JP5907021B2 - Engine start control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine start control device, and more particularly, is started by a starter device capable of individually driving a motor that rotationally drives a pinion and an electrically driven actuator that moves the pinion toward the ring gear of the engine. The present invention relates to an engine start control device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an engine control system having a so-called idle stop function that detects an operation for stopping or starting such as an accelerator operation or a brake operation to automatically stop and restart an engine. This idle stop control is intended to reduce the fuel consumption of the engine.

  Conventionally, as an engine start control system, a system using a pinion extrusion type starter device that pushes a pinion toward a ring gear mounted on the engine and meshes the pinion with the ring gear to give the engine initial rotation is proposed. Has been. In this system, due to deterioration of the pinion and ring gear (gear wear, chipping, etc.), the pinion does not mesh with the ring gear even when the pinion is moved toward the ring gear when the engine is started. is there. In order to deal with such a problem of poor meshing, conventionally, even if engine start fails, restart is repeated up to a specified number of times (for example, 3 times). It has been proposed to determine a failure without trying (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-197599 A

  However, in order to improve the reliability of the idle stop control, it is necessary to surely generate the meshing between the pinion and the ring gear so that the starter device can be reliably started. In addition, when restarting from a state where the engine has stopped, once the state in which the pinion does not mesh with the ring gear occurs due to wear or chipping of the ring gear or pinion, the peripheral speed between the pinion and the ring gear Since the difference becomes large, the meshing failure may continue. At this time, the position of the ring gear often does not change, and even if the engine restart is repeatedly attempted, the meshing failure may not be resolved.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine start control device that can reliably cause engagement between a pinion and a ring gear when the engine is started by a starter device. Objective.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

  The present invention is directed to a motor (12) for rotationally driving the pinion (11) and a ring gear (21) connected to the output shaft (22) of the engine (20) so that the pinion is directed to the ring gear. And an engine start control device that is started by a starter device (10) that can be individually driven. In the invention according to claim 1, when an engine start request is generated in a state where the rotation of the engine is stopped, the drive control means for driving the actuator and the motor, and the drive control means Meshing control means for performing meshing control for causing meshing between the pinion and the ring gear by stopping energization of the motor while driving of the actuator is continued after rotation of the pinion is started; It is characterized by providing.

  In short, in the above configuration, when an engine start request is generated while the rotation of the engine is stopped, the pinion is moved toward the ring gear and the pinion is driven to rotate. In addition, after the rotation of the pinion is started, the energization to the motor is stopped and the pinion is rotated by inertia while the pinion is moved toward the ring gear. Accordingly, the pinion can be meshed with the ring gear by utilizing the inertial rotation of the pinion, and the meshing between the pinion and the ring gear can be surely generated when the engine is started by the starter device. In addition, when the pinion is meshed with the ring gear while the rotation of the engine is stopped, the meshing failure may not be eliminated depending on the peripheral speed difference between the pinion and the ring gear. However, in the above configuration, the pinion moves toward the ring gear. In the moved state, the rotational speed difference between the pinion and the ring gear is reduced by reducing the rotational speed of the pinion. As a result, the pinion can be reliably meshed with the ring gear when a start request is generated while the rotation of the engine is stopped.

The block diagram which shows the whole engine control system outline. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the engine starting control of 1st Embodiment. The time chart which shows the specific aspect of the meshing control of 1st Embodiment. The time chart which shows the specific aspect of the meshing control of 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the engine starting control of other embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an engine control system is constructed for an in-vehicle engine (for example, a four-cylinder engine). The control system performs control of fuel injection amount, control of ignition timing, idle stop control, and the like with an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) as a center.

  In FIG. 1, a starter device 10 is a pinion extrusion type engine starter, and includes a motor 12 that rotationally drives a pinion 11, and an electromagnetic actuator 13 that serves as an electrically driven actuator that can extrude the pinion 11 in its axial direction. It is equipped with. The motor 12 is connected to the battery 16 via the motor energization relay 15, and the power supply from the battery 16 to the motor 12 becomes possible when the switch portion 15 b of the motor energization relay 15 is closed. Yes. A motor drive relay 14 that can be opened and closed by an electrical signal is connected to the coil 15 a of the motor energization relay 15. Due to the closing signal to the motor drive relay 14, the switch portion 15 b of the motor energization relay 15 is closed, and power is supplied from the battery 16 to the motor 12.

  The electromagnetic actuator 13 includes a plunger 17 that transmits a driving force to the pinion 11 via a lever and the like, and a solenoid 18 that moves the plunger 17 in the axial direction when energized, and a battery via the pinion driving relay 19. 16 is connected. In the present embodiment, the pinion drive relay 19 can be opened and closed by an electrical signal separate from the electrical signal for the motor drive relay 14. Thereby, the rotational drive of the pinion 11 by the motor 12 and the extrusion of the pinion 11 by the electromagnetic actuator 13 can be controlled independently.

  The pinion 11 is disposed at a position where the teeth of the pinion 11 can mesh with the ring gear 21 connected to the output shaft (crankshaft 22) of the engine 20 as the pinion 11 is pushed out. Specifically, when the electromagnetic actuator 13 is not energized, the pinion 11 is not in contact with the ring gear 21. In this non-contact state, when the pinion drive relay 19 is turned on (closed), the plunger 17 is attracted in the axial direction by the power supply from the battery 16 to the electromagnetic actuator 13, and the pinion 11 is moved to the ring gear 21. It is pushed out toward. At this time, the tooth part provided on the outer peripheral edge of the pinion 11 is fitted between the tooth part provided on the outer peripheral edge of the ring gear 21, whereby the tooth part of the pinion 11 and the tooth part of the ring gear 21 are provided. Meshing occurs. In addition, when the motor 12 is energized in the state where the meshing occurs, the ring gear 21 is rotated by the pinion 11 and initial rotation is applied to the engine 20 (cranking of the engine 20 is performed).

  The ECU 30 is an electronic control device including a known microcomputer and the like, and inputs detection results of various sensors provided in the system, and based on them, fuel injection amount control, ignition timing control, idle stop Various engine controls such as control and drive control of the starter device 10 are performed. In this system, as a sensor, for example, a crank angle sensor 23 that outputs a rectangular crank angle signal at every predetermined crank angle of the engine 20 (for example, at a cycle of 30 ° CA) is provided.

  The idle stop control performed in the above system configuration will be described in detail. In the idle stop control, when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied, the combustion of the engine 20 is stopped and the engine 20 is automatically stopped. After that, when the predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the engine 20 is restarted. . As the automatic stop condition, for example, the accelerator operation amount has become zero (idle state), the brake pedal has been depressed, the vehicle speed has decreased to a predetermined value or less, etc. Is included. The restart condition includes, for example, at least one of an accelerator depressing operation and a brake operation amount becoming zero.

  By the way, in the engine 20 in which the idle stop control is performed, the engine automatic stop and the engine restart are repeatedly performed. Therefore, the number of times of driving (cumulative number) of the starter device 10 is increased, and the teeth of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are increased. Wear and chipping easily occur. Further, when gear wear and chipping progress, the tooth portion of the pinion 11 becomes difficult to fit between the tooth portions of the ring gear 21 or the meshing depth decreases. In such a case, although the pinion 11 is pushed out, there is a possibility that a meshing failure in which the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 do not mesh with each other may occur. In particular, since the position of the ring gear 21 does not change when restarting from a state where the rotation of the engine 20 is stopped, once the meshing failure occurs due to wear or chipping of the ring gear 21 or the pinion 11, the pinion 11 is thereafter changed. Even if the extrusion / extrusion release is repeatedly attempted, the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 may not be meshed.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the engine start request is generated while the rotation of the engine 20 is stopped, the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are engaged after the electromagnetic actuator 13 and the motor 12 are energized and driven. It is determined whether or not a defect has occurred. If it is determined that a meshing failure has occurred, the energization of the motor 12 is stopped while the drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued, thereby causing the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 to mesh (meshing control). . That is, in the present embodiment, when the pinion 11 is pushed out and rotated in response to the engine start request, but the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs, the rotation of the pinion 11 is started. Later, by stopping energization of the motor 12, the rotation of the pinion 11 is gradually stopped and the peripheral speed difference between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 is reduced. At this time, the pinion 11 is left pushed out. By doing so, the pinion 11 is engaged with the ring gear 21 using the state in which the pinion 11 continues to rotate by inertia.

