Automatic engine shutdown and restart system

• US 4,362,133 A
• Filed: 05/08/1981
• Issued: 12/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Malik, Marvin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, P. S.
• Application Number:
  US06/261,804
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179 B, 123/179 BG, 123/179 G, 123/179 K, 123/179 A, 74/850, 74/851, 74/860, 74/6, 74/7 R, 180/54 R
• US Class Current: 477/99
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/106 Driver presence, e.g. detected by door lock, seat sensor or belt sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 5/02 of spring type
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3108 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3144 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50224 Drive-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50883 Stop-and-go, i.e. repeated stopping and starting, e.g. in traffic jams
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70404 Force
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70414 Quick displacement to clutch touch point
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/08 Regulating clutch take-up on starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/131 Automatic

Abstract

An automatic engine stop-restart system responsive to throttle position is disclosed in which the starter motor is energized and the forward drive clutch engagement force is slowly increased in response to a throttle opening commanding an automatic standing start and the starter motor is energized and the forward drive clutch engagement force is rapidly increased in response to a throttle opening commanding a driveaway start.

Claims

1. An automatic restart system for a vehicle internal combustion engine including a starter motor and a manually operable member for controlling engine operation, the system comprising:

an engine driven automatic transmission for transmitting drive power to the vehicle, the transmission including a fluid pressure source, a fluid engageable drive establishing means having a fluid chamber and providing an engagement force varying with fluid pressure in the chamber and a manually operable shift valve in fluid communication with the fluid pressure source and being selectively operable among a plurality of drive positions including an automatic forward drive position, the shift valve coupling the fluid pressure source to an output drive port when in the automatic forward drive position; and

means effective to automatically start the engine while the shift valve is in the automatic forward drive position, said means including (A) means responsive to a first condition of the manually operable member representing a commanded standing start effective to energize the starter motor and fill the chamber in the fluid engageable drive establishing means at a rate to slowly pressurize the chamber for slowly increasing the engagement force for a standing start, (B) means responsive to a second condition of the manually operable member representing a commanded driveaway start effective to energize the starter motor and fill the chamber in the fluid engageable drive establishing means at a rate to quickly pressurize the chamber for quickly increasing the engagement force for a driveaway start, and (C) means responsive to the starting of the engine effective to deenergize the starter motor.

2. An automatic restart system for a vehicle internal combustion engine including a starter motor and a manually operable throttle valve for controlling engine operation, the system comprising:

an engine driven automatic transmission for transmitting drive power to the vehicle, the transmission including a fluid pressure source, a fluid engageable drive establishing means having a fluid chamber and providing an engagement force varying with fluid pressure in the chamber and a manually operable shift valve in fluid communication with the fluid pressure source and being selectively operable among a plurality of drive positions including an automatic forward drive position, the shift valve coupling the fluid pressure source to an output drive port when in the automatic forward drive position;

a fluid pressure storage accumulator;

means effective to charge the fluid pressure storage accumulator with fluid under pressure during engine operation; and

means effective to automatically start the engine while the shift valve is in the automatic forward drive position, said means including means responsive to the opening of the throttle valve effective to energize the starter motor, means responsive to a first characteristic of the opening of the throttle valve representing a desired standing start effective to provide restricted fluid flow from the accumulator to the chamber in the fluid engageable drive establishing means to slowly pressurize the chamber for slowly increasing the engagement force for a standing start, means responsive to a second characteristic of the opening of the throttle valve representing a desired driveaway start effective to provide unrestricted fluid flow from the accumulator to the chamber in the fluid engageable drive establishing means to quickly pressurize the chamber for quickly increasing the engagement force for a driveaway start, and means responsive to the starting of the engine effective to (A) deenergize the starter motor, (B) inhibit fluid flow from the accumulator to the chamber of the fluid engageable drive establishing means and (C) provide fluid flow from the output drive port of the shift valve to the chamber of the fluid engageable drive establishing means so as to provide for normal vehicle forward drive operation.

3. An automatic shutdown and restart system for a vehicle internal combustion engine having an intake space from which fuel and air are drawn into a combustion space to undergo combustion, a manually operable throttle valve for controlling air flow into the intake space, and a starter motor, the system comprising:

means effective to supply fuel to the intake space;

means effective to ignite the fuel and air mixture drawn into the combustion space;

an engine driven automatic transmission for transmitting drive power to the vehicle, the transmission including a fluid pressure source, a fluid engageable drive establishing means having a fluid chamber and providing an engagement force varying with fluid pressure in the chamber and a manually operable shift valve in fluid communication with the fluid pressure source and being selectively operable among a plurality of drive positions including an automatic forward drive position, the shift valve coupling the fluid pressure source to an output drive port when in the automatic forward drive position;

a fluid pressure storage accumulator;

means effective to charge the fluid pressure storage accumulator with fluid under pressure during engine operation;

shutdown means responsive to the closure of the throttle valve while the transmission is in the automatic forward drive position effective to disable the fuel supply means from supplying fuel to the intake space to effect engine shutdown; and

means effective to automatically restart the engine while the shift valve is in the automatic forward drive position, said means including means responsive to the opening of the throttle valve effective to energize the starter motor, means responsive to a first characteristic of the opening of the throttle valve representing a desired standing start effective to provide restricted fluid flow from the accumulator to the chamber in the fluid engageable drive establishing means to slowly pressurize the chamber for slowly increasing the engagement force for a standing start, means responsive to a second characteristic of the opening of the throttle valve representing a desired driveaway start effective to provide unrestricted fluid flow from the accumulator to the chamber in the fluid engageable drive establishing means to quickly pressurize the chamber for quickly increasing the engagement force for a driveaway start, and means responsive to the starting of the engine effective to (A) deenergize the starter motor, (B) inhibit fluid flow from the accumulator to the chamber of the fluid engageable drive establishing means and (C) provide fluid flow from the output drive port of the shift valve to the chamber of the fluid engageable drive establishing means so as to provide for normal vehicle forward drive operation.

4. The method of shutting down and restarting a vehicle internal combustion engine having a fuel supply means, a manually operable throttle valve for controlling air flow into the engine, a starter motor and an engine driven automatic transmission having a shift valve operable among a plurality of drive positions including a forward drive position and a forward drive clutch providing an engagement force varying with the fluid pressure therein, the method comprising the steps of:

disabling the fuel supply means when the throttle valve is closed and the shift valve is in the forward drive position so as to shut down the engine;

sensing the opening of the throttle valve;

energizing the starter motor and slowly pressurizing the forward drive clutch to provide a slowly increasing engagement force in response to a first characteristic of the throttle valve opening representing a commanded standing start;

energizing the starter motor and quickly pressurizing the forward drive clutch to provide a quickly increasing engagement force in response to a second characteristic of the throttle valve opening representing a commanded driveaway start; and

deenergizing the starter motor when the engine is running.