Method for determining valve degradation
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAlex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Nelson William Morrow, Jr., James Donald McCoy, Michael Damian Czekala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for determining degraded valve operation. According to the method, valve degradation can be determined from the duration of a spark event. This method allows for the determination of both intake and exhaust valve degradation.
Claims24
A method to determine degradation of a cylinder valve for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- initiating a spark event in at least a cylinder of an internal combustion engine;
- and
- indicating valve degradation from at least an attribute of said spark event.
A method to determine degradation of a cylinder valve for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- initiating a spark event in at least a cylinder of an internal combustion engine;
- and
- indicating valve degradation from flyback voltage produced by said spark event.
A method to determine degradation of a variable event valvetrain, the method comprising:
- inducting an amount of air into at least one cylinder during a combustion cycle;
- deactivating said at least one cylinder after inducting said amount of air;
- providing an indication of at least a degraded valve operable in said at least a cylinder, said indication provided after deactivating said at least a cylinder;
- and
- said indication produced, at least in part, from flyback voltage of an ignition coil.
A method to determine degradation of a variable event valvetrain, the method comprising:
- deactivating at least a cylinder by holding at least a valve in a position as a crankshaft rotates;
- commanding said at least a valve to operate;
- and
- initiating a spark event in said at least a cylinder and providing an indication of at least a degraded valve operable in said at least a cylinder as the duration of a spark event in said at least a cylinder varies from a predetermined duration.
A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control an electrically actuated valve in a cylinder of internal combustion engine of a vehicle, said storage medium comprising:
- instructions for operating at least one valve of at least one cylinder after said at least one cylinder has been deactivated for at least on cylinder cycle;
- instructions for initiating a spark in said at least a cylinder before fuel is injected or inducted to said at least a cylinder;
- and
- instructions for determining degradation of said at least one valve from flyback voltage produced after initiating said spark.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.