Method and apparatus for cleaning an oil control valve for an internal combustion engine
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAmanpal S. Grewal, Daniel Lee McKay, Daniel George Gauthier, James Patrick Waters, Jeffrey M. Pfeiffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus to clean an oil control valve for use by an internal combustion engine. The invention causes the oil control valve to execute a cleaning routine when specific entrance criteria are met. This ensures cleaning of the valve to remove contaminants that are wedged, pinched or otherwise trapped on the valve, without interference in the operation of the engine.
Claims25
A method for removing contaminants from an oil control valve for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising
- providing an electronic controller that is connected to a fuel injection system, an oil control valve, at least one sensor, and an external communicator;
- determining the internal combustion engine is operating in a predetermined mode using the electronic controller;
- and
- executing an oil control valve cleaning routine.
A method for removing contaminants from an oil control valve for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising
- providing an electronic controller, a fuel injection system, and at least one sensor;
- wherein the electronic controller is operably connected to said fuel injection system, the oil control valve, and the at least one sensor;
- determining engine torque based upon the at least one sensor;
- monitoring operation of the fuel injection system using the electronic controller;
- determining that the internal combustion engine is operating in a deceleration fuel cutoff mode based upon the engine torque and the operation of the fuel injection system;
- and
- executing an oil control valve cleaning routine.
A method for removing contaminants from an oil control valve for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising
- providing the internal combustion engine including an electronic controller operably connected to an external communicator;
- determining that the internal combustion engine is operating in a service mode;
- and
- executing an oil control valve cleaning routine.
A method for maintaining engine torque during execution of an oil control valve cleaning routine for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- providing an engine torque management system and a fault detection system;
- determining that an active cleaning calibration threshold has been exceeded using the fault detection system;
- cycling the oil control valve from a fully opened position to a fully closed position at least once;
- and
- controlling engine torque using the engine torque management system.
A controller for an oil control valve for use in an internal combustion engine:
- wherein the controller determines the internal combustion engine is operating in a predetermined mode based upon input from a fuel injection system, at least one sensor and an external communicator;
- and
- the controller executes an oil control valve cleaning routine based upon the predetermined mode.
A method for cleaning contaminants from an oil control valve in an engine comprising
- providing at least one sensor to monitor engine operation;
- determining engine torque based upon the at least one monitored engine operation;
- determining whether the engine torque is within a predetermined mode;
- sending a cleaning signal to said oil control valve when said engine torque is within said predetermined mode;
- and
- moving the oil control valve from a fully open position to a fully closed position upon receipt of said cleaning signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.