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US 7,410,445 B2Granted
Locking mechanism for the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsErik Surewaard, Don A. Kees, Daniel Kok, Engbert Spijker, Mark Eifert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking mechanism (6) is provided to block the internal combustion engine (1) at prepositioned cranking angle after shutting down. Preferably, the crankshaft of the engine is positioned at a crankshaft angle that is favorable for cranking. Prepositioning of the crankshaft angle results in a lower first compression torque and therefore increases kinetic energy stored in the crankshaft lumped inertia. The required maximum torque of the cranking aid (2a, 2b, 2c) can therefore be reduced.
Claims9
A method for shutting down an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- stopping the engine in a predetermined rest position wherein the predetermined rest position is such that motoring torque is decreasing during a first phase of restart;
- and
- locking the engine in said predetermined rest condition via a locking mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.