SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING CRANKCASE GASES TO IMPROVE ENGINE AIR-FUEL CONTROL

• US 20100012103A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hepburn, Jeffrey Scott, Lewis, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/574
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 13/00 Crankcase ventilating or breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 13/0011 Breather valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2013/0038 Layout of crankcase breathing systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/08 Engine blow-by from crankcase chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/06 adding lubricant vapours
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system and method for improving processing of gases contained within the crankcase of an internal combustion engine is presented. The system is especially suited for single boiling point fuels because it allows the storage of such fuels until the fuel can be opportunistically combusted.

Claims

1. A system for combusting internal combustion engine crankcase gases, the system comprising:

an internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase, an intake manifold, a duct connecting the crankcase to the intake manifold;

a canister comprising hydrocarbon storage media, the canister located along the length of the duct and in communication with the duct; and

an electrically adjustable valve capable of regulating flow of gases from the canister to the intake manifold.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve is located between the canister and the intake manifold or between the crankcase and the canister, and wherein the position of the valve is adjusted by a controller to regulate the flow of crankcase gases into the canister.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the valve is a two-way valve.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage media is comprised at least partially of carbon.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage media is comprised of at least zeolite.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the canister is purged by pulling or pushing fresh air through the canister.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second valve that is used to control the flow of hydrocarbons from the canister to the intake manifold.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third valve that is used to control the flow of fresh air into the canister from upstream of a throttle.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller regulates the flow of air through the canister and through a throttle in response to an engine torque request.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller directs gas flow from the crankcase to the canister when a temperature of the engine is between a first temperature and a second temperature.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the temperature of the engine is a coolant temperature or an oil temperature.

12. A system for combusting internal combustion engine crankcase gases, the system comprising:

an internal combustion engine comprising at least a cylinder, a crankcase, an intake manifold, and a throttle located upstream of the intake manifold and within an air intake duct;

crankcase ventilation ducting for evacuating gases from within the crankcase, the ducting including a canister for storing fuel vapor; and

a controller that regulates the storage and release of fuel vapors from the crankcase to the canister.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller adjusts the average position of a valve over a time interval to regulate the flow of enriched air out of the canister.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the canister is comprised of a hydrocarbon storage media.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the storage media is carbon based.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein fresh air from upstream of the throttle is routed through the canister to reduce the amount of hydrocarbons stored in the canister.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein hydrocarbons from the canister are introduced to the engine downstream of the throttle.

18. A method for processing gases contained within the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

purging gases from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine; and

storing the gases in a canister in response to engine operating conditions.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising moving the gases from the crankcase during predetermined engine operating conditions.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising purging the gases from the canister during predetermined engine operating conditions.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined operating conditions comprise a temperature of the internal combustion engine.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature of the engine is a coolant or oil temperature.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising moving gases from the crankcase to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine while purging the gases from the canister.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the amount of fuel delivered to the internal combustion engine by fuel injection is decreased when purging the gases from the canister.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein a controller adjusts the average position of a valve during a time interval to regulate the flow of gases from the canister to the internal combustion engine.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising adjusting the position of a valve to control the purge rate of gases from the canister and combusting the gases in the internal combustion engine.