Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Philip W Husak

Daniel Lawrence Meyer

Michael John Cullen

Steven Ray Whittier

John David Russell

Allan Joseph Kotwicki

Douglas R Hamburg

William Francis Stockhausen

Jacobus Hendrik Visser

Allan J Lippa

Michael A Choma

Michael Howard Parsons

Carina Eva Irene Bjornsson

Carol S Smith

Aladar O Simko

Michael Smokovitz

Anupam Narula

Julia Marie Giuliano

William Joseph Maier

Timo Aimo Waltteri Wiemero

Erich Paul Brandt

Venkateswaran Nallaperumal

Paul Roth

A method for controlling fueling of an engine, the method comprising during an engine cold start and before the engine is warmed to a predetermined level, transitioning from open-loop fueling to closed-loop fueling, where during closed-loop fueling feedback from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor is utilized and where said closed-loop fueling generates a cycling of delivered fuel in maintaining exhaust air-fuel ratio at a desired level; and providing a fueling adjustment to a subsequent engine start in response to fueling information, said fueling information obtained over at least a complete cycle of closed-loop fueling following said transition from open-loop fueling.

Cold idle adaptive air-fuel ratio control utilizing lost fuel approximation

A system is described using a fuel quality sensor for controlling various aspects of engine operation. In particular, an acoustic wave sensor is utilized to measure viscosity and density of gasoline fuels. This measurement is utilized to predict engine combustion quality during an engine start. Based on the prediction, the method adjusts engine operating parameters (such as fuel injection amount and ignition timing) to achieve improved vehicle driveability and engine combustion.

Engine control with fuel quality sensor

A method and system for reducing cold-start emissions of an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine . System includes a main controller or control system , a variable valve timing system , an ignition system , a fuel metering system , and vehicle operating condition sensors . Controller detects cold-start conditions based on signals received from sensors , and in response to such a detection, controller generates command signals to said variable valve timing system , to said ignition system , and to said fuel metering system , effective to respectively alter valve timing, spark timing, and said air/fuel delivery of engine in a manner which synergistically increases air/fuel enleanment limits, improves combustion characteristics, and increases exhaust gas temperature, thereby reducing cold-start emissions.

System and method for reducing vehicle emissions

A method for accelerating the rotational speed of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having a spark plug wherein a predetermined amount of delivered fuel is to be combusted at a firing time within each of the plurality of cylinders with each rotation of the camshaft or crankshaft based on an acceleration input made by an operator includes the step of receiving the accelerating input, measuring the rotational speed of the crankshaft, defining an expected engine speed based on the acceleration input, calculating a speed error as the rotational speed of the crankshaft less the expected engine speed, calculating engine acceleration and adjusting the predetermined amount of fuel delivered to be combusted in each of the plurality of cylinders to reduce the speed error when the speed error is a function of the instantaneous engine speed. The preferred embodiment is implemented using fuzzy logic.

Method for improving spark ignited internal combustion engine

A method for maintaining the rotational speed of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having a spark plug wherein a predetermined amount of delivered fuel is to be combusted at a firing time within each of the plurality of cylinders with each rotation of the camshaft or crankshaft includes the step of operating the internal combustion engine, measuring the rotational speed of the crankshaft, defining an expected engine speed, calculating a speed error as the rotational speed of the crankshaft less the expected engine speed, and changing the predetermined amount of delivered fuel to be combusted in each of the plurality of cylinders to reduce the speed error. The preferred embodiment is implemented in fuzzy logic.

Method for improving spark ignited internal combustion engine starting

A system and method to control the ignition timing of engine (28) are used to rapidly warm a catalytic converter (52). A controller (8) calculates (402) hydrocarbon efficiency of the converter (52) from a ratio of the integrals of hydrocarbon sensors respectively positioned downstream (48) and upstream (46) of the converter (52). The controller retards ignition timing to a value retarded from nominal ignition timing (416, 426) when the calculated hydrocarbon efficiency is less than a desired efficiency (418).

Engine control to achieve rapid catalyst warm-up

Air/fuel and ignition control of engine (28) are used to more rapidly heat-up a catalytic converter (52). A control system (8) generates a fuel command (100) for fuel delivery to the engine (28) based upon at least an amount of air inducted into the engine. The fuel command is offset by a predetermined amount in a lean direction during a period after engine start to shift the engine exhaust gas mixture towards a preselected air/fuel ratio lean of stoichiometry (106-122). In addition, the fuel command is corrected by a correction value so that the exhaust gas mixture is shifted ore closely to the preselected air/fuel ratio (126-140). Correction values are adaptively learned (300-324) during a portion of the warm-up period from a feedback signal derived from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor (44). Ignition timing and engine idle are also controlled (350-374) to further achieve more rapid warm-up of the catalytic converter (52).

Engine control system with rapid catalyst warm-up

An internal combustion engine having a single intake valve which is fed fresh charge by primary and secondary port passages has an essentially flat combustion chamber with the spark plug and primary port passages being arranged to achieve a rapid burn rate.

Internal combustion engine with dual intake passages servicing a single

An air-air/fuel throttle body is provided with a secondary throttle valve of a differing diameter and operating in a different cross-sectional area of the throttle body induction passage, the upstream throttle valve being positively connected to the vehicle accelerator pedal to assure a like opening or closing movement of the latter throttle valve upon movement of the accelerator pedal, the construction assuring that main control of the flow of air and changes in manifold vacuum will be retained by the lower smaller diameter servo operated throttle valve operating in a smaller cross-sectional area.

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Southgate, MI, United States of America

Philip W Husak