Method and device for starting or restarting thermal engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10161373-B2
Application number	US-201515318933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2015
Priority date	Jun 20, 2014
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

The method according to the invention calls upon a rotary electric machine (1) comprising a drive member (3) and a transmission member (4) of the belt or chain type, collaborating with the drive member and with the combustion engine (2) in order to start or restart the combustion engine, a tensioner (6) being provided to press against one strand (7) of the transmission member that extends between the rotary electric machine and the combustion engine. According to the invention, in a first stage, the rotary electric machine (1) supplies a predetermined reduced torque in the direction of starting for a predetermined duration in order to tension the transmission member (4) and then, in a second stage, the rotary electric machine (1) supplies a predetermined optimum torque for rapidly turning over the combustion engine (2) and causing it to start.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for starting or restarting a thermal engine ( 2 ) by a rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) comprising a drive unit ( 3 ) and a continuous transmission member ( 4 ) cooperating with said drive unit ( 3 ) and with said thermal engine ( 2 ) in order to start or restart said thermal engine ( 2 ), a tensioner ( 6 ) supported on a strand ( 7 ) of said continuous transmission member ( 4 ), said strand ( 7 ) extending between said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) and said thermal engine ( 2 ), wherein said method comprising the steps of:
in a first step, supplying a predetermined reduced torque by the rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) to the thermal engine ( 2 ) in a starting direction for a predetermined time in order to tension the continuous transmission member ( 4 ); and
in a second step, supplying an optimal predetermined torque by the rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) to the thermal engine ( 2 ) to drive the thermal engine ( 2 ) rapidly so as to start the thermal engine ( 2 );
the predetermined reduced torque being lower than the optimal predetermined torque;
said predetermined reduced torque controlled by controlling an angle of advance of an inverter ( 12 , 13 ) supplying said rotary electrical machine ( 1 );
said continuous transmission member ( 4 ) being one of a belt ( 4 ) and a chain.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in a starting phase, said predetermined reduced torque is lower than a nominal torque necessary for passage of a compression point of said thermal engine ( 2 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in a restarting phase, said predetermined reduced torque depends on a speed of rotation of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ).

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said predetermined reduced torque is also controlled by controlling an angle of opening of said inverter ( 12 , 13 ).

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined reduced torque is also controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ).

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

7. A device for starting or restarting a thermal engine ( 2 ), said device configured to implement the method according to claim 1 , said device comprising:
a rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) provided with a drive unit ( 3 );
a continuous transmission member ( 4 ) cooperating with said drive unit ( 3 ) of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) and with said thermal engine ( 2 ) in order to start or restart said thermal engine ( 2 );
a tensioner ( 6 ) supported on a strand ( 7 ) of said continuous transmission member ( 4 ), said strand ( 7 ) extending between said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) and said thermal engine ( 2 );
an inverter ( 12 , 13 ) supplying said rotary electrical machine ( 1 );
a control system ( 13 ) for said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) controlling an engine torque,
said device further comprising a device for acquisition of at least one parameter from amongst the group:
a speed of rotation of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 );
an angle of advance of said inverter ( 12 , 13 );
an angle of opening of said inverter ( 12 , 13 );
an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 );
a temperature of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 );
said control system ( 13 ) comprising a map ( 17 ) of a predetermined reduced torque as a function of said at least one parameter so as to tension said continuous transmission member ( 4 ) when said engine torque is equal to said predetermined reduced torque for a predetermined time, said predetermined reduced torque being lower than an optimal torque configured to drive said thermal engine ( 2 ) rapidly so as to start said thermal engine ( 2 ).

8. A control system ( 13 ) for a rotary electrical machine ( 1 ) configured to provide a device for starting or restarting a thermal engine ( 2 ) according to claim 7 .

9. An alternator-starter ( 1 ) configured to be coupled to a thermal engine ( 2 ), said alternator-starter ( 1 ) comprising an integrated control system ( 13 ) according to claim 8 .

10. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said predetermined reduced torque is also controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ).

11. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said predetermined reduced torque is also controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ).

12. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said predetermined reduced torque is also controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine ( 1 ).

13. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

14. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

15. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

16. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

Assignees

• Valeo Equip Electr Moteur

Inventors

• Schmitter Romain
• Granziera Cyril
• Kobylanski Luc
• Bodin Ludovic
• Malbranque Ronald

Classifications

• F16H2007/0893

  Circular path · CPC title

• F16H2007/0806

  Compression coil springs · CPC title

• F02N2300/104

  Control of the starter motor torque · CPC title

• F02N2200/045

  Starter temperature or parameters related to it · CPC title

• F02N2200/041

  Starter speed · CPC title