US 6,283,079 B1Granted

System for preventing vibrations in a diesel engine

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorsBrian Stanley Cumming, Roy William Horrock

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Abstract

A system for preventing vibrations occurring in a diesel engine during shut down. The system employs a combined starter/alternator apparatus to apply a positive and/or negative torque to an engine to effect a smooth deceleration of the rotating parts of the engine. A system control function is provided wherein the engine speed from a vehicle engine speed sensor and the vehicle ignition key off signal are introduced to a control means to determine if the rate of engine speed deceleration is above or below a selected threshold level. If the rate of deceleration is above the selected threshold level, a command is generated by the control means to cause power to be absorbed from a rotating part of the engine to slow the engine. If the rate of engine deceleration is below the selected threshold level, a command is generated to add torque to the engine rotating part to prevent rapid deceleration.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A system for suppressing engine vibrations comprising:

a combined starter/alternator apparatus including a starter component connected to the engine for selectively rotating an engine part to add power to the engine and an alternator component connected to the engine for selectively generating electricity and absorbing power from the engine;
a control means including a threshold level device for providing a rate of speed threshold level value;
a key-off means connected to the control means to provide a signal when the engine ignition is turned off and the engine begins to shut down;
sensor means connected to the engine to provide signals representative of the rate of speed of the engine, the threshold level device being connected to the sensor means for comparing the rate of speed signal from the sensor means to the threshold level for providing a first, Yes, signal when the rate of speed signal from the sensor device is below the threshold level, and a second, Yes, signal when the rate of speed signal from the sensor means is above the threshold level;
and
the combined started alternator apparatus being responsive to the first, Yes, signal from the control means to absorb power from the engine and responsive to the second, Yes, signal from the control means to add power to the engine to suppress engine vibrations during the shut down.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.