Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Other

David Lee Boggs

Stephen John Kotre

Mark W Peters

Jerry Dean Robichaux

Michael M Schechter

Stephen Richard Burke

Paul Michael Deniston

Daniel James Baraszu

Enio Goyannes Gomes

David Mark Foulkes

Darren Bisaro

A method and system to control engine shutdown in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) are provided. Tailpipe emissions are reduced during the many engine shutdowns and subsequent restarts during the course of an HEV drive cycle, and evaporative emissions are reduced during an HEV 'soak' (inactive) period. The engine shutdown routine can ramp off fuel injectors, control engine torque (via electronic throttle control), control engine speed, stop spark delivery by disabling the ignition system, stop purge vapor flow by closing a vapor management valve (VMV), stop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow by closing an EGR valve, and flush the intake manifold of residual fuel (vapor and puddles) into the combustion chamber to be combusted. The resulting exhaust gas byproducts are then converted in the catalytic converter.

Controlled engine shutdown for a hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid electric vehicleand a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicleis provided. Combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engineonly after the crankshaftof the enginehas been rotated by an electric motor or generatorto a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profilethereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engineallowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheelsand allowing for a smoother operation of the vehicleThe fuel injectorsthrottle plateand spark plugsare also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converterto be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engineis operating.

Hybrid electric vehicle and a method for operating a hybrid electric vehicle

A method of operating a hybrid electric vehicleto reduce emissions. The method utilizes the vehicle's electric motor/generatorto generate a negative torque during cold-start conditions, effective to increase the load on the internal combustion engine, thereby reducing the light-off time of the catalytic converter. The method also reduces emissions by utilizing the vehicle's motor/generatorto provide a supplemental torque to engineduring transient events, thereby reducing the generated mass flow and amount of untreated emissions.

Method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle to reduce emissions

A method and system to control engine shutdown for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is provided. Tailpipe emissions are reduced during the many engine shutdowns and subsequent restarts during the course of an HEV drive cycle, and evaporative emissions are reduced during an HEV &ldquo;soak&rdquo; (inactive) period. The engine shutdown routine can ramp off fuel injectors, control engine torque (via electronic throttle control), control engine speed, stop spark delivery by disabling the ignition system, stop purge vapor flow by closing a vapor management valve (VMV), stop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow by closing an EGR valve, and flush the intake manifold of residual fuel (vapor and puddles) into the combustion chamber to be combusted chamber to be combusted. The resulting exhaust gas byproducts are then converted in the catalytic converter.

A hybrid electric vehicle and a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicle in which combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engine only after the crankshaft of the engine has been rotated by an electric motor or generator to a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profile thereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engine allowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheels and allowing for a more smoother operation of the vehicle The fuel injectors throttle plate and spark plugs are also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converter to be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engine is operating.

A method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle to reduce emissions. The method utilizes the vehicle's electric motor/generator to generate a negative torque during cold-start conditions, effective to increase the load on the internal combustion engine , thereby reducing the light-off time of the catalytic converter . The method also reduces emissions by utilizing the vehicle's motor/generator to provide a supplemental torque to engine during transient events, thereby reducing the generated mass flow and amount of untreated emissions.

A contest method and process are devised in which the memory faculties of the contestants are exercised by viewing a set of randomly selected symbol groupings for a first interval of time and thereafter the specific symbols and their groupings are recollected in a second interval of time. The symbol groupings may be inscribed on one of the faces of a set of flash cards which are then shuffled, dealt to each of the contestants and concealed. Then the dealt cards are revealed for the first time interval and following a delay or immediately thereafter the contestants are directed to list correctly the symbols and their groupings during the second time interval. The number of symbols groupings correctly recalled comprises the score.

Method and apparatus for training memory

Electric coolant pump control strategy for hybrid electric vehicles

A method of controlling an engine during engine shutdown to reduce evaporative emissions is provided. The method includes a step of shutting off a fuel pump of the engine . The method also includes a step of burning off the fuel from a fuel rail in a cylinder of the engine after the fuel pump is shut off. During the burning off of the fuel, a duty cycle of each fuel injector of engine is controlled to allow the engine to operate generally cyclically about a predetermined air/fuel ratio. The predetermined air/fuel ratio is preferably stoichiometric. By burning off the fuel in the fuel rail after the fuel pump is shut off, the fuel pressure in the fuel rail is reduced. The reduced fuel pressure in the fuel rail results in reduced evaporative emissions from the engine

Method for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine shutdown to reduce evaporative emissions

The present invention provides a method and system for determining &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A controller determines that the engine is necessary and then checks the current &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status. If the engine is not currently running, the controller proceeds to start the engine by commanding the generator to spin or &ldquo;motor&rdquo; the engine. The controller then starts fuel and spark within the engine to create combustion. Measuring devices are then used to determine the ion current/breakdown voltage across a spark gap in the engine. The controller receives this measurement and determines whether the measured ion current/breakdown voltage exceeds a calibratable threshold. If the calibratable threshold is exceeded, combustion is occurring and the engine is on. The controller then turns on the &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status flag.

Engine ready signal using peak engine cylinder pressure detection

The present invention provides a method and system for determining &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A controller determines the engine is necessary and then checks the current &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status. If the engine is not currently running, the controller proceeds to start the engine by commanding the generator to spin or &ldquo;motor&rdquo; the engine. The controller then starts fuel flow and spark within the engine to create combustion. A measuring device is then used to determine the crankshaft speed. The controller receives this measurement and determines whether the measured variations in crankshaft speed exceed a calibratable threshold. If the calibratable threshold is exceeded, combustion is determined to be occurring and the engine is on. The controller then turns on the &ldquo;engine on&rdquo; status flag.

Engine ready detection using crankshaft speed feedback

A method of determining an operating state of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle drive system comprising an internal combustion engine having an output shaft which is coupled to a generator. The engine includes a fuel injector responsive to a fuel command. The method comprises the steps of determining an ON/OFF status of the fuel command and determining the generator torque. The generator torque provides an indication of the actual engine torque. An engine running flag is set ON when the fuel command is ON and the generator torque value is greater than a predetermined value. Otherwise, the engine running flag is set OFF.

Hybrid electric vehicle system

Periodic shutdown of the internal combustion engine ( ) during operation of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is achieved by shutdown of a vapor management valve (VMV) of the engine evaporative emission control system and an EGR valve ( ) of the tailpipe emission control system at the time an engine shutdown command is provided to a controlled engine shutdown routine that, after closing of the VMV and EGR valves, then commands disabling of the engine fuel injectors ( ) in a manner to stop engine operation.

Internal combustion engine shutdown method and control system

A reciprocating engine having an engine housing defining a power cylinder, a power piston in the cylinder including a connecting rod extending through the engine housing, a motion transfer mechanism in the engine housing at the end of the connecting rod for translating reciprocating motion of the piston rod to rotary motion of a torque output shaft, and a displacement adjusting mechanism having portions that are common to the motion transmitting mechanism for adjusting the displacement of the engine to effect a variable compression ratio.

Variable capacity reciprocating engine

An internal combustion engine includes separated oil drain-back and crankcase ventilation passages. The oil drain-back passages extend from the cylinder head to a position below the top level of oil in the engine's crankcase. The crankcase ventilation passages extend from passages formed in the main bearing bulkheads from positions above the oil level in the crankcase and ultimately through the cylinder head. Oil dams surrounding the uppermost portions of the crankcase ventilation passages prevent oil from running downwardly through the crankcase ventilation passages.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

David Lee Boggs