With Coordinated Fuel Control Means For Engine Patents (Class 60/603)
  • Patent number: 7426828
    Abstract: This method is intended for a turbocharged internal combustion engine having an electrically controlled throttle valve. The turbocharger has a waste gate for regulating its pressure. The position of the valve and the extent to which the gate is open are controlled according to two distinct modes of operation. In the first mode, the position of the valve is predetermined as a function of engine control and operating parameters, and the position of the gate is used to regulate the air flow rate. In the second mode, the extent to which the gate is open is predetermined as a function of engine control and operating parameters, and the position of the valve is used to regulate the air flow rate. Which mode is used is gauged by an electronic device which chooses the mode of operation to be implemented as a function of predetermined conditions stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Laure Carbonne, Patrick Cremona, Roger Rouphael
  • Patent number: 7152397
    Abstract: This system, in which the engine is associated with a turbocharger and with a feed device adapted to implement first and second regeneration strategies depending on different engine operation control parameters to obtain different temperatures in the exhaust line, acquires the temperature in the line, compares it with a safety threshold for the turbocharger turbine so that if the threshold is exceeded while applying the second strategy, the feed device is controlled so that one of the engine operation control parameters is regulated to reduce the temperature, and if it does not drop back below the threshold at the end of a first time period, the feed device is controlled to switch over to the first strategy, and if it still does not drop back below the threshold at the end of a second time period, the feed device is controlled to stop the regeneration strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7047741
    Abstract: A method is provided for close control and adjustment of in-cylinder oxygen concentration levels together with boost adjustments to minimize harmful emissions during transients in engines which utilize late direct cylinder injection of fuel. EGR flow rates are adjusted in a closed loop, linked fashion together with boost pressure changes during transients, to maintain intake charge-air oxygen concentration and boost levels within critical ranges for controlled temperature, low emission combustion. Changes in fuel feed into the cylinder are made to wait for or follow changes in the boost level of charge-air into the cylinder for combustion. Temporary fuel levels are not allowed to exceed desired fuel/oxygen ratios during transients, by controlling fuel feed responsive to the level of boost of charge-air being taken into the cylinder for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6945047
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for detecting and responding to a surge event in a locomotive engine system including a turbocharger and a diesel engine. A sensor detects an operating parameter of the turbocharged engine and generates a signal indicative of the detected operatng parameter. An engine control system is responsive to the signal representative of a sensed operating parameter, or a determined changed in a sensed parameter, for controlling a plurality of operational controls of the diesel engine system. The engine control system modifies one or more operational controls of the diesel engine system when the signal indicates a surge event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Brian Shea, Eric Richard Dillen, Vincent F. Dunsworth, Shawn Michael Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6715287
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine with an air system are described. At least one variable characterizing the air system is determined on the basis of at least one correcting variable and/or at least one measured variable characterizing the state of the ambient air, using at least one model. The model includes at least one first and one second submodel. Using a submodel, the output variables are determined on the basis of input variables. As input variables of the first submodel, besides at least one output variable of a second submodel, the correcting variable and/or the measured variable are additionally taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Engel, Manfred Birk, Frank Meier, Thomas Bleile, Benedikt Kraus, Peter Rupp, Wolfgang Kraemer
  • Patent number: 6644029
    Abstract: A process for the control of boost pressure of a turbocharger in an internal combustion engine as a function of the density of the ambient air. The internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas turbocharger with control means to control the boost pressure in which the actual boost pressure is determined at specific time intervals and compared with assigned values for the desired boost pressure taken from stored compressor characteristics. The boost pressure is adjusted as necessary. The internal combustion engine further comprises an engine control device having a control unit and a data storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Weinreuter
  • Publication number: 20030182940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable nozzle opening control unit insuring a low fuel consumption rate and excellent response speed in the low load mode for an exhaust turbine supercharger. To achieve the purpose described above, an opening of the variable nozzle of the exhaust turbine supercharger 10 is set to and maintained at the maximum value in the constant operating state when the load is not more than a prespecified load level, and also the opening is gradually made smaller, when the load is not less than the specified load level, as the load becomes higher. When the load shifts from the high load region to the low load region, the variable nozzle is more closed or maintained at the original opening. Further when the operating state may get close to the surging limit, the variable nozzle is more opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Nishiyama, Hiroshi Sugito, Takahisa Iino
  • Patent number: 6625984
    Abstract: A variable geometry nozzle suitable for a radial turbine in a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine. The turbine inlet, turbine outlet or both include a vane assembly having a housing and an adjustable cartridge movable in the housing. Each cartridge has vanes having a plurality of vane sections. Each vane section provides a vane geometry different than the vane geometries of the other vane sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Frank G. Gerke, Beth A. Hinchee, Mark D. Moeckel
  • Patent number: 6619261
    Abstract: A system for controlling an operating condition of an internal combustion engine includes a control mechanism responsive to a final control command to establish an engine control parameter, and a control computer configured to estimate a current value of the operating condition as a function of the final control command. The control computer determines an error value as a difference between an operating condition limit and the current value of the operating condition, and determines an operating condition parameter as function of the error value and of the current value of the operating condition. The control computer further determines a control command limit as a function of the operating condition parameter, and determines the final control command as a function of the control command limit and a default control command to thereby limit the operating condition to the operating condition limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Yun Wang, David A. Vittorio, John F. Wright
  • Patent number: 6619040
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine provided with a decompression-type braking system and with a turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine, in which the effective flow section of the gases entering the turbine under the maximum braking power condition is maintained at least equal to a safety limit value calculated on the basis of geometrical characteristics and of limit values of operating parameters of the engine and of the turbocharger for the purpose of achieving the maximum braking power compatible with the safety of the engine and of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Iveco Fiat S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Conicella
  • Patent number: 6609372
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling the exhaust temperature of an engine is disclosed. The method includes the steps of sensing the exhaust temperature of the engine, determining a desired air pressure in response to the exhaust temperature, and controlling the air flow into the engine in response to the desired air pressure. The apparatus includes an air temperature sensor for sensing an actual exhaust temperature within the exhaust manifold and responsively generating an exhaust temperature signal. The apparatus also includes a controller for receiving the exhaust temperature signal and comparing the exhaust temperature signal to a desired exhaust port temperature, determining a desired air pressure in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar INC
    Inventors: James B. Maddock, Fred Mehdian, David Tran
  • Patent number: 6581382
    Abstract: A method for controlling a supercharging device for an internal combustion engine includes controlling a variable (x) using different control characteristics in each of at least four sub-ranges defined by a gradient (dx/dt) of the variable to be controlled (x) and a difference (x) between the variable to be controlled (x) and a control variable (xs). An apparatus for controlling a supercharging device for an internal combustion engine includes a controller having a range of control that includes at least four sub-ranges devided in accordance with a gradient (dx/dt) of the variable to be controlled (x) and a difference (x) between the variable to be controlled (x) and a control variable (xs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Weber, Joachim Wiltschka
  • Publication number: 20030000212
    Abstract: A device for switching an exhaust gas turbocharger and an exhaust gas turbocharger having such a device are described. The device is used for exhaust gas turbochargers (1) having a variable turbine geometry as well as for other turbochargers (e.g., waste-gate turbochargers) having an (electronically) regulated final controlling element. The exhaust gas turbocharger is switched by a switching signal P from a regulated operation A with a boost pressure regulator (2) to an unregulated operation B with a boost pressure control (3), wherein a delay device (4) is provided for generating the switching signal P with a time delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Frank Meier, Thomas Bleile
  • Publication number: 20020189254
    Abstract: The intake air amount of an engine (1) is controlled by a variable nozzle (53) of a turbocharger (50). A controller (41) calculates an open loop control value of a drive signal of the variable nozzle (53) based on a running state of the engine (1), and calculates a feedback correction amount comprising an integral correction value of the drive signal such that the intake air amount coincides with a target intake fresh air amount (S367). It also calculates a learning value based on the integral correction value when the intake air amount coincides with the target intake air amount (S395, S400), and modifies the feedback correction amount such that the sum of the learning value and feedback correction amount is constant (S366). In this way, the response of intake air amount control or supercharging pressure control is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Takashi Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 6467270
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine and active wastegate are provided in combination along with independent control of the variable geometry turbine and wastegate valve so as to independently control exhaust gas recirculation flow and air flow in an internal combustion engine. Such independent control of exhaust gas recirculation flow and air flow in an internal combustion engine is achieved by providing a system for exhaust gas recirculation including an intake air manifold, an exhaust manifold, an exhaust gas recirculation passage providing fluid communication between the exhaust manifold and the intake air manifold, a variable geometry turbine positioned downstream of the exhaust manifold, and a waste gate passage providing fluid communication between the exhaust gas manifold and a point downstream of the variable geometry turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: John Mulloy, Steve Charlton
  • Publication number: 20020134080
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the boost pressure on an unsteady-running piston internal combustion engine with a turbocharger. According to the inventive method, a blow-off valve, which is connected upstream from the supercharger turbine in the exhaust gas tract, is controlled by an engine control, the position of the pedal and a boost-proportional gradient are detected by the engine control when initiating an acceleration operation and, when a predeterminable value for the boost-proportional gradient is surpassed, the blow-off valve is actuated in an opening direction in order to effect a predeterminable controlled increase of pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: Friedrich Ostertag
  • Patent number: 6427445
    Abstract: A variable nozzle turbocharger (12) creates engine boost. Boost is controlled by controlling the position of vanes within turbocharger. A processor develops a control signal (29) for controlling vane position. The processor develops a value for desired boost and processes that value with a value. corresponding to the amount of boost being created by the turbocharger to generate error data (48A) defining error between the amount of boost being created by the turbocharger and the desired boost, and the processor develops a component of the control signal by P-LI-D processing (62) of the error data. Other components of the control signal are a feed-forward value from a look-up table (34) and a value from an overspeed protection function (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Emad S. Isaac, John E. Bernhardt, Michael J. McNulty
  • Patent number: 6425246
    Abstract: A method for a closed-loop or an open-loop control of a forced-induction internal combustion engine that includes an exhaust turbocharger having an exhaust turbine with a variable turbine geometry for a variable adjustment of an effective turbine cross section and with a boost-air compressor, different operating states of the engine are assigned different characteristic maps with engine-operating and/or engine-state variables and the turbine geometry is adjusted in accordance with the characteristic maps between an open position and a pressure build-up position. When there is a change in a significant engine parameter, the system switches between two characteristic maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Wolfram Schmid
  • Publication number: 20020088225
    Abstract: An aircraft control system includes a propeller governor in which a stepper motor is used to apply a compression force on a speeder spring, and a turbocharger in which a stepper motor is used to actuate a needle valve associated with a diaphragm cell. An electronic control unit may be used to control the stepper motor in the propeller governor and the stepper motor in the turbocharger. The integration of the propeller governor and the turbocharger into a single control system decreases the number of individual adjustments that must be performed manually by the pilot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Koch, Heinz Lippitsch, Johann Bayerl, Manfred Moseneder, Gerald Mayr
  • Patent number: 6408624
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for avoiding transient compressor surge in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The system includes a control circuit responsive to at least one engine operating parameter to determine a minimum fueling limit that is generally higher under certain engine operating conditions than the default engine fueling value. Under such conditions, the minimum fueling limit is used to establish a lower limit of fuel supplied to the engine in order to avoid turbocharger transient compresser surge conditions. In one embodiment, the at least one engine operating parameter includes intake manifold air pressure, and in an alternative embodiment, the at least one engine operating parameter further includes intake manifold air temperature. In either case, the at least one engine operating parameter also preferably includes engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Glenn L. Baker
  • Publication number: 20020023438
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine has a turbine having a variable turbine geometry for the variable setting of the effective flow inlet cross section to the turbine wheel. The exhaust-gas turbocharger has a compressor which is connected to the turbine via a shaft. The variable turbine geometry can be adjusted by means of a regulating device between a closed position and an open position. To compensate for wear, a stop limiting an end position of the variable turbine geometry is provided, and the position of this stop can be set in a variable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Erwin Schmidt, Siegfried Sumser
