System for restarting internal combustion engine when engine restart request occurs

• US 8,196,558 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okumoto, Kazushige, Kato, Akira, Senda, Takashi, Murata, Mitsuhiro, Niimi, Masami, Haruno, Kiyokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai
• Application Number:
  US13/275,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 123/179.28, 123/179.25, 123/185.5, 123/185.9, 123/185.11, 701/110, 701/112, 701/113
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• 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 15/067 the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 Engine speed
• 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: F02N 99/006 Providing a combustible mixture inside the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.

Claims

1. A system for restarting, according to an occurrence of an engine restart request, an internal combustion engine that has been automatically controlled for stopping in response to an engine automatic stop request, the internal combustion engine normally working to burn fuel therein to rotate a crankshaft with a ring gear attached thereto, the system comprising:

a starter provided with a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator working to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear;

a monitor unit working to monitor a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stopping the internal combustion engine; and

when the engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stopping the internal combustion engine, a drive unit working to;

drive the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear while the pinion is kept non-rotated so that there is a difference in rotational-speed between the pinion and the ring gear; and

rotatably drive the motor with the pinion being at least partly engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.

2. A system for restarting, according to an occurrence of an engine restart request, an internal combustion engine that has been automatically controlled for stopping in response to an engine automatic stop request, the internal combustion engine normally working to burn fuel therein to rotate a crankshaft with a ring gear attached thereto, the system comprising:

a starter provided with a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator working to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear;

a monitor unit working to monitor a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stopping the internal combustion engine; and

when the engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stopping the internal combustion engine, a drive unit working to;

activate the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear while the motor is kept off so that there is a difference in rotational-speed between the pinion and the ring gear; and

rotatably drive the motor with the pinion being at least partly engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.