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US 10,358,994 B1Granted
Method and system for engine control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAed M. Dudar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for drying engine cylinders in situ responsive to engine flooding. In one example, a laser ignition device is operated in each engine cylinder, sequentially, while the cylinder is parked with an intake valve closed and an exhaust valve open. The heat generated by the laser operation vaporizes liquid fuel in the cylinder, which flows out of the cylinder via the open exhaust valve, expediting cylinder drying.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- in response to flooding of an engine with fuel, sensed during an engine start attempt via sensors and a controller, shutting off fuel delivery to an engine cylinder and operating a laser ignition device of the cylinder to vaporize the fuel while holding an exhaust valve of the cylinder open and an intake valve of the cylinder closed.
A method, comprising:
- indicating flooding of an engine responsive to one or more of intake throttle position and exhaust gas sensor output during a failed engine start attempt;
- responsive to the indication, via an engine controller, disabling engine fueling and sequentially drying each engine cylinder via operation of a corresponding cylinder laser ignition device while the engine is at rest;
- and
- after the drying, reattempting an engine start.
1 more element
A vehicle system, comprising:
- an engine including a plurality of cylinders, each of the plurality of cylinders including a corresponding laser ignition device and a fuel injector;
- an intake passage including an intake throttle, the throttle coupled to a throttle position sensor;
- an exhaust passage including an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio sensor;
- an electric motor;
- and
- a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory for:
- responsive to an unsuccessful engine start attempt, indicating engine flooding based on intake throttle position and air-fuel ratio sensor output during the unsuccessful engine start attempt;
- and
- responsive to the indication of engine flooding, disabling engine fueling, and sequentially drying each of the plurality of cylinders via operation of the corresponding laser ignition device while holding a corresponding cylinder at an exhaust stroke TDC position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.