Engine starting apparatus and method for controlling the same
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a starting apparatus of a combustion engine, said starting apparatus including a starter/alternator assembly capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting said engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by said engine for supplying electrical power to an electrical load equipment, said starter/alternator assembly including a starter/alternator machine drivingly connected to said engine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) enabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly;
(b) energizing said starter/alternator assembly in said starter mode;
(c) monitoring a rotational speed of said starter/alternator machine;
(d) producing an engine cranking indicative signal if said speed decreases;
(e) producing an engine start indicative signal if said speed increases after said engine cranking indicative signal was produced; and
(f) disabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly if said engine start indicative signal was produced;
(g) enabling said generator mode of said starter/alternator assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises a starter/alternator assembly operatively coupled to the engine and capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting the engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by the engine. The starter/alternator assembly includes a starter/alternator machine drivingly connected to the engine, an inverter provided for controlling an output of the starter/alternator machine to selectively choose either the starting mode or the generation mode, and a starter/alternator speed sensor for monitoring a rotational speed of a rotor of the starter/alternator machine that is electrically connected to the starter/alternator inverter. A method of controlling the engine starting apparatus controls transition of the starter/alternator assembly from the starter mode to the generator mode in response to the rotational speed of the starter/alternator machine directly sensed by the starter/alternator speed sensor.
29 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a starting apparatus of a combustion engine, said starting apparatus including a starter/alternator assembly capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting said engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by said engine for supplying electrical power to an electrical load equipment, said starter/alternator assembly including a starter/alternator machine drivingly connected to said engine, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly;
(b) energizing said starter/alternator assembly in said starter mode;
(c) monitoring a rotational speed of said starter/alternator machine;
(d) producing an engine cranking indicative signal if said speed decreases;
(e) producing an engine start indicative signal if said speed increases after said engine cranking indicative signal was produced; and
(f) disabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly if said engine start indicative signal was produced;
(g) enabling said generator mode of said starter/alternator assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for starting a combustion engine, said starting apparatus comprising:
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an internal combustion engine;
a starter/alternator assembly operatively coupled to said engine and capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting said engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by said engine for supplying electrical power to an electrical load equipment;
said starter/alternator assembly including a starter/alternator machine drivingly connected to said engine and a starter/alternator inverter for controlling an output of said starter/alternator machine to selectively enable either said starter mode or said generator mode for said starter/alternator machine; and
a starter/alternator speed sensor for monitoring a rotational speed of said starter/alternator machine, said starter/alternator speed sensor eclectically connected to said inverter;
wherein said starter/alternator inverter is provided for producing an engine cranking indicative signal if said speed of said starter/alternator machine decreases, producing an engine start indicative signal if said speed of said starter/alternator machine increases after said engine cranking indicative signal was produced, and disabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly in response to said engine start indicative signal;
wherein said starter/alternator inverter is further provided for enabling said generator mode of said starter/alternator assembly after said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly was disabled. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for controlling a starting apparatus for an engine, said starting apparatus including a starter/alternator assembly capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting said engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by said engine for supplying electrical power to an electrical load equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly;
(b) energizing said starter/alternator assembly in said starter mode;
(c) monitoring a rotational speed of said starter/alternator assembly;
(d) producing an engine cranking indicative signal when said speed reaches a first threshold value;
(e) producing an engine start indicative signal when said speed decreases to a second threshold value if said engine cranking indicative signal was produced; and
(f) disabling said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly if said speed reaches a third threshold value after said engine start indicative signal was produced;
(g) enabling said generator mode of said starter/alternator assembly. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for starting a combustion engine, said starting apparatus comprising:
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an internal combustion engine;
a starter/alternator assembly operatively coupled to said engine and capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting said engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by said engine for supplying electrical power to an electrical load equipment;
said starter/alternator assembly including a starter/alternator machine drivingly connected to said engine and a starter/alternator inverter for controlling an output of said starter/alternator machine to selectively enable either said starter mode or said generator mode for said starter/alternator machine; and
a starter/alternator speed sensor for monitoring a rotational speed of said starter/alternator machine, said starter/alternator speed sensor electrically connected to said inverter;
wherein said starter/alternator inverter is provided for producing an engine cranking indicative signal when said speed reaches a first threshold value, producing an engine start indicative signal when said speed decreases to a second threshold value if said engine cranking indicative signal was produced, and disabling said generator mode of said starter/alternator assembly if said speed reaches a third threshold value after said engine start indicative signal was produced;
wherein said starter/alternator inverter is further provided for enabling said generator mode of said starter/alternator assembly after said starter mode of said starter/alternator assembly was disabled. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification