Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

David Andrew Ord

Joseph Lyle Thomas

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Joseph Norman Ulrey

Chris Paul Glugla

Michael Damian Czekala

Brad Alan VanDerWege

Garlan J Huberts

Imtiaz Ali

Christopher Arnold Woodring

Adam Nathan Banker

John Edward Brevick

George Aristidis Papaioannou

Timothy Vaughn

Alexander Gibson

Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine following an engine idle-stop. In one example, a method may include, prior to an engine restart following an idle-stop, adjusting a spark ignition timing based on an estimation of a fuel-air equivalence ratio (phi) and an estimation of a cylinder turbulence. Optimal spark ignition timing based on estimated phi and cylinder turbulence during engine restart may result in stabilized combustion and a torque output sufficient to at least partially relieve demand on the starting device.

Adjusted ignition timing for engine restart

Methods and systems are provided for engaging and disengaging an electromagnetic clutch of a two-speed accessory drive of an engine of a vehicle. In one example, a method comprises, responsive to an electrical demand being higher than a threshold electrical demand, operating an electric machine of the vehicle in a motor mode to reduce a speed of a grounding gear of a planetary gear set of a two-speed accessory drive (TSAD) of the vehicle; and engaging an electromagnetic clutch responsive to the speed of the grounding gear reaching a clutch engagement threshold speed.

Methods and systems for a two-speed accessory drive of an engine

Systems and methods for starting and operating a direct injection engine are described. In one example, the air and fuel are injected into a pre-chamber of a cylinder of an engine while the engine is not rotating. The air and fuel are combusted in the pre-chamber to improve ignition of an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder.

Methods and system for cold starting an engine

Methods and systems are provided for performing expansion combustion in an engine of a start-stop vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving an auto-start request to restart an engine from an auto-stop, determining a fuel mass to inject into a cylinder for an expansion combustion event based on a duration of the auto-stop, and actuating a spark plug of the cylinder after injecting the determined fuel mass to perform the expansion combustion event. In this way, an air-fuel ratio of the expansion combustion event may be more accurately controlled, resulting in more robust expansion combustion engine restarts.

Method and system for expansion combustion during an engine start

A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes supply electrical current to a starter motor independently from supplying electrical current to a starter solenoid. In addition, the method includes adjusting and amount of electrical current that is delivered to the starter motor in response to a level of urgency of an automatic engine start.

Methods and system for a stop/start vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine following an engine idle-stop. In one example, a method may include upon receiving an engine restart request during an engine idle-stop, initiating combustion in a selected cylinder and based on a predicted time of attainment of peak pressure in the cylinder, activating a starter motor.

Methods and systems for engine start following idle-stop

Methods and systems are provided for increasing a lift pump voltage to a high threshold voltage responsive to a DI pump efficiency being below a threshold efficiency, and increasing a lift pump voltage to a first threshold voltage less than the high threshold voltage responsive to a main jet pump fuel reservoir level being less than a first threshold reservoir level. The approach increases fuel jet pump performance and thereby reducing engine stalls induced by fuel vaporization, while maintaining DI pump efficiency and fuel economy.

Method and system for fuel system control

An engine system and method for adjusting pressure of fuel supplied to an engine responsive to compressibility of fuel supplied to the engine is disclosed. In one example, the engine is operated with a fuel pump in an off state to determine compressibility of fuel supplied to the engine. Fuel pressure supplied to the engine is adjusted responsive to the fuel compressibility.

Growing community of inventors

Woodhaven, MI, United States of America

David Andrew Ord