Methods and systems for starting an electrically controlled engine of a transport refrigeration system

• US 9,580,003 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Olaleye, Omosola Waidi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steckbauer, Kevin R
• Application Number:
  US14/432,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20150274056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32 Cooling devices B60H1/00478, B60H1/005 take precedence; vehicles adapted to transport refrigerated goods B60P3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0874 characterised by said switch being an electronic switch
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/02 Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/304 with other systems inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2327/001 of the internal combustion type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for starting an electronically controlled engine of a TRS by supplying power from a battery, are provided. The engine is electronically controlled by an engine control unit (ECU). The systems and methods can achieve a complete engine start even when the ECU experiences a reset during the startup of the engine.

Claims

1. A method of starting an engine including an engine control unit (ECU) of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the method comprising:

transmitting a message, via a TRS controller, to the ECU at a predetermined rate to hold one or more switches of the ECU in a closed state; and

supplying power from a battery to a starter of the engine to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile,

wherein transmitting the message comprises activating a keyswitch signal, via the TRS controller, to close a first switch of the ECU to supply current from the battery to the ECU,

wherein transmitting the message comprises activating a run signal, via the TRS controller, to set the ECU and the engine to a pre-crank state, and

wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting a CAN (Controller Area Network) message via the TRS controller, to close a second switch of the ECU to supply power from the battery to the starter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising keeping the keyswitch signal and the run signal active and holding the first switch and the second switch in a closed state for a predetermined duration, when the battery is in the low voltage profile.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a low-voltage-profile duration for which the battery is in the low voltage profile, the predetermined duration for which the first and second switches are held in a closed state being longer than the low-voltage-profile duration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine is an electronically controlled engine.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the CAN message at the predetermined rate to keep the keyswitch signal and the run signal active.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined rate is about 100 Hz.

7. A method of starting an engine including an engine control unit (ECU) of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the method comprising:

transmitting a message, via a TRS controller, to the ECU at a predetermined rate to hold one or more switches of the ECU in a closed state;

supplying power from a battery to a starter of the engine to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile; and

connecting a first side of a starter relay contact to the battery, connecting a second side of the starter relay contact to a starter coil, and supplying current from the battery to a first side of a starter relay activator when setting the ECU and the engine to a pre-crank state,

wherein transmitting the message comprises activating a keyswitch signal, via the TRS controller, to close a first switch of the ECU to supply current from the battery to the ECU,

wherein transmitting the message comprises activating a run signal, via the TRS controller, to set the ECU and the engine to the pre-crank state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a current carrying contact side of a starter relay is open at the first side.

9. A method of starting an electronically controlled engine of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the electronically controlled engine being configured to supply power to a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) of the TRS, the electronically controlled engine including an engine control unit (ECU), the TRU including a TRS controller, the electronically controlled engine further including a starter for initiating operation of the engine, the method comprising:

activating a keyswitch signal, via the TRS controller, for closing a first switch of the ECU and supplying current from a battery to the ECU;

activating a run signal, via the TRS controller, for setting the ECU and the electronically controlled engine to a pre-crank state, wherein a first side of a starter relay contact is connected to the battery, a second side of the starter relay contact is connected to a starter coil, current is supplied from the battery to a first side of a starter relay activator, and a current carrying contact side of a starter relay is open at the first side; and

transmitting a CAN (Controller Area Network) message via the TRS controller, for closing a second switch of the ECU to supply power from the battery to the starter,

wherein when the battery is in a low voltage profile for a first duration, the CAN message is transmitted at a predetermined rate to keep the keyswitch signal and the run signal active, and the first switch and the second switch are held in a closed state for a predetermined second duration, the predetermined second duration being longer than the first duration.

10. A system for starting an electronically controlled engine of a transport refrigeration system (TRS) that includes a transport refrigeration unit (TRU), the electronically controlled engine configured to supply power to the TRU, the system comprising:

a TRS controller;

an engine control unit (ECU);

a TRS controller to ECU interface configured to transmit a message between the TRS controller and the ECU; and

a starter control connected to the ECU and configured to control power supply from a battery to a starter of the engine so that power is supplied from the battery to the starter to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile,

wherein the TRS controller to ECU interface includes a keyswitch signal connection configured to send a keyswitch signal, a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication connection configured to send a CAN message, and a run signal connection configured to send a run signal.

11. A system for starting an electronically controlled engine of a transport refrigeration system (TRS) that includes a transport refrigeration unit (TRU), the electronically controlled engine configured to supply power to the TRU, the system comprising:

a TRS controller;

an engine control unit (ECU);

a TRS controller to ECU interface configured to transmit a message between the TRS controller and the ECU; and

a starter control connected to the ECU and configured to control power supply from a battery to a starter of the engine so that power is supplied from the battery to the starter to start the engine when the battery is in a low voltage profile,

wherein the starter control includes a starter relay, the starter relay includes a relay activator and a couple of contacts.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the ECU includes a first switch configured to control an ECU main relay, and a second switch configured to control the starter relay.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the relay activator is supplied power by at least one of a starter relay output of the TRS controller and the keyswitch signal connection.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein a first contact of the plurality of contacts of the starter relay is connected to a starter coil of the starter, and a second contact of the plurality of contacts is connected to the battery.