# US 7,607,417 B2 · Method and system for controlling an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,417 B2 - Document ID: US7607417B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/592,306 - Filed: 2005-02-04 - Published: 2007-08-23 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-15 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Erwin Achleitner; Martin Cwielong; Gerhard Eser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607417B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/3809: {Common rail control systems (common rail apparatus F02M55/025, F02M63/0225)} - F02D 41/1497: {With detection of the mechanical response of the engine} - F02D 41/3082: {Control of electrical fuel pumps} - F02M 63/023: {Means for varying pressure in common rails (pressure control F02D41/3845)} - G05D 16/2013: {using throttling means as controlling means} - F02D 41/06: for engine starting or warming up {(F02D41/0255 takes precedence)} - F02D 41/086: {taking into account the temperature of the engine} - F02D 41/10: for acceleration - F02D 41/406: {Electrically controlling a diesel injection pump (F02D41/401 takes precedence)} - F02D 2200/0414: Air temperature - F02D 2200/0602: Fuel pressure - F02D 2200/1004: Estimation of the output torque - F02D 2200/1006: Engine torque losses, e.g. friction or pumping losses or losses caused by external loads of accessories - F02D 2250/18: Control of the engine output torque - F02M 59/34: by throttling of passages to pumping elements or of overflow passages {, e.g. throttling by means of a pressure-controlled sliding valve having liquid stop or abutment} - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A method and system for controlling an internal combustion engine is provide. The engine has a fuel-supply device, a low-pressure circuit and a high-pressure pump, to which a control valve for a volumetric flow is allocated is provided. Said pump is coupled on the inlet side to the low-pressure circuit and transports fuel to a fuel accumulator. An estimated value of the drive torque of the high-pressure pump is determined in accordance with the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator. A loss torque is determined in accordance with the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump and additional loss-torque fractions, which are dependent on a motor speed and additional operating variables. A target torque is determined in accordance with the loss torque and an actuating signal for controlling an actuator of the internal combustion engine is generated from the target torque. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply device and an actuator, the fuel supply device being provided with a low-pressure circuit, a high-pressure pump coupled on the inlet side to the low-pressure circuit, which pump transports fuel to a fuel accumulator, and a control valve for a volumetric flow which is allocated to the high-pressure pump, the method comprising: determining using an electrically-connected control device an estimated value of the drive torque of the high pressure pump depending on the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator; determining using the control device a loss torque depending on the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump and additional loss-torque fractions, wherein the additional loss-loss torque fractions are dependent on an engine speed and additional operating variables; determining using the control device a target torque depending on the loss torque; and generating using circuitry an actuating signal for controlling an actuator of the internal combustion engine depending on the target torque. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the estimated value of the drive torque further comprises, determining the estimated value of the drive torque of the high-pressure pump depending on a variable calculated based on the fuel feed flow of the high-pressure pump and the engine speed of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein both a control valve for a volumetric flow and a pressure regulator are provided for adjusting the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator, and wherein the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure is determined depending on whether the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator is actually adjusted by means of the control valve for a volumetric flow and the pressure regulator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein both a control valve for a volumetric flow and a pressure regulator are provided for adjusting the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator, and wherein the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure is determined depending on whether the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator is actually adjusted by means of the control valve for a volumetric flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump is determined based on variables selected from the group consisting of fuel pressure, feed flow of the high-pressure pump and the engine speed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein both a control valve for a volumetric flow and a pressure regulator are provided for adjusting the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator, and wherein the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure is determined depending on whether the fuel pressure in the hel accumulator is actually adjusted by means of the pressure regulator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining additional loss-torque fractions step comprises, determining the additional loss-torque fractions based on values selected from a group consisting of pump and frictional loss value, a temperature correcting value and an additional load value. ### Claim 8 A system for controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel accumulator and an actuator, comprising: a fuel-supply device coupled with the fuel accumulator and actuator, the fuel-supply device having, a low-pressure circuit, a high-pressure pump coupled on the inlet side to the low pressure circuit, wherein the pump has means for transporting fuel to a fuel accumulator, and a control valve for controlling a volumetric flow allocated to the high-pressure pump; and an electrically-connected control device interactively connected with the fuel-supply, actuator and fuel accumulator, comprising, sensors for detecting measured quantities in the fuel supply device, fuel accumulator, and the engine, means for determining an estimated value of the drive torque of the high-pressure pump depending on the fuel pressure determined in the sensors in the fuel accumulator, means for determining a loss torque depending on the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump and additional loss-torque fractions, the loss-torque fractions being dependent on measurements from the sensors of an engine speed and additional operating variables, means for determining a target torque depending on the loss torque, and means for generating an actuating signal for controlling an actuator of the internal combustion engine depending on the target torque. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the means for determining the estimated value of the drive torque further comprise means for determining the estimated value of the drive torque of the high-pressure pump depending on a variable calculated based on the fuel feed flow of the high-pressure pump and the engine speed of the internal combustion engine measured by the sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the engine comprises, a pressure regulator for adjusting the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator, and the fuel-supply device sensors comprise means for measuring the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator based on adjustments in flow from the control valve and the pressure regulator, and the means for determining the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump comprises, means for determining the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump depending on measurements of the fuel pressure in the hel accumulator based on flow adjustments by the control valve and the pressure regulator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the pressure regulator comprises, an electromagnetic pressure regulator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the means for determining additional loss-torque fractions comprises, means for determining the additional loss-torque fractions based on values measured from the sensors and calculated from values selected from a group consisting of pump and frictional loss value, a temperature correcting value and an additional load value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the low-pressure circuit comprises, a low-pressure pump having means for continuously supplying a predetermined minimum of fuel to maintain a desired low pressure value at or above a minimum value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the additional loss-torque fractions are dependent on measurements from the sensors of an engine speed and additional operating variables selected from the group consisting of mass air flow, coolant temperature, engine oil temperature, additional load, fuel pressure and a variable characterizing the feed flow of the high pressure pump. ### Claim 15 A system for controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel accumulator and an actuator, comprising: a fuel-supply device coupled with the fuel accumulator and actuator, the fuel supply device having, a low-pressure circuit, a high-pressure pump coupled on the inlet side to the low-pressure circuit, wherein the pump has means for transporting the fuel to a fuel accumulator, and a control valve for controlling a volumetric flow allocated to the high-pressure pump; and a control device interactively connected with the fuel-supply, actuator and fuel accumulator, comprising, sensors for detecting measured quantities in the fuel supply device, fuel accumulator, and the engine, a control device wired to at least one of the sensors and configured to determine an estimated value of the drive torque of the high-pressure depending on the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator, a regulator responsive to at least one sensor signal to selectively regulate the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator based on at least one of the following: a regulation based on one of at least two different fuel pressure regulating modalities, and a regulation based on a combination of the at least two different fuel pressure regulating modalities, and wherein the estimated value of the drive torque of the high-pressure pump is adjusted based on the selected modality for regulating the fuel pressure in the accumulator; a control device wired to at least one of the sensors and configured to determine a loss torque depending on the estimated value for the drive torque of the high-pressure pump and additional loss-torque fractions, the loss-torque fractions being dependent on measurements from the sensors of an engine speed and additional operating variables, a control device wired to at least one of the sensors and configured to determine a target torque depending on the loss torque, and circuitry configured to generate an actuating signal for controlling an actuator of the internal combustion engine depending on the target torque.