Method for controlling the operation of a cylinder for an internal combustion engine

• US 20070168108A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Izelfane, Said
• Granted Patent: US 7,527,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a cylinder for a multi-cylinder four-stroke internal combustion engine, wherein said cylinder interacts with at least one fuel injector, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, operation members for controlling the opening of the valves according to a cycle running and means driven by an engine control computer according to the predetermined operation conditions of the engine for selectively opening or closing said cylinder valves, wherein the deactivation of the valves is carried out simultaneously in the middle of a cycle at a time approximately coinciding with the middle of a time extending between the theoretical consecutive opening times of the intake (OI) and the exhaust (OE) valves.

Claims

1. Method for controlling the operation of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine of the four-stroke, multi-cylinder type, said cylinder cooperating with at least one fuel injector, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, operating members for controlling the opening of the valves according to the course of the cycle, and means driven by an engine control computer according to predetermined operating conditions of said engine to deactivate or activate selectively said valves of said cylinder, wherein the deactivation of said valves is performed simultaneously, and in that the deactivation of said valves is performed in the course of a cycle, at a time coinciding substantially with the middle of the period extending between the theoretical consecutive opening time of the intake valve (OI) and opening time of the exhaust valve (OE).

2. Method for controlling according to claim 1, wherein the reactivation of said valves is performed simultaneously, and the reactivation of said valves is performed in the course of a cycle, at a time coinciding substantially with the middle of the period extending between the theoretical consecutive opening time of the intake valve (OI) and opening time of the exhaust valve (OE).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein there are two cylinders of said internal combustion engine of the four-stroke, multi-cylinder type, whose operation is controlled, and the deactivation or activation of the valves of each of the two cylinders is performed sequentially, one cylinder after the other, while respecting the theoretical ignition order of said cylinders.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said driven means have a delay between their control by said computer and the actual activation or deactivation of said valves, and this delay is taken into account to perform the control of said means.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the value of said delay is mapped as a function of the operating point of the engine, as well as of the aging of said engine.

6. Method according to claim 4, wherein an error value is determined on the measurement of said delay.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the deactivation of said valves of said cylinder is controlled only if the error value is below half the time interval separating the theoretical opening time of the intake valve (OI) and the theoretical opening time of the exhaust valve (OE).

8. Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, wherein said engine control computer comprises an appropriate program, said program being adapted to perform the control of said means for the activation or deactivation of the valves of said cylinder so that the deactivation or the activation of the valves of said cylinder takes place, in the course of the cycle, substantially in the middle of a period extending between the theoretical opening time of the opening valve (OI) and the theoretical opening time of the exhaust valve (OE).

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein said driven means comprise disengageable hydraulic tappets interposed between said valves and said control members and a hydraulic circuit controlled by an electrovalve controlled by the engine control computer.

10. Device according to claim 8, wherein said driven means comprise electromechanical actuators controlling the opening of the valves.

11. Method according to claim 2, wherein there are two cylinders of said internal combustion engine of the four-stroke, multi-cylinder type, whose operation is controlled, and the deactivation or activation of the valves of each of the two cylinders is performed sequentially, one cylinder after the other, while respecting the theoretical ignition order of said cylinders.

12. Method according to claim 2, wherein said driven means have a delay between their control by said computer and the actual activation or deactivation of said valves, and this delay is taken into account to perform the control of said means.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the value of said delay is mapped as a function of the operating point of the engine, as well as of the aging of said engine.

14. Method according to claim 5, wherein an error value is determined on the measurement of said delay.

15. Method according to claim 12, wherein an error value is determined on the measurement of said delay.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein an error value is determined on the measurement of said delay.

17. Method according to claim 5, wherein the error value is preferably mapped as a function of the operating point of the engine, as well as of the aging of said engine.

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the error value is preferably mapped as a function of the operating point of the engine, as well as of the aging of said engine.

19. Method according to claim 15, wherein the error value is preferably mapped as a function of the operating point of the engine, as well as of the aging of said engine.

20. Method according to claim 16, wherein the error value is preferably mapped as a function of the operating point of the engine, as well as of the aging of said engine.