WO2012116882A2

WO2012116882A2 - Method and device for monitoring an engagement procedure of a starter pinion of a starter motor

Info

Publication number: WO2012116882A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/052194
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Zernial; Tony Rocco
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-03-03
Filing date: 2012-02-09
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Also published as: WO2012116882A3; EP2681442A2; DE102011005005A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring an engagement procedure of a starter pinion of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, wherein an armature of the starter motor is moved, comprising: detecting (103) a speed of a movement of the armature; and identifying a feature of the engagement procedure on the basis of the detected speed.

Description

Description title

Method and device for monitoring a meshing operation of a Einspurritzels a starter motor

The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring an engagement process of a Einspurritzels a starter motor for a vehicle drive, in which an armature of the starter motor is moved.

State of the art

Starter motors are known in which, during the starting process, a single-pinion gear of the starter motor is meshed with the aid of a solenoid in a ring gear of a vehicle drive, in particular an internal combustion engine. For example, the Einpurritzel closes during or before reaching a eingeprurten end position of a contact bridge in the solenoid, whereby the electric starter motor is powered.

Ideally, the Einpurritzel the starter motor and a corresponding sprocket in the vehicle drive are so rotated relative to each other that when activating a solenoid, the Einspurritzel slides directly into the sprocket. However, it is also possible that a tooth of the pinion during Einspurvorgang initially completely or partially overlaps with a tooth of the ring gear and thereby the direct meshing is prevented. In particular, with a worn pinion or a worn sprocket, it may happen in such a situation that the starter motor starts to rotate and the Einpurritzel does not lash into the sprocket because of the tooth position. Rather, the teeth of the Einspurritzels and the teeth of the ring gear can slide over each other, so that the vehicle drive is not driven by the starter motor.

In conventional starter motors, for example, accordingly checks whether after a certain time a meshing process is completed. If after this certain time no successful meshing can be detected, then For example, the Einspurvorgang aborted and can be restarted. However, this can have an unfavorable effect on the operation of starter motors in start-stop systems, in which a restart of the vehicle drive should take place in the shortest possible time.

Disclosure of the invention

The object on which the invention is based can therefore be regarded as specifying a method and a device for monitoring a meshing operation of a single lash pin of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, with which a property of the meshing operation can be determined in a shorter time.

The object is achieved by means of the respective subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of each dependent dependent claims.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of monitoring a meshing action of a single lance pinion of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, wherein an armature of the starter motor is moved. In this case, a speed of a movement of the armature is detected and, on the basis of the detected speed, a characteristic of the meshing process is determined.

The speed of the armature corresponds, for example, to the speed with which the single-pinion gear moves in the direction of a toothed rim of the vehicle drive. The detected speed can thus be used advantageously to assess how the Einspurvorgang the Einspurritzels runs or has run. In addition, the determined property can advantageously also be in a forecast about the further course of the meshing process in order, for example, to control a control of the meshing process on the basis of the prognosis.

In various embodiments, the determined characteristic comprises at least one of the following: a successfully executable meshing operation, a successfully performed meshing operation, a retarded meshing action, an unsuccessful meshing operation, an unsuccessful meshing operation, a tooth-on-tooth position of the Einspurritzels at the Meshing. Thus, a quality of the Einspurvorgangs can be assessed with little effort.

When detecting the speed, a temporal course of the speed can be recorded in various embodiments. Accordingly, determining the property may include evaluating a velocity history. For example, with a given temporal resolution, an instantaneous speed of the armature is determined and used as a basis for determining the characteristic of the meshing process. This makes it possible in a simplified manner to determine a property of the Einspurvorgangs already during the ongoing appeal process. Thus, for example, can be reacted to certain determined properties faster.

