System and method for restarting an engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDonald J. Lewis, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission to assist in spinning-up of the engine from rest while the vehicle is traveling. In this manner, vehicle inertia can be used to assist in spinning-up the engine from rest when the vehicle is moving.
Claims20
A method for controlling an engine and transmission in a vehicle, comprising:
- responsive to driver braking, discontinuing combustion and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling;
- and
- responsive to a release of driver braking, restarting the engine by engaging the transmission and transferring wheel torque through the transmission to the at-rest engine to assist in spinning-up the engine from rest while the vehicle is traveling.
A method for an engine coupled to a transmission in a vehicle, comprising:
- in response to a first operating condition, shutting off a fuel supply and spark to the engine;
- in response to a second operating condition, shutting off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest;
- and
- during or before engine rest conditions, transferring wheel torque through the transmission to the engine by shifting a gear of the transmission depending on a desired speed of the engine at a third operating condition.
A system for an engine in a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an automatic transmission having a plurality of gear ratios;
- the engine coupled to the transmission via a torque converter;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- shut-off a fuel supply and spark to the engine responsive to a first operating condition;
- shut-off the engine and spin-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling responsive to a second operating condition;
- during or after the second operating condition, shift a gear of the transmission depending on a desired speed of the engine at a subsequent third operating condition;
- and
- in response to the third operating condition, apply vehicle inertia to restart the engine by transferring wheel torque through the transmission to the at-rest engine to assist in spinning-up the engine from rest while the vehicle is traveling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.