Engine control for displacement on demand
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJoel M. Maguire, Joseph R. Dulzo, Thomas E. Bolander, William C. Albertson
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Abstract
An engine control system for controlling a displacement on demand engine having a plurality of cylinders includes a torque converter with a torque converter clutch. A control module determines a slip speed of said torque converter clutch, estimates a temperature state of said torque converter clutch based on said slip speed, and selectively activates at least one of said cylinders based on said temperature state.
Claims20
An engine control system for controlling a displacement on demand engine having a plurality of cylinders, comprising:
- a torque converter with a torque converter clutch;
- and
- a control module that determines a slip speed of said torque converter clutch and estimates a temperature state of said torque converter clutch based on said slip speed;
- wherein said control module selectively activates at least one of said cylinders based on said temperature state.
A method of controlling a displacement on demand engine having a plurality of cylinders in a vehicle having a torque converter with a torque converter clutch, said method comprising:
- determining a temperature state of said torque converter clutch;
- and
- selectively activating at least one of said cylinders based on said temperature state.
An engine control system for controlling a displacement on demand engine having a plurality of cylinders, comprising:
- a torque converter with a torque converter clutch;
- a sump for retaining a supply of fluid for said torque converter;
- a sump temperature sensor that generates a sump temperature signal based on a temperature of said sump;
- an engine rotational speed sensor that generates an engine rotational speed signal;
- a transmission input shaft speed sensor that generates a transmission input shaft speed signal;
- a solenoid that regulates a flow of fluid to said torque converter clutch;
- and
- a control module that monitors a slip speed of said torque converter clutch based on said engine rotational speed signal and said transmission input shaft speed signal, regulates a slip speed of said torque converter clutch by controlling a duty cycle of said solenoid, and estimates a temperature of said torque converter clutch based on said slip speed, said duty cycle, a predetermined thermal inertia of said torque converter clutch, and a predetermined heat rejection rate of said torque converter clutch;
- wherein said control module waits until said temperature state is greater than a predetermined temperature state threshold before reactivating at least one of said cylinders and waits until said temperature state is less than a predetermined temperature state threshold before deactivating at least one of said cylinders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.