DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE

• US 20200132001A1
• Filed: 02/20/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: NISHIO, Takafumi, YAMAMOTO, Takahiro, NISHIMOTO, Toshiaki, HASHIMOTO, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 10,851,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/356 making the angular relationship oscillate , e.g. non-homokinetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2013/001 Deactivating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/16 Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity rendering machines or engines inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/20 concerning lubricant pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/0207 characterised by the type of pump
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/002 by simultaneous control of throttle and variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/024 Fluid pressure of lubricating oil or working fluid
• 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: F02D 43/00 Conjoint electrical control of two or more functions, e.g. ignition, fuel-air mixture, recirculation, supercharging or exhaust-gas treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/08 Throttle valves specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of such valves in conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/045 combined with electronic control of other engine functions, e.g. fuel injection in general F02D37/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/15 : Digital data processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

A controller increases an actual oil pressure up to a transient oil pressure (an actuating oil pressure) and then supplies oil adjusted to have the transient oil pressure (the actuating oil pressure) to valve stopping mechanisms to actuate the valve stopping mechanisms. The controller, when actuating the valve stopping mechanisms, starts increase in an intake filling amount when the actual oil pressure increases up to a predetermined determination value set at the transient oil pressure (the actuating oil pressure) or lower.

Claims

1. A device for controlling an engine including a plurality of cylinders and switching between all-cylinder operation, in which all the cylinders are operated, and deactivated cylinder operation, in which some of the cylinders are deactivated, the device comprising:

a valve stopping mechanism configured to actuate to switch the engine from the all-cylinder operation to the deactivated cylinder operation when oil pressurized up to a predetermined actuating oil pressure is supplied;

an oil supply device configured to discharge oil to a hydraulic passage connected to the valve stopping mechanism and to adjust an oil pressure of the oil;

a control valve configured to supply oil from the hydraulic passage to the valve stopping mechanism;

a filling amount adjusting device configured to adjust an intake filling amount indicating an amount of gas to be supplied to each of the cylinders;

a controller connected to the oil supply device, the control valve, and the filling amount adjusting device and configured to output a control signal to each of the oil supply device, the control valve, and the filling amount adjusting device to operate the engine; and

an oil pressure sensor connected to the controller, and configured to detect an oil pressure of oil flowing through the hydraulic passage and to output a signal indicating a detection result to the controller,

the controller outputting a control signal to the oil supply device to increase the oil pressure detected by the oil pressure sensor up to the actuating oil pressure and then outputting a control signal to the control valve to supply the oil adjusted to be the actuating oil pressure to the valve stopping mechanism to actuate the valve stopping mechanism, and

the controller, when actuating the valve stopping mechanism, after outputting the control signal to the oil supply device, outputting a control signal to the filling amount adjusting device to increase the intake filling amount compared with that at a start time of raising the oil pressure when the oil pressure detected by the oil pressure sensor increases up to a predetermined determination value set at the actuating oil pressure or lower.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein

the controller, when actuating the valve stopping mechanism, outputs a control signal to the filling amount adjusting device when the oil pressure detected by the oil pressure sensor increases up to the actuating oil pressure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein

the oil supply device includes:

a variable capacity oil pump; and

an oil control valve connected to the controller and configured to receive the control signal of the controller and to adjust an oil discharge amount of the oil pump to control the oil pressure of the oil.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a spark plug connected to the controller and configured to receive the control signal of the controller to ignite a gaseous mixture within the cylinders with predetermined ignition timing, wherein

the controller, when actuating the valve stopping mechanism, outputs a control signal to the spark plug to reduce output torque per cylinder by retarding the ignition timing compared with that at a start time of raising the oil pressure by the oil supply device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein

the filling amount adjusting device includes:

a variable valve timing mechanism provided in each of the cylinders and configured to change opening/closing timing of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an associated one of the cylinders; and

a throttle valve provided in an intake passage connected to the cylinders and configured to adjust a flow of gas passing through the intake passage.

6. A method of controlling an engine including a plurality of cylinders and switching between all-cylinder operation, in which all the cylinders are operated, and deactivated cylinder operation, in which some of the cylinders are deactivated,

the device including:

a valve stopping mechanism configured to actuate to switch the engine from the all-cylinder operation to the deactivated cylinder operation when oil pressurized up to a predetermined actuating oil pressure is supplied;

an oil supply device configured to discharge oil to a hydraulic passage connected to the valve stopping mechanism and to adjust an oil pressure of the oil;

a control valve configured to supply oil from the hydraulic passage to the valve stopping mechanism;

a filling amount adjusting device configured to adjust an intake filling amount indicating an amount of gas to be supplied to each of the cylinders;

a controller connected to the oil supply device, the control valve, and the filling amount adjusting device and configured to output a control signal to each of the oil supply device, the control valve, and the filling amount adjusting device to operate the engine; and

an oil pressure sensor connected to the controller, and configured to detect an oil pressure of oil flowing through the hydraulic passage and to output a signal indicating a detection result to the controller,

the method comprising, when actuating the valve stopping mechanism,

pressurizing the oil flowing through the hydraulic passage to have the actuating oil pressure;

after start of the pressurizing, increasing the intake filling amount compared with that at a start time of raising the oil pressure when the oil pressure detected by the oil pressure sensor increases up to a predetermined determination value set at the actuating oil pressure or lower; and

after completion of both the pressurizing and the increasing, supplying the oil adjusted to have the actuating oil pressure to the valve stopping mechanism.