Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for checking the operability of a conduit system conducting a fluid flow. The conduit system is for an internal combustion engine and utilizes two fluids having temperatures which are different from each other. In this way, it is possible to set quite well-defined measuring conditions. The fluid flow in the conduit system to be checked is coupled to the temperature sensor in such a manner that the temperature thereof changes with a relatively steep gradient when, starting at a specific time point, the above-mentioned fluid operates to warm the temperature sensor. When the magnitude of the gradient remains below a threshold value, the conduit system checked is evaluated to be operational. The measurement is reliable even though it requires only a single temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method is introduced of checking the drivability of a tank-venting valve (TEV) and of an idle actuator.After actuating the TEV, an additional air/fuel mixture is supplied to the intake region of an internal combustion engine having an air/fuel ratio which can be equal to that at which the engine usually operates (.lambda..sub.0) or greater or less than .lambda..sub.0. Reactions of a .lambda.-control and/or of an idle control can be evaluated in dependence thereon. It is advantageous that a check is made independently of how intense the additional air/fuel mixture is enriched with fuel.

Abstract: An arrangement for lambda control operates on an internal combustion engine (11) comprising a catalytic converter (12) and a lambda probe (13.v) mounted in front of the catalytic converter and a lambda probe (13.h) mounted behind the catalytic converter. The arrangement integrates by means of an integration means (15) the difference between the actual lambda value measured by the rear probe and the lambda desired value to which controlling is to be effected. The integration value is used as control desired value for a means (16) for lambda control. This arrangement and the associated method make it possible to control to the actually wanted lambda desired value even if the front lambda probe carries out incorrect measurements, for example because of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas in front of the catalytic converter or, in the case of continuous-action control, faulty linearization of the probe characteristic.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for lambda control of an internal combustion engine having a catalyzer and a measuring probe arrangement in front of the catalyzer for emitting a measuring signal and a testing probe arrangement behind the catalyzer for emitting a test signal. The method includes the steps of: forming a ratio between the measuring signal and the test signal at pregiven operating conditions; evaluating said ratio as an estimating quantity for the conversion rate of the catalyzer; and, modifying output values of control parameters in a pregiven controlled manner on the basis of the instantaneous values of said ratio, said output values being applicable for controlling an internal combustion engine having a new catalyzer. This method affords the advantage that it evaluates a catalyzer with the aid of the above-mentioned ratio value and controllably modifies values of control parameters in dependence upon the evaluation ratio.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for supplying an internal combustion engine with fuel which includes the following functional components: a tank; a fuel pump; a metering device for metering fuel to the intake air; a feed line for conducting fuel from the fuel pump to the metering device; a reservoir which is so configured and mounted that fuel can be pumped therefrom to the metering device and which is not filled when tanking the tank and which can be again filled from the tank; and a control unit for driving the fuel pump and the metering device. The fuel pump is fixedly connected to the reservoir so that only fuel is pumped therefrom and a reservoir fill pump is provided which continuously maintains the reservoir filled as long as fuel is present in the tank.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for advancing the point in time at which the mixture control is placed into operation when starting an internal combustion engine. This advance is made possible in that the exhaust-gas probe heater is already switched on in advance of the start of the engine. Operations are utilized for triggering the required switching signal which occur when the vehicle is taken into service such as opening the doors of the vehicle. An unnecessary heating of the exhaust-gas probe is precluded by limiting the time duration of the heating pulse applied to the heater.

