Method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A method for starting an internal combustion engine having a motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power, the method comprising:
- calculating a reference positioning torque;
causing the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke into a starting position where the positioning torque is opposed by a compression condition due to a firing stroke of the engine; and
causing the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A motor is mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber and being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power. The method involves causing the motor to supply a positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element into a starting position, The method also involves causing the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when the at least one moveable element is in the starting position to cause the moveable element to accelerate from the starting position under low compression conditions to generate sufficient momentum to overcome a peak compression condition in the chamber, thereby reducing the starting torque required to start the engine.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for starting an internal combustion engine having a motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power, the method comprising:
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calculating a reference positioning torque; causing the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke into a starting position where the positioning torque is opposed by a compression condition due to a firing stroke of the engine; and causing the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising:
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an electric motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to move to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power; a controller, operably configured to; calculate a reference positioning torque; cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke into a starting position where the positioning torque is opposed by a compression condition due to a firing stroke of the engine; and cause the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when4he engine. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine having an electric motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power, the apparatus comprising:
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means for calculating a reference positioning torque; means for causing the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke into a starting position where the positioning torque is opposed by a compression condition due to a firing stroke of the engine; and means for causing the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to start an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having an electric motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power, the codes directing the processor circuit to:
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calculate a reference positioning torque; cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke into a starting position where the positioning torque is opposed by a compression condition due to a firing stroke of the engine; and cause the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine.
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Specification