Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

David Karl Trumpy

In Kwang Yoo

Chris Paul Glugla

Daniel Lawrence Meyer

Woong-chul Yang

William Robert Dutcher

Marvin Paul Kraska

Diana D Brehob

Christopher Paul Glugla

Eric Warren Curtis

Leighton Ira Davis, Jr

Dante S Giardini

Philip J Johnson

Yin Chen

Soduk Lee

Richard V Iwanski

Christopher Paul Glugia

Woong-Chul Yang

A method for operating an internal combustion engine. The method includes: providing a functional relationship between time rate of change in engine speed, and compression ratio switching engine speed limit; determining time rate of change in engine speed; determining from the determined rate of change of engine speed and the function whether the engine speed exceeds the compression ratio switching engine speed; and commanding the engine to operate at a relatively low compression ratio if the determined time of change in engine speed exceeds the compression ratio switching engine speed limit and commanding the engine to operate at a relatively high compression ratio if the determined time of change in engine speed is less than the compression ratio switching engine speed limit.

Internal combustion engine having variable compression ratio selection as a function of projected engine speed

A method and system for operating an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is operable in a plurality of compression ratio operating modes. The method includes determining a relationship between a base engine threshold load where the high compression and low compression provide substantially the same engine fuel consumption and engine speed. The determined nominal relationship is modified by a factor, such factor being a function of a condition under which such engine is operating, to obtain a modified relationship. The modified relationship is a function of engine speed and the condition has an effect on knock generation in such engine. The modified relationship and engine speed are used in selecting one of the plurality of compression ratio operating modes for the engine. A hysteresis load as a function of engine speed is determined and applied to the determined hysteresis load to the modified relationship to inhibit switching oscillations between a pair of the plurality of compression ratio operating modes.

Compression ratio mode selection logic for an internal combustion engine having discrete variable compression ratio control mechanism

A system and method for detecting an operating mode of an engine or engine component modulate a first engine parameter and analyze a change in a second engine parameter in response to modulating the first engine parameter to detect a current operating mode based on changes in at least one of the first and second engine parameters. In a variable compression ratio (VCR) engine embodiment, the system and method modify ignition timing of at least one cylinder until engine knock is detected and determine whether the cylinder is operating in the lower compression ratio mode or the higher compression ratio mode by comparing the ignition timing change required to cause engine knock to a corresponding threshold.

Engine control with operating mode detection

A vapor evacuation system that is used to intermittently remove hydrocarbon vapors from vehicle components to an available vapor storage canister using an electrically controlled small flow rate vapor-handling pump. The vapor-handling pump is intermittently turned on and off as a function of ambient temperature or inlet manifold temperature and as a function of time since last engine-on operation.

Hydrocarbon vapor evacuation system

A system ( ) and method for controlling the injection of fuel into a cylinder ( ) of an internal combustion engine ( ) are provided. The system ( ) includes a fuel injector ( ), a temperature sensor ( ), and an electronic control unit (ECU) ( ). The fuel is parsed into a plurality of components based on the boiling points of elements of the fuel. ECU ( ) stores mass fraction values for each component relative to the total mass of a sample of the fuel along with vaporization rates for each component. These values are used by the ECU ( ) to account for different vaporization rates among fuel elements. In accordance with the invention, ECU ( ) is further configured to adjust the mass fraction values responsive to the combustion air-fuel ratio and the engine temperature to account for the different volatility characteristics of various fuels.

Method to adapt engine fuel control, by multi-component vaporization method, to actual volatility quality of fuel

A method and system for determining a quantity of fuel to be injected into a multi-cylinder, internal combustion engine during each combustion event of the engine includes an air flow sensor for sensing a quantity of air flowing through the engine. An electronic control unit is operative to determine a desired combustion fuel quantity based on the quantity of air flowing through the engine and determine a desired fuel injection quantity based on a previous fuel injection quantity delivered during a previous combustion event and the desired combustion fuel quantity. The control unit is further operative to control the amount of fuel injected into the engine for the current combustion event based on the desired fuel injection quantity.

Method and system for determining a quantity of fuel to be injected into

In a vehicular warning system for sensing the approach of severe weather, a pressure sensor generates a first signal representative of the barometric pressure. A computer, coupled to the pressure sensor through the electrical system of the vehicle, generates a second signal responsive to the first signal changing in a time series pattern correlated with a known time series pattern representative of a severe weather system. The computer is coupled through the electrical system of the vehicle to the horn and/or lights for generating warning signals responsive to receiving the second signal, but only when the vehicle is not in the operating mode.

In-vehicle barometric pressure detection system

An apparatus for controlling and varying the closing force of intake or exhaust valves for an internal combustion engine. Hydraulic system, responsive to a minimum high speed condition of the engine, is used to increase the spring rate of the valve closing springs. The hydraulic system also reduces the spring rate when the engine falls below such speed condition. A spring biased idler pulley is also used to maintain adequate tension on a belt, providing drive to the camshaft for the valves. Adjustment apparatus is associated with the spring biased idler pulley for controllably increasing the spring rate for biasing when the engine speed is above a minimum condition and for decreasing the spring rate when the engine speed is below the minimum condition.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

David Karl Trumpy