Variable displacement engine starting control

• US 20030172892A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Flory, Michael, Glugla, Christopher Paul, Michelini, John Ottavio
• Granted Patent: US 6,772,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.5
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/184 ten
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/22 with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/023 Temperature of lubricating oil or working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/004 Aiding engine start by using decompression means or variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a variable displacement engine during cranking and starting include a hybrid operating mode to allow intake/exhaust valve operation while preventing fuel delivery and/or spark to at least one of the subsequently deactivated cylinders or bank of cylinders during cranking and starting. The system and method provide advantages to starting the engine relative to either pure variable displacement mode or full activation mode.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with associated intake and exhaust valves, at least some of which are selectively operable in a variable displacement mode in which the intake and/or exhaust valves are deactivated, the method comprising:

actuating the associated intake and exhaust valves while deactivating fueling and spark for the variable displacement mode cylinders during starting of the internal combustion engine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

deactivating the intake and exhaust valves of the variable displacement mode cylinders after starting the internal combustion engine.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

modifying timing of the intake and/or exhaust valves of the variable displacement mode cylinders during starting to reduce compression of inducted air during a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein actuating the associated intake and exhaust valves includes de-energizing associated solenoids.

5. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with associated intake and exhaust valves, at least some of which are selectively operable in a variable displacement mode in which the intake and/or exhaust valves are deactivated, the method comprising:

monitoring operating parameters to determine whether to start the engine in a hybrid operating mode;

actuating valves for the variable displacement mode cylinders while preventing fuel and spark during cranking and/or starting to reduce cranking effort and/or increase cranking speed during starting in the hybrid operating mode; and

deactivating the valves for the variable displacement mode cylinders after determining the engine has started, to operate the engine in the variable displacement mode.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the valves for the variable displacement mode cylinders are deactivated when engine speed exceeds a threshold.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein monitoring operating parameters includes monitoring temperature.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the temperature is an engine fluid temperature.

9. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with associated intake and exhaust valves, at least some of which are selectively operable in a variable displacement mode in which the intake and/or exhaust valves are deactivated, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for actuating the associated intake and exhaust valves while deactivating fueling and spark for the variable displacement mode cylinders during starting of the internal combustion engine.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising:

instructions for deactivating the intake and exhaust valves of the variable displacement mode cylinders after starting the internal combustion engine.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising:

instructions for modifying timing of the intake and/or exhaust valves of the variable displacement mode cylinders during starting to reduce compression of inducted air during a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the instructions for actuating the associated intake and exhaust valves include instructions for de-energizing associated solenoids.