  Next, meshing control between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed at predetermined intervals by the microcomputer of the ECU 30.

  In FIG. 2, in step S <b> 11, it is determined whether the engine 20 has been stopped and whether there has been a request for starting the engine while the rotation is stopped. Here, an affirmative determination is made when the ignition switch is turned on, or when the engine 20 is automatically stopped when the automatic stop condition is satisfied and the restart condition is satisfied after the engine rotation is stopped.

  If there is an engine start request while the engine is stopped, the process proceeds to step S12 to determine whether or not the pinion 11 has been pushed out. If it is before extrusion, the process proceeds to step S13, the pinion drive relay 19 is turned on to energize the electromagnetic actuator 13, and at step S14, the motor drive relay 14 is turned on to energize the motor 12 (drive control means). As a result, the pinion 11 is pushed out toward the ring gear 21 and the pinion 11 is rotationally driven. The electromagnetic actuator 13 and the motor 12 may be energized first by energizing the electromagnetic actuator 13 or may be performed simultaneously.

  When the pinion 11 is pushed out after the engine start request, an affirmative determination is made in step 12, and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the motor 12 is energized. If the motor is energized, the process proceeds to step S16, and a predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the start of energization of the motor 12 (from the start of driving the motor 12). It is determined whether or not (progress determination means). The predetermined time T1 is a predetermined value as a time required from the start of energization of the motor 12 to the completion of the start of the engine 20. When an affirmative determination is made in step S16, the process proceeds to step S17 to determine whether or not the engine 20 has been started (first determination means). Here, it is determined whether or not the engine 20 has been started based on the engine speed. Specifically, whether or not the engine rotation speed Ne detected by the crank angle sensor 23 has become equal to or higher than a start determination value THn (for example, 400 rpm) that is a threshold for determining that the first explosion of the engine 20 has been performed. When Ne ≧ THn, it is determined that the engine 20 has been completely started.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step S17, the process proceeds to step S18 where the motor drive relay 14 is turned off to stop energization of the motor 12, and the pinion drive relay 19 is turned off to stop energization of the electromagnetic actuator 13. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S17, the process proceeds to step S19, and the motor drive relay 14 is turned off while the pinion drive relay 19 is kept on. Thereby, the rotation speed of the pinion 11 gradually decreases while the extrusion of the pinion 11 is continued.

  Now, in a state where energization to the motor 12 is stopped while continuing to push out the pinion 11, a negative determination is made in step S15, and the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, it is determined whether or not the rotation of the pinion 11 has stopped. In step S20, it is determined whether or not the pinion 11 has stopped rotating by determining whether or not a predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the energization of the motor 12 was stopped in step S19. The predetermined time T3 is a value determined in advance as the time required from stopping the energization of the motor 12 to stopping the rotation of the pinion 11. If it is determined that the predetermined time T3 has elapsed from the stop of energization of the motor 12 and the rotation of the pinion 11 is stopped, the process proceeds to step S21, the motor drive relay 14 is turned on again, and the energization of the motor 12 is again performed. Implement (re-energization means). At this time, the pinion 11 is rotationally driven in a state where the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are engaged.

