METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STARTING OR RESTARTING A THERMAL ENGINE, IN PARTICULAR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The method according to the invention calls upon a rotary electric machine (1) comprising a drive member (3) and a transmission member (4) of the belt or chain type, collaborating with the drive member and with the combustion engine (2) in order to start or restart the combustion engine, a tensioner (6) being provided to press against one strand (7) of the transmission member that extends between the rotary electric machine and the combustion engine. According to the invention, in a first stage, the rotary electric machine (1) supplies a predetermined reduced torque in the direction of starting for a predetermined duration in order to tension the transmission member (4) and then, in a second stage, the rotary electric machine (1) supplies a predetermined optimum torque for rapidly turning over the combustion engine (2) and causing it to start.

Claims

1. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2), in particular of a motor vehicle, by means of a rotary electrical machine (1) comprising a drive unit (3) and a transmission unit (4) of the belt (4) or chain type which cooperates with said drive unit (3) and with said thermal engine (2) in order to give rise to starting or restarting of said thermal engine (2), a tensioner (6) being provided in order to be supported on a strand (7) of said transmission unit (4) which extends between the said rotary electrical machine (1) and said thermal engine (2), wherein: in a first step, said rotary electrical machine (1) supplies a predetermined reduced torque in said starting direction for a predetermined time, in order to tension said transmission unit (4); and in a second step, said rotary electrical machine (1) supplies an optimal predetermined torque to drive said thermal engine (2) rapidly and to give rise to its starting; and wherein said predetermined reduced torque is controlled by controlling an angle of advance of an inverter (12, 13) which supplies said rotary electrical machine (1).

2. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 1, wherein, in a starting phase, said predetermined reduced torque is lower than a nominal torque necessary for passage of a compression point of said thermal engine (2).

3. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 1, wherein, in a relaunching phase, said predetermined reduced torque depends on a speed of rotation of said rotary electrical machine (1).

4. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined reduced torque is also controlled by controlling an angle of opening of said inverter (12, 13).

5. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined reduced torque is controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine (1).

6. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 1, wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

7. Device for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2), in particular of a motor vehicle, which is designed for implementation of the method according to claim 1, said device being of the type comprising: a rotary electrical machine (1) provided with a drive unit (3); a transmission unit (4) of the belt (4) or chain type, which cooperates with said drive unit (3) of said rotary electrical machine (1) and with said thermal engine (2) in order to give rise to starting or restarting of said thermal engine (2); a tensioner (6) to be supported on a strand (7) of said transmission unit (4) extending between said rotary electrical machine (1) and said thermal engine (2); an inverter (12, 13) which supplies said rotary electrical machine (1); a control system (13) for said rotary electrical machine (1) which controls an engine torque, wherein it additionally comprises means for acquisition of at least one parameter from amongst the group: a speed of rotation of said rotary electrical machine (1); an angle of advance of said inverter (12, 13); an angle of opening of said inverter (12, 13); an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine (1); a temperature of said rotary electrical machine (1); and wherein said control system (13) comprises a cartography (17) of a predetermined reduced torque according to said at least one parameter, such as to tension the transmission unit (4) when said engine torque is equal to the said predetermined reduced torque for a predetermined time, said predetermined reduced torque being lower than an optimal torque which makes it possible to drive said thermal engine (2) rapidly.

8. Control system (13) for a rotary electrical machine (1) which is designed to provide a device for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 7.

9. Alternator-starter (1) which is designed to be coupled to a thermal engine (2), in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising an integrated control system (13) according to claim 8.

10. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined reduced torque is controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine (1).

11. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined reduced torque is controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine (1).

12. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined reduced torque is controlled by controlling an excitation current (EXC) of said rotary electrical machine (1).

13. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 2, wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

14. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 3, wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

15. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 4, wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

16. Method for starting or restarting a thermal engine (2) according to claim 5, wherein said first step is preceded by a pre-flow step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 represents partially a face of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle and a mechanical arrangement of a device for starting or restarting of a type according to the invention.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a synoptic electrical diagram of a device for starting or restarting a thermal engine of a motor vehicle of a type according to the invention.

[0050] FIGS. 3a and 3b are the representation of a cartography, according to the angle of advance of the inverter and the temperature of the alternator-starter, of the predetermined reduced torque implemented in a preferred embodiment of the method and of the device for starting or restarting a thermal engine of a motor vehicle according to the invention, respectively in a starting phase and in a restarting phase (at 100 rpm).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0051] The preferred embodiment of the invention concerns vehicles equipped with an alternator-starter 1 arranged on a face of a thermal engine 2 as represented in FIG. 1.

[0052] As shown clearly in FIG. 1, the alternator-starter 1 is provided with a drive unit, formed in this case by a first pulley 3, with which there cooperates a transmission unit constituted by a belt 4 in order to drive the thermal engine 2 by means of a second pulley 5 integral with a crankshaft of this thermal engine 2.

