Throttle position control during an engine start

• US 20080022957A1
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Trask, Nate, Song, Gang
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/01 Starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/042 Crankshafts position
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0238 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0261 Controlling the valve overlap
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1508 with particular means during idling
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/152 dependent on pinking detecting or indicating knocks in internal-combustion engines G01L23/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for improving engine starting for an engine having a variable event valvetrain is described. According to one aspect of the description, valve timing during a start can be set so that combustion stability and emissions may be improved.

Claims

1. A method to start an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

adjusting the position of a throttle in response to a number of counted engine events, said throttle located upstream of an intake manifold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said counted engine events are a counted number of induction events.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said counted engine events are a counted number of combustion events.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting valve timing in response to said number of counted engine events.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting said throttle position in response to intake manifold pressure.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting stored parameters to adjust throttle position during a subsequent engine start.

7. A method to start an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

adjusting the position of a throttle in response to a number of counted engine events, said throttle located upstream of an intake manifold; and

transitioning to a second throttle control method after a predetermined number of events.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising comparing intake manifold pressure to a desired intake manifold pressure and adjusting said throttle position if said intake manifold pressure varies from a desire intake manifold pressure.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said counted engine events are a counted number of combustion events.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting valve timing in response to said number of counted engine events.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting said throttle position in response to intake manifold pressure.