12,095,407 - Apparatus for modifying a crankshaft angle of a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine to provide a virtual flywheel operation
Abstract:An apparatus is provided for modifying a crankshaft angle of an internal combustion engine (ICE). An energy converter is configured to be connected to a crankshaft of the ICE. An energy storage unit is configured to deliver energy to the energy converter when the energy converter acts as a motor, and to store energy output from the energy converter when the energy converter acts as a generator. The controller is configured to calculate a current ideal crankshaft angle, calculate a current slip angle using an output of a crankshaft angle sensor, activate the energy converter as a motor to increase the current crankshaft angle when the current slip angle is greater than a predetermined upper threshold value, and activate the energy converter as a generator to decrease the current crankshaft angle when the current slip angle is less than a predetermined lower threshold value.