US 4,375,668 AGranted

Timing optimization control

AssigneeThe Bendix Corporation

InventorsChun-Keung Leung, John J. Schira, Edwin A. Johnson

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Abstract

A closed loop timing optimization control for an internal combustion engine closed about the instantaneous rotational velocity of the engine's crankshaft is disclosed herein. The optimization control computes from the instantaneous rotational velocity of the engine's crankshaft, a signal indicative of the angle at which the crankshaft has a maximum rotational velocity for the torque impulses imparted to the engine's crankshaft by the burning of an air/fuel mixture in each of the engine's combustion chambers and generates a timing correction signal for each of the engine's combustion chambers. The timing correction signals, applied to the engine timing control, modifies the time at which the ignition signal, injection signals or both are generated such that the rotational velocity of the engine's crankshaft has a maximum value at a predetermined angle for each torque impulse generated optimizing the conversion of the combustion energy to rotational torque.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A closed loop timing optimization control for an internal combustion engine having engine sensors for generating signals indicative of at least one engine operating parameter, an engine control responsive to the signals generated by the sensors for generating fuel delivery signals indicative of the engine's fuel requirement, means for delivering fuel to the engine in response to the fuel delivery signals, a plurality of combustion chambers receiving and burning the fuel therein in a predetermined sequence, and an output shaft receiving sequential rotational torque impulses in response to the burning of the fuel in each of the combustion chambers, the timing optimization control comprising:

first sensor means for generating combustion chamber reference signals at predetermined rotational positions of the shaft, each of said combustion chamber reference signals being associated with one of said combustion chambers and having a predetermined relationship to the sequence in which the fuel is burned in each of the combustion chambers, and wherein at least one of said combustion chamber reference signals identifies at least one particular combustion chamber;
second sensor means for generating velocity signals indicative of a characteristic of the instantaneous rotational velocity of the engine's output shaft;
correction signal generator means for generating a plurality of timing correction signals, one for each combustion chamber, in response to said combustion chamber reference signals and changes in said velocity signals associated with torque impulses generated by combustion in each combustion chamber, each of said correction signals being indicative of a timing correction required to the engine's timing signals to cause the torque impulses generated by each combustion chamber to impart to the engine's output shaft a maximum rotational velocity at a predetermined angle with respect to said combustion chamber reference signals;
and
means for generating timing signals for the engine control in response to said combustion chamber reference signals and said timing correction signals operative to control at least one timing function of the engine control.

2 more elements

A method for optimizing the timing functions of an internal combustion engine having engine sensors generating signals indicative of at least one engine operating parameter, an engine control responsive to the signals generated by the sensors for generating signals, including fuel delivery signals, controlling the operation of the engine, means for delivering fuel to the engine in response to fuel delivery signals, a plurality of combustion chambers receiving and burning the delivered fuel therein in a predetermined sequence, and an output shaft receiving sequential rotational torque impulses in response to the burning of the fuel in each of the combustion chambers, comprising the steps of:

detecting a plurality of rotational positions of the engine's output shaft for each engine cycle to generate combustion chamber reference signals, wherein at least one combustion chamber reference signal is associated with each torque impulse generated by the burning of fuel in each combustion chamber, and at least one of said combustion chamber reference signals identifies one particular cylinder;
detecting the rotation of the engine's output shaft to generate velocity signals indicative of a characteristic of the rotational velocity of the output shaft as a function of the shaft's rotational position;
generating timing correction signals in response to each said combustion chamber reference and velocity signals, each timing correction signal having a value indicative of an angular difference between the angle each torque impulse imparts a maximum rotational velocity to the engine's crankshaft and a predetermined reference angle;
detecting at least one other operational parameter of the engine to generate a parameter signal;
and
generating optimized timing signals in response to said parameter signal and timing correction signals for the engine control operative to cause each torque impulse generated by each combustion chamber to impart to the output shaft, a maximum rotational velocity at said predetermined reference angle.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/187,392Filed 15 Sep 1980 · continuation
Priority: 8 May 1978
Granted: 1 Mar 1983
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F02D 41/2403
Characterised by the use of digital means: using essentially up/down counters
F02D 41/1498
With detection of the mechanical response of the engine: measuring engine roughness
F02P 5/1455
Using electrical means: by using a second control of the closed loop type
F02B 2075/027
Having less than six strokes per cycle: four