System and method for synchronously activating cylinders within a variable displacement engine
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsDaniel J. Lipinski, Julian A. LoRusso, Jerry D. Robichaux
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for synchronously activating cylinders of a multicylinder, fuel injected, four stroke cycle internal combustion engine, includes a valve operator for deactivating intake and exhaust valves associated with the cylinders and a controller for selecting a cylinder to be deactivated, as well as a timing mechanism for determining when the selected cylinder is operating during intake events. The controllers directs the valve operator to begin deactivating the valves of a selected cylinder during a predetermined intake event, with the valve operator completing the deactivation by a time not later than the beginning of the next exhaust event.
Claims11
A system for synchronously activating cylinders of a multicylinder, fuel injected, four stroke cycle internal combustion engine, comprising:
- valve operator means for selectively deactivating intake and exhaust valves associated with said cylinders;
- a plurality of fuel injectors, with one of said injectors being associated with each of said cylinders;
- and
- control means including means for selecting a cylinder to be deactivated and timing means for determining when the selected cylinder is operating during intake events, with said control means directing said valve operator means to begin deactivating the valves of the selected cylinder during a predetermined intake event, with the valve operator completing the deactivation by a time not later than the beginning of a next exhaust event of the selected cylinder.
A method for synchronously activating the cylinders of a multicylinder, individually fuel injected, four stroke cycle internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a cylinder to be deactivated;
- determining when the selected cylinder is operating during an intake event;
- directing a valve operator to begin deactivating the selected cylinder during a predetermined intake event, with the valve operator completing the deactivation by a time not later than the beginning of the next exhaust event of the selected cylinder, such that the selected cylinder remains full of exhaust gas from its final power stroke;
- and
- deactivating the fuel injector associated with the selected cylinder by a time not later than the time by which the selected cylinder has finished the intake event, whereby the selected cylinder will contain a mass of exhaust gas which is chemically correct for an exhaust aftertreatment device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.