Engine Cylinder Cutout Patents (Class 123/481)
  • Patent number: 7383813
    Abstract: The problem during overrun fuel cut-off operations, i.e. cut-off of fuel injection during trailing throttle conditions of the vehicle, is that the transition entails an undue torque jump, resulting in the smooth operation of the engine and the driving comfort of the passengers of the vehicle being affected. The aim of the invention is to reduce the torque jump. Said aim is achieved by injecting fuel into a cylinder of the Otto engine in a multiple injection process, at least a partial quantity of the fuel that is to be injected being injected during the compression phase, whereby the quantity of air that is taken in advantageously decreases because no internal cooling takes place while the efficiency is advantageously reduced due to the lesser degree of swirling, resulting in lower torque. Overall, torque (DM) is reduced to a significantly greater extent than by merely adjusting the spark angle (ZW) while smooth operation of the Otto engine is not affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Weiss, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7380535
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders allows for an operating state of the internal combustion engine to be switched over as quickly as possible following the receipt of a switchover request. For this purpose, at least one intake or exhaust valve of a cylinder is switched off or at least one switched-off intake or exhaust valve of the cylinder is switched on again in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine in response to the switchover request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hartmann, Werner Mezger, Oliver Krannich, Ingo Fecht
  • Patent number: 7367322
    Abstract: When the first fuel injection is performed after reversion from the fuel cut, the fuel pulse width Ka·INJ.PW is set so that a fuel supply amount is greatly increased in relation to an intake air amount, and the ignition timing is set to the first retarded ignition timing ?a. When the second and subsequent fuel injections are performed, the fuel pulse width Kb·INJ.PW that is smaller in increase width of fuel is set, and the ignition timing is set to the second retarded ignition timing ?b that has a retardation amount smaller than that of the first retarded ignition timing ?a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyata, Katsunori Ueda, Koji Kawakita
  • Patent number: 7363915
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of an engine coupled to an exhaust treatment catalyst. Under predetermined conditions, the method operates an engine with a first group of cylinders combusting a lean air/fuel mixture and a second group of cylinders pumping air only (i.e., without fuel injection). In addition, the engine control method also provides the following features in combination with the above-described split air/lean mode: idle speed control, sensor diagnostics, air/fuel ratio control, adaptive learning, fuel vapor purging, catalyst temperature estimation, default operation, and exhaust gas and emission control device temperature control. In addition, the engine control method also changes to combusting in all cylinders under preselected operating conditions such as fuel vapor purging, manifold vacuum control, and purging of stored oxidants in an emission control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael J. Cullen
  • Publication number: 20080076616
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with a first transmission passage for transmitting driving force of an engine to driving wheels and a second transmission passage for transmitting driving force of a driving motor to the driving wheels, and driven by selectively using or in combination of the first transmission passage and the second transmission passage. The hybrid vehicle includes: a first input gear for inputting the driving force of the engine; a second input gear for inputting the driving force of the driving motor; and an idle gear meshed with the first input gear and the second input gear, and transmitting at least one of the driving force of the engine and the driving force of the driving motor toward the driving wheels. The driving force to be input from at least one of the first input gear and the second input gear is transmitted to the driving wheels via the idle gear and the final differential gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Teruhisa Kidokoro, Kenji Honda, Naohisa Morishita
  • Patent number: 7343902
    Abstract: A system and method to provide a desired torque increase from an engine in which some cylinder operate in spark ignition (SI) combustion mode only and some cylinders operate in homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition (HCCI) combustion mode only are disclosed. Such method includes: operating a first portion of engine cylinders in homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion mode while a second portion of engine cylinders are deactivated. The second portion of engine cylinders in spark ignition combustion mode is activated when a torque demand is greater than the first portion of engine cylinders is capable of supplying. Also, the second portion of engine cylinders is activated when a rate of torque demand is greater than the first portion of engine cylinders is capable of supplying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John Brevick, Clifford Carlson
  • Patent number: 7331332
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes multiple combustion chambers. The supply of fuel into at least one subset of the combustion chambers can temporarily be interrupted. It is provided that the fuel be injected into the combustion chambers directly and during a switchover phase for interrupting or resuming fuel injection into the subset of combustion chambers, at least temporarily via multiple injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Baumann, Frank Ottusch
  • Patent number: 7328686
    Abstract: Engine cylinder reactivation from a fuel-cut state is controlled based on a calculated future engine speed and a minimum allowable engine speed. The future engine speed is calculated based on the current rate of change of engine speed and a duration required to reactivate an engine cylinder. The duration can be in the time domain, or engine event domain, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Cullen
  • Publication number: 20080029057
    Abstract: An HCCI engine has the ability to operate over a large load range by utilizing a lower cetane distillate diesel fuel to increase ignition delay. This permits more stable operation at high loads by avoidance of premature combustion before top dead center. During low load conditions, a portion of the engines cylinders are deactivated so that the remaining cylinders can operate at a pseudo higher load while the overall engine exhibits behavior typical of a relatively low load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Carl-Anders Hergart, William L. Hardy, Kevin P. Duffy, Michael P. Liechty
  • Patent number: 7302932
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and mitigating preignition for a multi-cylinder engine is provided. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method is provided including identifying a preignition event at an affected cylinder; deactivating the affected cylinder during a deactivation period; initiating an accommodation system for one or more unaffected cylinders; and activating an indicator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Robert A. Stein
  • Patent number: 7293545
    Abstract: In a method for enlarging the control range for equalizing injection quantity differences, in particular in internal combustion engines using multiple injections, if the maximum injection quantity of all the individual injections of an injector of the internal combustion engine is lower than the minimum quantity required for control for equalizing the cylinders, then the injection pattern is changed such that the injection quantity of at least one individual injection is greater than or equal to the required minimum quantity, without changing the torque output of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Dietl, Oliver Kastner, Hans-Peter Rabl
  • Patent number: 7290531
    Abstract: An electronic fuel injection system is combined with a carburetor in a carbureted internal combustion engine. The resulting air/fuel induction system comprises a carburetor air/fuel induction system in combination with an electronic fuel injection system which uses the carburetor of the carburetor system as the air valve for the electronic fuel injection system. The carburetor system and the electronic fuel injection systems are interconnected, preferably so that the mixture cut-off of the carburetor system is employed to shut off fuel flow in the carburetor to the air stream for the induction manifold and to simultaneously turn on the electronic fuel injector system. Either manual or automatic interconnection can be employed in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: John Peter Halsmer
  • Patent number: 7287513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the opening and closing of the intake valves of an internal combustion engine with a direct fuel injection system, comprising at least one first intake valve and a second intake valve per cylinder, wherein each valve respectively opening or closing a first and second intake duct per cylinder can be controlled independently of the other valve, wherein at least one of the ducts is supplied with fuel and at least one of the other ducts is not supplied with fuel. According to the invention, said method consists in controlling the valve or valves corresponding to the intake ducts supplied with fuel during the time intervals when the injection system does not function. The invention also relates to a system for the application of said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Cédric Morin
  • Patent number: 7284538
    Abstract: A rotation angle sensing device calculates an average value of calculation values of time necessary for rotation of each one of sections provided by equally dividing one rotation of a crankshaft. The device calculates an average value of the average values of the entire sections to calculate an entire section average value. The device calculates ratios of the average values of the respective sections to the entire section average value. The device eliminates an influence of rotation fluctuation of the crankshaft from the ratios by using reference ratios, which are calculated as ratios of the average values of the respective sections to the entire section average value in the case where there is no structural error. Thus, the device calculates learning values for compensating for the structural error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ishizuka, Kenichiro Nakata
  • Patent number: 7234446
    Abstract: A misfire detector prevents catalysts from being heated to damaging high temperatures. The misfire detector for a multi-cylinder engine includes a fuel cut control to stop supplying fuel to misfiring cylinders, a control to prevent a fuel feed back control and a fuel learning control and to initialize the correction values of both the fuel feed back control and the fuel learning control, and a retard control to retard the ignition timing based on the extent that misfire occurs or the air-fuel ratio. The retard control can be replaced by a throttle opening control for misfire to limit the throttle opening angle. The retard control can also be replaced by an engine or vehicle speed control to limit the engine or vehicle speed below a predetermined engine or vehicle speed, respectively, irrespective of the throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7231907
    Abstract: A method of regulating displacement in a displacement on demand engine includes determining a desired engine displacement and determining a current engine displacement. The method further includes adjusting activation of a first cylinder to partially achieve the desired engine displacement and subsequently adjusting activation of a second cylinder to fully achieve the desired engine displacement from the current engine displacement. The method adjusts activation of the cylinders one at a time to reduce vibration in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Bolander, Alexander J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7216640
    Abstract: A method for calculating transient fuel wall wetting characteristics of an operating engine is described. The method accounts for cylinder valve deactivation of cylinders in the engine in calculating the dynamic fueling compensation. In one example, fuel vaporization effects from fuel puddles in deactivated cylinders are considered when calculating the fueling compensation for active cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Song, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7204235
    Abstract: An engine torque management system of a V-style engine utilizes a cylinder head metal temperature sensor in each cylinder head to detect a temperature. When the sensor temperature rises above a threshold value for a particular time period, the response software shuts down the fuel injection of a bank of cylinders in which the sensor is installed. Cool, uncombusted intake air cools that bank and an external fan blows air over that bank. If the sensor in the second bank of cylinders rises above the threshold, the fuel injection on that bank shuts off to undergo cooling while the fuel injection on the first bank restarts. Alternation between the two banks occurs to maintain the desired level of torque demanded by the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P Gebby, Robert Rotay
  • Patent number: 7204226
    Abstract: In a method for the individual shutdown and restart of cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder, a variable valve control, and a fuel injection system, according to the requirement of its shutdown, a deactivateable cylinder is filled with fresh gas and according to the requirement of its restart, an injection of a predetermined quantity of fuel as well as an ignition of the mixture takes place in the chronologically next intake phase or compression phase of the cylinder before the end of the compression phase at the latest. Furthermore, for the individual shutdown and restart of cylinders, the mass of fresh air present in the deactivateable cylinder in the deactivated operating state and/or the mixture parameters are determined and consulted for determining a fuel quantity to be injected when restarting said cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Michael Zillmer, Ekkehard Pott, Matthias Holz
  • Patent number: 7203588
    Abstract: A control device for an engine, which includes a plurality of cylinders, an electronically controlled unit injector for injecting fuel into each cylinder, and an electronically controlled valve train for opening and closing an intake valve and an exhaust valve of each cylinder, comprises an operating state detection unit for detecting the operating state of the engine, and electronic control units for performing an idle cut operation, in which fuel injection into some of the cylinders is stopped, and the intake valve and the exhaust valve of the cylinder concerned are kept closed, if the signal switching time is long when the idling of the engine of a vehicle waiting at traffic lights is detected by the operating state detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kaneko, Akihide Okajima
  • Patent number: 7198029
    Abstract: An engine control system for regulating a torque output of a variable displacement engine includes a first module that calculates a torque modification term based on an engine operating parameter and a second module that determines a desired engine torque and an estimated engine torque. A third module modifies the desired engine torque based on the torque modification term to provide a modified desired engine torque and a fourth module regulates an engine torque output based on the modified desired engine torque and the estimated engine torque when the engine is operating in a deactivated mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Wong, Alfred E. Spitza, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7191761
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: determining presence of abnormality in a high-pressure fuel system; when abnormality is sensed in the high-pressure fuel system, and not in an in-cylinder injector, injecting fuel from the in-cylinder injector at the feed pressure; selecting criteria (1) that is the restriction standard for a more gentle output restriction of the engine; when abnormality is sensed in the high-pressure fuel system and in the in-cylinder injector, ceasing the in-cylinder injector; selecting criteria (2) that is the restriction standard for a stricter output restriction of the engine; increasing the VVT overlap; retarding the ignition timing; and restricting the throttle opening according to the selected criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shibagaki, Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Patent number: 7188468
