Engine Starting Strategy to Avoid Resonant Frequency

• US 20140018982A1
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Donnell, Timothy M., Jacobson, Evan E., Hoff, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/24 by using an external load, e.g. a generator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine

Abstract

A machine comprising powertrain components, an engine that applies power to powertrain components, and a hybrid motor that applies power to powertrain components. The machine includes an electronic control module that controls the hybrid motor to apply power to powertrain components. The machine includes an engine parameter sensor. The engine parameter sensor senses engine performance parameters and sends engine performance parameter signals to the electronic control module. The electronic control module monitors engine performance parameters and control the hybrid motor to apply power to the powertrain components to provide hybrid performance parameters to counteract the engine performance parameters.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

at least one powertrain component;

an engine adapted to apply power to the at least one powertrain component;

a hybrid motor adapted to apply power to the at least one powertrain component;

an electronic control module configured to control the hybrid motor to apply power to the at least one powertrain component; and

an engine parameter sensor operatively associated with the electronic control module, the engine parameter sensor adapted to sense engine performance parameters and send signals indicative of the engine performance parameters to the electronic control module;

wherein the electronic control module is configured to monitor the engine performance parameters and control the hybrid motor to apply power to the at least one powertrain component to provide hybrid performance parameters to counteract the engine performance parameters.

2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a hybrid parameter sensor operatively associated with the electronic control module, the hybrid parameter sensor adapted to sense hybrid performance parameters and send signals indicative of the hybrid performance parameters to the electronic control module.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the engine is operable at various engine speeds including a resonant frequency engine speed.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the engine parameter sensor is an engine speed sensor adapted to sense the engine speed and send a signal indicative of the engine speed to the electronic control module.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein:

the hybrid performance parameters are hybrid torque levels provided by the hybrid motor; and

the electronic control module is further configured to;

monitor the engine speed;

determine engine torque levels based on the engine speed; and

control the hybrid motor to apply power to the at least one powertrain component to provide hybrid torque levels that counteract the engine torque levels.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

the engine parameter sensor is an engine torque sensor adapted to sense engine torque levels produced by the engine and send signals indicative of the engine torque levels to the electronic control module; and

the electronic control module is further configured to monitor the engine torque levels and control the hybrid motor to apply power to the at least one powertrain component to provide hybrid torque levels to counteract the engine torque levels.

7. A method of starting a machine, the method comprising steps of:

providing at least one powertrain component;

operatively connecting an engine to the at least one powertrain component, the engine being adapted to apply power to the at least one powertrain component and to produce various engine performance parameters;

operatively connecting a hybrid motor to the at least one powertrain component, the hybrid motor being adapted to apply power to the at least one powertrain component and to produce various hybrid performance parameters;

monitoring the engine performance parameters; and

applying power to the at least one powertrain component with the hybrid motor to provide hybrid performance parameters to counteract the engine performance parameters.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the engine is operable at various engine speeds including a resonant frequency engine speed.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the engine performance parameters are the engine speed and the hybrid performance parameters are hybrid torque levels.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining engine torque levels based on the engine speed; and

applying power to the at least one powertrain component with the hybrid motor to provide hybrid torque levels that counteract the engine torque levels.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of operatively associating an electronic control module with the engine and the hybrid motor, the electronic control module configured to monitor engine speed and control the hybrid motor to apply power to the at least one powertrain component.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

operatively associating an engine speed sensor with the engine, the engine speed sensor adapted to sense the engine speed; and

sending signals indicative of the engine speed to the electronic control module with the engine speed sensor.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of commanding the hybrid motor with the electronic control module to apply power to the at least one powertrain component when the electronic control module determines that the engine speed has reached a predetermined engine speed.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the engine performance parameters are engine torque levels and the hybrid performance parameters are hybrid torque levels.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of applying power to the at least one powertrain component with the hybrid motor to provide hybrid torque levels that counteract the engine torque levels.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising steps of operatively associating an electronic control module with the engine and the hybrid motor, the electronic control module configured to monitor engine torque levels and control the hybrid motor to apply power to the at least one powertrain component.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

operatively associating an engine torque sensor with the engine, the engine torque sensor adapted to sense the engine torque levels; and

sending signals indicative of the engine torque levels to the electronic control module with the engine torque sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of commanding the hybrid motor with the electronic control module to apply power to the at least one powertrain component when the electronic control module determines that the engine torque levels have reached predetermined levels.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining when the engine speed has exceeded the resonant frequency engine speed; and

ceasing monitoring the engine performance parameters after the engine speed exceeds the resonant frequency engine speed.

20. A method of starting a machine, the method comprising steps of:

providing at least one powertrain component;

operatively connecting an engine to the at least one powertrain component, the engine being adapted to apply power to the at least one powertrain component and to produce various engine torque levels;

operatively connecting a hybrid motor to the at least one powertrain component, the hybrid motor being adapted to apply power to the at least one powertrain component and to produce various hybrid torque levels;

determining the engine torque levels;

determining the hybrid torque levels;

operatively associating an electronic control module with the engine and the hybrid motor;

monitoring the engine torque levels and the hybrid torque levels with the electronic control module; and

applying power to the at least one powertrain component with the hybrid motor to provide hybrid torque levels to counteract the engine torque levels.