Abstract: A method for the adaptation of a precontrolled value for a feedback control is based on the realization that, whenever the operating conditions coincide with the calibration conditions for the initial determining of precontrolled values, no control-manipulated variable deviations may occur in all the operating ranges, and that accordingly deviations which are nevertheless observed are a sign that the calibration conditions no longer exist. This may be caused by aging effects or by uncompensated disturbances. The method establishes the differences in control-manipulated variable deviations over different classes of an influencing variable. For each influencing variable class, a correction value is then determined such that, by means of the correction value, the error previously observed for the respective range is compensated during operation of the controlled system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining output values for actuating a tank venting valve connected to the intake pipe of an internal combustion engine. A control factor is supplied by a lambda controller computing step and modifies a loading factor until a regenerating fuel quantity leading to no deviation from the lambda desired value is supplied via the tank venting valve. The controlled loading factor modifies precontrol values for the regenerating fuel quantity which is supplied in an operating condition. The method takes into consideration the pressure conditions at the tank venting valve. This makes it possible to place the opening of the tank venting pipe into the intake pipe of an internal combustion engine behind the throttle flap where there is a great negative pressure, which, however, can fluctuate within wide limits.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for setting the throttle flap angle for an internal combustion engine. The system sets the idle stop for the idle throttle flap angle and monitors the setting with respect to defects that occur. If the throttle flap is in contact engagement with the idle stop, a contact is actuated which causes a buffer storage of the actual throttle flap angle which thereby represents the position of the idle stop. If then, for example, the idle stop changes during driving operation, its new position is established upon a renewed contact engagement of the throttle flap, by measuring the throttle flap angle. A possible defect can be established from a comparison of actual and desired values and a positioning motor is then appropriately driven to displace the idle stop. This system has the advantage that a defect occurring in the region of the positioning motor is detected without additional circuit complexity.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the air/fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine 10, in which an oxygen probe (lambda probe) 13 is arranged in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine 10, has a control device 12 for continuous control. The actual value of the air ratio lambda is determined via a measured probe output voltage in conjunction with an at least approximately predetermined probe-characteristic relationship 16 between the value of the probe output voltage and the value of the air ratio lambda associated therewith. After forming the difference of desired value and actual value of the air ratio lambda, the air/fuel ratio is controlled on the basis of this difference. Such a control system is used primarily in order to reduce the total emission of the main pollutant components of the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: In a method for the malfunction testing of an idling control arrangement for an internal combustion engine, the closing function of the idling contact is checked. As soon as it is established that the contact should really be closed but that this is not the case, it is certain that there is either an interruption in the idling contact circuit or a servomotor fault. In order to be able to distinguish which of these faults is present, a test movement sequence is carried out in which the servomotor of the arrangement is activated and a check is made whether the throttle flap angle changes. If this is not the case, the servomotor is defective; otherwise, an interruption in the idling contact circuit is present. Using this method, it is for the first time possible to detect interruption and servomotor faults. Until now, it was only possible to detect short-circuit faults.

Abstract: In a fuel-metering system for internal combustion engines, the fuel metering is stopped during the overrun operation of the engine and, after overrun cutoff, is increased temporarily with respect to the metering necessary for normal operation and the instantaneous operating point of the engine, in order to accelerate with this fuel enrichment the build-up again of the fuel film in the intake pipe without impairing the composition of the fuel/air mixture. For exact apportioning of the fuel enrichment, the output signal of a lambda probe (21) characterizing the "rich mixture" is used as cutoff criterion for the fuel enrichment.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the no-load speed of an internal combustion engine wherein the position of the throttle flap in the intake tube of the engine is varied as a function of the speed of the engine and of a position signal defining the position of the throttle flap. The variation of the throttle flap position takes place, however, only whenever the throttle flap has assumed a specific, predeterminable position and whenever the engine speed has remained virtually constant over a likewise predeterminable period of time. An embodiment in the form of a flow chart is described by means of which the method according to the invention can be realized.

Abstract: A device for controlling a throttle cross-section of at least one control orifice in a bypass line extending around a throttle valve of an air intake pipe of an internal combustion engine, for regulating an idle speed of the internal combustion engine, and comprising a throttle member, a spring element for biasing the throttle member to an initial position thereof, and a positioning motor for moving the throttle member from its initial position against a bias force of the spring element, upon failure of the spring element and when the positioning motor is actuated, to establish a safety cross-section in the bypass line, a quantity of operating medium flowing through the safety cross-section being less than a quantity of operating medium flowing through a complete cross-section of the control orifice whereby idle operation of the internal combustion engine is insured.