    Abstract: A controller for cylinder cut-off for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a partially operable cylinder that can be cutoff by a cut-off cylinder mechanism provided therewith and a full operating cylinder that is not cut off, the controller for cylinder cut-off including a partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section, a full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section, and a cylinder cut-off authorization determining section for determining whether to authorize or prohibit a cut-off of the partially operable cylinder based on a partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimated by the partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section: and a full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimated by the full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fukusako, Haruhiko Yamada, Tatsuro Isono, Masato Amano, Toshiaki Ichoda
  • Patent number: 7181905
    Abstract: A system is described for improving engine and vehicle performance by considering the effects of exhaust conditions on catalyst particle growth. Specifically, engine operation is adjusted to reduce operating in such conditions, and a diagnostic routine is described for determining the effects of any operation that can cause such particle growth. Further, routines are described for controlling various vehicle conditions, such as deceleration fuel shut-off, to reduce effects of the particle growth on emission performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Harendra S. Gandhi, Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Robert W. McCabe, George Graham, Hungwen Jen
  • Patent number: 7159387
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Stephen B. Smith, James P. O'Neill, Garry Zawacki
  • Patent number: 7156072
    Abstract: An electronic valve actuation system and control method is described. The valve timing is changed between early and late intake valve closing depending on engine operating conditions. Further, valve timing is adjusted to control engine airflow or engine torque. Finally, air-fuel ratio is adjusted based on feedback from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor as well as an estimate of air, fuel, and residual exhausted from cylinders operating with late valve closing (after bottom dead center) timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Song, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Larry Allen Hardy, Michael John Cullen, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Xiaoying Zhang
  • Patent number: 7146966
    Abstract: A cylinder cutoff control apparatus of an engine initiates a cylinder cutoff mode only when two conditions, namely a low load condition such as a vehicle cruising condition and an intake valve closure timing controlled to a given timing value before a bottom dead center, are both satisfied. A fuel cutoff mode is executed prior to the cylinder cutoff mode. During a transition to the cylinder cutoff mode, the control apparatus holds an intake valve open timing at a given timing value substantially corresponding to a top dead center, simultaneously with reducing an intake valve lift amount of each intake valve, subjected to cylinder cutoff control, to a zero lift. Immediately when the intake valve lift amount is reduced to below a lift threshold value, an exhaust valve lift amount of each exhaust valve, subjected to the cylinder cutoff control, is controlled to a zero lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7143727
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least a first and second cylinder, comprising during at least one operating condition, operating the first cylinder to receive directly injected fuel, mix said fuel with fresh air inducted past an intake valve of the first cylinder, combust said mixture, and exhaust at least a portion of said mixture past an exhaust valve of the first cylinder, and concurrent with said operation of the first cylinder, operating the second cylinder to hold an intake valve of the second cylinder closed for at least a cycle of said second cylinder, receive directly injected fuel, and then exhaust at least a portion of said fuel past an exhaust valve of the second cylinder to generate unburned reductants in an exhaust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vince Winstead, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7143577
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus of an internal combustion engine in which an exhaust gas purifying catalyst is disposed in an exhaust passage, comprises: fuel cut means which stops fuel supply to the internal combustion engine when it is determined that a number of revolutions of the internal combustion engine is higher than a fuel cut number of revolutions at the time of deceleration of the internal combustion engine; and changing means of the fuel cut number of revolutions for changing the fuel cut number of revolutions according to a physical amount which correlates with an amount of oxygen discharged from the exhaust gas purifying catalyst during the fuel increasing operation of the internal combustion engine such that as the amount of oxygen is greater, the fuel cut number of revolutions is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7140355