In various embodiments, the speed is detected by measuring a signal profile, in particular a current profile, at a starter relay of the starter motor. The measurement of the signal profile can for example take place at a terminal of the starter relay, via which a solenoid for attracting the armature is supplied with power, for which purpose preferably a shunt is used as a measuring resistor. For example, such a terminal is a so-called terminal 50 of a vehicle electrical system. From the signal profile, for example, a conclusion can be drawn about the respective speed of the armature. For this purpose, for example, the signal profile of the signal profile is evaluated, in particular with respect to absolute magnitudes in the waveform and slopes in the waveform. It is also possible that a reference profile is created for a starter motor, which represents, for example, an ideal, successfully performed Einspurvorgang. Such a reference profile can be created, for example, analytically or by reference measurements prior to commissioning of the starter motor. Accordingly, it is possible that the determination of the property comprises comparing the measured signal profile with a reference profile. With such a comparison, the characteristic of the meshing process can thus be determined with little effort. The signal profile of a meshing operation may vary over the life of the starter motor, so that the signal profile of a successfully performed In the case of a successfully performed single-lane traversing operation, the latening operation at the beginning of the service life differs from a signal profile at the end of the service life. Accordingly, the reference profile can advantageously be adapted, in particular adaptable, depending on a lifetime of the starter motor. Accordingly, an expired life of the starter motor can also be determined or estimated by comparison with an adapted reference profile. For example, a current life is defined by the number of already completed starting operations or by number of faulty starting operations of the starter motor. Alternatively or additionally, a degree of wear of the starter motor, in particular the Einspurritzels and / or the associated sprocket can be determined. If, for example, a certain degree of wear is determined by means of a measured signal curve, then this can be signaled in order to trigger possible further measures. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible in various embodiments that, when determining the property of the objection process, a comparison of a first amplitude peak in the signal profile with a second amplitude peak in the signal profile is carried out. Accordingly, the determination of the property can be done with little effort.

By way of example, the meshing process is determined to be successful if the second amplitude increase is smaller by a threshold than the first amplitude increase. For example, by means of the threshold value, it is predetermined in advance how much two successive amplitude peaks are to be differentiated from one another in order to detect a successfully performed meshing process. Such a threshold comparison can be carried out with little effort both in the production and in operation.

In various embodiments, the result of the determined property can be evaluated for further, following actions. For example, at least one of the following is performed if the meshing operation is not determined successful: the signal profile is stored, for example, to be shared with other stored signal profiles later; an error counter is increased in order to be evaluated, for example, during service or inspection of the starter motor as an indication of wear of the starter motor; the meshing process is aborted and / or restarted to allow a possible mechanical to prevent wear on a faulty Einspurvorgang or reduce; a warning message is output, for example, to a control electronics or via the control electronics to a user.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for monitoring a meshing operation of a single lobe pinion of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, in which an armature of the starter motor is moved. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect a speed of movement of the armature and a detector configured to determine a property of the objection based on the detected speed.

Such a device can be used, for example, advantageously in vehicles, in particular motor vehicles with internal combustion engines. By ascertaining the property of the objecting process on the basis of the speed, this determination can take place with a slight time delay, in particular already during the meshing process. Thus, such a device can be used advantageously in internal combustion engines with start-stop function, in which a quick and error-free starting process is important, especially in comparison with conventional internal combustion engines without start-stop function.

However, the device can also be used with other internal combustion engines, especially slow-speed engines, or engines with automatic transmissions, regardless of whether a start-stop function is implemented for such engines.

Various embodiments of the device, in particular the sensor and the detector, resulting from the previously described embodiments of the method, which can be realized with the sensor and the detector.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments with reference to figures. Show here

1 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for monitoring a meshing operation of a Einspurritzels,

2 shows a schematic illustration of a first exemplary meshing process, 3 is a schematic representation of a second example Einspurvorgangs,

4 shows a first exemplary signal profile,

5 shows a second exemplary signal profile, and

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for monitoring a Einspurvorgangs a Einspurritzels.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for monitoring a meshing operation of a single-groove pinion. In a step 101, the meshing process is started, for example, by an armature of the starter motor is brought about a solenoid in motion. In a following step 103, a speed of movement of the armature is detected. In a step 105, a characteristic of the meshing operation is determined on the basis of the speed detected in step 103.

The property of the Einspurvorgangs is, for example, how or with what quality the Einspurvorgang runs. For example, the meshing process can be carried out neatly or quickly, so that there is a successfully performed meshing process. However, if the meshing process deviates from such an ideal course, a faulty meshing operation can also be determined as a characteristic, with different gradations being possible for such a faulty meshing operation.

