Method and system for valve sticking detection, prevention, or correction
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsXinyu Ge, Brian P. Brennan, James H. Mutti, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for cleaning an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve includes scheduling a cleaning for the EGR valve, and receiving a signal indicative of a temperature of exhaust gas produced with an internal combustion engine. The method may also include generating a command to actuate an intake throttle valve to a restrictive position to increase the temperature of the exhaust gas for cleaning the EGR valve, and generating a signal to repeatedly actuate the EGR valve.
Claims20
A method for cleaning an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, the method comprising:
- scheduling a cleaning for the EGR valve;
- receiving a signal indicative of a temperature of exhaust gas produced with an internal combustion engine;
- generating a command to actuate an intake throttle valve to a restrictive position to increase the temperature of the exhaust gas for cleaning the EGR valve;
- determining whether the temperature of the exhaust gas reaches at least a predetermined minimum temperature;
- and
- in response to determining that the temperature of the exhaust gas has reached at least the predetermined minimum temperature, generating a signal to repeatedly actuate the EGR valve, an amount of force for repeatedly actuating the EGR valve being based on the temperature of the exhaust gas.
A method for cleaning an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, the method comprising:
- generating a command to close the EGR valve and determining EGR leakage while the EGR valve is commanded to be closed;
- in response to determining the EGR leakage, scheduling a cleaning for the EGR valve;
- partially closing an intake throttle valve to facilitate the cleaning for the EGR valve;
- and
- repeatedly generating a signal for supplying electrical energy to an actuator of the EGR valve for actuating the EGR valve, the electrical energy supplied as a series of pulses that each include a higher-current portion followed by a lower-current portion such that a current for the actuator decreases gradually from a current peak associated with the higher-current portion.
A system for removing material or preventing accumulation of material on an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, the system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- an intake throttle valve;
- the EGR valve;
- a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicating a temperature of exhaust gas;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive the temperature signal,
- generate a command to actuate the intake throttle valve to a restrictive position, and
- generate a command to repeatedly supply current to actuate the EGR valve while the intake throttle valve is in the restrictive position, an amplitude of the current being determined based on a detected temperature associated with the EGR valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.