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US 7,925,418 B2Granted
Engine control responsive to varying amounts of alcohol in fuel
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorPhil Andrew Fabien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various systems and methods are described for operating an engine in a vehicle in response to fuel having varying amounts of alcohol. One example method comprises delivering fuel to the engine, limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a maximum permitted engine speed, the maximum permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel.
Claims16
A method for operating a vehicle's flex-fuel engine, comprising:
- delivering a varying alcohol-fuel amount to the engine;
- adjusting automatic transmission shifting points during a condition by shifting earlier to a higher gear in response to a higher alcohol amount;
- and
- limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a maximum permitted engine speed, the maximum permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol, the maximum permitted engine speed being reduced as the alcohol amount increases.
1 more element
A method for operating an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- delivering fuel to the engine via direct fuel injection, the fuel having a varying alcohol amount;
- limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a first permitted engine speed, the first permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel;
- limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a second permitted engine speed, the second permitted engine speed being greater than the first permitted engine speed and responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel;
- and
- adjusting shifting points of an automatic transmission coupled in the vehicle, the shifting points adjusted responsive to the amount of alcohol, the adjusting of shift points including shifting earlier to a higher gear in response to a higher alcohol amount and shifting later to a lower gear in response to a higher alcohol amount.
2 more elements
A system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an automatic transmission having a plurality of gear ratios;
- an engine coupled to the transmission via a torque converter;
- a control system configured to deliver fuel to the engine via direct injection, the fuel having a varying alcohol amount;
- limit engine speed during vehicle operation to a first permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol;
- limit engine speed during vehicle operation to a second permitted engine speed, the second permitted engine speed being greater than the first permitted engine speed and responsive to the amount of alcohol;
- and adjusting selection of the gear ratios responsive to the amount of alcohol.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.