Engine Cylinder Cutout Patents (Class 123/481)
  • Patent number: 9267486
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is operable in an efficiency mode providing a first power output range between zero and a transition power output and in a power mode providing a second power output range between the transition power output and a maximum power output. The efficiency mode can include a first ignition timing and a first air/fuel ratio of the mixture to avoid premature auto-ignition, and the power mode can include a second ignition timing and a second air/fuel ratio of the mixture to avoid premature auto-ignition of the mixture. To further enable knock free operation of such an engine, turbulence can be imparted to the mixture to promote a faster burn duration and high temperatures that may lead to premature auto-ignition of the mixture can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Pinnacle Engines, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Cleeves, Michael A. Willcox, Simon David Jackson, Nicholas Manov
  • Patent number: 9243573
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for deactivation and reactivation of a cylinder bank in a V-engine. In one example, the cylinder bank is deactivated responsive to an indication of misfire based on crankshaft acceleration and exhaust air fuel ratio. The cylinder bank is reactivated sequentially based on exhaust catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Scott Richard Hughes
  • Patent number: 9178377
    Abstract: A charging device having a coil for inductive electric charging of a device, in particular of a battery, including a control unit having a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature, the temperature sensor being situated in the area of application for applying the device, and is connected to the control unit, the temperature sensor being situated laterally next to the coil and adjacent to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Marcin Rejman, Juergen Mack
  • Patent number: 9145835
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine valve drive device having at least one switch gate for valve lift switching by converting a rotation of at least a first and a second cam element into an axial movement by first and second actuators provided for axially displacing the first cam element and the second cam element in a first switching direction via an operative connection of the first actuator with the switch gate and the second actuator provided for axially displacing the second cam element in the same switching direction via an operative connection with the switch gate, the device including a control unit controlling the axial displacement of the first and second cam elements in the same switching direction under the control unit by actuating the first and second actuators at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Thomas Stolk, Alexander Von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 9109520
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can determine whether or not there is a failure concerning a switching of an operational state of an intake valve, in the internal combustion engine that includes a valve stop mechanism that is capable of switching the operational state of the intake valve between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state, without the need of adding a new sensor for the failure determination. An intake variable valve operating apparatus (66) is provided that includes a valve stop mechanism capable of switching the operational state of the intake valve (62) between the valve operating state and the valve closed/stopped state. A crank angle sensor (72) is provided for detecting the crank angle of the internal combustion engine (12). An intake pressure sensor (56) is provided for detecting the actual intake pressure pim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihisa Nakagawa, Takashi Nishikiori
  • Patent number: 9046051
    Abstract: A spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine is coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system including a three-way catalytic converter upstream of an NH3-SCR catalyst. A method for operating the engine includes operating the engine in a fuel cutoff mode and coincidentally executing a second fuel injection control scheme upon detecting an engine load that permits operation in the fuel cutoff mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kushal Narayanaswamy, Calvin K. Koch, Paul M. Najt, Gerald A. Szekely, Jr., Joel G. Toner
  • Patent number: 9002624
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting cylinder valve timings to enable a group of cylinders to operate and combust while another group of cylinders on a second are selectively deactivated. Valve timing may be adjusted to allow flow of air through the inactive cylinders to be reduced, lowering catalyst regeneration requirements upon reactivation. The valve timing may alternatively be adjusted to enable exhaust gas to be recirculated to the active cylinders via the inactive cylinders, providing cooled EGR benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 8985088
    Abstract: Various systems and method for controlling exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes injecting fuel to a subset of cylinders that includes less than all cylinders of a first cylinder group to obtain a target EGR rate. The first cylinder group provides exhaust gas through an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage structure fluidly coupled between the first cylinder group and an intake passage structure. The method further includes injecting fuel to at least one cylinder of a second cylinder group. The second cylinder group provides substantially no exhaust gas through the EGR passage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Shawn Michael Gallagher, James Robert Mischler, Luke Henry
  • Patent number: 8989991