    Abstract: A method to reduce chassis vibration in an engine with valves that may be deactivated. Valves are controlled to avoid exciting modal frequencies of mechanical components and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John O. Michelini, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7131424
    Abstract: In a method of injecting fuel into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, wherein a main injection process and a variable number of secondary injection processes assigned to the main injection process are carried out during one working cycle of a piston, a change of the number of secondary injection processes is initiated initially only for some of the cylinders, while the original number of secondary injection processes is maintained for the other cylinders. Subsequently, the proportion of the cylinders to which the change of the number of secondary injection processes is applied is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Daimler Chrysler AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Gruber
  • Patent number: 7107947
    Abstract: A method to control valves during multi-stroke cylinder operation. Valves are controlled to improve emissions and engine torque resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell, John O. Michelini
  • Patent number: 7104047
    Abstract: An integral operation in an upstream target-value varying part is stopped in response to transition to a fuel cutoff state to maintain an integral value concerning a downstream side. Thereafter, at a time of removal of the fuel cutoff state, a cumulative-air-intake-amount detecting part detects a cumulative air amount of air taken into an engine. Then, when the cumulative air amount reaches a predetermined air amount, an integral-operation-stop/restart controlling part restarts the integral operation in the upstream target-value varying part to update integral values concerning the downstream side in a time sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Takubo
  • Patent number: 7100565
    Abstract: A throttling and intake control system transitions between activated and deactivated modes in a displacement on demand engine. The throttling and intake control system includes an intake manifold pressure sensor that generates an intake manifold pressure signal and a controller that calculates a pressure window based on the manifold pressure and an engine speed signal. The controller transitions the engine from the activated mode to the deactivated mode when the measured intake manifold pressure is greater than the maximum limit of the pressure window. The controller transitions the engine from the deactivated mode to the activated mode when the intake manifold pressure is less than the lower limit of the pressure window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Allen, Alexander J. Roberts, Thomas E. Bolander
  • Patent number: 7086387
    Abstract: The invention provides a control apparatus of a cylinder injection of fuel type internal combustion engine executing a dilute combustion, which can satisfy a requirement of rapidly changing an engine torque while restricting a deterioration of a driving property and an exhaust gas as much as possible. In a control apparatus of a multicylinder engine executing a dilute combustion, in the case that a requirement of reducing and changing an engine torque of the internal combustion engine is applied, the control apparatus executes a fuel cut of a predetermined number of cylinders, and controls so that a torque of operating cylinders except the cylinders executing the fuel cut becomes the required engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Okamoto, Toshio Hori
  • Patent number: 7086386
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeff Doering
  • Patent number: 7089103
    Abstract: In a system for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and connected to the automatic transmission and mounted on a vehicle and the operation of the engine is switched between full-cylinder operation during which all of the cylinders are operative and cutoff-cylinder operation during which some of the cylinders are non-operative, based on at least the load of the engine, a gradient of road on which the vehicle runs is estimated and the cutoff-cylinder operation is prohibited when the estimated gradient is equal to or greater than a threshold value. With this, it becomes possible to generate sufficient deceleration, when the vehicle runs a downhill during cutoff-cylinder operation, while ensuring to prevent the operator to feel excessive acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Katakura, Kenji Nakajima, Hiroshi Terayama, Shinichi Nishio, Yoshiyuki Nagayama, Hiroyuki Kushiyama
  • Patent number: 7082927
    Abstract: When an internal combustion engine is stopped, a ratio of a quantity of fuel injection from an in-cylinder fuel injection valve to the total fuel injection quantity is increased and a ratio of a quantity of fuel injected from a manifold fuel injection valve to the total fuel injection quantity is decreased. Thereafter, the internal combustion engine is stopped. In this manner, a quantity of fuel adhered to an intake manifold when the internal combustion engine is stopped is reduced, and deterioration in emission can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7080625
    Abstract: An engine control system for controlling engine operation in activated and deactivated modes in a displacement on demand engine system includes an engine control that generates a load control signal based on one of an activation and a deactivation signal. An accessory control manipulates operation of an accessory driven by the engine based on the load control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Albertson, Alexander J. Roberts, Thomas E. Bolander, Michael A. Kropinski
