System for controlling valve timing of an engine with cylinder deactivation
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDavid Bidner, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeff Doering
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
Claims24
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, the engine having a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first group and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second group, the method comprising:
- operating said first group of cylinders to combust air and injected fuel at a first air-fuel ratio, with the first actuator adjusted based on said first air-fuel ratio;
- and
- operating said second group of cylinder to pump air with substantially no injected fuel, with the second actuator adjusted to provide different valve lift or timing in said second group than in said first group.
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, the engine having a variable valve actuator coupled to said first group and said second group, the method comprising:
- operating the actuator at a first condition when both groups are combusting inducted air and injected fuel, and
- operating the actuator at a second position when one group is carrying out combustion and the other group is operating without injected fuel but still inducting air.
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, the engine having a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first group and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second group, the method comprising:
- operating said first group of cylinders to combust air and injected fuel at a first air-fuel ratio, with the first actuator adjusted based on said first air-fuel ratio;
- and
- operating said second group of cylinder to pump air with substantially no injected fuel, with the second actuator adjusted based on whether fuel injection in said second group is being re-enabled.
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, and a variable valve adjustment mechanism for adjusting cylinder valves of both said first and second group, the method comprising:
- determining whether at least one of said first and second groups is operating without injected fuel and pumping at least air;
- and
- adjusting the mechanism to adjust valve operation of both said first and second group based on said determination.
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, and a variable valve adjustment mechanism for adjusting cylinder valves of both said first and second group, the method comprising:
- determining whether at least one of said first and second groups is transitioning into or out of operation without injected fuel and pumping at least air;
- and
- adjusting the mechanism to adjust valve operation of both said first and second group based on said determination.
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, the engine having a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first group and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second group, the method comprising:
- operating in a first mode with said first group of cylinders to combust air and injected fuel at a first air-fuel ratio and said second group of cylinder to pump air with substantially no injected fuel;
- transitioning to operation with both groups combusting air with injected fuel;
- and
- during said transition, adjusting valve operation of at least said second group based on said transition to enable efficient re-starting of combustion in said second group.
A method for controlling an engine having a first and second group of cylinders, the engine having a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first group and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second group, the method comprising:
- adjusting the variable valve actuators of said respective first and second groups based on whether at least one of said first and second group of cylinders is inducting air with substantially no injected fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.