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for processing a fuel cut starting or releasing the fuel cut using a tilt angle of a vehicle or a clearance angle of an acceleration pedal. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention can reflect driving habit or acceleration intention of a driver by interlocking a clearance angle of the acceleration pedal in addition to starting or releasing a fuel cut according to a tilt angle of a vehicle, thereby increasing fuel efficiency driving or convenience of driving. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention can improve stability of driving by applying a haptic technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Back Kim, Hae Dong Lee, Kee Koo Kwon, Gwang Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8967118
    Abstract: A method includes: retarding spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing when an engine torque output reduction is requested for a gear shift; estimating a first torque output of an engine based on N cylinders of the engine being fueled, an engine speed, an air per cylinder (APC), and the predetermined spark timing; estimating a second torque output of the engine based on M cylinders being fueled, the engine speed, the APC, and the spark timing. determining an initial pressure ratio across a turbocharger compressor; determining an adjustment based on M and the first and second torque outputs; generating a desired pressure ratio across the turbocharger compressor based on the adjustment and the initial pressure ratio; and controlling opening of a turbocharger wastegate based on the desired pressure ratio. N is a total number of cylinders of the engine and M is less than or equal to N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Per Andersson, Timothy L. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8967120
    Abstract: An engine control system controls an internal combustion engine so that some of a plurality of cylinders in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine are made to rest and reduced-cylinder operation takes place. Each cylinder comprises a piston, an intake valve and an exhaust valve. In a resting cylinder during reduced-cylinder operation, when the piston moves downwards, the engine control system opens both the intake valve and the exhaust valve, and when the piston moves upwards, the engine control system opens the intake valve and closes the exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Furukawa, Hideki Kato, Shotaro Iikubo
  • Patent number: 8955498
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting cylinder valve timings to enable a group of cylinders to operate and combust while another group of cylinders on a second are selectively deactivated. Valve timing may be adjusted to allow flow of air through the inactive cylinders to be reduced, lowering catalyst regeneration requirements upon reactivation. The valve timing may alternatively be adjusted to enable exhaust gas to be recirculated to the active cylinders via the inactive cylinders, providing cooled EGR benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 8949000
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine performs rich control when a fuel cutoff operation is terminated and fuel supply to a combustion chamber is restarted, and the engine includes a plurality of the combustion chambers and a fuel supply cycle is repeated. The control device includes a controller configured to set a first moment and a second moment such that the fuel supply cycle which includes the first moment is different from the fuel supply cycle which includes the second moment, the first moment being a moment at which the rich control is started in a first combustion chamber of the plurality of combustion chambers, and the second moment being a moment at which the rich control is started in a second combustion chamber of the plurality of combustion chambers that is different from the first combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Fujiwara, Koichi Kimura, Kazuhisa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8944026
    Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tobergte, Carsten Weber, Kay Hohenboeken, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bert Pingen
  • Patent number: 8931255
    Abstract: One embodiment is a unique strategy for raising exhaust temperatures which includes deactivating a first group of cylinders while maintaining a second group of cylinders in a combustion mode and injecting fuel into each of one of the second group of cylinders not earlier than 2 degrees before top dead center (TDC). The strategy also includes passing fuel rich exhaust from the second group of cylinders into an exhaust pathway and oxidizing at least a portion of the fuel rich exhaust in the exhaust pathway. In one form, the oxidizing occurs independent of any catalytic influence. Other embodiments include unique methods, systems, and apparatus for raising exhaust temperatures and/or regenerating one or more components of an aftertreatment system. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8935074
    Abstract: An apparatus to control an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder operation controller configured to switch a cylinder operation between an all-cylinder operation and a cylinder deactivation operation. A deactivation time parameter integrating device is configured to integrate a deactivation time parameter indicating a deactivation time of the part of the plurality of cylinders to calculate an integrated deactivation time parameter. An inhibiting device is configured to inhibit the cylinder deactivation operation if the integrated deactivation time parameter calculated by the deactivation time parameter integrating device is larger than or equal to a reference value. The deactivation time parameter integrating device holds the integrated deactivation time parameter as an initial value after an operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Imamura, Masaaki Nagashima, Hiroshi Yatani, Tomoharu Hozumi, Nobuaki Ito, Chiharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8919097
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Patent number: 8924130