[0053] A tensioner 6 comprising a roller is supported on a strand 7 of the belt 4 extending between the alternator-starter 1 and the crankshaft of the thermal engine 2.

[0054] The belt 4 is also used, via another strand of the belt 4, to drive by means of a third pulley 8 an accessory, for example an air-conditioner compressor, not represented.

[0055] In a manner which in itself is known, the alternator-starter 1 is supplied in motor mode by an inverter, and is controlled by a control system which controls the engine torque.

[0056] The synoptic diagram of these electrical elements is shown in FIG. 2.

[0057] The alternator-starter 1 represented schematically comprises a three-phase stator 9 and a rotor 10 with excitation.

[0058] The three phase windings of the stator 9 are supplied B+, B by a battery which is connected to the on-board power network 11 by power circuits 12 which are controlled by the control system 13.

[0059] The control system 13 also controls an excitation current EXC which circulates in an inductor of the rotor 10.

[0060] The electronic control system 13 receives functioning parameters of the thermal engine 2, and other context information via dedicated wired connections or via an on-board data communication bus of the LIN or CAN type, from the engine control unit 14.

[0061] For the purpose of limiting the detrimental vibratory effects, the method for starting or restarting the thermal engine 2 according to the invention consists substantially of pre-tensioning the belt 4 before the alternator-starter 1 applies sufficient engine torque to drive the thermal engine 2 rapidly.

[0062] In a first step, the control system 13 thus controls the alternator-starter 1 such that it supplies only predetermined reduced torque in order to tension the belt 4.

[0063] For this purpose, the starting or restarting device according to the invention comprises three Hall-effect sensors 15 integral with the stator 9, which make it possible to determine the angular position of the rotor 10 relative to the stator 9 by means of a magnetic target 16 which is secured on the rotor 10.

[0064] According to this angular position, the control system 13 controls the phase currents such that they have an angle of advance (phase difference with the fcem of the machine) corresponding to the required predetermined reduced torque.

[0065] A cartography of the predetermined reduced torque according to the angle of advance is stored in a memory 17 of the control system 13.

[0066] FIG. 3a is a representation of an example of a cartography used during starting of a thermal engine 2 with a common cubic capacity.

[0067] In this example, an angle of opening of the inverter 12, 13 (i.e. the duty cycle of the phase currents in degrees) has been set to 135, and an intensity of the excitation current EXC has been set to 8 A.

[0068] This intensity corresponds to a target value of the pre-flow step which precedes the first step of application of the predetermined reduced torque.

[0069] An angle of advance of approximately 60 makes it possible to obtain a reduced torque substantially equal to 20 N.m.

[0070] This reduced torque supplied by the alternator-starter 1 does not allow the thermal engine 2 to clear a first compression point, but permits tensioning of the belt 4.

[0071] The cartography takes into account a temperature of the alternator-starter 1.

[0072] However, as shown clearly in FIG. 3a, it has been found that this has only little impact for the machine concerned (curve in a solid line for 28 C., in a thin dotted line for 10 C., in a thick dotted line for 25 C., in a broken line for 50 C., and in a dot and dash line for 120 C.).

[0073] In a phase of restarting of the thermal engine 2, the cartography takes into account the speed of rotation of the alternator-starter 1.

[0074] FIG. 3b is an example for a speed of rotation of 100 rpm in the same conditions as for FIG. 3a, i.e. an angle of opening of 135 and an excitation current EXC of 8 A.

[0075] In this case, an angle of advance of substantially 60 also makes it possible to obtain a reduced torque of approximately 20 N.m.

[0076] According to the invention, the cartography of the predetermined reduced torque according to the angle of advance generally takes into account the speed of rotation of the alternator-starter 1 preferably in a range from 0 to approximately 200 rpm, as well as other parameters, such as the intensity of the excitation current EXC, the angle of opening of the inverter, and the temperature.

[0077] The device for starting or restarting a thermal engine 2 according to the invention thus comprises as many corresponding sensors 15 as necessary, for example a shunt at the excitation circuit for measurement of the intensity of the excitation current EXC.

[0078] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited solely to the preferred embodiment described above.

[0079] The cartography presented corresponds simply to the particular characteristics of an alternator-starter 1 and a thermal engine 2 selected by way of example.

[0080] The above description would apply to rotary electrical machines other than a three-phase alternator-starter with excitation 1.

[0081] The number of phases of these electrical machines can be more than three, and can for example be equal to six for hexaphase machines.

[0082] The method for starting or restarting a thermal engine 2 by means of a rotary electrical machine 1 according to the invention applies generally equally well to synchronous machines with permanent magnets, claw machines, machines with a wound rotor with double excitation, asynchronous machines, machines with variable reluctance, or direct current machines.

[0083] The invention thus on the contrary incorporates all the possible variant embodiments which would remain within the scope defined by the following claims.