Method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle

• US 7,128,037 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hoetzer, Dieter, Tumback, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US10/470,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.28, 290/22, 290/31, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2002 using different starting modes, methods, or actuators depending on circumstances, e.g. engine temperature or component wear
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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

Abstract

A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor being mechanically linkable to an output shaft of the hybrid drive via a gear system. The output shaft of the hybrid drive is placed in rotary motion, and at least one of the electric motors is switched to a generator mode by the gear system and by a control system.

Claims

1. A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive of a standing motor vehicle in case of a failure of an electric power supply, the internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor being mechanically linkable to an output shaft of the hybrid drive via a gear system, the method comprising:

placing the output shaft of the hybrid drive in rotary motion;

switching at least one of the at least one electric motor to a generator mode by the gear system and by a control system, wherein each of the at least one electric motor of the hybrid drive is first operated in idle mode, and the at least one electric motor is switched to generator mode only after a presettable amount of external kinetic energy has been applied to the motor vehicle by one of pushing the vehicle, towing the vehicle, and pushing the vehicle down an inclined plane; and

transmitting the kinetic energy from the output shaft to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, thereby cranking the internal combustion engine.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using electrical energy supplied by the electric motor operating in generator mode to operate at least one second electric motor in motor mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting one of generator mode and motor mode of the electric motor by operating a shift mechanism of the gear system.

4. A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive of a standing motor vehicle in case of a failure of electric power supply, the internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor being mechanically linkable to an output shaft of the hybrid drive via a gear system, the method comprising:

to start the internal combustion engine, first operating the at least one electric motor in idle mode and placing the output shaft in rotary motion by one of pushing the vehicle, towing the vehicle, and pushing the vehicle down an inclined plane;

subsequently braking the at least one electric motor in at least one of a mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic manner; and

transmitting the kinetic energy from the output shaft to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, thereby cranking the internal combustion engine.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the output shaft is placed in rotary motion by applying a kinetic energy to the motor vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of available method variants for starting the internal combustion engine by a control unit of the hybrid drive.