Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Woong-chul Yang

Granger K Chui

John M Glidewell

Kurt David Osborne

Keith Oglesby

Yin Chen

Allan Joseph Kotwicki

Steven Joseph Szwabowski

In Kwang Yoo

David Karl Trumpy

William Robert Dutcher

Chris Paul Glugla

Ilya V Kolmanovsky

Davorin David Hrovat

Diana D Brehob

Christopher Paul Glugla

Siamak Hashemi

Mohammad Haghgooie

Yong-Wha Kim

James Thomas Kovach

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 is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In one example, a potential torque increase due to variation in engine compression ratio is reduced using multiple paths of the transmission. In this way, relatively constant output torque can be maintained.

Method for controlling variable compression ratio of an engine having an automatically controlled transmission

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 system ( ) and method for determining the charged air mass in a cylinder ( ) of an internal combustion engine ( ) are provided. The system ( ) includes an electronic control unit (ECU) ( ) configured to determine a temperature of the combination of charged air and recirculated exhaust gas inducted into the cylinder ( ). The ECU ( ) is further configured to determine a total mass flow rate of the combination of inducted air and recirculated exhaust gas based on a pressure in an intake manifold ( ) of the engine ( ) and the previously determined temperature. Finally, the ECU ( ) is configured to determine the mass of charged air in the cylinder ( ) from the total mass flow rate.

Cylinder air charge estimation system and method for internal combustion engine including exhaust gas recirculation

A system is provided for supplying air to a fuel cell for use within a vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an expander unit , a compressor unit , pressure regulators , a valve , a controller , and vehicle sensors , and a secondary compressor . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through expander unit which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas and rotatably drives compressor . By utilizing the potential energy within the hydrogen gas to drive compressor , system conserves energy and improves the overall fuel economy of the vehicle

System and method for supplying air to a fuel cell for use in a vehicle

A system is provided for recovering the potential energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply within a fuel cell powered vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an expander , a compressor , a motor/generator which selectively generates electrical power and torque, pressure regulators , a valve , an electrical charge storage device or battery , a controller , vehicle sensors and electrical switches or switching module . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through expander which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas, rotatably drives compressor and generates electricity. Controller causes the generated electricity to be selectively communicated to electrical accessories , and/or to battery by use of switching module , based upon vehicle attribute data received from sensors . Based upon the attribute data, controller may also signal valve to bypass expander , and cause electrical power to be supplied to motor/generator from battery to drive compressor

System and method for recovering potential energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply for use in a vehicle

A system is provided for recovering the potential energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply within a fuel cell powered vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an energy conversion unit or assembly , a compressor unit or assembly , pressure regulators , a valve , an electrical charge storage device or battery , a controller , vehicle sensors and electrical switches or switching module . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through energy conversion unit which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas and generates electricity. Controller causes the generated electricity to be selectively communicated to compressor , electrical accessories , and/or to battery by use of switching module based upon vehicle attribute data received from sensors

System and method for recovering energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply for use in a vehicle

An electromagnetic actuator for opening and closing a cylinder valve . The actuator includes an opening coil , a closing coil , a magnetic armature which is disposed between coils and which is fixedly attached to the stem or shaft portion of valve a pair of conventional valve springs and a pair of pneumatic dampers or air cushioning assemblies . Pneumatic dampers are effective to selectively decelerate the moving components of the actuator as they approach their respective seats during valve opening and valve closing events, thereby substantially reducing noise and vibration harshness (&ldquo;NVH&rdquo;).

Electromechanical valve actuator with air piston to aid in soft landing

An ignition and fuel control system of a vehicle is provided including a controller . The controller is electrically coupled to an ignition system , a fuel system , a crankshaft position sensor , and a camshaft position sensor . The crankshaft position sensor senses a crankshaft position and generates a crankshaft position signal. A camshaft position sensor senses a camshaft position and generates a camshaft position signal. The controller determines a crankshaft position and a camshaft position in response to the crankshaft position signal and the camshaft position signal respectively. The controller identifies a reference engine cylinder in response to the crankshaft position and the camshaft position and generates a synchronization value. The controller also enables the ignition system and the fuel system in response to the synchronization value.