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a time delay and line length of each sample of a set of exhaust gas sensor responses collected during a commanded change in air-fuel ratio. In this way, the exhaust gas sensor may be monitored utilizing robust parameters in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Patent number: 8918267
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided, the control apparatus being capable of effectively suppressing the inflow of fresh air into a catalyst due to an operational delay of the valve stop mechanism when an execution request for fuel cut is issued. There is provided a valve stop mechanism capable of changing the operational states of intake valves and exhaust valves between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state. The operational states of the intake and exhaust valves are changed into the valve closed/stopped state, if the engine rotational speed decreases to or below a predetermined rotational speed when the engine rotational speed is higher than the predetermined rotational speed in a case where an execution request for fuel cut is detected and the temperature of the catalyst is not lower than a predetermined temperature during operation of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihisa Nakagawa, Takashi Nishikiori
  • Patent number: 8909460
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is provided with a system for the variable actuation of the intake valves. At least one part of the engine cylinders is deactivated, cutting off fuel supply to said cylinders, under operating conditions that do not require the maximum power of the engine and in which one wants to reduce fuel consumption. The intake valves of the deactivated cylinders are kept at least partly open during at least one part of the discharge stages in the deactivated cylinders, hence, in the deactivated cylinders, part of the burnt gases generated during the operation prior to the deactivation flows into the respective intake conduits during the discharge stage of each cylinder. The intake valves are closed after the discharge stage. The intake valves of the deactivated cylinders are further kept closed during the compression and expansion stages in each deactivated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Marco Lucatello, Fabio Borean
  • Patent number: 8893667
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a deactivatable cylinder group, a constantly operating cylinder group, a first water passage, a second water passage, an upstream integrated water passage, a downstream integrated water passage, a connecting passage, a third water passage, and a device. The downstream integrated water passage includes a junction and an upstream end. The upstream end is closer to the second water passage than to the first water passage in the downstream integrated water passage. The third water passage connects the connecting passage and a portion provided between the junction and the upstream end in the downstream integrated water passage. The device is provided adjacent to at least a part of the third water passage to exchange heat with water flowing in the third water passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 8892337
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine according to the present invention increases a fuel injection quantity to a predetermined target cylinder to detect imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders at least based upon a rotation variation of the target cylinder after increasing the fuel injection quantity. The increase in the fuel injection quantity is carried out in the middle of performing the post-fuel-cut rich control. Since timing of the post-fuel cut rich control is used to increase the fuel injection quantity, the exhaust emission deterioration due to abnormality detection execution can be prevented as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Kitano, Hitoshi Tanaka, Isao Nakajima, Yoshihisa Oda, Masashi Hakariya, Kiyotaka Kushihama, Kazuyuki Noda, Akihiro Katayama, Yuichi Kohara, Katsumi Adachi
  • Patent number: 8869773
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a skip fire variable displacement mode are described. In general, a firing control unit determines working chamber firings during operation of the engine that are suitable for delivering a desired engine output. In one aspect, the firing control unit is arranged to isolate the generation of firing sequences having frequency components in a frequency range of concern and to alter the firing sequence in a manner that reduces the occurrence of frequency components in the frequency range of concern. In another aspect, a filter is arranged to filter a feedback signal to provide a filtered feedback signal that is used in the determination of the working chamber firings. In preferred embodiments, the frequency characteristics of the filter are variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adya S. Tripathi, Farzad Sahandiesfanjani, Biswa R. Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8839766
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for managing transitions between operating states for an engine are described. In one aspect, an engine is operated in a particular operating state. A transition is made to another operating state. During that transition, the engine is operated in a skip fire manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 8833345
    Abstract: Engine control apparatus includes, but is not limited to a determining device for determining whether or not the engine is operated under predetermined deceleration operating conditions or predetermined acceleration operating conditions and for individually deactivating two or more cylinders in a disenabling sequence which is different from the firing sequence if the engine is operated under predetermined deceleration operating conditions, and/or for individually reactivating two or more of the cylinders in a reactivating sequence which is different from the firing sequence if the engine is operated under predetermined acceleration conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Pochner, Enrico Tropschug, Christopher Whitney
