Control for a motor vehicle cranking system
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsXiaolin B. Xue, Charles M. Freitas, Mark A. Brantmeyer, Xingyi Xu, John G. Bulick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine includes a starter motor assembly having a cranking motor and a starter solenoid. An electronic controller independently controls actuation of the starter solenoid and a contactor which provides current to the cranking motor. In this embodiment of the invention, the starter solenoid has a single electrical coil. Further, the contactor is relocated from its typical location within the starter solenoid to within the electronic controller, located remotely from the starter motor assembly.
Claims18
A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
- (a) from a time t.sub.0 to a time t.sub.2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine;
- (b) beginning at time t.sub.2, providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil;
- (c) beginning at a time t.sub.1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t.sub.1 is a predetermined amount of time after t.sub.0 ;
- wherein t.sub.1 is selected to be a time at which said solenoid is fully actuated;
- and
- wherein t.sub.1 is before t.sub.2.
A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
- (a) from a time t.sub.0 to a time t.sub.2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine;
- (b) beginning at time t.sub.2 ;
- providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil;
- (c) beginning at a time t.sub.1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t.sub.1 is before or concurrent with time t.sub.2 and a predetermined amount of time after t.sub.0 ;
- wherein said drive mechanism includes a first gear and said engine includes a second gear, and wherein t.sub.1 is selected to be a time at which:
- (a) if said first gear is not in interference with said second gear, said first gear and said second gear are fully meshed;
- (b) if said first gear is in interference with said second gear, said solenoid is as fully actuated as possible in view of the interference of said first gear and said second gear.
A method for controlling a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:
- (a) from a time t.sub.0 to a time t.sub.2, providing a first current to an electrical coil of a solenoid to cause said solenoid to actuate, the actuation moving a cranking motor drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine;
- (b) beginning at time t.sub.2, providing a second current, greater than zero but less than said first current, to said electrical coil;
- (c) beginning at a time t.sub.1, providing a current to said cranking motor, wherein time t.sub.1 is a predetermined amount of time after t.sub.0 ;
- wherein time t.sub.1 is before time t.sub.2.
A cranking system for a motor vehicle engine, said system comprising:
- an electrical power source;
- a cranking motor;
- a drive mechanism coupled to said cranking motor for rotation therewith and adapted for movement into engagement with said engine;
- a solenoid mechanically coupled to said drive mechanism such that actuation of said solenoid moves said drive mechanism toward engagement with said engine, said solenoid further comprising an electrical coil which controls actuation of the solenoid;
- contactor means coupled to said electrical power source and to said cranking motor for switchably coupling said cranking motor to said electrical power source;
- and
- control circuitry adapted for independent electrical control of said solenoid and said contactor means.
A cranking system for a motor vehicle comprising:
- an electrical power source;
- a cranking motor;
- a drive mechanism coupled to said cranking motor for rotation therewith and adapted for movement into engagement with said engine;
- a solenoid coupled to said drive mechanism such that actuation of said solenoid moves said drive mechanism into engagement with said engine, said solenoid further comprising an electrical coil which controls actuation of the solenoid:
- contactor means coupled to said electrical power source and to said cranking motor for switchably coupling said cranking motor to said electrical power source;
- and
- control circuitry adapted for independent electrical control of said solenoid and said contactor means;
- wherein said control circuitry is located remotely from said cranking motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.