Driveline arrangement and method of controlling a driveline arrangement

A method of controlling a driveline arrangement, the driveline arrangement comprising:

• a first internal combustion engine comprising a first combustion cylinder housing a first reciprocating piston connected to a first crank shaft, wherein the first internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the first combustion cylinder,
• a second internal combustion engine comprising a second combustion cylinder housing a second reciprocating piston connected to a second crank shaft, wherein the second internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the second combustion cylinder,
• a transmission arrangement comprising a first input shaft drivingly connected to the first crank shaft, and a second input shaft drivingly connected to the second crank shaft, the transmission arrangement being configured to simultaneously receive a torque from the first and second crank shafts, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises an output shaft operatively connected to a drive unit, and
• a first overrunning clutch between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft, wherein the method comprises the step of:
• determining a point in time when the first internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and a point in time when the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and when the combustion stage of the first internal combustion engine occurs at substantially the same time as the combustion stage of the second internal combustion engine:
• controlling the first internal combustion engine to assume its combustion stage at a different point in time compared to the point in time at which the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage by controlling the first overrunning clutch to assume a slipping state in which a relative rotation between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft is generated and to control the first internal combustion engine to adjust the rotational speed of the first crank shaft when the first overrunning clutch assumes the slipping state.

A marine vessel comprising a driveline arrangement, the driveline arrangement comprising:

• a first internal combustion engine comprising a first combustion cylinder housing a first reciprocating piston connected to a first crank shaft, wherein the first internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the first combustion cylinder,
• a second internal combustion engine comprising a second combustion cylinder housing a second reciprocating piston connected to a second crank shaft, wherein the second internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the second combustion cylinder,
• a transmission arrangement comprising a first input shaft drivingly connected to the first crank shaft, and a second input shaft drivingly connected to the second crank shaft, the transmission arrangement being configured to simultaneously receive a torque from the first and second crank shafts, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises an output shaft connectable to a drive unit,
• a first overrunning clutch between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft, and
• a control unit connected to the first and second internal combustion engines, the control unit comprising control circuitry configured to, when the transmission arrangement receives torque simultaneously from the first and second crank shafts:
• receive a signal indicative of a point in time when the first internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and a point in time when the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and when the combustion stage of the first internal combustion engine occurs at substantially the same time as the combustion stage of the second internal combustion engine:
• control the first internal combustion engine to assume its combustion stage at a different point in time compared to the point in time at which the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage by controlling the first overrunning clutch to assume a slipping state in which a relative rotation between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft is generated and to control the first internal combustion engine to adjust the rotational speed of the first crank shaft when the first overrunning clutch assumes the slipping state.

A computer program for a driveline arrangement comprising:

• a first internal combustion engine comprising a first combustion cylinder housing a first reciprocating piston connected to a first crank shaft, wherein the first internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the first combustion cylinder,
• a second internal combustion engine comprising a second combustion cylinder housing a second reciprocating piston connected to a second crank shaft, wherein the second internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the second combustion cylinder,
• a transmission arrangement comprising a first input shaft drivingly connected to the first crank shaft, and a second input shaft drivingly connected to the second crank shaft, the transmission arrangement being configured to simultaneously receive a torque from the first and second crank shafts, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises an output shaft operatively connected to a drive unit, and
• a first overrunning clutch between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft, the computer program comprising program code means for transmitting control signals to, when the program is run on a computer, perform the steps of:
• determining a point in time when the first internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and a point in time when the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and when the combustion stage of the first internal combustion engine occurs at substantially the same time as the combustion stage of the second internal combustion engine:
• controlling the first internal combustion engine to assume its combustion stage at a different point in time compared to the point in time at which the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage by controlling the first overrunning clutch to assume a slipping state in which a relative rotation between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft is generated and to control the first internal combustion engine to adjust the rotational speed of the first crank shaft when the first overrunning clutch assumes the slipping state.

A computer readable medium for a driveline arrangement comprising:

• a first internal combustion engine comprising a first combustion cylinder housing a first reciprocating piston connected to a first crank shaft, wherein the first internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the first combustion cylinder,
• a second internal combustion engine comprising a second combustion cylinder housing a second reciprocating piston connected to a second crank shaft, wherein the second internal combustion engine is configured to assume a combustion stage in which a combustible gas is combusted in the second combustion cylinder,
• a transmission arrangement comprising a first input shaft drivingly connected to the first crank shaft, and a second input shaft drivingly connected to the second crank shaft, the transmission arrangement being configured to simultaneously receive a torque from the first and second crank shafts, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises an output shaft operatively connected to a drive unit, and
• a first overrunning clutch between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft, the computer program carrying a computer program comprising program means for transmitting control signals to, when the program means is run on a computer, perform the steps of:
• determining a point in time when the first internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and a point in time when the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage, and when the combustion stage of the first internal combustion engine occurs at substantially the same time as the combustion stage of the second internal combustion engine:
• controlling the first internal combustion engine to assume its combustion stage at a different point in time compared to the point in time at which the second internal combustion engine assumes its combustion stage by controlling the first overrunning clutch to assume a slipping state in which a relative rotation between the first crank shaft and the first input shaft is generated and to control the first internal combustion engine to adjust the rotational speed of the first crank shaft when the first overrunning clutch assumes the slipping state.