  • Publication number: 20140251282
    Abstract: In one aspect, an engine controller for an engine including multiple working chambers is described. The engine controller includes a mass air charge determining unit that estimates a mass air charge or amount of air to be delivered to a working chamber. Firing decisions made for a firing window of one or more firing opportunities are used to help determine the mass air charge. The engine controller also includes a firing controller, which is arranged to direct firings to deliver a desired output. Fuel is delivered to a working chamber based on the estimated mass air charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: TULA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Allan J. KOTWICKI, Joel D. VAN ESS
  • Patent number: 8826891
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can successfully determine whether or not a failure concerning a stopping operation of an exhaust valve has occurred, without the need of providing a dedicated sensor for the failure determination. An intake variable valve operating apparatus (62) and an exhaust variable valve operating apparatus (64) are included that have valve stop mechanisms capable of switching each operational state of an intake valve (58) and an exhaust valve (60) between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Nishikiori, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8812221
    Abstract: A stop control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of accurately stopping a piston at a predetermined position during stoppage of the engine while preventing occurrence of untoward noise and vibration. After stopping the engine 3, the stop control system 1 for the engine 3 according to the present invention executes a first stage control (step 34) in which a throttle valve 13a is controlled to a first stage control target opening degree ICMDOFPRE smaller than a second predetermined opening degree ICMDOF2, in order to stop the piston at the predetermined position, before executing a second stage control (step 42) in which the throttle valve 13a is controlled to the second predetermined opening degree ICMDOF2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Hozumi, Atsushi Mitsui, Takeshi Aoki, Hiroshi Yatani, Kazuhiko Imamura
  • Patent number: 8788182
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a trigger module, a fuel control module, and a cylinder control module. The trigger module generates a trigger when an engine speed is greater than a first predetermined speed. The first predetermined speed is greater than zero. The fuel control module cuts off fuel to cylinders of the engine in response to the generation of the trigger. The cylinder control module selectively disables opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders in response to the generation of the trigger after the fuel is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Mike M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 8762028
    Abstract: A method of preventing damage to a Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) of a vehicle adapted to Cylinder De-activation (CDA) may include monitoring GPF pressure difference that measures a pressure difference of the GPF and determines an accumulation amount of soot in the GPF in accordance with the measured pressure difference of GPF; comparing pressure difference that compares the measured pressure difference of the GPF with a predetermined reproduction pressure difference; calculating GPF temperature that calculates a temperature in the GPF in accordance with each one of CDA modes, based on the accumulation amount of soot and an average oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas for the each one of the CDA modes; and setting CDA mode that determines a number of cylinders available for an CDA operation based on the calculated temperature and a predetermined temperature established for preventing the GPF from a damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Taewook Kim, Jinha Lee
  • Patent number: 8746211
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine starts the internal combustion engine by initiating combustion in cylinders belonging to a first cylinder group, from among a plurality of cylinders that make up the internal combustion engine. The control apparatus monitors a change in an amount of negative pressure generated in an intake pipe when the internal combustion engine is started, and obtains information related to an alcohol concentration of fuel used in the internal combustion engine. The control apparatus also calculates a fuel injection quantity necessary to initiate combustion in cylinders belonging to a second cylinder group, based on the amount of negative pressure generated in the intake pipe and the alcohol concentration of the fuel, and initiates combustion in each cylinder belonging to the second cylinder group when the necessary fuel injection quantity enters a range of quantities that are able to be injected by corresponding injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Aso, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8683976
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying and indicating degradation of an engine cylinder spark plug. In response to a cylinder misfire event during selected engine operating conditions, followed by an occurrence of a threshold number and/or rate of pre-ignition events in the same cylinder, a controller may determine that the spark plug is degraded. The controller may limit combustion in the cylinder in response to the degradation. Additionally, cylinder pre-ignition mitigating steps may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Michael Joseph Zaitz, Ken Jahr, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Patent number: 8683977
