Means for suppressing engine output torque fluctuations

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine; means for suppressing the output torque fluctuations including electric power generating means adapted to be driven by the engine to apply the output shaft with a negative torque directed opposite to a direction of rotation of the output shaft, electric motor means for applying the output shaft with a positive torque which is in the direction of rotation of the output shaft, control means to operate the generating means in the high output torque period and to operate the motor means in the low output torque period.

Claim 3

Means in accordance with claim 1 which includes engine operating condition detecting means for producing an engine condition signal representing a engine operating condition, said control means including generating power control means for controlling an electric generating power of the generating means and motor power control means for controlling a motor driving power, said control means being responsive to the engine condition signal to control the electric generating power and the motor driving power independently. Means in accordance with claim 1 which includes means for operating said control means under an engine speed lower than a predetermined value. Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes timing control means for reversing operating timings of the generating means and the motor means between engine speed ranges above and below an engine speed at which torque fluctuations by combustion in the engine is substantially equal to those by inertia of engine moving parts.

Claim 4

>. Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said generating means includes magnet means mounted on one of a rotatable member and a stationary part of the engine which is adjacent to the rotatable member and first coil means mounted on the other, and said motor means includes magnet means mounted on one of a rotatable member and a stationary part of the engine which is adjacent to the rotatable member and second coil means mounted on the other. Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said generating means includes magnet means mounted on one of a rotatable member and a stationary part of the engine which is adjacent to the rotatable member and first coil means mounted on the other, said motor means including second coil means mounted on said other of the rotatable member and the stationary part of the engine.

Claim 5

Means in accordance with claim 6 in which said rotatable member is a flywheel secured to the output shaft and said stationary par= is a casing covering the flywheel..

Claim 6

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes acceleration detecting means and means for decreasing the negative torque produced by the generating means with respect to the positive torque produced by the motor means, when an engine acceleration is detected, than im a normal operation.

Claim 7

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes acceleration detecting means, and means for decreasing the negative torque produced by the generating means when an engine acceleration is detected, than in a normal operation.

Claim 8

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes deceleration detecting means and means for increasing the negative torque produced by the generating means when an engine deceleration is detected.

Claim 9

.1. Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes deceleration detecting means and means for increasing the negative torque produced by the generating means with respect to the positive torque produced by the motor means when an engine deceleration is detected.

Claim 10

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for detecting engine load and increasing the positive torque produced by said motor means under a heavy load engine operation.

Claim 11

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for detecting engine load and increasing the positive torque produced by said motor means while decreasing a negative torque produced by said generating means under a heavy load engine operation.

Claim 12

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for operating said motor means during engine start to use said motor means as a starter motor.

Claim 13

Means in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for operating said generating means continuously under an engine speed higher than a predetermined value.

Claim 14

An internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high-output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, said engine including motor-generator means connected with said output shaft so that a positive torque in a direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a motor and a negative torque directed opposite to the direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a generator, control means for operating the motor-generator means as a generator in the high output torque period and as a motor in the low output torque period.

Claim 15

An internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high-output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, said engine including motor-generator means connected with said output shaft so that a positive torque in a direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a motor and a negative torque directed opposite to the direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a generator, control means for operating the motor-generator means as a generator in the high output torque period and as a motor in the low output torque period.

Claim 16

An internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, said engine including motor-generator means connected with said output shaft so that a positive torque in a direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a motor and a negative torque directed opposite to the direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a generator, control means for operating the motor-generator means as a.motor in engine starting period, as a generator in the high output torque period and as a motor in the low output torque period under an engine speed below a predetermined value, and as a generator under an engine speed above the predetermined value.

Claim 17

An internal combustion engine having an output shaft in which cyclical output torque fluctuations including a high output torque period and a low output torque period are produced as a result of operation of the engine, said engine including motor-generator means connected with said output shaft so that a positive torque in a direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a motor and a negative torque directed opposite to the direction of rotation of the output shaft when the motor-generator means functions as a generator, control means for operating the motor-generator means as a.motor in engine starting period, as a generator in the high output torque period and as a motor in the low output torque period under an engine speed below a predetermined value, and as a generator under an engine speed above the predetermined value.