Methods for variable displacement engine diagnostics
AssigneeFord Global Technologie, LLC
InventorsRobert Andrew Wade, Jeffrey Allen Doering, John Eric Rollinger, William Russell Goodwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring cylinder valve deactivation in an engine operating with a plurality of cylinder valves. One example method comprises, sensing a plurality of cylinder valve positions of a plurality of cylinder valves; and combining the plurality of sensed positions to form a combined cylinder valve signal. The method may further include identifying valve degradation and differentiating valve degradation among the plurality of cylinder valves based on the combined cylinder valve signal and an expected value of the signal, and further based on a crank angle at which the expected value differs from the combined signal.
Claims20
A system for monitoring cylinder valve deactivation in an engine operating with a plurality of cylinder valves, the system comprising,
- a first cylinder valve position sensor coupled to a first cylinder valve component;
- and
- a second cylinder valve position sensor coupled to a second cylinder valve component, the first and second cylinder valve position sensors coupled together to generate a combined cylinder valve signal.
A method for monitoring cylinder valve deactivation in an engine operating with a plurality of cylinder valves, the method comprising:
- sensing a plurality of cylinder valve positions of a plurality of cylinder valves;
- and
- combining the plurality of sensed positions to form a combined cylinder valve signal.
A method for identifying cylinder valve degradation in a variable displacement engine operating with a plurality of cylinder valves configured to be deactivated, the method comprising,
- sensing a plurality of cylinder valve positions of the plurality of cylinder valves in a plurality of crank angle sampling windows, the plurality of cylinder valves including a plurality of intake valves or a plurality of exhaust valves located on a common bank of the engine;
- combining the plurality of sensed positions to form a combined cylinder valve signal;
- and
- identifying valve degradation and differentiating valve degradation among the plurality of cylinder valves based on the combined cylinder valve signal and an expected value of the signal, and further based on the crank angle sampling window at which the expected value differs from the combined signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.