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US 9,358,968 B2Granted
Cold temperature engine start
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsFelix Nedorezov, Kenneth Jahr, Steven Anatole Frait, Hong Jiang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of starting a vehicle may include providing power to a motor to spin the motor at a speed at least equal to a target engine cranking speed while a clutch configured to couple an engine and motor is open. The method may also include cutting power to the motor in response to the motor achieving the speed, and locking the clutch to couple the rotating inertias of the motor and a transmission with the engine to start the engine.
Claims19
A method of starting a vehicle comprising:
- providing power to a motor to spin the motor at a speed at least equal to a target engine cranking speed while a clutch configured to couple an engine and the motor is open,
- cutting power to the motor in response to the motor achieving the speed, and
- locking the clutch to couple rotating inertias of the motor and a transmission with the engine to start the engine.
A controller for a vehicle comprising:
- input communication channels configured to receive an ambient temperature and an engine start request;
- output communication channels configured to provide a battery power command;
- and
- control logic configured to
- in response to the engine start request and the ambient temperature being less than a threshold, command that a battery power be provided to an electric machine to spin the electric machine and a transmission element coupled therewith to a speed at least equal to a synchronous speed while a friction element configured to couple an engine to the electric machine is not applied, and
- in response to the speed becoming at least equal to the synchronous speed, command a reduction in the battery power, and command an application of the friction element, with full capacity, to couple the engine to the electric machine.
3 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an electric machine coupled to a transmission element;
- an engine selectively coupled with the electric machine by a clutch;
- and
- a controller programmed to,
- in response to a request to start the engine and a temperature being less than a threshold, command that power be provided to the electric machine such that the electric machine achieves a speed at least equal to an engine cranking speed while the clutch is disengaged, and
- in response to the electric machine achieving the speed, cut power to the electric machine, and lock the clutch to couple rotating inertias of the electric machine and transmission element with the engine to start the engine.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.