  Next, a specific aspect of the meshing control of the present embodiment will be described using the time chart of FIG. In FIG. 3, for convenience, the rotational speed of the teeth provided on the outer peripheral edge of the pinion 11 is indicated as “pinion rotational speed”, and the rotational speed of the teeth provided on the outer peripheral edge of the ring gear 21 is expressed as “ring gear rotational speed (engine Rotational speed) ”. In the figure, the solid line indicates the pinion rotation speed, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates the engine rotation speed.

  In FIG. 3, when the engine start request is generated at the timing t <b> 11 when the operation of the engine 20 is stopped and the engine rotation is stopped, the pinion drive relay 19 is turned on to push the pinion 11 toward the ring gear 21. Further, at the timing t12 after the pinion extrusion, the motor drive relay 14 is turned on to energize the motor 12 to drive the pinion 11 to rotate. At this time, if the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are engaged, the starter device 10 cranks the engine 20 and increases the engine rotation speed. On the other hand, when the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs, the engine speed does not increase even when the motor energization is started, and the engine 20 is not started, as shown by the one-dot chain line.

  When the engine rotation speed is lower than the start determination value THn at a timing t13 after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed after the energization of the motor 12 is started (after driving of the motor 12 is started), the pinion 11 is pushed out. The energization to the motor 12 is stopped while continuing. Thereby, the rotation of the pinion 11 gradually decreases, and the pinion 11 is meshed with the ring gear 21 using the inertial rotation of the pinion 11 at this time. For example, in FIG. 3, the engagement between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs at a timing t14 immediately before the rotation of the pinion 11 stops.

  Thereafter, energization of the motor 12 is started at a timing t15 when a predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the energization of the motor 12 was stopped. As a result, the engine rotation speed gradually increases (one-dot chain line), and the engine rotation speed becomes higher than the start determination value THn due to the first explosion of the engine 20. At timing t16, the push-out of the pinion 11 is released and the energization of the motor 12 is stopped.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

  When the rotation of the engine 20 is stopped and the pinion 11 is pushed out and rotated in response to the engine start request, the rotation of the pinion 11 is started and the pinion 11 is directed toward the ring gear 21. It was set as the structure which stops electricity supply to the motor 12 with the moved state. Thereby, the pinion 11 can be meshed with the ring gear 21 using the inertial rotation of the pinion 11. As a result, when the engine is started by the starter device 10, the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 can be reliably engaged with each other.

  Further, even when the pinion 11 is pushed out in response to the engine start request and the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are not engaged with each other, the pinion 11 is utilized by utilizing the inertial rotation of the pinion 11. Can be meshed with the ring gear 21. Thereby, the engine 20 can be started reliably.

  When the pinion 11 is meshed with the ring gear 21 while the rotation of the engine 20 is stopped, the position of the ring gear 21 does not change. Therefore, even if the pinion 11 is repeatedly pushed out, the meshing failure may not be eliminated. In this regard, in the present configuration, the rotational speed of the engine 20 is stopped in order to gradually reduce the peripheral speed difference between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 while the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21. Even when a request occurs, the pinion 11 can be reliably meshed with the ring gear 21. Further, according to this configuration, the engagement between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 can be caused without repeatedly performing the movement / movement release of the pinion 11 after the occurrence of the engagement failure once.

  After starting the driving of the motor 12 in response to the engine start request, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T1 has elapsed. After it is determined that the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the driving of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued. In this configuration, the energization to the motor 12 is stopped. According to this configuration, the rotation drive of the pinion 11 is stopped after the rotation of the pinion 11 becomes sufficiently fast. Thereby, it is possible to secure a sufficient time for the inertial rotation of the pinion 11 to be continued.

