CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20170089272A1
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: MURATA, Masaya
• Granted Patent: US 10,001,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0615 being initiated by automatic means, e.g. based on engine or vehicle operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0634 Determining a density, viscosity, composition or concentration F02D19/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/084 Blends of gasoline and alcohols, e.g. E85
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/087 with determination of densities, viscosities, composition, concentration or mixture ratios of fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0611 Fuel type, fuel composition or fuel quality
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/11 Oil dilution, i.e. prevention thereof or special controls according thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/068 for warming-up
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine in which fuel used for operation is changed between liquid fuel containing alcohol and gas fuel. The control apparatus includes an electronic control unit configured to prohibit use of the gas fuel when a ratio of dilution of lubricating oil by the liquid fuel in a lubricating oil storage portion of the internal combustion engine is equal to or larger than a predetermined value or when an amount of the liquid fuel mixed in the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A control apparatus that is applied to an internal combustion engine in which fuel used for operation is changed between liquid fuel containing alcohol and gas fuel, comprising:

an electronic control unit configured to prohibit use of the gas fuel when a ratio of dilution of lubricating oil by the liquid fuel in a lubricating oil storage portion of the internal combustion engine is equal to or larger than a predetermined value or when an amount of the liquid fuel mixed in the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.

2. The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the internal combustion engine uses the liquid fuel during warm-up operation, and uses the gas fuel after completion of warm-up; and

the electronic control unit is configured to prohibit a change of fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel when the ratio of dilution of the lubricating oil by the liquid fuel in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, and to permit the change of the fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel on a condition that the ratio of dilution should be smaller than the predetermined value, after the completion of the warm-up.

3. The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the internal combustion engine uses the liquid fuel during warm-up operation, and uses the gas fuel after completion of warm-up; and

the electronic control unit is configured to prohibit a change of fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel when the amount of the liquid fuel mixed in the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than the predetermined amount, and to permit the change of the fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel on a condition that the amount of the mixed liquid fuel should be smaller than the predetermined amount, after the completion of the warm-up.

4. The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the internal combustion engine uses the liquid fuel during warm-up operation, and uses the gas fuel after completion of warm-up; and

the electronic control unit is configured to prohibit a change of fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel when the ratio of dilution of the lubricating oil by the liquid fuel in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, and to permit the change of the fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel after an elapse of a predetermined time from a time point at which the ratio of dilution becomes smaller than the predetermined value, after the completion of the warm-up.

5. The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the internal combustion engine uses the liquid fuel during warm-up operation, and uses the gas fuel after completion of warm-up; and

the electronic control unit is configured to prohibit a change of fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel when the amount of the liquid fuel mixed in the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than the predetermined amount, and to permit the change of the fuel in use from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel after an elapse of a predetermined time from a time point at which the amount of the mixed liquid fuel becomes smaller than the predetermined amount, after completion of the warm-up.