Method of operating an internal combustion powered vehicle generator with time delayed load energizing

• US 6,833,630 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kiefer, Wolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US10/117,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 290/7, 290/31, 290/34
• US Class Current: 290/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A method of operating a generator in a vehicle is provided, which generator is driven by an internal-combustion engine and supplies energy to a vehicle wiring system. For improving vehicle emissions, particularly after a cold start of the internal-combustion engine, the generator is not operated immediately after the starting operation but is operated only after a defined time period such that it supplies energy to the vehicle wiring system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a generator in a vehicle, which generator is driven by an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle and supplies its energy to a vehicle wiring system, the method comprising the acts of:

starting an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle; and

immediately after starting the internal-combustion engine, operating the generator for a defined time period so as not to supply energy to the vehicle wiring system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of operating the generator during the defined time period is performed by maintaining a generator voltage produced by the generator below a normal vehicle wiring voltage.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the act of bringing-up the generator voltage to the normal vehicle wiring voltage in a ramp-shaped manner after the defined time period.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined time period is variable.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the defined time period is variable.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the defined time period is variable.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the act of selecting the defined time period as a function of vehicle operating parameters.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the act of selecting the defined time period as a function of vehicle operating parameters.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the act of selecting the defined time period as a function of vehicle operating parameters.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the starting of the internal-combustion engine, the generator is or was previously electrically uncoupled from the vehicle wiring system;

and

wherein the generator is electrically coupled with the vehicle wiring system only after the defined time period elapses.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the electrical coupling of the generator with the vehicle wiring system so as to connect an exciter current is performed in a ramp-shaped manner.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the defined time period is variable.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the defined time period is variable.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the defined time period is selected as a function of vehicle operating parameters.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the defined time period is selected as a function of vehicle operating parameters.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the defined time period is selected as a function of vehicle operating parameters.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the act of electrically uncoupling the generator from the vehicle wiring system immediately after starting the internal-combustion engine using a disconnect command.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the act of electrically uncoupling the generator from the vehicle wiring system immediately after starting the internal-combustion engine using a disconnect command.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the act of electrically uncoupling the generator from the vehicle wiring system immediately after starting the internal-combustion engine using a disconnect command.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the act of electrically uncoupling the generator from the vehicle wiring system immediately after starting the internal-combustion engine using a disconnect command.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

mechanically uncoupling the generator from the internal-combustion engine during the starting of the internal-combustion engine; and

only after the defined time period elapses, coupling the generator with the internal-combustion engine with respect to a drive.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein for performing the mechanical uncoupling between the internal-combustion engine and the generator, a series coupling is uncoupled.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the defined time period is selected as a function of the vehicle wiring voltage.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the defined time period is selected as a function of the vehicle wiring voltage.