  • Patent number: 7073488
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an engine having a plurality of cylinders. The method includes monitoring a parameter associated with engine operation, determining a range of fluctuation of the parameter from a desired parameter value, and selectively disabling operation of at least one cylinder and less than all of the plurality of cylinders in response to the range of fluctuation being greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Hasler, David L. Zwetz
  • Patent number: 7069911
    Abstract: A method of controlling engine operation in a vehicle in response to a misfire of one of a plurality of engine cylinders fueled through fuel injectors. The vehicle includes a fuel vapor storage canister. The method includes disabling at least one of the fuel injectors, using an open loop to control fuel delivery by the injectors to the cylinders, and disabling purging of the canister. The disabling and using steps are performed while the misfire continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Joseph Kubani, Vincent A. White, Daniel P. Grenn
  • Patent number: 7069903
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of a engine coupled to an exhaust treatment catalyst. Under predetermined conditions, the method operates an engine with a first group of cylinders combusting a lean air-fuel mixture and a second group of cylinders pumping air only (i.e. without fuel injection.) In addition, the engine control method also provides the following features in combination with the above-described split air/lean mode: auto speed control, sensor diagnostics, air-fuel ratio control, adaptive learning, fuel vapor purging, catalyst temperature estimation, and default operation. In addition, the engine control method also disables the split air/lean operating mode under preselected operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7069910
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of an engine coupled to an exhaust treatment catalyst. Under predetermined conditions, the method operates an engine with a first group of cylinders combusting a lean air/fuel mixture and a second group of cylinders pumping air only (i.e., without fuel injection). In addition, the engine control method also provides the following features in combination with the above-described split air/lean mode: idle speed control, sensor diagnostics, air/fuel ratio control, adaptive learning, fuel vapor purging, catalyst temperature estimation, default operation, and exhaust gas and emission control device temperature control. In addition, the engine control method also changes to combusting in all cylinders under preselected operating conditions such as fuel vapor purging, manifold vacuum control, and purging of stored oxidants in an emission control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, John M. Roth
  • Patent number: 7069718
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7066121
    Abstract: A method to select cylinder and valve operational modes in an internal combustion engine with valves that may be deactivated. A simplified method to select cylinder and valve modes is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John O. Michelini, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7051516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a temperature of a catalyst system (14, 16) located in an exhaust duct (12) of an internal combustion engine (10) in a motor vehicle. Said system comprises at least one primary catalyst (16), in particular an NOx storage catalyst and optionally one or more pre-catalysts (14). According to the invention, at one point during operation, at which the torque desired by the driver is less than an overrun torque of the vehicle (overrun phase ?s), an overrun shut-off can be suppressed by supplying the internal combustion engine (10) with an air-fuel ratio (?) that is less than or equal to 1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Michael Zillmer
  • Patent number: 7047940
    Abstract: A control apparatus stops supply of a fuel to an engine (a) when a value of a parameter relating to a misfire of the engine satisfies a misfire condition that is set based on an octane value of the fuel, or (b) when it is determined that a misfire may occur if an increased amount of the fuel is supplied to the engine in the case where ignition timing of the engine is retarded based on an octane value of the fuel, and the amount of the fuel is increased according to a retard amount of the ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 7040295
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for internal combustion engines. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an engine system is provided that is able to operate at partial power after a single, or several, failures of any of several subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Abraham E. Karem
  • Patent number: 7028670
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeff Doering
  • Patent number: 7028678
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, some of which can be deactivated during operation of the engine, the cylinders which can be deactivated during operation are configured specifically for high load engine operation and have a lower compression ratio ? than the rest of the cylinders, which are configured specifically for low load engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Betz, Frank Duvinage, Rüdiger Pfaff, Heiko Sass