Control device and control method of a starter, and engine starting device

• US 8,631,778 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Moriya, Kouki, Kakehi, Jumpei, Bin Hashim, Hasrul Sany
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Jr., Willis R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bacon, Anthony L
• Application Number:
  US13/512,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20130104830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.1, 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 123/179.25, 701/113, 74/6, 74/7.R, 74/7.A, 290/38.C
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• 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 11/0851 characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• 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 15/00 Other power-operated starting apparatus; Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from groups F02N5/00 - F02N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/067 the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/04 Reverse rotation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A starter includes a pinion gear that can be engaged with a ring gear provided around an outer circumference of a flywheel or a drive plate of an engine, an actuator for moving the pinion gear to a position of engagement with the ring gear in a driven state, a helical spline for rotating the pinion gear in a reverse direction while the pinion gear moves toward the ring gear, and a motor for rotating the pinion gear. The actuator and the motor are individually controlled. After the actuator was driven and before the motor is driven, drive of the actuator is stopped.

Claims

1. A control device of a starter that includes a second gear that can be engaged with a first gear coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, an actuator that moves said second gear to a position of engagement with said first gear in a driven state, a helical spline that makes said second gear rotate in a reverse direction while said second gear moves toward said first gear, and a motor that rotates said second gear, said control device being capable of individually driving each of said actuator and said motor, comprising:

drive means for driving said actuator prior to drive of said motor; and

stop means for stopping drive of said actuator when an output shaft of said engine rotates in a reverse direction, after said actuator was driven and before said motor is driven.

2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for continuing to drive said actuator when said output shaft of said engine does not rotate in the reverse direction, after said actuator was driven and before said motor is driven.

3. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for driving again said actuator after drive of said actuator was stopped; and

means for driving said motor after said actuator was driven again.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein

said drive means drives said actuator prior to drive of said motor when a rotation speed of an output shaft of said engine in a forward direction is lower than a predetermined rotation speed.

5. A control method of a starter that includes a second gear that can be engaged with a first gear coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, an actuator that moves said second gear to a position of engagement with said first gear in a driven state, a helical spline that makes said second gear rotate in a reverse direction while said second gear moves toward said first gear, and a motor that rotates said second gear, each of said actuator and said motor being able to individually be driven, comprising the steps of:

driving said actuator prior to drive of said motor; and

stopping drive of said actuator when an output shaft of said engine rotates in a reverse direction, after said actuator was driven and before said motor is driven.

6. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of continuing to drive said actuator when said output shaft of said engine does not rotate in the reverse direction, after said actuator was driven and before said motor is driven.

7. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

driving again said actuator after drive of said actuator was stopped; and

driving said motor after said actuator was driven again.

8. The control method according to claim 5, wherein

said step of driving said actuator includes the step of driving said actuator prior to drive of said motor when a rotation speed of an output shaft of said engine in a forward direction is lower than a predetermined rotation speed.

9. An engine starting device, comprising:

a starter that includes a second gear that can be engaged with a first gear coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, an actuator that moves said second gear to a position of engagement with said first gear in a driven state, a helical spline that makes said second gear rotate in a reverse direction while said second gear moves toward said first gear, and a motor that rotates said second gear, each of said actuator and said motor being able to individually be driven; and

a control unit that drives said actuator prior to drive of said motor and stops drive of said actuator when an output shaft of said engine rotates in a reverse direction, after said actuator was driven and before said motor is driven.

10. The engine starting device according to claim 9, wherein

said control unit continues to drive said actuator when said output shaft of said engine does not rotate in the reverse direction, after said actuator was driven and before said motor is driven.