Method and apparatus for starting a motor vehicle

• US 6,701,880 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Sankaran, Venkateswa Anand, Gauthier, Greg Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US10/063,333
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.1, 123/179.3, 123/179.5, 123/179.21, 290/38.R, 290/50, 290/30.R, 290/30.A, 290/31, 290/36.R, 320/104
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/16 Adaptation of engine control systems to a different battery voltages, e.g. for using high voltage batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/12 : Starting of engines by means of mobile, e.g. portable, starting sets
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 : Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 : DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 : Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/062 : Battery current
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/102 : Control of the starter motor speed; Control of the engine speed during cranking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

15 A method and an assembly 61 for use with a vehicle 10 having a high voltage battery 42 and an internal combustion engine 12 of the type having a selectively rotatable crankshaft 13 After the high voltage battery 42 receives a donor charge, the assembly 61 causes the crankshaft 13 to be rotated at a slow speed for a predetermined period of time before electrical energy is transferred to the internal combustion engine 12 and before combustion occurs within the engine 12.

Claims

1. An apparatus for rotating a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine after a donor charge has been communicated to a battery, said apparatus comprising a first assembly which senses the transfer of said donor charge to said battery;

and a second assembly which is coupled to said crankshaft and to said first assembly and which rotates said crankshaft at a predetermined speed after said transfer of said donor charge is completed and before combustion occurs within said engine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first assembly comprises a controller;

and an electric current sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second assembly comprises a torque generator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said crankshaft is rotated only for a predetermined period of time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second assembly further comprises an inverter which is coupled to said torque generator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said donor charge only partially charges said battery.

7. A vehicle having an internal combustion engine including a selectively rotatable crankshaft;

a battery which is coupled to said engine, which supplies electrical energy to said engine, and which has a predetermined amount of electrical charge; and

an assembly which is coupled to said engine and to said battery, which senses the occurrence of a predetermined loss of charge of said battery, which allows electrical charge to be communicated to said battery, and which rotates said crankshaft at a predetermined speed after said electrical charge has been communicated to said battery and before electrical energy is supplied to said engine.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said battery is only partially charged after recieving said predetermined amount of charge.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said crankshaft is rotated at said predetermined speed for only a predetermined period of time. 2

10. A method for operating a vehicle of the type having an internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of detecting a transfer of a donor charge to a battery;

and causing said engine to rotate at a predetermined speed before combustion occurs within said engine.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said engine is operated at said predetermined speed only for a predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said engine is operated at a predetermined speed only during the starting of said engine.