  In the present embodiment, the energization to the motor 12 is stopped while the drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued at least until the rotation of the pinion 11 stops. During the inertial rotation of the pinion 11, it is difficult to specify the timing at which the pinion 11 meshes with the ring gear 21. After the energization of the motor 12 is stopped, the meshing may occur at a relatively early timing, or the rotation of the pinion 11 is stopped. Engagement may occur just before Further, it is conceivable to provide a detection means (sensor or the like) for detecting that the engagement between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 is generated, and detecting that the engagement is generated by the detection means. It is necessary to provide it separately. In that respect, according to this configuration, since the motor energization is stopped while the pinion 11 is pushed out at least until the rotation of the pinion 11 stops, the meshing between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 is compared. It can be generated reliably with a simple structure.

  The drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 was continued during the period from the start of energization of the electromagnetic actuator 13 in response to the engine start request to the time of energization of the motor 12 again (period t11 to t15 in FIG. 3). The configuration is left as it is. Thereby, the engine 20 can be started in a state in which the state in which the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are engaged with each other is reliably maintained. Further, since the pinion 11 is kept pushed out, it is not necessary to perform the pushing operation of the pinion 11 when the motor 12 is energized again after the engagement of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs. . Thus, cranking of the engine 20 can be started immediately after the meshing occurs, and as a result, startability can be ensured.

  In the engine 20 that performs the idle stop control, the automatic stop / restart of the engine 20 is repeatedly performed, so that the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are likely to be worn or chipped. Further, due to this, a meshing failure tends to occur at the time of engine start. However, if a meshing failure occurs at the time of restarting the engine, the engine 20 cannot be started, and a road fault may occur. In this regard, in the present embodiment, since the above-described meshing control is performed in the engine 20 that performs the idle stop control, when the engine 20 is restarted after being automatically stopped, the starter device 10 is reliably started. Thus, the reliability of the idle stop control can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, after the driving of the electromagnetic actuator 13 and the motor 12 is started, it is determined whether or not the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 has occurred, and based on the determination result, the meshing control is performed as electromagnetic control. The configuration is such that energization to the motor 12 is stopped while the drive of the actuator 13 is continued. On the other hand, in this embodiment, even if the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of causing a meshing failure in which the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 do not mesh with each other, and based on the determination result. Thus, as the meshing control, the energization to the motor 12 is stopped while the drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued.

  That is, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of occurrence of a meshing failure in which the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 do not mesh even if the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21 (second determination means). If it is determined by the second determination means that there is no risk of a meshing failure, normal motor energization is performed to complete the engine start. On the other hand, if it is determined by the second determination means that there is a risk of meshing failure, the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are meshed for a predetermined time prior to energizing the motor for starting the engine. After the motor is energized and the rotation drive of the pinion 11 is started by the energization, the energization to the motor 12 is stopped while the drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued. In particular, in the meshing control of the present embodiment, the time from when the motor energization for meshing is started until the power is stopped is determined in advance as the time required from the start of energization to the motor 12 until the completion of engine start. Shorter than the predetermined required starting time.

  The reason is as follows. That is, when the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are further deteriorated, even if the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21 at the time of starting the engine, there is a tendency that a meshing failure in which the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 do not mesh is likely to occur. On the other hand, when the motor drive is continued with the pinion 11 pushed out in a state where the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are not engaged, the end surface of the pinion 11 and the end surface of the ring gear 21 rub against each other, and the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 wear. Is likely to occur. It can be said that this wear proceeds more easily as the rotation time of the pinion 11 is longer.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21, the engine 20 is started when it is determined that there is a risk of a meshing failure in which the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 do not mesh. Prior to energization, energization for meshing is performed to push the pinion 11 while slightly rotating the pinion 11, and then the energization to the motor 12 is stopped while the pinion 11 is pushed out. Then, using the inertial rotation of the pinion 11 at this time, the pinion 11 is engaged with the ring gear 21. By doing so, the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are engaged with each other while suppressing the wear of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 as much as possible.

