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US 9,068,546 B2Granted
Methods and systems for engine cranking
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAlex O'Connor Gibson, Seung-Hoon Lee, Jeffrey Allen Doering, David Oshinsky, Dennis Craig Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine may be started in one of two ways depending on operating conditions. In particular, the engine may be started via a lower power output electric machine or a higher power output electric machine.
Claims11
A method of starting an engine, comprising:
- starting the engine via a first electrical machine when a desired torque demand is less than a first threshold amount;
- starting the engine via a second electrical machine when the desired torque demand is greater than the first threshold amount;
- supplying torque sufficient to rotate vehicle wheels solely via the first electrical machine during selected operating conditions;
- and
- decoupling the second electrical machine from the engine when engine speed reaches a threshold speed.
2 more elements
A method of starting an engine, comprising:
- starting the engine via a first electrical machine when a desired torque demand is less than a first threshold amount that varies with speed of the first electrical machine;
- starting the engine via a second electrical machine when the desired torque demand is greater than the first threshold amount;
- and
- supplying torque sufficient to rotate vehicle wheels solely via the first electrical machine during selected operating conditions.
1 more element
A hybrid vehicle system, comprising:
- an engine;
- a starter selectively engaged to the engine and including a pinion gear;
- a dual mass flywheel (DMF) including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;
- a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;
- a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) including a first side coupled to a second side of the driveline disconnect clutch;
- and
- a controller including non-transitory instructions executable to start the engine via the starter during a first start and via the DISG during a second start and where the engine is started by rotating the engine via the DISG, further comprising additional instructions to decouple the DISG from the engine after a predetermined number of combustion events.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.