Ford Motor Company Limited

Ernest C Prior

Daniel J Lipinski

Jerry Dean Robichaux

Peter John Grutter

Julian A LoRusso

Charles Edward Marshall

Donald R Nowland

A system for controlling the flow of air entering the intake manifold of a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a driver-operable accelerator control includes an accelerator control position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator control and for generating an accelerator control position signal indicating such position, as well as an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed. The present system further includes an engine cylinder operator for deactivating and reactivating at least some of the cylinders and an electronically controlled throttle valve positioned in the intake manifold of the engine so as to control the amount of air entering the engine's cylinders. A processor connected with the cylinder operator and with the throttle valve receives the accelerator control position signal and the engine speed signal and selects an operating position for the throttle valve, based on the values of the accelerator control position signal and the engine speed signal, as well as upon the effective displacement of the engine.

Air induction control system for variable displacement internal

This invention tests the mechanical integrity of an evaporative purge system and fuel system by applying a vacuum to a fuel tank and measuring the extent to which this vacuum bleeds down over a time period. Included in the test method are the steps of closing the vapor management valve positioned between the engine manifold and the evaporative purge flow path of the fuel tank; waiting a predetermined period of time; and obtaining an indication of the extent to which pressure is increasing in the fuel tank due to vapor generation.

Evaporative purge monitoring strategy and system

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Woodhaven, MI, United States of America

Ernest C Prior