Variable displacement internal combustion engine with means for switching deactivated cylinder groups at appropriate timing
First Claim
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1. An internal combustion engine having a throttle valve and a first and a second group of cylinders adapted to be activated and deactivated in response to varying loads of the engine, comprising:
- means responsive to said varying engine loads to determine the number of deactivated cylinders such that at maximum load the number of deactivated cylinders is zero and at minimum load the number of deactivated cylinders is at a maximum;
first means for detecting when said throttle valve is nearly wide open;
second means for detecting when said throttle valve is nearly closed;
means for switching between said first and second groups of cylinders in response to said first and second means; and
means for selectively deactivating the cylinders of the determined number in said switched group.
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Abstract
In a variable displacement internal combustion engine, a pair of cylinder groups are alternately switched into deactivation for fuel economy when reduced power output can operate the vehicle adequately at an appropriate timing detected when engine output power is at maximum or minimum so that harmful effect on engine performance is minimized during switching periods.
52 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An internal combustion engine having a throttle valve and a first and a second group of cylinders adapted to be activated and deactivated in response to varying loads of the engine, comprising:
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means responsive to said varying engine loads to determine the number of deactivated cylinders such that at maximum load the number of deactivated cylinders is zero and at minimum load the number of deactivated cylinders is at a maximum; first means for detecting when said throttle valve is nearly wide open; second means for detecting when said throttle valve is nearly closed; means for switching between said first and second groups of cylinders in response to said first and second means; and means for selectively deactivating the cylinders of the determined number in said switched group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electronic fuel injection system including a source of injection signals for use in an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve and a first and a second group of cylinders each being provided with a fuel injector adapted to be applied with said injection signal in response to varying loads of said engine, comprising:
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means responsive to said varying engine loads to determine the number of deactivated cylinders such that at maximum load the number of deactivated cylinders is zero and at minimum load the number of deactivated cylinders is one half of the total number of said cylinders; first means for detecting when said throttle valve is nearly wide open; second means for detecting when said throttle valve is nearly closed; means for switching between said first and second groups of cylinders in response to said first and second means; and logic gate means selectively inhibiting the application of said signals to injectors associated with the cylinders of the selected group, said inhibited injectors being equal in number to said determined number of deactivated cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification