Internal-combustion engines – Starting device – Condition responsive control of starting device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-02-27
Yuen, Henry C. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Starting device
Condition responsive control of starting device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192847
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to engine speed control and more particularly, to a method and to an apparatus for selectively and automatically controlling the speed of an engine, effective to selectively cause the engine to be started and/or stopped in a relatively smooth manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle fuel consumption and vibration reductions are very desirable; the desirability of the former being due to governmental regulations regarding tailpipe emissions and corporate average fuel economy, as well as to concerns related to the rising cost of gasoline and the rather limited existing worldwide supply of oil, while the desirability of the latter is due to a desire to provide a rather “smooth” and comfortable ride for the drivers and/or occupants of the vehicle.
As an engine is “started”, the engine block rotates upon its mounts and generates vibrations which are undesirably coupled to the passenger compartment. Moreover, as the engine is “stopped”, it typically reverses direction and further causes undesirable engine mount vibrations which are undesirably coupled to the passenger compartment. Additionally, as the engine is “started” or “stopped”, the engine assumes and/or produces characteristic vibrational frequencies which are substantially similar to the low frequency resonant modes of the vehicle drivetrain, thereby undesirably exciting the drivetrain and further producing undesirable vehicle vibrations which are communicated to the passenger compartment and which potentially and structurally damage the drive train.
Moreover, fuel is unnecessarily consumed each time that the vehicle is in an idle state (e.g., each time that the engine is operating but the vehicle is not moving, such as at a stop sign or at a red traffic light), since fuel is combusted without producing vehicle motion. Therefore, “start/stop” powertrains are being designed for automotive vehicles in which the engine is stopped during those times when the vehicle would normally be in an idle state, and started automatically upon a driver demand for vehicle motion, such as when the accelerator is depressed. This “start/stop” powertrain therefore enables an overall improvement in fuel efficiency of the vehicle. With the attendant increase in the number of engine “starts” and “stops”, and in light of the fact that these engine “starts” and “stops” are not explicitly commanded by the vehicle operator, there is a need to reduce the amount of undesired vehicle vibrations caused during the starting and stopping of the engine. Applicant's invention addresses these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the invention to provide a vehicle which overcomes at least some of the previously delineated drawbacks associated with prior vehicles.
It is a second object of the invention to provide an assembly for selective use within a vehicle and which allows at least some of the previously delineated drawbacks associated with prior vehicles to be desirably addressed.
It is a third object of the invention to provide an assembly for use within a vehicle and which substantially and automatically controls the speed of the engine during engine “starts” and “stops” in a manner which increases the overall fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
It is a fourth object of the invention to provide an assembly for use within a vehicle and which substantially and automatically controls the speed of the engine in a manner which produces smoother “starting” or “stopping” of the engine.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an engine which may be selectively started, and a controller being coupled to the engine and generating speed control commands which cooperatively define a speed profile and which are cooperatively effective to cause the engine to be started according to the defined speed profile.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the controller generates speed control commands which cooperatively define a speed profile and which are cooperatively effective to cause the engine to stop according to the defined speed profile.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method to control the speed of a vehicle engine is provided. The method includes the steps of producing a speed profile; generating a plurality of speed commands by use of the speed profile, each of the plurality of speed commands defining a certain speed; and causing the engine to operate at each of the certain speeds defined by each of the plurality of speed commands.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description and by reference to the following drawings.
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Joseph Edward Shigley, John Joseph Uicker,Jr., Theory of Machines and Mechanisms, 1995, Chapter 5, pp. 201-249, Second Edition, McGraw Hill.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Gimie Mahmoud M
Sparschu Mark S.
Yuen Henry C.
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