Abstract: In a fuel injection system with an acceleration enrichment and a deceleration leaning, in which the transition compensation is determined by means of the throttle valve change speed in connection with the throttle valve change path. By means of the measurement of the throttle valve position the cause for the change of the air quantity is determined so that the information concerning a change of the operating state is present more quickly and a fuel leaning or fuel enrichment can accordingly also be effected more quickly. An intermediate injection threshold, which activates an intermediate injection calculation when exceeded, is built in, in addition, for the acceleration enrichment.

Abstract: A starting control for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines is suggested in which an injection time (te.sub.VER), which is dependent on the engine starting temperature (T.sub.MS), is determined in the starting phase. In the starting phase, this injection time (te.sub.VER) follows the curve of special starting characteristic lines. A continuous transition to performance characteristics injection time (te.sub.KF) is effected by means of a comparator. A smooth transition from the starting phase to normal operation is obtained in this way.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting an extreme value position of a movable part by means of a position detecting sensor. The method is especially suitable for detecting the idle position of the throttle flap of an internal combustion engine with the aid of a potentiometer. In this method, a stored value (extreme value) corresponding to the extreme position is corrected upon the detection of deviating measured values, provided that the deviating measured values lie within a correction range around the extreme value. The range of movement of the movable part has to lie within the range coverable by the position sensor. After a predetermined number of identical measured values are sensed in the correction range during an operating cycle, such a measured value is stored in memory as the new extreme value. For dynamic adaptation, this next extreme value is modified cyclically, preferably prior to each operating cycle, by a predetermined value away from the outermost position.

Abstract: An actuating device is proposed which is used to adjust a throttle valve disposed in the intake tube of an internal combustion engine. The actuating device includes a gas pedal adapted to engage an actuating lever, which is supported rotatably relative to a throttle valve shaft, so as to pivot counter to the force of a restoring spring. Connected to the actuating lever is a follow-up drawing spring, which is secured with one end to an intermediate lever provided with a cam disk having a curved camming surface which surface a lever arm is supported so as to operate a damper element. The intermediate lever is rotatably supported with respect to the throttle valve shaft and with a coupling stop engages a throttle valve lever, which is connected to the throttle valve shaft such that relative rotation between them is prevented. The throttle valve lever is drawn against the coupling stop by means of an uncoupling spring disposed between the intermediate lever and the throttle valve lever.

Abstract: An adaptation method for a position detection member, particularly for detection of the position of the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, is suggested, wherein a plurality of position receivers have a common drive and scan a plurality of overlapping path areas with different resolutions. The adaptation is effected in the overlapping path areas. In so doing, a correction value (k.sub.i) is formed, and the measured values (M2) of the path area to be adapted is added to it. A new correction value (K.sub.i+1) is formed in each instance from the differential value (D) between the corrected measured value (W2) of the path area to be adapted and a desired value (T (W1)) for this path area. In so doing, the desired value is taken from an assignment table by means of which measured values (W1) of another path area forming a measurement basis are assigned desired values for the path area to be adapted.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling tank venting in internal combustion engines, a regenerative flow of fuel is released from the activated charcoal container to the negative-pressure side of the intake tube of the engine and an adaptation in the computer area for the fuel metering quantity simultaneously is prohibited, or vice versa, an adaptation is authorized and a regenerative fuel flow is prohibited, by cyclical triggering, as a function of whether the throttle flap angle drops below, or exceeds, a predetermined threshold value. Parallel to this, a continuous activated charcoal filter regeneration is provided that comes into play at relatively large air throughputs, by means of a branch line leading into the air filter area upstream of the throttle flap; furthermore, if the throttle flap angle threshold value is exceeded, both the regenerative fuel flow via the tank venting valve and the adaptation in the computer area are authorized.