Methods and systems for engine cranking

• US 9,068,546 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gibson, Alex O'Connor, Lee, Seung-Hoon, Doering, Jeffrey Allen, Oshinsky, David, Reed, Dennis Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US13/776,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 477/3, 477/5, 701/22, 180/65.265, 180/65.28, 180/65.285
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/30 characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/38 characterised by the driveline clutches shift clutches within the gearing or transmission B60K6/36 , B60K6/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 : Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 : Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 : including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 : including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 : including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 : Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/46 : Engine start hydraulic or electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1012 : Engine speed gradient
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 : for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 : Multiple injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 : using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 : the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0833 : Vehicle conditions F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/022 : the starter comprising an intermediate clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 : Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/104 : Control of the starter motor torque
• 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: F02P 5/1506 : with particular means during starting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 : for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 : with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1446 : in response to parameters of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 : Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine may be started in one of two ways depending on operating conditions. In particular, the engine may be started via a lower power output electric machine or a higher power output electric machine.

Claims

1. A method of starting an engine, comprising:

starting the engine via a first electrical machine when a desired torque demand is less than a first threshold amount;

starting the engine via a second electrical machine when the desired torque demand is greater than the first threshold amount;

supplying torque sufficient to rotate vehicle wheels solely via the first electrical machine during selected operating conditions; and

decoupling the second electrical machine from the engine when engine speed reaches a threshold speed.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first electrical machine is a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) and where the DISG is located in a hybrid vehicle driveline at a location between a driveline disconnect clutch and a transmission.

3. The method of claim 2, where the DISG provides torque to start rotation of a stopped engine via at least partially closing the driveline disconnect clutch.

4. The method of claim 1, where the second electrical machine includes a pinion shaft and a pinion gear.

5. The method of claim 1, where the first threshold amount varies with battery state of charge.

6. A method of starting an engine, comprising:

starting the engine via a first electrical machine when a desired torque demand is less than a first threshold amount that varies with speed of the first electrical machine;

starting the engine via a second electrical machine when the desired torque demand is greater than the first threshold amount; and

supplying torque sufficient to rotate vehicle wheels solely via the first electrical machine during selected operating conditions.

7. A hybrid vehicle system, comprising:

an engine;

a starter selectively engaged to the engine and including a pinion gear;

a dual mass flywheel (DMF) including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;

a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;

a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) including a first side coupled to a second side of the driveline disconnect clutch; and

a controller including non-transitory instructions executable to start the engine via the starter during a first start and via the DISG during a second start and where the engine is started by rotating the engine via the DISG, further comprising additional instructions to decouple the DISG from the engine after a predetermined number of combustion events.

8. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 7, further comprising additional instructions to start the engine via the starter during conditions of a desired torque greater than a threshold.

9. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 7, further comprising additional instructions to couple the engine to the DISG after engine speed reaches DISG speed.

10. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 7, where available power output from the starter is lower than available power output from the DISG.

11. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 7, further comprising additional instructions to automatically stop the engine, and where the engine is started via the DISG based on an available amount of DISG output torque.