  • Patent number: 6327856
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a premixed compression ignition type internal combustion engine having, a fuel injection valve for supplying a fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine, an operational condition detecting unit for detecting the operational condition of the engine, and a fuel injection control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve on the basis of the results of the detection carried out by the operational condition detecting unit, the fuel injection control unit controlling the fuel injection valve so that the supplying of a fuel to the combustion chamber is finished at least before a piston reaches a compression top dead center. The control apparatus includes an air supply unit for supplying pressurized air to the combustion chamber, and an air quantity control unit for controlling the air supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Iwabuchi, Toshitaka Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 6318083
    Abstract: An engine with a charger, in which an intake passage is provided with a throttle valve which is electronically controlled to a target opening degree and the charger on the upstream side of the throttle valve, wherein a target supercharged pressure is corrected in a direction of eliminating a delay in the intake air amount based upon a difference between the target supercharged pressure of the charger and the supercharged pressure detected on the upstream side of the throttle valve, to thereby set a target supercharged pressure of the throttle valve based on the corrected target supercharged pressure. This suppresses a delay in the intake air amount caused by a delay in the change of the supercharged pressure during the transient period, makes it possible to accomplish acceleration/deceleration performance of good response, and suppresses a torque difference that occurs when the combustion system is changed over to the stratified charge combustion or to the homogeneous combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignees: Unisia Jecs Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Toru Fuse, Takao Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6314737
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having one or more parallel exhaust-driven turbochargers that each comprise an activatable delivery capacity adjusting unit for variable adjustment of the boost air delivery capacity with malfunction monitoring of each individual delivery capacity adjusting unit wherein, upon detection of a malfunction of a respective delivery capacity adjusting unit, a corresponding malfunction datum is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Daimler Chrysler AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Springer, Joachim Wiltschka
  • Patent number: 6295814
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine with a turbocharger is suggested, in the case of which a limiting of the exhaust gas counterpressure is provided in the braking operating mode of the internal-combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Erwin Schmidt, Marco Schade, Siegfried Sumser
  • Publication number: 20010022084
    Abstract: A device for limiting the supercharger speed which makes do without a speed sensor or an atmospheric pressure sensor has a bandpass filter which filters out a spectral component from the output signal of a boost pressure sensor arranged in the induction pipe of the engine, the spectral component appearing in the signal spectrum of the boost pressure sensor when the air column in the induction pipe is set into a vibration which develops when the compressor of the turbocharger rotates at the maximum permissible speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Ulrich Koelle, Armin Lussman
  • Patent number: 6256992
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for managing the operation of a turbocharger and is responsible for controlling the turbocharger to cause a desired air mass flow to be provided to the engine and for protecting the turbocharger from excessive shaft speed and excessive turbine inlet temperature. The protection modes have higher priority than the performance control. First, turbocharger shaft speed is checked against a programmable limit, and the turbocharger is adjusted to bring the speed under control if its speed exceeds this limit. If the speed is not above the limit, the turbine inlet temperature is checked against a second programmable limit. If the turbocharger inlet temperature is above the predetermined limit, the turbocharger is adjusted to bring the inlet temperature under control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer C. Lewis, Jr., Peter Rauznitz, Mark W. Pyclik, Joseph F. Mohos, W. Barry Bryan
  • Patent number: 6220232
    Abstract: To achieve a very sturdy automatic control of the boost pressure, the integration of system deviation of the boost pressure, which is carried out by an integrator, is limited to a predefinable limiting value. Limiting value is composed of a basic value and a correction value superimposed upon it. Correction value is determined adaptively as a function of speed, a plurality of speed ranges being predefined. Adapted correction value can be increased or reduced stepwise, which mainly depends on whether the integral-action component of the manipulated variable for the boost pressure is smaller or greater than the current limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oskar Torno, Carsten Kluth, Werner Häming, Iwan Surjadi, Steffen Franke, Michael Bäuerle
  • Patent number: 6192867
    Abstract: In order for the process and the device to function with as small as possible a number of sensors for operating parameters, a program map (20) is provided from which the intake air pressure (AL) of the charger (3, 5) is derived as a function of the charging pressure (PL), the engine speed (n), and a fuel quantity preset (QK) corresponding to the accelerator position, and there is a device (21) which determines a limit value (QKG1) for the fuel quantity (QK′) metered to the engine (1) as a function of the intake air pressure (AL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Fenchel, Thomas Rueping
  • Patent number: 6155050
    Abstract: An engine control system for protecting a turbocharger of an internal combustion engine from an overspeed condition occurring as a result of a failure of the turbocharger wastegate device. In one embodiment of the invention, sensors provide signals for engine speed, ambient pressure and boost pressure between the turbocharger and the engine intake. Correction factors are added to the boost pressure and ambient pressure signals, and a turbocharger pressure ratio is calculated from these signals. A reduced fueling table maps turbocharger pressure ratio and engine speed to reduced fueling signal values. An engine control computer utilizes a nominal fueling table that maps engine speed and boost pressure to nominal fueling signal values. The control computer also includes a decision module that selects the lesser of the nominal fueling signal values and the reduced fueling signal values and provides the selected value to the engine fueling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: Michael P. Blanz, Richard T. White, Randall B. Fischer, Paul Daniel Borisuk, Jeremy J. Worm, William P. Richardson, Yong Shu, Kyle Lee Edwards
  • Patent number: 6055810
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine utilizing direct fuel injection including a smoke sensor for measuring the level of smoke in the engine exhaust. A control module, in response to the output signal from the smoke sensor, regulates the timing and delivery of fuel to the engine, the delivery of air to the engine, the amount of exhaust gases that are recirculated to the engine, the turbo boost pressure and performs on-board diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Borland, Thomas W. Asmus, Frank Zhao
  • Patent number: 5913301
    Abstract: With a protection system for a turbocharged internal combustion engine, it is determined, using a parameter characterizing the turbocharging, whether an overshoot or a serious defect, such as for example a hose failure, is present in the turbocharging pressure system and, according to the case, a 1st or 2nd suppression pattern for suppressing fuel injection to individual cylinders is activated. In the event of repeat occurrences, the protection system according to the invention responds considerably faster than in the first occurrence of the defect. An error correction is possible under certain operating conditions, and the original response time is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karin Kienle, Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 5791145
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine can include a fuel molecular weight sensor to determine an actual and a desired Excess Air Ratio for an air/fuel mixture supplied to the engine. To prevent engine overload, the control system limits the amount of fuel delivered to the engine based on the amount of air available to the engine. High pressure exhaust gas can drive an air compressor which pressurizes inlet air. A exhaust bypass valve controls the amount of power delivered to the compressor, and the pressure and amount of inlet air delivered to the engine. Independent control of the main fuel flow and pilot fuel flow allows the control system to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio in the main combustion chamber and in the precombustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Douglas Freen
  • Patent number: 5622053
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine can include a fuel molecular weight sensor to determine an actual and a desired Excess Air Ratio for an air/fuel mixture supplied to the engine. To prevent engine overload, the control system limits the amount of fuel delivered to the engine based on the amount of air available to the engine. High pressure exhaust gas can drive an air compressor which pressurizes inlet air. A exhaust bypass valve controls the amount of power delivered to the compressor, and the pressure and amount of inlet air delivered to the engine. Independent control of the main fuel flow and pilot fuel flow allows the control system to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio in the main combustion chamber and in the precombustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Freen
  • Patent number: 5526266
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an engine using a computer based boost pressure model, a first set of parameters of the engine is sensed and used to determined a modeled value of an exhaust temperature. A second set of parameters of the engine is sensed. A modeled value of the boost pressure is determined as a function of the second set of parameters and the modelled exhaust temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William K. Rutan, David R. Schricker
  • Patent number: 5447031
    Abstract: A dynamic wastegate failure detection apparatus for determining wastegate failure levels for individual internal combustion engines is disclosed. The apparatus repeatedly measures and stores intake boost pressures at times when the engine is producing higher boost pressure levels. The apparatus calculates a boost pressure limit value as a function of the stored boost pressures. A wastegate failure is indicated and the engine output power is derated when a boost pressure value exceeds the sum of the boost pressure limit value and a predetermined pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Edward H. Betts, Shawn J. Weck
  • Patent number: 5386698
    Abstract: A control system and method for governing turbocharged internal combustion engines is disclosed including an electronic control unit, a fuel flow control valve, an engine speed sensor, and a bypass valve to control exhaust gas flow through an exhaust bypass conduit. When engine speed is above a first predetermined engine speed, the electronic control unit controls the bypass valve to regulate exhaust gas flow through the bypass conduit, thereby limiting exhaust gas flow through the turbocharger. When the engine speed reaches a second, predetermined engine speed value that is higher than the first predetermined engine speed value, the electronic control unit completely opens the bypass valve allowing virtually total bypass of the turbocharger, and limits fuel flow to the engine by controlling the fuel flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Mostafa M. Kamel
  • Patent number: 5377112
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an engine (102) including the steps of sensing a first set of parameters of the engine (102) and determining a modeled value of a first operating characteristic. A second set of parameters of the engine (102) is sensed and used to determined a modeled value of a second operating characteristic. The modeled values are compared to actual values and the engine is responsively diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Brown, Jr., W. Kent Rutan, David R. Schricker
  • Patent number: 5363652
    Abstract: An engine including a supercharger wherein a waste gate valve is provided in the bypass passage bypassing the exhaust turbine of the supercharger and the supercharged pressure is controlled by the waste gate valve so that when the opening of the throttle valve provided in the intake duct falls under a set level, the air-fuel mixture is made lean and when it becomes greater than the set opening, the air-fuel mixture is made rich. When the air-fuel mixture is changed from a lean to rich mixture, the opening of the waste gate valve is made larger to reduce the supercharged pressure and thereby prevent abrupt fluctuations in the engine output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetaka Tanaka, Yukio Ohtake, Yutaka Ohbuchi
  • Patent number: 5307632
    Abstract: A two cycle, preferably diesel, engine has a turbocharger with an exhaust driven turbine and supplemental mechanical drive maintaining a fixed minimum turbine/engine speed ratio with fuel efficient freewheeling (fully exhaust sustained) turbine operation at higher speeds and loads. A turbo boost system provides freewheeling turbine operation at intermediate speeds where it might or will not otherwise occur. When an intermediate speed is reached at which freewheeling can be sustained but is not occurring, the system1) temporarily increases engine speed to a predetermined higher level to accelerate the turbine and increase engine air flow,2) increases engine fuel input to a higher level capable of sustaining freewheeling, and3) reduces engine speed to the selected intermediate speed while maintaining a fuel input level adequate to maintain turbine freewheeling. Methods and means for providing and controlling intermediate speed freewheeling operation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Gottemoller, Monique M. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5187935
    Abstract: An engine control system comprising a variable valve actuating mechanism for an engine which may consists of a mechanism capable of varying valve timing, a variable capacity supercharger which may consists of a turbocharger provided with moveable vanes for varying a cross sectional area of an exhaust gas passage leading to a turbine wheel, and a control unit for controlling a valve actuating operation of the valve actuating mechanism and a capacity varying operation of the variable capacity supercharger. The capacity of the supercharger is controlled by taking into account the operating conditions of the valve actuating mechanism. Thus, the control unit is capable of achieving a precise and prompt control action, and, by appropriately determining the control plan, it is possible to increase the maximum output of the engine and/or to reduce strain on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eitetsu Akiyama, Noriyuki Kishi
  • Patent number: 5159815
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine is provided having a turbine section responsive to the engine exhaust gas flow and a compressor section communicating with the engine intake manifold. A pressure responsive adjustable fuel pump is in communication with the engine combustion chambers. A wastegate unit with an adjustable valve disposed within a bypass passageway formed in the turbine section is provided for regulating the diverion of a predetermined amount of exhaust gas flow away from a turbine wheel within the section. The unit valve is biased to assume a closed position with respect to the bypass passageway. A multiport connection having an interior cavity is provided with a first port in pressure communication with the fuel pump; a second port in pressure communication with the intake manifold; and a third port in pressure communication with the wastegate unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company
    Inventor: Hans J. Schlamadinger
  • Patent number: 5046317
    Abstract: A twin wastegate valve for an exhaust gas driven turbocharger in which exhaust gas is communicated to the turbine wheel through separate inlet passages includes a pair of wastegate valve members mounted for pivoting movement relative to a support. The support is pivotally mounted on the actuating arm. Accordingly, small differences in the height of the valve seat caused by wear or by manufacturing tolerances do not affect closure of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Satokawa
  • Patent number: 4773225
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the load-dependent control of a turbocharger which is arranged in an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger includes an adjustable turbine guide apparatus which is adapted to be moved by way of an adjusting drive in the direction closing position or in the direction opening position. In order to be able to keep the response time of the turbocharger minimal during positive load changes with an optimum fuel consumption, the turbine guide apparatus is initially guided along a first predetermined characteristic curve in the direction closing position and subsequently in dependence on the charging pressure increase conditioned on the load increase according to a second predetermined characteristic curve again in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Daimer-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reiner Bachschmid, Horst Hanauer, Manfred Fortnagel, Klaus Blumensaat
  • Patent number: 4769995
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio controller for a gaseous-fueled, turbocharged engine having an air manifold, a gas manifold, and a turbine inlet is disclosed herein. The controller includes means for controlling air manifold pressure and means for controlling turbine inlet temperature. The means for controlling air manifold pressure includes means for providing an air manifold pressure set point signal based on gas manifold pressure and engine RPM's and at least one constant input. The means for controlling turbine inlet temperature includes means for modulating the slope of the set point signal for the air manifold pressure controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Cooper Industries
    Inventors: J. Vincent Serve, David W. Eckard
  • Patent number: 4763477
    Abstract: A supercharge pressure control apparatus having a plurality of detectors, a control valve for controlling the exhaust gas flow flowing into an exhaust gas turbine, first and second electromagnetic valves for selectively controlling the control valve in response to control signals, and an electronic control unit for controlling the first and second electromagnetic valves in accordance with operating conditions of the engine. The opening of the control valve is compulsorily opened to a predetermined opened condition when the vehicle is in the idling condition or it is running at low speed below a preset vehicle speed through the second electromagnetic valve, while maintaining supercharge pressure control by the control valve through the first electromagnetic valve when the actual vehicle speed is above the preset vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasaki, Yoshio Iwasa
  • Patent number: 4741163
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling supercharge pressure for a turbocharger in which a target value of supercharge pressure is set up in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine and a basic control amount for a control valve for controlling the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas turbine is also set up in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine, and the basic control amount is corrected in response to the deviation between actual supercharge pressure and a target supercharge pressure value, when performing a feedback control of the supercharge pressure. With this construction, the actual supercharge pressure can accurately and stably be controlled to the target value required in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terufumi Hidaka, Yoshio Iwasa
  • Patent number: 4719887
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a fuel-injected supercharged internal engine and, in particular, a diesel engine, with the control arrangement including a fuel injection pump. A control unit is provided for adjusting a fuel output of the fuel injection pump in dependence upon the combustion air delivered to the supercharger. To optimize the measurement of combustion air, the control unit is adapted to be influenced by instantaneous operating parameters such as the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and rotational speed of the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Schmid, Karl Maderthaner
  • Patent number: 4686830
    Abstract: An automatic control for an adjustable turbosupercharger in the air supply of an internal combustion engine adds a static anticipatory control signal and a dynamic anticipatory control signal to the error signal that is provided to an actuating mechanism for the control of the supercharger. The error signal is obtained by comparing actual charging pressure with a reference charging pressure for one portion of the control displacement and in the other portion of the control displacement the error signal is obtained by comparing actual air quantity supplied to an engine cylinder with a reference air quantity. This results from a limiting device interposed in the charging pressure control loop. The static anticipatory control depends on engine speed and engine load and is supplied with additive corrections for engine temperature and for battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Buck, Wolf Wessel, Gerhard Stumpp
  • Patent number: 4685435
    Abstract: A safety device is proposed for an internal combustion engine which is operated with supercharging in combination with both a fuel metering system and a control unit for the instant of ignition. The safety device is characterized in that it controls the fuel metering in accordane with the volumetric efficiency of the engine. In the case of an excessively high volumetric efficiency, a defect of the charger or of the charge-pressure regulator is presumed. In order to protect the engine from mechanical and thermal overload, the fuel metering in this case is either reduced or shut off completely. The subsequent reinitiation of the fuel metering is suitably effected in combination with a late instant of ignition or a late injection onset in order to prevent a jump in torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Denz, Hans-Peter Stumm