Method and apparatus for starting an engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDonatus Andreas Josephine Kees, James Andrew Straker, Daniel Benjamin Kok
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of starting an engine is disclosed in which two or more starter motors are used to start the engine in an alternating sequence so as to equalize wear and reduce the wear of each starter motor by a factor equal to the number of starter motors provided. The starter motors are preferably positioned so as to minimize overlap between wear patterns produced by the starter motors on a cooperating ring gear 8 thereby extending the life of the ring gear.
Claims20
A method of starting an engine having a starting apparatus including at least two starter motors wherein the method comprises:
- sharing starting of the engine between the at least two starter motors to equalize wear of the at least two starter motors and reduce the number of engine starts performed by each starter motor.
An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine having a flywheel connected to a crankshaft of the engine, the apparatus comprising:
- a starter ring gear fastened to the flywheel, at least two starter motors each having a pinion wheel for selective engagement with the ring gear and an electronic controller to control the operation of the starter motors, where the electronic controller includes instructions to use the starter motors in a predefined sequence to equalize wear of the starter motors and reduce the number of starts performed by each starter motor.
The apparatus of 16, where the electronic controller includes further instructions to determine whether the engine has started following the activation of a respective starter motor and, if the engine has not been started by the respective starter motor, the controller activates another starter motor to start the engine and deactivates the respective failed starter motor.
A method for increasing the life of a starter ring gear comprising:
- activating a first starter motor in a first position for a predefined number of engine starts and then replacing the starter motor with a replacement starter motor positioned so as to produce a wear pattern having minimal overlap with a wear pattern produced by the first starter motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.