Fig. 2 shows, for example, a schematically illustrated sequence of a successful Einspurvorgangs. In this case, an example of a tooth 210 Einspurritzels a starter motor and teeth 220 of a ring gear of a vehicle to be started vehicle drive, such as an internal combustion engine, shown. In the illustration of FIG. 2a, a force in the direction of the arrow is exerted on the tooth 210, for example with the aid of the lifting magnet, in order to load it into the teeth 220 of the toothed ring. The tooth 210 is positioned in such a way relative to the teeth 220 of the ring gear that a meshing can be done directly and without disabilities. Accordingly, in FIG. 2b, the tooth 210 of the single-toothed sprocket is shown in the toothed state in the engaged state. In Fig. 3 an erroneous Einspurvorgang a tooth 310 of a Einspurritzels is shown in teeth 320 of a sprocket by way of example. In a starting position shown in Fig. 3a, in which the tooth 310 is set in motion, this is positioned relative to the ring gear so that the tooth 310 is opposite to one of the teeth 320. This results for example in an arrangement as shown in Fig. 3b, in which the tooth 310 abuts on one of the teeth 320. In this case, it can also be spoken of a tooth-on-tooth position of the Einspurritzels. It can be seen here that there is no immediate meshing of the Einspurrit- zels. Rather, the Einspurvorgang will run at least delayed, especially in comparison with an ideally running Einspurvorgang. In addition, it is possible in this constellation that the Einspurvorgang can not be performed successfully. For example, it may be that the Einpurritzel starts to rotate and rub the teeth of the Einspurritzels on the teeth of the ring gear and it comes to a ratchet-like noise. Such a process may also be referred to as ratcheting the Einspurritzels.

In various embodiments, it may be necessary in a tooth-on-tooth position, that from the teeth of the pinion a Einspurfeder is overprinted, resulting in a slower retraction of the armature of the starter motor, which in the form of

Speed is detectable. Such a slow retraction can on the one hand have a later meshing of the Einspurritzels in the sprocket result or index the so-called ratchets, so a continuous jumping of the pinion on the sprocket, which can prevent the starting process.

By evaluating the speed, in particular a profile of the speed of the armature during the meshing process, it can be determined which characteristic the meshing process has. In particular, it can be determined whether the meshing process has one of the abovementioned properties of a faultless or faulty meshing operation. The determined property can be used for further actions. For example, if a startup operation leading to ratcheting is detected, it can be canceled or restarted. As a result, the mechanical load on the Einpurritzel and the ring gear decreases, which can increase the life of the starter motor. Also, the particular property of the Einspurvorgangs be analyzed over the life, for example, by caching the property determined to a maintenance or inspection to be used. For example, it can be concluded with increasingly occurring faulty Einspurvorgängen on wear of the Einspurritzels and accordingly an exchange recommended. If, in the determination of a faulty meshing process, this is aborted or restarted, increased safety for a meshing process can be achieved, which is particularly favorable in internal combustion engines with a start-stop function. The speed can be detected, for example, on the basis of a signal profile. For example, for this purpose, a current is measured at a starter relay, for which purpose preferably a shunt is used as a measuring resistor. For example, amounts, amplitude values or also a slope of the signal profile are evaluated. Alternatively or additionally, a measured signal profile can also be compared with a stored reference profile.

4 shows an exemplary signal profile of a signal profile as a function of time t. The signal curve of FIG. 4, for example, corresponds to a successfully performed one-track operation. From the graph it can be seen that after a start of the Einspurvorgangs in which a solenoid is energized and begins to move the armature, the force on the pinion and the armature due to the decreasing air gap increases in the magnetic circuit. A speed of movement of the armature results from the slope in the signal curve, for example from a back-induced electromagnetic force, which makes itself felt as back-induced voltage in the windings of the lifting magnet against a battery voltage. The signal rises up to a first amplitude increase 401 and then drops off slightly. In a favorable position of Einspurritzels it is not necessary to overpress a Einsprurfeder so that the speed of the armature remains virtually unchanged. This makes it sufficient to act on the armature with less electromagnetic force, resulting in the second amplitude increase