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with separate cylinder banks, separate exhaust passages are connected to each cylinder bank of an engine and a shared intake passage is connected to both cylinder banks. One end of an EGR passage is connected to the separate exhaust passage of one cylinder bank, and the other end of the EGR is connected to the shared intake passage. If it is determined that an EGR valve in the EGR passage is stuck in an open state, a fuel-cut control is executed in the cylinder bank that is connected to the separate exhaust passage to which the EGR passage is connected. Thus, even when the EGR valve is stuck in an open state, it is possible to prevent the internal combustion engine from operating unstably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8671913
    Abstract: A method for determining the phasing of the angular position of a four-stroke internal combustion engine with indirect injection and time-controlled sequential reinjection/sequential injection cutoff, characterized in that it includes, with the engine running, the following steps: observing the curve (3, 4) of engine speed (1) as a function of time (2) during a phase of sequential reinjection and/or sequential injection cutoff, performed in accordance with the expected oscillations of the transmission, discriminating, according to the shape of the curve (3, 4), a substantially linear shape (3) being indicative of correct phasing, whereas a substantially sinusoidal shape (4) is indicative of incorrect phasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Laure Carbonne, Patrick Cremona, Pierre Zouboff
  • Patent number: 8676470
    Abstract: In some cylinder deactivation modes (e.g. virtual V-four operation mode in which two cylinders of a V-six engine are deactivated), ignition/combustion may take place in operating cylinders at uneven intervals. In this case, the output torque varies between the immediately subsequent operating cylinders after the deactivated cylinders in the firing order and the other operating cylinders. A multicylinder engine includes an ignition timing adjustment unit. When the ignition takes place in the operating cylinders at uneven intervals during cylinder deactivation, the ignition timing adjustment unit adjusts ignition timing in each of the operating cylinders to smooth the output torque of the operating cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shinagawa, Youhei Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8667953
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel cutoff module and a cylinder deactivation module. The fuel cutoff module generates a fuel cutoff signal when a deceleration fuel cutoff condition occurs, wherein fueling to M cylinders of an engine is disabled based on the fuel cutoff signal, and wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to one. The cylinder deactivation module deactivates the M cylinders in response to the fuel cutoff signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Jack Gallon, Alan W. Hayman, Robert S. McAlpine, James J. Mazzola, III
  • Patent number: 8666641
    Abstract: A system or method for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine operable in a reduced displacement mode with at least one valve or cylinder selectively deactivated include monitoring valve operation by analyzing camshaft position to detect valve operation inconsistent with a current cylinder state (activated or deactivated) and controlling the engine in response to detecting the inconsistent operation. The camshaft position may be used to produce a surrogate signal indicative of intake/exhaust valve lift generated using camshaft sensor tooth deviation relative to an expected or reference tooth position for a corresponding crankshaft position and compared to a corresponding threshold. The surrogate signal indicative of valve lift may also be generated by pattern matching or correlation of one or more reference tooth position patterns to a measured or inferred tooth position pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Andrew Wade, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steven Joseph Szwabowski
  • Patent number: 8660775
    Abstract: In a method for operating an engine start-stop function for an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine start-stop function executes engine start-stop interventions in the form of an automatic shutting down and a subsequent automatic switching on of the engine, as a function of one or more vehicle states. An engine start-stop intervention determined by the engine start-stop function is selectively prevented as a function of a statement on the number of starting procedures of the engine carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Baumann, Eckhart Festerling, Pierre Mathis, Enrique Naupari, Stefan Ostertag
  • Patent number: 8651091
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a skip fire variable displacement mode are described. Generally, an engine is controlled to operate in a skip fire variable displacement mode. In one aspect, the spark timing associated with each fired working cycle is based at least in part on the firing history of the fired working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adya S. Tripathi, Christopher W. Chandler, Christopher C. Hand, Joshua P. Switkes, Mark A. Wilcutts, Matthew A. Younkins
  • Patent number: 8646435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a diesel engine control system and methods for substantially operating a diesel engine at stoichiometric fuel to air ratios. The system may include a fuel processor which receives instructions for a desired engine output and current operating conditions. The fuel processor may also generate fueling instructions for the cylinders, including: substantially regulating fuel delivery into to a first group of cylinders at or near stoichiometric fuel levels, and substantially disabling fuel injection into to a second grouping of cylinders. The number of cylinders being fueled, and therefore undergoing a combustion event corresponds to the desired engine output. This may be calculated by dividing the desired output by the power provided by one cylinder operating at substantially stoichiometric fuel levels. The number of cylinders receiving fuel may be varied over a succession of engine revolutions such that the actual average engine power output conforms to the desired output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Dibble, Adya S. Tripathi, Chester J. Silvestri