  Here, the determination as to whether or not there is a possibility that a meshing failure may occur is made based on, for example, the number of times the starter device 10 is used or the period of use. More specifically, when at least one of the conditions that the number of times the starter device 10 is used is equal to or greater than the determination value and that the period of use is equal to or greater than the determination value is satisfied, there is a possibility that a meshing failure may occur. Is determined. The execution timing of the determination may be before the engine start request is generated or may be the timing of the engine start request.

  Next, the meshing control of this embodiment will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. In FIG. 4, it is assumed that even when the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21, it is determined that a poor engagement between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs. In FIG. 4, for convenience, the rotational speed of the teeth provided on the outer peripheral edge of the pinion 11 is indicated as “pinion rotational speed”, and the rotational speed of the teeth provided on the outer peripheral edge of the ring gear 21 is indicated by “ring gear rotational speed (engine Rotational speed) ”. In the figure, the solid line indicates the pinion rotation speed, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates the engine rotation speed.

  In a state where there is a possibility that the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 may occur, first energization for meshing (meshing control) is performed prior to energization for engine start. That is, in FIG. 4, at the timing t21 when the engine start request is generated, the pinion drive relay 19 is turned on to drive the electromagnetic actuator 13, and the motor drive relay 14 is turned on to drive the motor 12. Note that the motor driving may be started after the electromagnetic actuator 13 is started, or the electromagnetic actuator 13 may be started after the motor 12 is started. Subsequently, at a timing t22 when a predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the start of energization of the motor 12, the motor actuator 14 is turned off while the drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued (the pinion drive relay 19 is turned on). 12 is turned off. This predetermined time T2 is set to a time shorter than a predetermined required start time T4 that is predetermined as a time required from the start of energization to the motor 12 to the completion of engine start. By such engagement control, the pinion 11 is engaged with the ring gear 21 using the inertial rotation of the pinion 11 (timing t23).

  Subsequently, the energization of the motor 12 is performed again at a timing t24 when a predetermined time T5 has elapsed since the energization of the motor 12 was stopped (re-energization means). The predetermined time T5 is a value determined in advance as the time required from the stop of energization of the motor 12 to the stop of rotation of the pinion 11. By re-energizing the motor 12, the pinion 11 is rotationally driven in a state where the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 are engaged with each other, and the engine 20 is cranked.

  According to the second embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

  Even if the pinion 11 is moved toward the ring gear 21, in a situation where there is a possibility that the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 do not mesh with each other, there is a possibility that a meshing failure may occur. The motor 12 is energized for engagement with time and the actuator 13 is driven. Then, after the rotation of the pinion 11 is started by energization for meshing, a process (meshing control) for stopping energization of the motor 12 while pushing the pinion 11 is performed. According to this configuration, even when the meshing failure is predicted to occur due to the deterioration of the pinion 11 or the ring gear 21, the meshing between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 is performed by performing the meshing control. Can be generated. Further, by energizing the motor 12 in a state where the meshing occurs, the cranking of the engine 20 can be reliably performed.

  In the mesh control in the present embodiment, the time from the start of energization of the motor 12 in response to the engine start request to the stop of energization of the motor 12 with the pinion 11 pushed out is the time from the start of energization to the engine start. The time required to complete the operation is shorter than a predetermined required start time. According to this configuration, the time during which the end surface of the pinion 11 and the end surface of the ring gear 21 are kept in a state of friction can be shortened as much as possible. Further, the energization time to the motor 12 can be made as short as possible. Accordingly, the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 can be engaged with each other while suppressing the wear of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 and the deterioration of the motor 12 as much as possible.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the description of the above embodiment, and may be implemented as follows, for example.

  In the first embodiment, the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs based on the engine rotation speed after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the start of energization of the motor 12 in response to the engine start request. It was determined whether or not. For example, a sensor is provided in the vicinity of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 as a meshing detection means for detecting the meshing between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 by changing this configuration. It is good also as a structure to determine.

