Methods and systems for stopping an engine

• US 9,447,747 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• 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, Oshinsky, David, Hippley, Richard John, Zdravkovski, Danny, Cabadas, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Solis, Erick
• Assistant Examiner(s): STAUBACH, CARL C
• Application Number:
  US13/776,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 701/103, 701110-113, 1231791-1794, 123/179.16, 123/179.18, 123/179.28, 123/361, 123/366, 123/367, 123/376, 123/462, 123683-684
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/30 characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• 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: B60W 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/192 Power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/43 Control of engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/162 Flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0245 Shutting down engine, e.g. working together with fuel cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0005 during deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 43/04 using only digital means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 : characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• 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 2200/022 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 : Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 : Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 : Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 : Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a stop/start vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine throttle position is adjusted in response to whether or not a starter engages a flywheel during engine stopping. The throttle may be adjusted to a more open position if the starter engages the flywheel or to a more closed position if the starter does not engage the flywheel.

Claims

1. A method for stopping rotation of an engine, comprising:

ceasing fuel delivery to engine cylinders combusting air and fuel;

commanding engagement of a starter from a state not engaged with the engine to engaged with the engine; and

adjusting a position of a throttle based on whether or not the starter engages the engine, where the throttle is adjusted to a first position when the starter does not engage the engine within a first engine speed range, and where the throttle is adjusted to a second position when the starter engages the engine within the first engine speed range, the second position more open than the first.

2. The method of claim 1, where the starter engages the engine via a pinion gear.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising where the starter is commanded to engage the engine within a predetermined crankshaft angular window.

4. The method of claim 3, where the crankshaft angular window is within +40 crankshaft degrees of top-dead-center of a cylinder stroke.

5. The method of claim 1, where engine speed is decreasing during commanding engagement of the starter.

6. A method for stopping rotation of an engine, comprising:

ceasing fuel delivery to engine cylinders combusting air and fuel;

commanding engagement of a starter that is not engaged to the engine to engage the engine; and

adjusting a position of a throttle based on whether or not the starter engages the engine and engine speed, where the throttle is adjusted to a first position when the starter does not engage the engine within a first engine speed range, and where the throttle is adjusted to a second position when the starter engages the engine within the first engine speed range, the second position more open than the first position.

7. The method of claim 6, where the throttle position is adjusted to a more closed position at engine speeds less than a threshold speed and to a more open position at engine speeds greater than the threshold speed.

8. The method of claim 6, where the throttle is adjusted to a third position when the starter does not engage the engine within a second engine speed range.

9. The method of claim 8, where the throttle is adjusted to a fourth position when the starter engages the engine within the second engine speed range, the fourth position more open than the third position.

10. A vehicle system, comprising:

an engine including a throttle;

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 starter including a base state where the starter is not engaged to the engine;

a transmission selectively coupled to the engine via the driveline disconnect clutch; and

a controller including non-transitory instructions executable to adjust a position of the throttle during an engine stop based on whether or not the starter engages the engine in response to an engine stop request and before the engine stops, where the throttle is adjusted to a first position in response to the starter not engaging the engine, and where the throttle is adjusted to a second position in response to the starter engaging the engine, the second position more open than the first position.

11. The vehicle system of claim 10, further comprising additional instructions to adjust the throttle position in response to an engine speed.

12. The vehicle system of claim 10, further comprising additional instructions to engage the starter at a predetermined crankshaft position.

13. The vehicle system of claim 12, where the predetermined crankshaft position is +40 crankshaft degrees from top-dead-center of a cylinder compression stroke.

14. The vehicle system of claim 10, further comprising additional instructions to stop attempting to engage the starter at engine speeds below an engagement speed and above zero engine speed.