IP Library Granted Patent US 8,589,053
Granted Patent B2
US 8,589,053 · App. 13/057,800 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Method and control device for detecting the direction of rotation of a drive shaft of an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle

Inventors: Thomas Keiner (Wetzlar, DE); Christoph Schnurrer (Oberursel, DE)
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,589,053
App. No.
13/057,800
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for determining the direction of rotation of a drive shaft ( 13 ) of an internal combustion engine ( 1 ) without using a sensor specifically provided therefor, an operating variable of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ) is measured using a sensor in a gas line ( 40, 16 ), which connects a combustion chamber ( 30 ) of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ) to the surrounding area. The operating variable is calculated using a model. A forward direction of rotation of the drive shaft ( 13 ) is detected if the difference between the measured value of the operating variable and the model value of the operating variable lies within a specified tolerance range. Otherwise, a reverse direction of rotation of the drive shaft ( 13 ) is detected, which is opposite of the forward direction of rotation.

Claims (37)

1. A control device for an internal combustion engine, which is operable to detect the direction of rotation of a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine by

measuring a value of an operating variable of the internal combustion engine using a sensor in a gas line which connects a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to the surrounding area,

calculating a model value of the operating variable using a model, and

determining a forward direction of rotation of the drive shaft if the difference between the measured value of the operating variable and the model value of the operating variable lies within a specified tolerance range, and otherwise determining a reverse direction of rotation of the drive shaft which is opposite to the forward direction of rotation.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating variable is one of the following variables:

the pressure at a position inside an intake tract or an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine,

the temperature at a position inside the intake tract or an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine,

the gas flow rate in the intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

3. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is further operable to suppress the fuel supply if it is detected that the drive shaft is rotating in the reverse direction of rotation.

4. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a specified speed threshold value.

5. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the rotational speed of the drive shaft is greater than a specified rotational speed threshold value.

6. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the drive shaft is rotated by a starter motor associated with the internal combustion engine or if a request to start the internal combustion engine is detected.

7. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein with fuel supply disabled, the control device is further operable to determine firstly the direction of rotation of the drive shaft and fuel supply is only enabled in the situation when it is detected that the drive shaft is rotating in the forward direction of rotation.

8. A control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising a sensor in a gas line which connects a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to a surrounding area, the sensor being operable to measure a value of an operating variable of the internal combustion engine, wherein the control device is software controlled to:

calculate a model value of the operating variable using a model, and

to determine a forward direction of rotation of the drive shaft if the difference between the measured value of the operating variable and the model value of the operating variable lies within a specified tolerance range, and otherwise to determine a reverse direction of rotation of the drive shaft which is opposite to the forward direction of rotation.

9. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein the operating variable is one of the following variables:

the pressure at a position inside an intake tract or an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine,

the temperature at a position inside the intake tract or an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine,

the gas flow rate in the intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

10. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein the control device is further software controlled to suppress the fuel supply if it is detected that the drive shaft is rotating in the reverse direction of rotation.

11. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a specified speed threshold value or if the rotational speed of the drive shaft is greater than a specified rotational speed threshold value.

12. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the drive shaft is rotated by a starter motor associated with the internal combustion engine or if a request to start the internal combustion engine is detected.

13. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein with fuel supply disabled, the control device is further software controlled to determine firstly the direction of rotation of the drive shaft and fuel supply is only enabled in the situation when it is detected that the drive shaft is rotating in the forward direction of rotation.

14. A method for detecting the direction of rotation of a drive shaft of an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, comprising:

measuring a value of an operating variable of the internal combustion engine using a sensor in a gas line which connects a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to the surrounding area,

calculating a model value of the operating variable using a model, and

detecting a forward direction of rotation of the drive shaft if the difference between the measured value of the operating variable and the model value of the operating variable lies within a specified tolerance range, and otherwise detecting a reverse direction of rotation of the drive shaft which is opposite to the forward direction of rotation.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the operating variable is one of the following variables:

the pressure at a position inside an intake tract or an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine,

the temperature at a position inside the intake tract or an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine,

the gas flow rate in the intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the fuel supply is suppressed if it is detected that the drive shaft is rotating in the reverse direction of rotation.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a specified speed threshold value.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the rotational speed of the drive shaft is greater than a specified rotational speed threshold value.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the fuel supply is released or remains released if the drive shaft is rotated by a starter motor associated with the internal combustion engine or if a request to start the internal combustion engine is detected.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein with fuel supply disabled firstly the direction of rotation of the drive shaft is determined and fuel supply is only enabled in the situation when it is detected that the drive shaft is rotating in the forward direction of rotation.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2020
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 053349/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2011
From: KEINER, THOMAS; SCHNURRER, CHRISTOPH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 025808/0763 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2008 036 818 · Aug 7, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110144890A1 · Jun 16, 2011