# US 2013/0276752 A1 · Method for operating a spark ignition internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0276752 A1 - Document ID: US20130276752A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/868,818 - Filed: 2013-04-23 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-23 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Albert Breuer; Moritz Klaus Springer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130276752A1 ## CPC - F02D 13/00: Controlling the engine output power by varying inlet or exhaust valve operating characteristics, e.g. timing - F02D 41/0057: {Specific combustion modes (combustion modes per se F02D41/3017)} - F02D 41/006: {using internal EGR (control of valve overlap for internal EGR F02D13/0261; arrangements for internal EGR F02M26/01)} - F02D 41/3017: {characterised by the mode(s) being used} - F02M 26/01: Internal exhaust gas recirculation, i.e. wherein the residual exhaust gases are trapped in the cylinder or pushed back from the intake or the exhaust manifold into the combustion chamber without the use of additional passages - F02M 26/37: with temporary storage of recirculated exhaust gas (internal exhaust gas recirculation F02M26/01) - F02M 26/42: having two or more EGR passages; EGR systems specially adapted for engines having two or more cylinders - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method is disclosed for operating a spark ignition engine, comprising: discharging exhaust gases via an exhaust system comprising exhaust pipes from the at least two cylinders coming together to form an exhaust manifold; and initiating autoignition with exhaust gas from a first, exhaust-gas-supplying cylinder, which is discharged from the first cylinder into the exhaust system, the exhaust gas is introduced into an adjacent, exhaust-gas-receiving cylinder via the exhaust system. Exhaust gas from the first cylinder mixes with the air-fuel mixture of an adjacent cylinder raising the temperature therein. Under high loads the higher temperature and density of the aircharge is suitable to undergo autoignition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a spark ignition engine, comprising: discharging exhaust gases from each of at least two cylinders via an exhaust system comprising exhaust pipes from the at least two cylinders coming together to form an exhaust manifold; and under high loads, initiating autoignition with exhaust gas from a first, exhaust-gas-supplying cylinder, which is discharged from the first cylinder into the exhaust system, the exhaust gas is introduced into an adjacent, exhaust-gas-receiving cylinder via the exhaust system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein high loads are loads greater than half the maximal load at a respective engine speed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein high loads are loads greater than 0.65 times the maximal load at the respective engine speed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising deactivating spark ignition in response to a switch being made to autoignition and autoignition being induced by exhaust gas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising maintaining spark ignition when autoignition is induced by means of exhaust gas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least two cylinders is equipped with a spark plug serving as an ignition device for initiating spark ignition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first, exhaust-gas-supplying cylinder, succeeds the adjacent, exhaust-gas-receiving cylinder, in firing order. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least two cylinders has at least two exhaust ports for discharging the exhaust gases from the cylinder, wherein the at least two exhaust ports of each cylinder are operated with different timings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising opening earlier the exhaust port which faces and is nearest to the adjacent cylinder and opening later the exhaust port which faces away and is arranged further away from the adjacent cylinder, the adjacent cylinder firing immediately after the first cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising closing later, the exhaust port which faces and is nearest to the first cylinder, and closing earlier the exhaust port which faces away and is arranged further away from the first cylinder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two exhaust ports of the first cylinder and the at least two exhaust ports of the adjacent, exhaust-gas-receiving cylinder are operated with different timings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising advancing the opening time of at least one of the exhaust ports of the first cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising retarding the closing of at least one of the exhaust ports of the second, exhaust-gas-receiving cylinder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising increasing an opening duration of at least one of the exhaust ports of each cylinder in order to assist the transfer of exhaust gas serving as ignition gas. ### Claim 15 A method for an engine, comprising: under low loads, maintaining separation of exhaust gas from a first and an adjacent cylinder; and initiating combustion by spark ignition; under high loads, adjusting valve open duration to allow exhaust gas from the first cylinder into the adjacent cylinder; and discontinuing spark ignition and operating with auto-ignition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein high loads are loads greater than half the maximal load at a respective engine speed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein high loads are loads greater than 0.65 times the maximal load at the respective engine speed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein adjusting valve open duration comprises increasing an open duration of an exhaust port of the first and the adjacent cylinder in order to assist the transfer of exhaust gas into the adjacent cylinder.