System and method for controlling valve timing of an engine with cylinder deactivation

• US 20050193720A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Surnilla, Gopichandra, Smith, Stephen B., Goralski, Christian T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/011 having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2430/02 by cutting out a part of engine cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/101 Three-way catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 17/005 having direct injection in the combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0219 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0032 Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0082 per groups or banks F02D41/0087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an engine having a first bank and a second bank, with each of said banks having cylinders, the engine having a first group of cylinder including cylinders from said first and second banks, and a second group of cylinders from said first and second banks;

a first emission control device coupled exclusively to said first group of cylinders; and

a second emission control device coupled to both said first and second groups.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a fuel vapor purge valve, said valve coupled exclusively to said first group of cylinders.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first fuel vapor purge valve, said first valve coupled exclusively to said first group of cylinders;

and a second fuel vapor purge valve, said second valve coupled exclusively to said second group of cylinders.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling fuel injection to the cylinders in the engine.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said controller operates, at least during selected conditions, to combust injected fuel in said first cylinder group, and operate said second cylinder group without injected fuel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said control operates said cylinders combusting injected fuel at an air fuel ratio that oscillates about stoichiometry.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust gas recirculation system taking exhaust gas upstream of said first emission control device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said first emission control device is a three way catalyst.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third emission control device coupled exclusively to said second group of cylinders.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said second emission control device receives exhaust gasses that have exited said first emission control device.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first variable valve actuator coupled to cylinders of the first bank, and a second variable valve actuator coupled to cylinders of the second bank.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first bank, and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second bank

13. A system comprising:

an engine having a first bank and a second bank, which each of said banks having cylinders, the engine having a first group of cylinder including cylinders from said first and second banks, and a second group of cylinders from said first and second banks;

a first emission control device coupled exclusively to the cylinders of said first group of cylinders in said first bank;

a second emission control device coupled exclusively to the cylinders of said first group of cylinders in said second bank; and

a third emission control device receiving exhaust gasses from said first and second emission control devices and untreated exhaust from said second group of cylinders.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a fuel vapor purge valve, said valve coupled exclusively to said first group of cylinders.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a controller for controlling fuel injection to the cylinders in the engine.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said controller operates, at least during selected conditions, to combust injected fuel in said first cylinder group, and operate said second cylinder group without injected fuel.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said control operates said cylinders combusting injected fuel at an air fuel ratio that oscillates about stoichiometry.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said engine is a V-8 engine.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said first and second emission control devices are three way catalysts.

20. The system of claim 13 further comprising a first variable valve actuator coupled to cylinders of the first bank, and a second variable valve actuator coupled to cylinders of the second bank.

21. A system comprising:

an engine having a first and second bank of cylinders, said first bank having a first and second group of cylinders, said second bank having a third and fourth group of cylinders;

a first emission control device coupled to said engine to receive gasses exhausted from said first group; and

a second emission control device coupled to said engine to receive gasses exhausted from said third group.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a third emission control device coupled downstream of both said first and second emission control devices to receive gasses exhausted from said first, second, third, and fourth group of cylinders.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said third emission control device receives untreated gasses exhausted from said second and fourth group.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said first emission control device does not receive gasses exhausted from said second, third, and fourth group.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein said second emission control device does not receive gasses exhausted from said first, second, and fourth group.

26. A system comprising:

an engine having a first and second bank of cylinders, said first bank having a first and second group of cylinders, said second bank having a third and fourth group of cylinders;

a first emission control device coupled to said engine to receive gasses exhausted from said first group and said third group; and

a second emission control device coupled to said engine to receive gasses exhausted from said first, second, third, and fourth group.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said second emission control device receives untreated gasses exhausted from said second and fourth group.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said first emission control device does not receive gasses exhausted from said second, and fourth group.

29. The system of claim 26 further comprising an a first variable valve actuator coupled to said first bank and a second variable valve actuator coupled to said second bank.

30. The system of claim 26 further comprising a fuel vapor control valve coupled to said first and third group.