  • Patent number: 8631646
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen B. Smith, Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Patent number: 8620561
    Abstract: A control for an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve for directly injecting fuel to a combustion chamber of the engine, an ignition device for burning an air-fuel mixture containing the fuel injected from the fuel injection valve, and a variable cylinder management mechanism that is capable of changing the number of operating cylinders is provided. The control includes making a transition to an operating mode where the number of operating cylinders is decreased through the variable cylinder management mechanism. It is predicted based on an operating condition of the engine that an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust atmosphere of the engine becomes lean due to a stop of the fuel injection into one or more cylinders to be halted by the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Murakami, Taro Endo, Takaaki Fukusako
  • Patent number: 8607544
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8596248
    Abstract: In a control method suitable for an internal combustion engine (1) of a motor vehicle with an automatic engine cut-off and starting system (33) by which the internal combustion engine (1) can be cut off and started independently from the driver of the motor vehicle, the starting of the internal combustion engine (1) is detected and a variable determined, which represents a measure for the work performed by the internal combustion engine (1) since it has been started. The cut-off of the internal combustion engine (1) is controlled by the automatic engine cut-off and starting system (33) according to the variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Balaji Jayaraman, Andreas Läufer
  • Patent number: 8600648
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately determining cylinder fueling errors during an automatic engine restart. Fueling errors may be learned during a preceding engine restart on a cylinder-specific and combustion event-specific basis. The learned fueling errors may then be applied during a subsequent engine restart on the same cylinder-specific and combustion event-specific basis to better anticipate and compensate for engine cranking air-to-fuel ratio deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Hashemi, Payam Naghshtabrizi
  • Patent number: 8594905
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. In the control system, a target intake air amount is calculated according to a target output torque of the engine, and an intake air amount of the engine is controlled according to the target intake air amount. An ignition timing of the engine is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Shiomi, Hiroshi Yatani, Takaaki Fukusako
  • Publication number: 20130306037
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling a heat engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders (1, 2, 3, 4), at least one of which (2, 3) is provided with at least two inlet valves (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b). According to the invention, the device comprises a control unit (5) arranged to deactivate said inlet valves in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: VALEO SYSTEMES DE CONTROLE MOTEUR
    Inventors: Nicolas Gelez, Julien Hobraiche
  • Patent number: 8589055
    Abstract: The invention provides an inter-cylinder air/fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus and method. The determination apparatus includes a “limiting current type air/fuel ratio sensor”, and acquires a pre-correction index quantity that is greater the greater the degree of non-uniformity of the cylinder-by-cylinder air/fuel ratios, on the basis of a time differential value of the output value of the air/fuel ratio sensor. The determination apparatus obtains as the correction-purpose output value an average value of the output value obtained during a fuel-cut operation. The correction-purpose output value is greater the higher the responsiveness of the air/fuel ratio sensor. The determination apparatus acquires an air/fuel ratio imbalance index value by correcting the pre-correction index quantity so that the pre-correction index quantity is smaller the greater the correction-purpose output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Hakariya, Masahide Okada
  • Patent number: 8560210
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided, which is capable of suppressing deterioration of exhaust emission due to an unburned fuel contained in oil which enters a combustion chamber during valve stop control while preventing inflow of fresh air to a catalyst, at a time of valve return following return from fuel cut. Variable valve operating apparatuses having valve stop mechanisms capable of changing operation states of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between valve operation states and valve closed and stopped states are included. Valve stop control that changes the operation states of the intake valve and the exhaust valve to the valve closed and stopped states is performed, at a time of execution of the fuel cut. When a return request from the fuel cut with the valve stop control is detected, a fuel is supplied to a combustion chamber before the operation state of the exhaust valve is returned to the valve operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Sano, Norihisa Nakagawa, Takashi Nishikiori
  • Patent number: 8550055
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine mode transition module that initiates a deactivated mode to deactivate at least one cylinder. A scheduling module schedules a command to disable a spark plug at least one engine cycle after a command to disable a fuel injector for the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Eric B. Ferch, Anthony L. Marks, Ryan Bruss, Ronald M. Wozniak, Eloy Martinez, Jon C Wasberg