Method for starting an engine

• US 8,529,403 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nedorezov, Felix, Jiang, Hong, Gibson, Alex O'Connor, Huffmaster, Roger Lyle, Soliman, Ihab S.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US13/841,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20130199335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 179 Days
• Field of Search: 477/98, 477/115
• US Class Current: 477/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/124 Information about road conditions, e.g. road inclination or surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0059 Braking of gear output shaft using simultaneous engagement of friction devices applied for different gear ratios
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/131 Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/134 Clutch connection

Abstract

A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a transmission actuator in response to engine combustion during an engine start. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for starting an engine, comprising:

stopping the engine and tracking engine position;

predicting a first combustion event of a cylinder based on the tracked engine position; and

during an engine start, adjusting a transmission tie-up force in response to a timing of the first combustion event of the cylinder.

2. The method of claim 1, where said cylinder is a first cylinder to combust an air-fuel mixture since said engine stop.

3. The method of claim 1, where the transmission tie-up force is adjusted via an actuator of a transmission.

4. The method of claim 3, where said actuator is a clutch, and where the clutch is adjusted by varying a pressure of oil supplied to said clutch.

5. The method of claim 4, where said clutch is a gear clutch.

6. The method of claim 3, where said actuator is further adjusted during said start in response to a temperature of said transmission.

7. The method of claim 3, where said actuator is further adjusted during said engine start in response to altitude.

8. The method of claim 3, where said actuator is further adjusted during said engine start in response to fuel type.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a torque converter lockup clutch during the engine start.

10. A method for starting an engine, comprising:

stopping an engine and tracking engine position during stopping the engine;

adjusting at least one actuator of a transmission to control a transmission tie-up force during said engine stop;

predicting a combustion event of a cylinder based on the tracked engine position; and

during an engine start, adjusting said at least one actuator of said transmission to decrease said transmission tie-up torque in response to a timing of the combustion event of the cylinder of said engine since stopping the engine.

11. The method of claim 10, where said at least one actuator is a clutch.

12. The method of claim 11, where said clutch is adjusted by varying a pressure of oil supplied to said clutch.

13. The method of claim 11, where said clutch is a gear clutch.

14. The method of claim 10, where said at least one actuator is adjusted in response to a trailer coupled to a vehicle.

15. A method of claim 10, where said at least one actuator is a torque converter lockup clutch.

16. The method of claim 10, where said at least one actuator is further adjusted during said engine start in response to altitude.

17. A method for starting an engine, comprising:

during a first condition;

starting an engine while a transmission is in an operator selected state; and

during a second condition, different than said first condition;

stopping an engine at a first engine position and tracking engine position;

predicting a first combustion event of a cylinder based on the tracked engine position;

starting said engine while said transmission is in a tied-up state; and

reducing a tie-up force of said transmission in response to the predicted first combustion event of the cylinder since engine stop, said occurrence of a first combustion event related to said first engine position.

18. The method of claim 17, where said first condition is a first engine start after said engine has been stopped by an operator, and where a timing of said reducing said tie-up force is predicted based on said first engine position.

19. The method of claim 17, where said second condition is an engine start after said engine has been stopped via a controller.

20. The method of claim 19, where said tie-up force is reduced by opening a clutch of said transmission.