# US 2016/0258374 A1 · Position Based Air/Fuel Ration Calculation in an Internal Combustion Engine

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- Number: US 2016/0258374 A1
- Document ID: US20160258374A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/063,193
- Filed: 2016-03-07
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-08-29
- Assignees: Kohler Co.
- Applicants: Kohler Co.
- Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton; Robert J. Danforth, III
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258374A1

## CPC

- F02D 41/1458: {with determination means using an estimation}
- F02D 35/024: {using an estimation}
- F02D 35/026: {using an estimation}
- F02D 41/009: {using means for generating position or synchronisation signals}
- F02D 41/0097: {using means for generating speed signals}
- F02D 41/1497: {With detection of the mechanical response of the engine}
- G01M 15/06: by monitoring positions of pistons or cranks
- F02D 41/22: Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)}
- F02D 2200/1002: Output torque
- F02D 2200/1004: Estimation of the output torque
- F02D 2200/101: Engine speed
- F02D 2200/1012: Engine speed gradient
- F02P 13/00: Sparking plugs structurally combined with other parts of internal-combustion engines ({connection of ignition coil to spark plug connector F02P3/02;} with fuel injectors F02M57/06 {; spark plug connector per se H01T13/04 – H01T13/06; predominant aspects of sparking plug, see H01T13/40 – H01T13/44})
- 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)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F02P: IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES ({anti-pollution means for internal-combustion engines F02B17/00}; specially adapted for rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/12; {ignition of gas turbine plants F02C7/26; ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; starting of combustion engines F02N9/00}; ignition of combustion apparatus in general, glowing plugs F23Q; measuring of physical variables in general G01; controlling in general G05; data processing in general G06; electrical components in general see Section H; {ignition coils H01F38/12}; sparking plugs H01T13/00)

## Abstract

Some embodiments relate to an internal combustion engine that includes a combustion chamber and a rotating component. The internal combustion engine further includes a sensing system that detects an angular position of the rotating component. A controller calculates a ratio between air and fuel in the combustion chamber based on the detected position of the rotating component. As an example, the rotating component may be a crankshaft where the controller calculates a speed of the crankshaft and an acceleration of the crankshaft based on the detected position of the crankshaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An internal combustion engine comprising:
a combustion chamber;
a rotating component;
a sensing system that detects an angular position of the rotating component; and
a controller that calculates a ratio between air and fuel in the combustion chamber based on the detected position of the rotating component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the rotating component is a crankshaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates a speed of the rotating component and an acceleration of the rotating component based on the detected position of the rotating component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the engine operates in a lean burn condition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the controller determines a burn rate of the air and the fuel in the combustion chamber based on the speed of the rotating component, the acceleration of the rotating component, and the detected position of the rotating component; and wherein the controller calculates the ratio between the air and the fuel within the combustion chamber based on changes in the burn rate when the controller initiates specific changes in a quantity of the fuel provided to the combustion chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a quantity of the fuel provided to the combustion chamber based on the ratio between the air and the fuel in the combustion chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The internal combustion engine of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of combustion chambers, wherein the controller calculates the ratio between the air and the fuel in each of the plurality of combustion chambers and individually adjusts a quantity of the fuel provided to each combustion chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a gear that includes teeth, the gear attached to the rotating component; and
wherein the gear has teeth omitted to provide a position reference to the controller
wherein the sensing system detects a position of the rotating component by detecting the teeth on the gear.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the ratio between the air and the fuel within the combustion chamber based on the position of the rotating component and a pressure of the air entering the combustion chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the ratio between air and fuel within the combustion chamber based on the position of the rotating component and a time of initiation of combustion of the air and fuel within the combustion chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises diesel fuel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises gasoline.

### Claim 13

A method comprising:
receiving data indicating a volume of a combustion chamber; and
calculating, with a processor, a ratio between air and fuel in the combustion chamber based on the volume of the combustion chamber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein receiving data indicating the volume of the combustion chamber comprises sensing an angular position of a crankshaft that moves a piston, the piston partially defining the volume of the combustion chamber.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating a temperature of the air and the fuel in the combustion chamber; and
adjusting the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber to control the temperature of the air and fuel in the combustion chamber.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber to control the ratio between the air and the fuel in the combustion chamber.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating a pressure of the air and the fuel in the combustion chamber; and
adjusting the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber to control the pressure of the air and the fuel in the combustion chamber.