  In the embodiment described above, it is determined that the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 has occurred when the engine speed after the elapse of the predetermined time T1 from the start of energization of the motor 12 is less than the start determination value THn. The threshold value used for the defect determination is not limited to the start determination value THn. For example, the cranking rotation speed (for example, 200 to 300 rpm) of the engine 20 may be used as a threshold value for determining the meshing failure.

  In the above embodiment, after the energization of the motor 12 is stopped in step S19 of FIG. 2, it is determined that the rotation of the pinion 11 has stopped when the predetermined time T3 has elapsed, and the energization of the motor 12 is performed again. The configuration. On the other hand, in this embodiment, a sensor is provided as a meshing detection means for detecting that the meshing between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 has occurred. Then, after the energization of the motor 12 is stopped in step S19 of FIG. 2, the energization of the motor 12 is performed again when it is determined by the sensor that the both have been engaged. According to this configuration, since it is possible to directly detect that the pinion 11 is engaged with the ring gear 21 during the inertial rotation of the pinion 11, the rotation drive of the pinion 11 by the motor 12 can be performed at the earliest possible timing. Thereby, engine startability can be ensured.

  In the above embodiment, the driving of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is continued in the period t11 to t15 from the start of the driving of the electromagnetic actuator 13 at the timing t11 in FIG. 3 to the re-energization of the motor 12 at the timing t15. I left it. On the other hand, in this embodiment, after the meshing between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs during the synchronization period t11 to t15, the driving of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is temporarily stopped, and the pinion 11 is temporarily returned to the original position. To do. Specifically, in a period after the rotation of the pinion 11 and before the energization of the motor 12 is performed again, the energization of the electromagnetic actuator 13 is once stopped, and then the energization of the motor 12 is again performed. Before the implementation, the electromagnetic actuator 13 is energized again. At this time, as long as the rotation stop state of the pinion 11 is continued during the drive stop period of the electromagnetic actuator 13, the meshing state of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 is maintained.

  Based on the cumulative number of engine starts by the starter device 10, the time (predetermined time T3) from when the energization to the motor 12 is stopped until the energization is performed again is variably set. The time required for the rotation of the pinion 11 to stop after the energization of the motor 12 is stopped differs depending on the degree of deterioration of the starter device 10. Further, the degree of deterioration of the starter device 10 differs depending on the frequency of use of the starter device 10, that is, the cumulative number of engine starts. In view of this point, in this configuration, the predetermined time T3 is variably set based on the cumulative number of engine starts. According to this configuration, even when the time from when the energization to the motor 12 is stopped until the rotation of the pinion 11 varies depending on the degree of deterioration of the starter device 10, the engagement between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21. The cranking of the engine 20 can be performed immediately after the engagement of the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 occurs while securing the time required to generate the engine.

  A specific aspect of the configuration in which the predetermined time T3 is made variable according to the cumulative number of engine starts will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 5, in steps S51 to S59, the same processing as in steps S11 to S19 of FIG. 3 is executed. In step S60 after the energization of the motor 12 is stopped, a predetermined time T3 is calculated based on the cumulative number of engine starts. In the present embodiment, the cumulative number of engine starts is calculated by incrementing the counter value by one each time the microcomputer of the ECU 30 starts the engine 20 when the ignition switch is turned on or a restart condition is established. To do. In step S60, for example, the predetermined time T3 is set to a larger value as the cumulative number of engine starts increases. Thereafter, in step S61, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the energization stop of the motor 12. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S62, and the motor 12 is energized again.

  -In said 2nd Embodiment, when it determines with there being no possibility that a meshing defect will arise by the 2nd determination means, and the normal motor energization for starting the engine 20 was implemented, the 1st determination means and pinion 11 It is determined whether or not a meshing failure with the ring gear 21 has occurred. And when it determines with the meshing failure having arisen, it is good also as a structure which produces mesh | engagement with the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 by stopping the electricity supply to the motor 12, with the drive of the electromagnetic actuator 13 continuing. In this case, even if the meshing failure between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21 is not predicted from the usage status of the starter device 10 or the like, if the meshing failure actually occurs, the inertial rotation of the pinion 11 is performed. Using this, it is possible to positively cause the engagement between the pinion 11 and the ring gear 21.

