Abstract: An engine start control apparatus includes a motor/generator and a controller for controlling the motor/generator. The controller starts an engine cranking operation to start the engine by operating the motor/generator in a cranking mode for driving an engine in response to an engine start command signal, monitors an operating condition of the engine cranking operation to produce a mode change signal before an engine speed exceeds a target speed, and switches the motor/generator from the cranking mode to an overshoot control mode to control the power generation of the motor/generator in accordance with a predetermined target parameter such as a target power generation torque and a desired engine speed.

Abstract: An automatic engine stop and restart system includes an engine, a starting motor, a transmission, a vehicle operating condition sensor and a controller. The controller monitors the vehicle operating condition to produce an automatic engine restart request signal during an automatic engine stop operation, calculates a target engine speed for the automatic engine restart operation, and drives the motor in accordance with the target speed to perform the automatic engine restart operation in response to the engine restart request signal. During the automatic engine restart operation, the transmission is held in a drive state or in a non-drive state invariably.

Abstract: A starter cutoff control apparatus and method for a starter/generator used on an engine includes a circuit for detecting starter/generator armature current during an engine start operation, comparing the armature current to an armature current setpoint to produce an error signal; using the error signal to produce a field weakening control signal; and a circuit for producing a starter cutoff signal as a function of the field weakening control signal.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system including an engine and an electric motor at least one of which is operated as drive power source to drive a motor vehicle in a selected one of different operation modes. The system is adapted to prevent concurrent operations to change the operation mode and the speed ratio of a power transmitting device or the ratio of torque distribution to front and rear drive wheels, or concurrent operations to change the operation mode and switch the power transmitting device from a non-drive state to a drive state, for avoiding a shock due to a torque variation which would arise from the concurrent operations. The system is alternatively adapted to cut a power transfer from the drive power source to the power transmitting device, or hold the output of the drive power source substantially constant, when the power transmitting device is switched from the non-drive state to the drive state.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicular drive unit that includes an engine, a motor-generator connected to the output shaft of the engine and which acts as both a motor and a generator, a battery for storing the energy recovered by the motor-generator as electric power and for feeding electric power to drive the motor-generator, a first clutch for connecting the motor-generator and the wheels, a stop state detector for detecting the stopped state of the vehicle, and a controller for controlling the engine, the motor-generator and the first clutch. When the stopped state is detected by the stop state detector, the controller releases the first clutch, interrupts the feed of fuel to the engine, and feeds electric power to the motor-generator to drive the motor-generator to thereby hold the rotation of the engine substantially at an idling RPM.

Abstract: The present invention as disclosed herein is directed to an engine with associated decompression device which is adapted to drive an onboard generator/electric motor. The present invention comprises an engine speed sensor means for detecting the speed of rotation of the engine, and a fuel injection control means for controlling the injection of a fuel in the engine. The decompression device is, for example, moved from an operative condition to an inoperative condition or vice versa in response to a sensed signal from the engine speed sensor means. The fuel injection control means is operable to initiate or stop the injection of the fuel in response to a sensed signal from the engine speed sensor means. The present invention provides an onboard electrical generating system which better controls vibration and exhaust emissions when the engine, particularly an onboard generator drive engine, is cranked and stopped.

Abstract: A modular power plant comprises an internal combustion engine coupled to an electrical machine. The electrical machine may be used to start the engine and to generate electrical energy. The power plant is provided with an electronic control and protection system comprising an electronic processing and control unit arranged to operate in a first mode when the power plant is used alone, and in a second mode when the power plant is used together in a coordinated manner in an installation comprising a further n power plants. In this second mode of operation the processing and control unit may act as a master unit for controlling and coordinating the operation of the processing and control units of the other n power plants in a predetermined manner, or as a slave unit controlled by another control and processing unit of one of the other n power plants. Means are provided for assigning the roll of master unit to one of the control and processing units of the n+1 power plants.

Abstract: The invention is an electric starting system for starting aircraft jet engines (32), (34) and (36) using an APU (10) free turbine driven generator (12). The operating power factor of the starter-generator (12) is controlled during start mode operation of the APU (10) by monitoring the line current via a current transformer (58). Contactors (14) and (16) connect the generator (12) into the aircraft's ac power system and ac starting system, respectively. A master start relay (22) is provided, and is closed in the `start` mode such that a power electronics inverter (24) may be powered from external power via contactors (18). The variable-voltage/variable-frequency output of inverter (24) is controlled via a logic controller (26) and can be applied sequentially to the three engine driven generators (32), (34) and (36) via start relays (42), (44) and (46) to start the engines (32), (34) and (36) respectively.

Abstract: A power-generating installation comprises a plurality of modular power plants each comprised of an internal combustion engine connected to an electric machine. The electric machine is used to start the engine and thereafter operates as a generator supplying power to an electrical network common to all the modular plants. The installation has a control and protection system comprising a plurality of control modules each associated with a respective plant, and a central unit passing control signals to the modules to control starting and stopping of the individual power plants. Upon the detection of abnormal operation or failure of its associated power plant, each control module transmits an alarm signal back to the central unit which thereupon stops, or prevents the starting, of the corresponding power plant. Parameters monitored by each control module include generated current and inter-winding leakage current of the electric machine.