Vehicle with engine idle-management system

• US 6,836,718 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Harding, Michael P., Justice, Richard S., Bultemeier, Kenneth Jr., Hasfjord, Lawrence D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/408,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/53-54, 701/103, 701/112-113, 123/339.1, 123/339.14, 123/339.16, 123/339.17, 123/339.18, 123/339.22, 123/339.24
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/12 responsive to conditions relating to doors or doors locks, e.g. open door
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 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 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0803 Parking brake state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0804 Temperature inside the vehicle cabin

Abstract

A vehicle according to the present invention has an internal combustion engine that is controlled by an engine-control computer that is operable, when the vehicle is parked, to operate in an idle-management mode to automatically start and stop idling operation of the internal combustion engine in order to maintain desirable electrical system energy levels, maintain desirable fluid temperatures of the internal combustion engine, and/or enable maintenance of comfortable occupant cabin temperatures. Each vehicle according to the present invention has a unique configuration of safety-interlock provisions that affect when and if an idle-management mode of operation of the engine-control computer is initiated and/or maintained.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

(a) one or more rigid and strong frame structures to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are directly or indirectly engaged and from which said majority of other components of said vehicle derive support directly or indirectly;

(b) a suspension system that is engaged to and supports said one or more frame structures above the ground and that provides the vehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along the ground;

(c) an occupant cabin that is engaged to and supported by said one or more frame structures and within which occupants of said vehicle may reside;

(d) a powertrain for driving said vehicle along the ground;

(e) wherein said powertrain comprises an internal combustion engine for supplying power to downstream components of said powertrain in order to drive said vehicle along the ground;

(f) wherein said powertrain comprises a selectable-ratio power transmission with a clutch system for selectively coupling and decoupling an input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission and an output shaft of said internal combustion engine;

(g) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission comprises an output shaft;

(h) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission is constructed such that said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission can be selectively coupled to said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission at one of plurality of speed ratios;

(i) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission is further constructed such that said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission can be decoupled from said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission to effect a neutral operational state of said selectable-ratio power transmission;

(j) a transmission-control computer that is operable to either effect coupling of said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission to said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission at one of said speed ratios or to effect said neutral operational state of said selectable-ratio power transmission in which said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission is decoupled from said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission;

(k) an engine-control computer that is operable in an idle-management mode of operation to automatically start end stop idling operation of said internal combustion engine in a manner dependent upon one or more of an electrical system energy level, one or more engine fluid temperatures, and an internal temperature of said occupant cabin;

(l) wherein engine-control logic according to which said engine-control computer operates requires that said engine-control computer be receiving a safety-interlock signal, which is received through a safety-interlock input channel of said engine-control computer, before said engine-control computer will operate in said idle-management mode of operation;

(m) wherein a hood-tilt switch and switched terminals of a normally-open transmission-neutral relay are connected in series with said safety-interlock input channel such that said safety-interlock signal must be transmitted to said safety-interlock input channel through said hood-tilt switch and said switched terminals of said normally-open transmission-neutral relay;

(n) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission or said transmission-control computer comprises a transmission-neutral output terminal that is connected to ground voltage level of an electrical system of said vehicle when said selectable-ratio power transmission has a neutral operating state; and

(o) wherein a switching circuit of said normally-open transmission-neutral relay is connected on one side to an ignition-switched voltage source and on an opposite side to said transmission-neutral output terminal.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said engine-control logic is such that a clutch-state signal, which is received through a clutch-state input channel of said engine-control computer, must change from a first value to a second value and back to said first value in order for said engine-control computer to enter said idle-management mode of operation; and

(b) said vehicle further comprises a dummy clutch switch mounted within said occupant cabin of said vehicle and connected to said clutch-state input channel of said engine-control computer.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said transmission-control computer receives electrical power from an ignition-switched voltage source.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein:

(a) said vehicle comprises an anti-lock brake system controller that is communicatively linked to said transmission-control computer or said engine-control computer; and

(b) said anti-lock brake system controller receives electrical power from said ignition-switched voltage source.

5. A vehicle, comprising:

(a) one or more rigid and strong frame structures to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are directly or indirectly engaged and from which said majority of other components of said vehicle derive support directly or indirectly;

(b) a suspension system that is engaged to arid supports said one or more frame structures above the ground and that provides said vehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along the ground;

(c) an occupant cabin that is engaged to and supported by said one or more frame structures and within which occupants of said vehicle may reside;

(d) a powertrain for driving said vehicle along the ground;

(e) wherein said powertrain comprises an internal combustion engine for supplying power to downstream components of said powertrain in order to drive said vehicle along the ground;

(f) wherein said powertrain comprises a selectable-ratio power transmission with a clutch system for selectively coupling and decoupling an input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission and an output shaft of said internal combustion engine;

(g) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission comprises an output shaft;

(h) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission is constructed such that said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission can be selectively coupled to said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission at one of a plurality of speed ratios;

(i) wherein said selectable-ratio power transmission is further constructed such that said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission can be decoupled from said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission to effect a neutral operational state of said selectable-ratio power transmission;

(j) a transmission-control computer that is operable to either effect coupling of said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission to said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission at one of said speed ratios or to effect said neutral operational state of said selectable-ratio power transmission in which said output shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission is decoupled from said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission;

(k) wherein said transmission-control computer is further operable to control said clutch system to couple/decouple said input shaft of said selectable-ratio power transmission to/from said output shaft of said internal combustion engine;

(l) an engine-control computer that is operable in an idle-management mode of operation to automatically start and stop idling operation of said internal combustion engine in a manner dependent upon one or more of an electrical system energy level, one or more engine fluid temperatures, and an internal temperature of said occupant cabin;

(m) wherein engine-control logic according to which said engine-control computer operates is such that a clutch-state signal, which is received through a clutch-state input channel of said engine-control computer, must change from a first value to a second value and back to a first value in order for said engine-control computer to enter said idle-management mode of operation; and

(n) wherein said vehicle further comprises a dummy clutch switch mounted within said occupant cabin of said vehicle and connected to said clutch-state input channel of said engine-control computer.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein:

(a) said transmission-control computer receives electrical power from an ignition-switched voltage source.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

(a) said vehicle comprises an anti-lock brake system controller that is communicatively linked to said transmission-control computer or said engine-control computer; and

(b) said anti-lock brake system controller receives electrical power from said ignition-switched voltage source.