Engine system and method accounting for engine misfire

• US 20050193987A1
• 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: Doering, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/479
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0205 for cutting-out pumps or injectors in case of abnormal operation of the engine or the injection apparatus, e.g. over-speed, break-down of fuel pumps or injectors safety devices acting on engine fuel system on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/24; for cutting-out pumps for stopping the engine

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 method for operating an engine having at least a first and second cylinder, the method comprising:

operating in a first mode with said first cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel and said second cylinder inducting air and substantially no injected fuel;

operating in a second mode with said second cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel and said first cylinder inducting air and substantially no injected fuel;

operating in a third mode with both said first and said second cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel;

monitoring the first and second cylinder for an engine misfire condition; and

disabling said first mode if an engine misfire condition is detected in said second cylinder and disabling said second mode if an engine misfire condition is detected in said first cylinder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first mode includes operating with a first group of cylinders, including said first cylinder, combusting inducted air and injected fuel and a second group of cylinders, including said second cylinder, inducting air and substantially no injected fuel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second mode includes operating with a second group of cylinders, including said second cylinder, combusting inducted air and injected fuel and a first group of cylinders, including said first cylinder, inducting air and substantially no injected fuel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said third mode includes operating with a first group of cylinders, including said first cylinder, and a second group of cylinders, including said second cylinder, combusting inducted air and injected fuel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring the first and second cylinder for an engine misfire condition include monitoring whether ignition coils coupled to said first and second cylinder are degraded.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising alternating operation between said first and second mode depending on operating conditions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a mode from said first, second, and third modes, is selected based on a requested engine output.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a mode from said first, second, and third modes, is selected based on whether idle conditions are present.

9. A method for operating an engine having at least a first and second cylinder, the method comprising:

operating in a first mode with said first cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel and said second cylinder inducting air and substantially no injected fuel;

operating in a second mode with said second cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel and said first cylinder inducting air and substantially no injected fuel;

operating in a third mode with both said first and said second cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel;

monitoring the first and second cylinder for an engine misfire condition; and

disabling said first mode if an engine misfire condition is detected in said second cylinder and enabling operation in at least said second and third modes, and disabling said second mode if an engine misfire condition is detected in said first cylinder and enabling operation in at least said first and third modes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said first mode includes operating with a first group of cylinders, including said first cylinder, combusting inducted air and injected fuel and a second group of cylinders, including said second cylinder, inducting air and substantially no injected fuel.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said second mode includes operating with a second group of cylinders, including said second cylinder, combusting inducted air and injected fuel and a first group of cylinders, including said first cylinder, inducting air and substantially no injected fuel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said third mode includes operating with a first group of cylinders, including said first cylinder, and a second group of cylinders, including said second cylinder, combusting inducted air and injected fuel.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said monitoring the first and second cylinder for an engine misfire condition include monitoring whether ignition coils coupled to said first and second cylinder are degraded.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising alternating operation between said first and second mode depending on operating conditions.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a mode from said first, second, and third modes, is selected based on a requested engine output.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a mode from said first, second, and third modes, is further selected based on whether idle conditions are present.

17. A computer readable storage medium having instructions encoded therein for operating an engine having at least a first and second cylinder, the medium comprising:

instructions for operating in a first mode with said first cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel and said second cylinder inducting air and substantially no injected fuel;

instructions for operating in a second mode with said second cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel and said first cylinder inducting air and substantially no injected fuel;

instructions for operating in a third mode with both said first and said second cylinder combusting inducted air and injected fuel;

instructions for monitoring the first and second cylinder for an engine misfire condition; and

instructions for disabling said first mode if an engine misfire condition is detected in said second cylinder and enabling operation in at least said second and third modes, and disabling said second mode if an engine misfire condition is detected in said first cylinder and enabling operation in at least said first and third modes.