Method for operating an automatic start/stop system in a vehicle utilizing a torque converter
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsHafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Siraj SIDDIQUI, Yuji FUJII, Steven Anatole FRAIT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for operating an automatic start/stop system in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission and a torque converter with an impeller disconnect clutch is disclosed. A controller may implement an engine start/stop system by, at appropriate times, stopping engine by halting fuel and restarting engine when propulsion is needed. During an engine start/stop event, the engine is automatically shut down and the impeller clutch of the torque converter may be disengaged to decouple the impeller and the engine to provide for fuel and emissions savings.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
- a torque converter including an impeller, a turbine, a stator, a bypass clutch for selectively coupling the impeller and the turbine, and an impeller clutch for alternately engaging and disengaging a drive connection between the impeller and the engine;
- and
- a vehicle controller programmed to initiate automatic stop of the engine and disengagement of the impeller clutch in response to a first brake pressure exceeding a pressure threshold and a vehicle speed exceeding a first speed threshold.
A stop-start system for a vehicle having an engine and a torque converter with an impeller clutch, comprising:
- a controller programmed to control the impeller clutch to decouple an impeller of the torque converter from the engine in response to the engine being automatically stopped as a result of a first brake pressure exceeding a pressure threshold and a vehicle speed exceeding a first speed threshold but not a second speed threshold.
A method for operating an automatic stop and start system in a vehicle having an engine and a torque converter with an impeller clutch, comprising:
- controlling the torque converter to disengage the impeller clutch to decouple an impeller of the torque converter and the engine in response to an automatic stop of the engine that is caused by a brake pressure exceeding a pressure threshold and a vehicle speed exceeding a speed threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.