System and method for controlling an engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBradley Alan Boyer, Joshua Putman Styron, Mark Michael Madin, V. Durga Nageswar Rao, Yash Andrew Imai
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling an engine is provided. The engine includes first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively. The method includes commanding the first and second devices to decrease compression ratios in the first and second cylinders, respectively. The method further includes indicating when the first device has not decreased a compression ratio in the first cylinder. Finally, the method includes commanding the second device to increase a compression ratio in the second cylinder to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
Claims21
A method for controlling an engine, said engine having first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively, said method comprising:
- commanding said first and second devices to decrease compression ratios in said first and second cylinders, respectively;
- indicating when said first device has not decreased a compression ratio in said first cylinder;
- and,
- commanding said second device to increase a compression ratio in said second cylinder to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
A method for controlling an engine, said engine having a plurality of pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in a plurality of engine cylinders, respectively, said method comprising:
- commanding said devices to decrease compression ratios in said engine cylinders;
- indicating when at least one of said devices has not decreased a corresponding compression ratio;
- and,
- commanding all of said devices to increase compression ratios in said cylinders to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
A method for controlling an engine, said engine having first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively, said method comprising:
- commanding said first and second devices to decrease compression ratios in said first and second cylinders, respectively;
- determining when said first device has not decreased a compression ratio in said first cylinder;
- and,
- increasing a compression ratio in said second cylinder to a value equal to a compression ratio in said first cylinder to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
A method for controlling an engine, said engine having first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively, said method comprising:
- supplying fluid pressure to said first and second devices to cause said devices to change compression ratios in said first and second cylinders, respectively, from a first compression ratio to a second compression ratio, said second compression ratio being less than said first compression ratio;
- determining when said first device is unable to change a compression ratio in said first cylinder to said second compression ratio;
- and,
- supplying fluid pressure to said second device to obtain a compression ratio in said second cylinder equal to said first compression ratio to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
A system for controlling an engine, said engine having first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively, said system comprising:
- a sensor that generates a signal indicative of a compression ratio of said first cylinder;
- and,
- a controller operably connected to said sensor, said controller configured to command said first and second devices to reduce compression ratios in said first and second cylinders, respectively, from a first compression ratio to a second compression ratio, said controller further configured to determine when said first device has not changed a compression ratio in said first cylinder based on said first signal, said controller further configured to command said second device to obtain said first compression ratio in said second cylinder to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for controlling an engine, said engine having pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in engine cylinders, said computer storage medium comprising:
- code for commanding said devices to decrease compression ratios in all of said cylinders;
- code for determining when at least one of said devices has not decreased a corresponding compression ratio;
- and,
- code for commanding all of said devices to increase compression ratios in said cylinders to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.