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US 9,175,619 B2Granted
Method of inferring start-up misfires due to the build-up of ice and melt water in the intake system of a vehicle engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Robert Sarow Baskins, Gregory Joseph Pawlak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods are provided for determining ice formation during cruising under cold weather conditions at the intake manifold or throttle body of an engine system and for enabling engine misfire diagnostics upon detection of dissipation of the formed ice.
Claims20
A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
- inferring whether ice has formed in the engine intake manifold or throttle body in response to engine operating parameters;
- shutting off the engine in response to an operator action;
- inferring whether said ice has melted after said engine shutoff;
- inferring whether said melted ice has dissipated;
- and
- enabling engine misfire diagnostics after engine start in response to said inference of dissipated melted ice.
3 more elements
A method for controlling an engine propelling a motor vehicle, comprising:
- estimating an amount of ice formed in the engine intake manifold or throttle body in response to engine operating parameters;
- shutting off the engine in response to an operator action;
- determining whether said amount of ice has melted after said engine shutoff;
- determining whether said melted ice has dissipated;
- and
- disabling engine misfire diagnostics after an engine start in response to said determination that said ice has melted but not dissipated.
3 more elements
A method for controlling an engine propelling a motor vehicle, comprising:
- estimating an amount of ice formed in the engine intake manifold or throttle body in response to engine operating parameters;
- shutting off the engine in response to an operator action;
- determining whether said ice has melted after said engine shutoff;
- determining whether said melted ice has dissipated;
- coupling heat to said throttle body or intake manifold to aid in ice melting and dissipation;
- and
- enabling engine misfire diagnostics after engine start in response to said melting and dissipation of said ice.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.