Disclosed is a method for managing the starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid drive system including a combustion engine and an electric machine, as well as a drive shaft, the electric machine producing torque to start the combustion engine and drive the drive shaft at least during an initial phase of the start. In a transient starting phase, the combustion engine drives the drive shaft and the electric machine is stopped. The electric machine is regulated, during the initial phase and transient phases, with a first engine speed setpoint. The transient phase begins when the drive shaft reaches the first engine speed setpoint and remains steady. Torque control produced by the electric machine during the transient starting phase being configured so that the electric machine is stopped as soon as the control determines that the torque produced by the electric machine is tending toward zero torque.

A vehicle includes a combustion engine configured to crank start via torque applied to a crankshaft. The vehicle also includes a first electric machine to drive vehicle wheels powered by a high-voltage power source and coupled to the crankshaft and a second electric machine powered by a low-voltage power source and coupled to the crankshaft. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to monitor a battery state of charge (SOC) and a voltage of the high-voltage power source. The controller is also programmed to activate only the second electric machine to attempt to crank start the engine in response to either of the SOC or the voltage being less than a predetermined threshold, and activate the first electric machine to attempt to crank start the engine in response to each of the SOC and the voltage being greater than a predetermined threshold.

An engine start control device for vehicles is capable of preventing a shortage of electric power when an engine is restarted. A controller restarts an engine if an executing condition for a hill start assist control process is satisfied while the engine is being temporarily stopped according to an idling stop control process. Braking forces according to the hill start assist control process are kept by a brake oil pressure module that is energized when supplied with electric power. Restarting conditions include a plurality of ordinary restarting conditions and a particular restarting condition by way of the executing condition for the hill start assist control process. A second predetermined time after the particular restarting condition is satisfied until the ACG starter motor is energized is longer than a predetermined time after the ordinary restarting conditions are satisfied until the ACG starter motor is supplied with electric power.

A method for slow starting a reciprocating engine having a crankshaft, piston, and piston chamber is disclosed. The method includes applying a force to the crankshaft, sensing an engine characteristic, and determining if an error or fault is present in the engine.

A control unit is provided for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a shaft, which can be coupled to an electric machine or decoupled from the electric machine. The control unit is designed to couple the electric machine to the internal combustion engine during an engine stop of the internal combustion engine. The control unit causes the electric machine to guide the shaft of the internal combustion engine. The control unit determines that a speed of the guided shaft is equal to or less than a speed threshold value and, in response thereto, decouples the electric machine from the internal combustion engine, such that the internal combustion engine stops without being guided by the electric machine.

An engine generator, including an engine having a piston reciprocating inside a cylinder, a generator unit having a three-phase winding, driven by the engine to generate power and operating as an engine starter motor during engine starting, a power converter circuit connected to the generator unit, a battery supplying power to the generator unit through the power converter circuit during engine starting, an engine speed detection unit detecting an engine speed, a connection switching unit switching a connection configuration of the winding to one of a wye-connection and a delta-connection, and a connection switching control unit controlling the connection switching unit to switch the connection configuration to the wye-connection when the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed, and to switch the connection configuration to the delta-connection when the engine speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined engine speed, during engine starting.

An internal combustion engine (ICE) includes a crankshaft, a cylinder head defining in part a variable combustion chamber of the ICE, a direct fuel injector mounted on the cylinder head, a power source, an electric turning machine (ETM) rotating the crankshaft, an absolute position sensor providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM, and an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the absolute position sensor. The ECU controls a delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM based on the angular position of the rotor of the ETM and causes the direct fuel injector to inject fuel directly in the combustion chamber at a time selected based on the angular position reached by the rotor of the ETM.

A method for controlling delivery of electric power between a power source and an electric turning machine (ETM) comprises applying a start signal to a start-up power electronic switch to cause turning on of the start-up power electronic switch and to allow delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM via the start-up power electronic switch. A recharge signal is applied to a run-time power electronic switch to cause turning on of the run-time power electronic switch for delivery of electric power from the ETM to the power source via the run-time power electronic switch. A circuit comprises a discharging circuit including the start-up power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the start-up power electronic switch is turned on. A charging circuit includes the run-time power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the run-time power electronic switch is turned on.

Embodiments for a hybrid drive are provided. In one example, a hybrid module for arrangement on an internal combustion engine, which is configured for starting the internal combustion engine, includes an electric motor, for generating a torque, and an output element connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the electric motor and positioned on an output axle, for transmission of the torque to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. According to the disclosure, the hybrid module has a magnetic transmission, wherein the torque of the electric motor is transmitted via the magnetic transmission to the output element.

An engine start control device for vehicles is capable of preventing a shortage of electric power when an engine is restarted. A controller restarts an engine if an executing condition for a hill start assist control process is satisfied while the engine is being temporarily stopped according to an idling stop control process. Braking forces according to the hill start assist control process are kept by a brake oil pressure module that is energized when supplied with electric power. Restarting conditions include a plurality of ordinary restarting conditions and a particular restarting condition by way of the executing condition for the hill start assist control process. A second predetermined time after the particular restarting condition is satisfied until the ACG starter motor is energized is longer than a predetermined time after the ordinary restarting conditions are satisfied until the ACG starter motor is supplied with electric power.