Idling rpm control method for an internal combustion engine adapted to improve fuel consumption characteristic of the engine
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorShumpei Hasegawa
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Abstract
A method of controlling the idling rpm of an internal combustion engine which rotatively drives an alternating-current generator through an output shaft thereof. The method is adapted to detect a value of a parameter indicative of the field current of the generator which is varied by regulator means in response to electrical load applied on same, and control an actuator operable to vary output torque produced by the engine through the output shaft, in response to the detected value of the parameter when the engine is operating in an idling condition, to thereby control the engine rpm in a manner such that the value of the field current becomes equal to a predetermined value.
Claims13
A method of controlling the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine during idling operation thereof, said engine having an output shaft, an actuator operable to vary output torque produced by said engine through said output shaft, an alternating-current generator driven by said engine through said output shaft for rotation therewith, said alternating-current generator being adapted to generate electric power in an amount corresponding to a value of field current flowing therein and the rotational speed of said engine, and regulator means adapted to vary the value of said field current of said alternating-current generator in response to electrical load applied on said alternating-current generator, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a value of a parameter indicative of said field current of and applied electrical load on said alternating-current generator;
- (b) determining whether or not said engine is operating in an idling condition;
- and (c) controlling the operation of said actuator in response to the detected value of said parameter to vary said output torque of said engine, to thereby control the rotational speed of said engine such that the value of said field current of said alternating-current generator becomes equal to a predetermined value approximately equal to the value required for the applied electrical load on said alternating-current generator, when it is determined that said engine is operating in said idling condition.
A method of controlling the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine during idling operation thereof, said engine having an output shaft, an actuator operable to vary output torque produced by said engine through said output shaft, an alternating-current generator driven by said engine through said output shaft for rotation therewith, said alternating-current generator being adapted to generator electric power in an amount corresponding to a value of field current flowing therein and the rotational speed of said engine, and regulator means adapted to vary the value of said field current of said alternating-current generator in response to electrical load applied on said alternating-current generator, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a value of a parameter indicative of said field current of and applied electrical load on said alternating-current generator;
- (b) determining whether or not said engine is operating in an idling condition;
- (c) determining whether or not the detected value of said parameter is larger than a first predetermined value;
- (d) determining whether or not the detected value of said parameter is smaller than a second predetermined value which is smaller than said first predetermined value;
- (e) controlling the operation of said actuator in a manner such that said output torque of said engine is increased to increase the rotational speed of said engine when it is determined at said step (b) that said engine is operating in said idling condition and at the same time it is determined at said step (c) that the detected value of said parameter is larger than said first predetermined value;
- and (f) controlling said actuator in a manner such that said output torque is decreased to decrease the rotational speed of said engine when it is determined at said step (b) that said engine is operating in said idling condition and at the same time it is determined at said step (d) that the detected value of said parameter is smaller than said second predetermined value, to thereby control the rotational speed of said engine such that the value of said field current of said alternating-current generator is maintained within a predetermined range which includes the value required for the applied electrical load on said alternating-current generator, when it is determined that said engine is operating in said idling condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.