Systems and methods for active engine mount diagnostics
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAed M. Dudar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing whether active engine mounts configured to isolate engine vibration from a cabin and chassis of a vehicle are functioning as desired. In one example, a method includes indicating degradation of an active engine mount by inducing degraded combustion events in a preselected engine cylinder, and operating the active engine mount in multiple modes, the indication responsive to an amount of vehicle chassis vibration during each of the modes. By monitoring chassis vibrations as a function of induced degraded combustion events, and further responsive to the active engine mounts being controlled to the multiple modes, it may be indicated as to whether the active engine mounts are functioning as desired.
Claims20
A method for a vehicle comprising:
- via a controller,
- indicating degradation of an active engine mount by inducing degraded combustion events in a preselected engine cylinder;
- and
- operating the active engine mount in at least two modes, the indication responsive to an amount of vehicle chassis vibration, determined via a fuel level sensor, during each of the modes.
A system for a vehicle comprising:
- an engine with one or more engine cylinders;
- one or more active engine mounts configured to isolate engine vibrations from a vehicle chassis and a vehicle cabin, and controllable to a first, dampening mode, and a second, stiffening mode;
- a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the engine;
- a fuel level indicator positioned in the fuel tank;
- and
- a controller storing instructions in non-transitory memory, that when executed, cause the controller to:
- responsive to an indication that preconditions for an active engine mount test diagnostic procedure are met:
- actively induce degraded combustion events in a preselected engine cylinder;
- command the one or more active engine mounts to the dampening mode for a first predetermined time duration, then command the one or more active engine mounts to the stiffening mode for a second predetermined time duration, then command the one or more active engine mounts to the dampening mode for a third predetermined time duration while degraded combustion events are occurring in the preselected engine cylinder;
- monitor vehicle vibrations via the fuel level indicator during the first predetermined time duration, during the second predetermined time duration, and during the third predetermined time duration;
- and
- indicate that the one or more active engine mounts are functioning as desired responsive to vehicle vibrations as monitored via the fuel level indicator being dampened below a vibration threshold during the first predetermined time duration and the third predetermined time duration, but not during the second predetermined time duration.
A method comprising:
- during propelling an autonomous vehicle at least in part via an engine, isolating engine vibration from a cabin and a chassis of the vehicle via one or more active engine mounts controllable by a controller to at least a dampening mode and a stiffening mode, and in response to predetermined conditions for an active engine mount test diagnostic procedure being met, via the controller:
- actively inducing a plurality of degraded combustion events to increase vehicle vibration;
- controlling the active engine mounts to the dampening mode, followed by the stiffening mode, and then returning the active engine mounts to the dampening mode while the degraded combustion events are occurring;
- and
- indicating whether the active engine mounts are functioning as desired, are stuck in the dampening mode, or are stuck in the stiffening mode, based on a plurality of fuel slosh events in a fuel tank configured to provide fuel to the engine, as monitored via a fuel level indicator;
- wherein predetermined conditions for the active engine mount test diagnostic procedure being met include on or more of an engine idle condition, a duration of time elapsing since a prior active engine mount test diagnostic, a fuel level in the fuel tank between ten percent and ninety percent of a capacity of the fuel tank, an indication of a remote engine start event;
- and an indication that the vehicle is not occupied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.