Engine starting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9732720-B2
Application number	US-201414575515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

In an engine starting apparatus, a starter control unit is configured to, upon command to start the engine, put a starter in a drive ON state to begin cranking of the engine and then put the starter in a drive OFF state at a predetermined timing. The starter control unit is configured to, when acceleration is requested within a predetermined time period from the command to start the engine, keep the starter in the drive ON state even after the time when the starter would be put in the drive OFF state without the acceleration request within the predetermined time period, and drive the starter to torque-assist the engine, thereby performing an assist mode in which both the engine) and the starter serve as drive sources for driving a vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine starting apparatus comprising:
an inertia-engagement-type starter including a direct-current (DC) motor that generates rotational force, a pinion, and an electromagnetic switch, the starter being configured to, after the electromagnetic switch is turned on, transfer the rotational force of the DC motor to a crankshaft of an engine via a gear mesh between the pinion and a ring gear of the engine; and
a starter control unit configured to control driving of the starter, the starter control unit being configured to, upon command to start the engine, put the starter in a drive ON state to begin cranking of the engine and then put the starter in a drive OFF state at a predetermined timing, the drive ON state being a state of the starter such that the motor is energized and the rotational force of the motor is transferred to the crankshaft via the gear mesh between the pinion and the ring gear, and the drive OFF state being a state of the starter such that the rotational force of the motor is not transferred to the crankshaft via demesh of the pinion from the ring gear or via de-energization of the motor, wherein
the starter control unit is configured to, only when acceleration is requested within a predetermined time period from the command to start the engine during the drive ON state of the starter, keep the starter in the drive ON state even after the time when the starter would be put in the drive OFF state without the acceleration request within the predetermined time period, and drive the starter to torque-assist the engine, thereby performing an assist mode in which both the engine and the starter serve as drive sources for driving a vehicle, and
the predetermined time period is less than a time period from the command to start the engine to first ignition of the engine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the command to start the engine is for starting the engine while the engine is stopped.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the command to start the engine is signaled to the starter control unit when a start switch is turned on.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the apparatus is applied to a vehicle with an idle-stop system for automatically controlling stopping and restarting of the engine, and
the command to start the engine is for restarting the engine during slowing to an automatic stop of the engine.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the command to start the engine is signaled to the starter control unit when a brake is deactivated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the starter control unit is configured to set the end of duration of the drive ON state of the starter to the time when a predetermined amount of time elapses from when the acceleration is requested within the predetermined time period.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the starter control unit is configured to set the end of duration of the drive ON state of the starter to the time when an engine speed of the engine reaches a predetermined engine speed.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined engine speed is a predetermined idle speed of the engine.

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Fujita Tatsuya
• Oosawa Kouichi
• Murata Mitsuhiro

Classifications

• F02N2200/101

  Accelerator pedal position · CPC title

• B60W30/18027

  Drive off, accelerating from standstill · CPC title

• F02N2200/102

  Brake pedal position · CPC title

• F02N11/08 Primary

  Circuits specially adapted for starting of engines · CPC title

• F02N11/0848

  with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation · CPC title