  In the above embodiment, when there is an engine start request when the rotation of the engine 20 is stopped, motor energization by the drive control means and motor energization by the re-energization means are each performed once (total 2 Although the case where it implements was demonstrated, the implementation frequency of motor energization is not specifically limited, You may implement 3 times or more. For example, in the first embodiment, the motor energization by the drive control unit and the motor energization stop by the engagement control unit are performed a plurality of times until the first determination unit determines that the meshing failure has been resolved, and the meshing failure is resolved. It is good also as a structure which implements motor energization by a re-energization means after being done. In this case, the engagement control can be performed a plurality of times, and the engagement reliability can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an engine control system that performs idle stop control. However, the present invention may be applied to an engine control system that does not perform idle stop control.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Starter device, 11 ... Pinion, 12 ... Motor, 13 ... Electromagnetic actuator, 14 ... Motor drive relay, 15 ... Motor energization relay, 19 ... Pinion drive relay, 20 ... Engine, 21 ... Ring gear, 22 ... Crankshaft, 30 ... ECU (drive control means, engagement control means, first determination means, second determination means, progress determination means, re-energization means).

Claims (10)

A motor (12) that rotationally drives the pinion (11), and an actuator that moves the pinion toward the ring gear to mesh the pinion with a ring gear (21) connected to the output shaft (22) of the engine (20) (13), an engine start control device that is started by a starter device (10) capable of individually driving,
Drive control means for driving the actuator and the motor when an engine start request is generated while the rotation of the engine is stopped;
After rotation of the pinion is started by the drive control means, meshing control for causing meshing of the pinion and the ring gear is performed by stopping energization of the motor while continuing to drive the actuator. Meshing control means to perform,
An engine start control device comprising: A first determination unit that determines whether or not a meshing failure between the pinion and the ring gear has occurred after the drive control unit starts driving the actuator and the motor;
2. The engine start control device according to claim 1, wherein the meshing control unit performs the meshing control when the first determination unit determines that the meshing failure has occurred. A progress determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of driving of the motor by the drive control means;
The engagement control means stops the energization to the motor while continuing the drive of the actuator after the predetermined time has been determined by the progress determination means as the engagement control. The engine start control device according to 1. Second determination for determining whether or not there is a possibility of causing a meshing failure in which the pinion and the ring gear do not mesh even if the pinion is moved toward the ring gear due to deterioration of the pinion or the ring gear With means,
The drive control means is when the engine start request is generated in a state where the rotation of the engine is stopped, and when the second determination means determines that the meshing failure may occur. Energize the motor,
The engine start according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the meshing control unit performs the meshing control when it is determined by the second determination unit that the meshing failure may occur. Control device.   The meshing control means sets the time from the start of energization to the motor to the stop of energization of the motor from the start of energization to the motor by the drive control means as the time required from the start of energization to the motor The engine start control device according to claim 4, wherein the start control device is shorter than a predetermined required start time.   6. The engagement control unit according to claim 1, wherein the engagement control unit stops energization of the motor while continuing to drive the actuator for at least a period until the rotation of the pinion stops as the engagement control. The engine start control device described.   The engine start control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a re-energizing unit that re-energizes the motor after the engagement control unit stops energizing the motor.   The drive of the actuator is continued during a period from when the drive of the actuator is started by the drive control unit to when the energization of the motor is performed again by the re-energization unit. Engine start control device.   Based on the cumulative number of engine start times by the starter device, the time from when power supply to the motor is stopped by the meshing control means to when power supply to the motor is again executed by the reenergization means is variably set. The engine start control device according to claim 7 or 8.   The engine is automatically stopped when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied, and after the automatic stop of the engine, when the predetermined restart condition is satisfied, cranking is performed by the starter device to restart the engine. The engine start control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising means.

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