Engine control based on exhaust back pressure
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine to protect the engine from damage caused by excessive back pressure, the method comprising:
- monitoring back pressure; and
controlling the engine to reduce back pressure when the back pressure exceeds a threshold to reduce or prevent engine damage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine monitor exhaust back pressure and take remedial action when the exhaust back pressure exceeds a corresponding threshold. The system and method respond to increased exhaust back pressures attributable to various causes to alert the vehicle operator and/or engage engine protection mechanisms depending on the back pressure severity level in an effort to avoid engine/component damage. Fault timers are provided for tracking time fault conditions are present and time that faults are active, with active faults being latched for the current ignition cycle. Available engine torque may be reduced in response to excessive exhaust back pressure. Anti-tampering logic is provided to detect attempts to defeat the protection feature.
34 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine to protect the engine from damage caused by excessive back pressure, the method comprising:
-
monitoring back pressure; and
controlling the engine to reduce back pressure when the back pressure exceeds a threshold to reduce or prevent engine damage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an exhaust back pressure sensor fluidly coupled to an exhaust to protect the engine from damage caused by excessive exhaust back pressure, the method comprising:
-
monitoring exhaust back pressure based on the sensor;
determining engine speed and requested torque;
determining a first exhaust back pressure threshold based on the engine speed and requested torque;
comparing the exhaust back pressure to the first threshold;
generating a warning when the exhaust back pressure exceeds the first threshold;
determining a second exhaust back pressure threshold; and
controlling the engine to reduce exhaust back pressure when the exhaust back pressure exceeds the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
-
a back pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the engine downstream of an exhaust manifold; and
a controller in communication with the back pressure sensor, the controller monitoring back pressure using the sensor, generating a warning when the back pressure exceeds a first threshold, and controlling the engine to reduce the back pressure when the back pressure exceeds a second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control an internal combustion engine to protect the engine from damage caused by excessive exhaust back pressure, the computer readable storage medium comprising:
-
instructions for monitoring back pressure; and
instructions for controlling the engine to reduce back pressure when the back pressure exceeds a threshold to reduce or prevent engine damage. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification