Method for engaging the starter pinion of a starter with the starter ring gear of an internal combustion engine during the running-down of the internal combustion engine

• US 7,275,509 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kassner, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEUNG, KA CHUN A
• Application Number:
  US11/546,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.25, 123/179.4, 123/179.3, 123/185.13, 123/406.58, 123/406.61, 123/406.63, 123/436, 123/631, 290/38.E, 290/38.R, 74/6, 74/7.R
• US Class Current: 123/179.25
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0844 with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0855 during engine shutdown or after engine stop before start command, e.g. pre-engagement of pinion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/04 the gearing including disengaging toothed gears
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/04 Reverse rotation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2006 using prediction of future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2008 using a model
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/13 Machine starters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/131 Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/137 Reduction gearing

Abstract

A method is provided for engaging a starter pinion of a starter with a starter ring gear of an internal combustion engine during the running-down of the internal combustion engine, which internal combustion engine has an arrangement for determining rotational speed and rotational direction of a crankshaft. The starter pinion is engaged with the starter ring gear when the following conditions are satisfied: a) the speed of the internal combustion engine is below a maximum speed and above a minimum speed; and b) the rotational direction corresponds to the forward rotational direction of the crank shaft.

Claims

1. A method for engaging a starter pinion of a starter with a starter ring gear of an internal combustion engine during a running-down of the internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has an arrangement for determining a rotational speed and a rotational direction of a crankshaft, the method comprising:

determining whether the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine is below a predetermined maximum speed and above a predetermined minimum speed;

determining whether the rotational direction of the crankshaft corresponds to a forward rotational direction; and

engaging the starter pinion with the starter ring gear if;

a) the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine is below the predetermined maximum speed and above the predetermined minimum speed; and

b) the rotational direction of the crankshaft corresponds to the forward rotational direction.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the arrangement for determining the rotational speed and the rotational direction of the crankshaft includes a signal-generating disk which is coupled to the internal combustion engine and has a marking, wherein the marking includes an alternating arrangement of teeth and tooth spaces; and

a first sensor and a second sensor are assigned to the signal-generating disk, wherein the first and second sensors each generate an electrical signal configured to represent one of two different signal levels, a first signal level being assigned to a tooth and a second signal level being assigned to a tooth space, and wherein the rotational direction of the crank shaft is ascertained by utilizing a) one of a rising and falling edge of an electrical signal of one of the first and second sensors, and b) and a signal level of an electrical signal of the other one of the first and second sensors.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a control unit for the starter, the control unit generating and transmitting an engaging signal to the starter, and wherein the starter engages the starter pinion with the starter ring gear in response to the engaging signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the control unit stores, for different operating states of the internal combustion engine, a) a time period between generation of the engaging signal and engagement of the starter pinion with the starter ring gear, and b) a model of running-down characteristics of the internal combustion engine; and

the time of the engaging signal is determined from the model of running-down characteristics of the internal combustion engine and the time period between generation of the engaging signal and engagement of the starter pinion with the starter ring gear, in such a manner that engagement of the starter pinion with the starter ring gear is prevented when the crankshaft is rotating in a reverse direction.

5. A control system for a starter of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a controller for engaging a starter pinion of a starter with a starter ring gear of an internal combustion engine during a running-down of the internal combustion engine; and

an arrangement for determining a rotational speed and a rotational direction of a crankshaft, wherein the arrangement for determining the rotational speed and the rotational direction of the crankshaft includes a signal-generating disk which is coupled to the internal combustion engine and has a marking, wherein the marking includes an alternating arrangement of teeth and tooth spaces, wherein a first sensor and a second sensor are assigned to the signal-generating disk, wherein the first and second sensors each generate an electrical signal configured to represent one of two different signal levels, a first signal level being assigned to a tooth and a second signal level being assigned to a tooth space, and wherein the rotational direction of the crank shaft is ascertained by utilizing a) one of a rising and falling edge of an electrical signal of one of the first and second sensors, and b) and a signal level of an electrical signal of the other one of the first and second sensors;

wherein the starter pinion is engaged with the starter ring gear if;

a) the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine is below the predetermined maximum speed and above the predetermined minimum speed; and

b) the rotational direction of the crankshaft corresponds to the forward rotational direction.