An engine assembly is provided that includes an engine having a crankshaft that is caused to rotate response to a firing of the engine, a backplate affixed to the engine and comprising one or more air flow passages formed therethrough, and an engine cooling fan operatively coupled to the crankshaft so as to be rotated by the crankshaft, the engine cooling fan coupled to the crankshaft on a side of the backplate opposite the engine. The engine assembly also includes a fan cover mounted over the engine cooling fan and secured to the backplate, the fan cover including an opening through which an air flow is provided to the engine cooling. The backplate and the fan cover collectively form an air guide that directs a flow of cooling air generated by the engine cooling fan through the one or more air flow passages of the backplate and to the engine.

A vehicle includes a starter motor, an engine having an output mechanically coupled to the starter motor, a transmission having an input, and an electric machine mechanically coupled to the transmission input. The vehicle further includes a clutch configured to mechanically couple the electric machine and the output of the engine, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is programmed to initiate an engine start based on driver demand. The controller is further configured to enable pressure to the clutch for the engine start if driver demand is less than a calibratable torque value or enable the starter motor for the engine start if the driver demand is greater than a calibratable torque value. The controller may lock the clutch to the output of the engine in response to the speed of the engine being approximately equal to the speed of the electric machine.

An engine starting control system for hybrid vehicles is provided to prevent a temporal drop in drive force when starting an engine. The control system maintains an operating mode of a switching mechanism when starting the engine by the first motor, in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the forward direction by the first motor and that the switching mechanism is in a second mode, or in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the reverse direction by the first motor and that the switching mechanism is in the first mode. Thereafter, the control system increases a rotational speed of the engine to a self-sustaining speed, switches the operating mode of the switching mechanism, and increases torque of the engine.

The present invention relates to a freewheel (2) comprising an inner ring (30), an outer ring (28), a clamping gap (32) between the inner ring (30) and the outer ring (28), a side wall (40) for lateral limitation of the clamping gap (32) and at least one clamping element (34) in the clamping gap (32) which is biased by means of a spring element (66), wherein the spring element (66) is supported or supportable on one side on the clamping element (34) and on the other side on a support projection (70), which is formed by a supporting tongue (74) bent out of the side wall (40) and projecting into the clamping gap (32). In addition, the present invention relates to a method for producing such a freewheel (2).

A vehicle control apparatus includes an engine configured to drive a vehicle; a starter configured to start the engine; a headlamp configured to radiate light in front of the vehicle; a battery configured to supply driving electric power to the starter and the headlamp; a brightness detection unit configured to detect a physical quantity corresponding to brightness around the vehicle; and a control unit configured to have the engine stop automatically when a predetermined stopping condition is satisfied, and to have the engine start automatically when a predetermined starting condition is satisfied. The control unit inhibits the engine from stopping automatically when the headlamp is lighted, and the physical quantity detected by the brightness detection unit is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

A vehicle control apparatus includes an engine configured to drive a vehicle; a starter configured to start the engine; a headlamp configured to radiate light in front of the vehicle; a battery configured to supply driving electric power to the starter and the headlamp; a brightness detection unit configured to detect a physical quantity corresponding to brightness around the vehicle; and a control unit configured to have the engine stop automatically when a predetermined stopping condition is satisfied, and to have the engine start automatically when a predetermined starting condition is satisfied. The control unit inhibits the engine from stopping automatically when the headlamp is lighted, and the physical quantity detected by the brightness detection unit is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

The invention relates to a method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle, where an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle is accelerated to a predetermined engine speed and a hybrid disconnect clutch, which is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, is moved in the closing direction depending on the set-point clutch torque. In a method which safeguards a high reproducibility of the restart operation, the set-point clutch torque for restarting the internal combustion engine is determined depending on an engine switch-off position of the internal combustion engine in a first phase in which the internal combustion engine is not running.

The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (14) of a motor vehicle (10), in that the internal combustion engine (14) is started using a remote start unit (18) for wireless reception of a remote start signal (R) and afterwards is monitored by a shutdown unit (36) to determine whether a shutdown condition is fulfilled. When appropriate, the internal combustion engine (14) is shutdown again. A radio key device (26) of the motor vehicle (10) is designed to detect a radio key presence in a passenger compartment (28) of the motor vehicle (10) using a key scan and to signal a radio key presence by means of a key presence signal (A). The problem addressed by the invention is to adapt the subsequent shutdown of the internal combustion engine (14) more flexibly to the position of the driver following a remote start. The shutdown condition comprises for this purpose that the key presence signal (A) must have been inactive for a predefined minimum time period. A presence of a person in the passenger compartment (28) is detected by a monitoring device (32) by means of a sensor unit (24, 38, 40 42) and, upon detecting the presence of a person, at least one key scan is triggered at at least one predefined time by means of a control signal (P).

A hydraulic system is disclosed for assisting starting of a machine having an engine. The hydraulic system may include a work tool, a pump driven by the engine to pressurize fluid, and an actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and move the work tool. The hydraulic system may also include an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid from the pump and from the actuator, an electric starter configured to start the engine, and a motor selectively supplied with fluid from the accumulator to assist the electric starter in starting the engine.

A hydraulic system is disclosed for assisting starting of a machine having an engine. The hydraulic system may include a work tool, a pump driven by the engine to pressurize fluid, and an actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and move the work tool. The hydraulic system may also include an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid from the pump and from the actuator, an electric starter configured to start the engine, and a motor selectively supplied with fluid from the accumulator to assist the electric starter in starting the engine.