Gaseous fueled engine system and method

The present invention is directed to an on-board diagnostic system for detecting malfunctioning fuel injectors in an internal combustion engine during engine operation. A fuel injector control means is provided for individually actuating fuel injectors operatively connected to a fuel rail. Pressure sensor means are mounted to the fuel rail for sensing transient fuel pressure waves resulting from actuation of the individual fuel injectors and for generating a pressure signal in response thereto. Signal processing means are provided for processing pressure signals from the pressure sensor means and for generating an output signal upon detecting delayed opening or delayed closing of one or more injectors. Utilization means responsive to the output signal from the signal processing means may include, for example, an indicator lamp to alert an engine operator to an impaired fuel injector and/or means for adjusting the timing or duration of the injector actuation signal to achieve the desired injector opening and closing times.

On-board detection of fuel injector malfunction

The present invention is directed to an on-board diagnostic system for detecting a malfunctioning fuel pump in an internal combustion engine during engine operation. Pressure sensor means are provided for sensing fuel pressure in the fuel supply line and for generating corresponding pressure signals. Signal processing means receive and process the pressure signals from the pressure sensor means. An output signal is generated by the signal processing means if pressure signals are determined to correspond to a defective fuel pump Such output signal can be stored, used to alert an engine operator to an impaired fuel pump and/or provided to a fuel injector control means for adjusting fuel flow.

On-board detection of fuel pump malfunction

The present invention is directed to an on-board diagnostic system for detecting a defective fuel line pressure regulator in an internal combustion engine during engine operation. Pressure sensor means are provided for sensing fuel pressure in the fuel supply line and for generating corresponding pressure signals. Signal processing means receive and process the pressure signals from the pressure sensor means. An output signal is generated by the signal processing means in the event pressure signals are determined to indicate a malfunctioning pressure regulator. Such output signal can be stored, used to alert an engine operator to an impaired regulator and/or provided to a fuel injector control means for adjusting the duration of injector actuation to better achieve a desired fuel flow quantity per individual actuation.

On-board detection of pressure regulator malfunction

The present invention is directed to an on-board diagnostic system for detecting impaired fuel injectors in an internal combustion engine during engine operation. A fuel injector control means is provided for individually actuating fuel injectors Operatively connected to a fuel rail. Pressure sensor means are mounted to the fuel rail for sensing transient fuel pressure waves resulting from actuation of the individual fuel injectors. Signal processing means are provided for processing pressure signals from the pressure sensor means. The output signal from the signal processing means corresponds to the fuel flow rate through the fuel injectors. Such output signal can be used to alert an engine operator to an impaired fuel injector and/or can be provided to the fuel injector control means for adjusting the duration of injector actuation to achieve a desired fuel flow quantity per individual actuation.

Internal combustion engine with on-board diagnostic system for detecting

An on-board diagnostic system is provided for determining the presence of vapor in a fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine during engine operation. Sensing means are operatively mounted to the fuel supply line for sensing transient fuel pressure waves resulting from actuation of one or more fuel injectors. The sensing means generates a pressure signal corresponding to the transient fuel pressure waves at least over a selected test interval. Signal processing means receives the pressure signal and determines its resonance frequency over at least a selected frequency range. The test interval resonance frequency is compared to a stored resonance frequency corresponding to an acceptable vapor level in the fuel supply line. The signal processing means generates an output signal upon detecting a value difference greater than a preselected amount (e.g., greater than zero) between the test interval resonance frequency and the stored resonance frequency. Utilization means are provided for response to the output signal, for example, by illumination of an indicator light visible to the operator of a motor vehicle in which the engine is equipped with the on-board diagnostic system of the invention.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Woong-chul Yang