402 makes noticeable. The second amplitude peak 402 is visibly lower than the first amplitude peak 401. For example, the difference between the first and second amplitude peaks 401, 402 is greater than a threshold, so that a successfully performed meshing operation can be assumed. In Fig. 5, another exemplary waveform of a Einspurvorgangs is shown. Similar to FIG. 4, a first and a second amplitude peak 501, 502 can also be seen in FIG. However, the second amplitude superelevation 502 is approximately the same as the first amplitude superelevation 501. Accordingly, it can be deduced from the profile that a speed of the armature was retarded in the course of the meshing process and therefore there is an at least partially faulty meshing operation. For example, it can be deduced that there is a tooth-tooth position of the single-toothed sprocket with the sprocket. In particular, from a course, as shown in FIG. 5, it can already be detected during the meshing process that this does not take place without error. Consequently, the Einspurvorgang can be aborted prematurely, for example, to restart it. Consequently, a potentially error-free, new start-up process can be initiated more quickly than in a conventional start-up process, for example, only the result of the Einspurvorgangs is considered.

An evaluation of the measured signal profile of the Einspurvorgangs can be done in various embodiments by a comparison with a reference profile, which represents, for example, a course of the successfully performed single track operation. For example, such a reference profile is similar to the signal profile shown in FIG.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a starter system with a starter control 601, a starter relay 603 and a starter motor 605. The system further comprises a monitoring device 607 with a sensor 609 and a detector

611, wherein the sensor 609 is coupled to a sense resistor or shunt 613.

The starter control 601 is coupled to the starter relay 603 to initiate a starting operation of the starter motor 605 via the starter relay 603. The starter controller may be coupled to the monitoring device 607 to provide information about a start-up procedure to be started to the device 607. The sensor 609 detects a signal, in particular a current, at the starter relay 603 via the measuring resistor 613. From the course of the measured signal, a speed of a movement of the armature in the starter motor 605 can be derived. On the basis of the detected speed or based on the measured signal profile is in the

Detector determines a property of the objection process. With regard to the various NEN possibilities of evaluation and determination by the device 607 and the detector 611 is referred to the above explanations in order to avoid repetition.

A system, as shown in FIG. 6, can be used advantageously, in particular, in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine. In particular, such a system is suitable for engines having a start-stop function in which the internal combustion engine is stopped during a stance phase of the vehicle, for example during a traffic light stop, and restarted when the driver drives on via the starter motor.

In summary, the invention provides a method and an apparatus which make it possible, in particular, to monitor a meshing operation of a single lobe of a starter motor in such a way that a characteristic of the meshing process can be determined in a short time, in particular whether the meshing operation is performed error-free or error-prone. In particular, a faulty meshing operation can be detected before the meshing process is completed.

Claims

claims

A method for monitoring a meshing action of a single lobe pinion of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, wherein an armature of the starter motor is moved, comprising:

Detecting (103) a speed of movement of the armature; and

Determining (105) a property of the meshing operation based on the detected velocity.

2. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the determined property comprises at least one of the following: a successfully executable meshing operation;

- a successfully performed meshing operation;

- A delayed running Einspurvorgang;

- an unsuccessful one-track operation;

- an unsuccessful insertion process;

- A tooth-on-tooth position of Einspurritzels in the Einspurvorgang.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the determining (105) comprises an evaluation of a velocity profile.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detecting (103) comprises a measurement of a signal profile, in particular a current profile, to a starter relay (603) of the starter motor (605).

5. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the determining (105) comprises a comparison of the measured signal profile with a reference profile.

6. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the reference profile adaptable, in particular adaptable depending on a lifetime of the starter motor, is

The method of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the determining (105) comprises comparing a first amplitude peak in the signal profile with a second amplitude peak in the signal profile.

8. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the Einspurvorgang is determined to be successful when the second amplitude increase is smaller by a threshold value than the first amplitude increase.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein if the meshing operation is not determined successful, at least one of the following is performed:

- saving the signal profile;

- increasing an error counter;

- cancel the meshing process;

- restarting the Einspurvorgangs;

- Issuing a warning message.

10. A device (607) for monitoring a meshing operation of a Einspurritzels a starter motor for a vehicle drive in which an armature of the starter motor is moved, the device comprising a sensor (609) which is adapted to detect a speed of movement of the armature, and a detector (61 1) configured to determine a characteristic of the meshing operation based on the detected velocity.