Rvor).

Claims

1. A cranking device for internal combustion engines, comprising a starter motor whose starter pinion initially shifts into a gear ring of the engine with a starting signal via an engagement magnet, before the starter motor trips the cranking process with full force;

a logic circuit (L);

a first triggered semiconductor;

a second triggered semiconductor; and

a protective resistor (Rvor) wherein;

the starter motor (SM) with the starting signal (st) drives the starter pinion initially via the protective resistor (Rvor) with reduced torque, and the engagement magnet (EM) shifts into the gear ring of the engine, and

after the shifting, the engagement magnet (EM) presses the starter pinion all the way into the gear ring of the engine, and the starter motor (SM) turns the engine over with full torque by bypassing the protective resistor (Rvor), and wherein;

the starting signal (st) is delivered to the logic circuit (L) which via the first triggered semiconductor configured as a highside smart FET (T1), imposes reduced current on a series circuit comprising the protective resistor (Rvor) and the starter motor (SM);

the logic circuit, via the second triggered semiconductor configured as a highside smart FET (T2), triggers the engagement magnet (EM) in clocked fashion, until the starter pinion shifts into the gear ring of the engine;

the second semiconductor (T2) is connected in series with the first semiconductor (T1), and

after the shifting of the starter pinion, the second semiconductor (T2) is made fully conducting via the logic circuit (L).

2. The cranking device of claim 1, and further comprising a power relay (LR) and an N-channel MOSFET (T4), wherein after the starter pinion has been forced into the gear ring of the engine, the logic circuit (L) triggers the N-channel MOSFET (T4), which turns on the power relay (LR), and

a contact (r) of the power relay (LR) imposes full current on the starter motor (SM), whereupon the power relay (LR) is connected to a positive potential of a supply voltage (U) and the N-channel MOSFET (T4) connected to ground is connected in series with the power relay (LR).

3. The cranking device of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit (L) switches over, after a predetermined period of time, from a clocked operation to continuous operation for the engagement magnet (EM).

4. A cranking device for internal combustion engines, comprising a starter motor whose starter pinion initially shifts into a gear ring of the engine with a starting signal via an engagement magnet, before the starter motor trips the cranking process with full force;

a logic circuit (L);

a first triggered semiconductor;

a second triggered semiconductor;

a protective resistor (Rvor), and a travel sensor wherein;

the starter motor (SM) with the starting signal (st) drives the starter pinion initially via the protective resistor (Rvor) with reduced torque, and the engagement magnet (EM) shifts into the gear ring of the engine, and

after the shifting, the engagement magnet (EM) presses the starter pinion all the way into the gear ring of the engine, and the starter motor (SM) turns the engine over with full torque by bypassing the protective resistor (Rvor), and wherein;

the starting signal (st) is delivered to the logic circuit (L) which via the first triggered semiconductor configured as a highside smart FET (T1), imposes reduced current on a series circuit comprising the protective resistor (Rvor) and the starter motor (SM);

the logic circuit, via the second triggered semiconductor configured as a highside smart FET (T2), triggers the engagement magnet (EM) in clocked fashion, until the starter pinion shifts into the gear ring of the engine;

the second semiconductor (T2) is connected in series with the first semiconductor (T1), and

after the shifting of the starter pinion, the second semiconductor (T2) is made fully conducting via the logic circuit (L), and

the shifting of the starter pinion into the gear ring of the engine is monitored by means of the travel sensor (WS) and is indicated to the logic circuit (L);

the logic circuit (L), as a function of the response of the travel sensor (WS), switches the second semiconductor (T2) from a clocked operation to continuous operation.

5. The cranking device of claim 4, and further comprising a power relay (LR) and a third semiconductor, wherein after the starter pinion has been forced into the gear ring of the engine, the logic circuit (L) triggers the third semiconductor configured as a highside smart FET (T3), which turns on the power relay (LR), and

a contact (r) of the power relay (LR) imposes full current on the starter motor (SM), whereupon the third semiconductor (T3) is connected to a positive potential of a supply voltage (U) and is connected in series with the power relay (LR) that is connected to ground.

6. The cranking device of claim 5, wherein the starter motor (SM), the engagement magnet (EM), and the travel sensor (WS) form a starter unit (ST), which is separate from an electronic portion (ET) having the logic circuit (L), the protective resistor (Rvor), and one of the highside smart FETs and an N-channel (MOSFET T4) and the power relay (LR), and which is connected to the electronic portion (ET) via three lines.