Apparatus for performing stepwise reactivation of cylinders of an internal combustion engine upon deceleration
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling the number of enabled cylinders of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders during deceleration, comprising:
- (a) first means for producing a first signal indicative of the rotational speed of a crankshaft of said engine;
(b) second means for producing a second signal indicative of deceleration of said engine;
(c) a plurality of threshold detecting circuits having respective inputs and outputs, said inputs being connected to said first means for producing respective output signals responsive to said first signal at each of said outputs, the thresholds of said detecting circuits being arranged stepwise;
(d) a plurality of switching means respectively responsive to the output signals of said threshold detecting circuits for stepwise increasing the number of enabled cylinders as said engine decelerates;
(e) third means responsive to said second signal for enabling the stepwise increase upon deceleration of said engine;
(f) fourth means for producing a third signal when the load of said engine is increased; and
(g) fifth means for enabling all of said cylinders when the engine rotational speed falls below a predetermined value which is above the lowest threshold of said threshold detecting circuit upon presence of said third signal.
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Abstract
The engine crankshaft rotational speed is detected to be compared with stepwise arranged threshold speeds so as to stepwise enable fuel injection valves of respective cylinders during deceleration of the engine. Accordingly, the number of enabled cylinders is increased in a stepwise manner from a fuel cut-off state as the engine rotational speed decreases to prevent engine stall, while occurrence of shocks upon reactivation of cylinders is avoided. The threshold speeds are controlled in accordance with the variation of engine load which may be increased upon operation of auxiliary power consuming units, such as an air conditioner the compressor of which is driven by the engine, for preventing undesirable vibrations of the engine during the stepwise reactivation of the cylinders.
69 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling the number of enabled cylinders of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders during deceleration, comprising:
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(a) first means for producing a first signal indicative of the rotational speed of a crankshaft of said engine; (b) second means for producing a second signal indicative of deceleration of said engine; (c) a plurality of threshold detecting circuits having respective inputs and outputs, said inputs being connected to said first means for producing respective output signals responsive to said first signal at each of said outputs, the thresholds of said detecting circuits being arranged stepwise; (d) a plurality of switching means respectively responsive to the output signals of said threshold detecting circuits for stepwise increasing the number of enabled cylinders as said engine decelerates; (e) third means responsive to said second signal for enabling the stepwise increase upon deceleration of said engine; (f) fourth means for producing a third signal when the load of said engine is increased; and (g) fifth means for enabling all of said cylinders when the engine rotational speed falls below a predetermined value which is above the lowest threshold of said threshold detecting circuit upon presence of said third signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for controlling the number of enabled cylinders of an internal combustion engine during deceleration, comprising:
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(a) first means for producing a first signal indicative of the rotation speed of a crankshaft of said engine; (b) second means for producing a second signal indicative of deceleration of said engine; (c) a plurality of threshold detecting circuits having respective inputs and outputs, said inputs being connected to said first means for producing respective output signals responsive to said first signal at each of said outputs, the thresholds of said detecting circuits being arranged stepwise; (d) a plurality of switching means respectively responsive to the output signals for said threshold detecting circuits for stepwise increasing the number of enabled cylinders as said engine decelerates; (e) third means responsive to said second signal for enabling the stepwise increase upon deceleration of said engine; (f) fourth means for producing a third signal when the load of said engine is increased; (g) fifth means responsive to said first signal for producing a fourth signal when the engine rotational speed is below a predetermined value which is above the lowest threshold of said threshold detecting circuit; (h) an AND gate responsive to said third and fourth signals; and (i) a switching circuit interposed between said first means and said threshold detecting circuits, said switching circuit being responsive to the output signal of said AND gate.
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12. Apparatus for controlling the number of enabled cylinders of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders during deceleration, comprising:
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(a) first means for producing a first signal indicative of the rotational speed of a crankshaft of said engine; (b) second means for producing a second signal indicative of deceleration of said engine; (c) third means responsive to said first signal for producing a plurality of control signals, the number of which varies progressively in response to said first signal; (d) fourth means responsive to said second signal for enabling said third means to produce said control signals upon deceleration of said engine; (e) a plurality of switching means respectively responsive to each of said control signals for respectively disabling each of said cylinders; (f) fifth means for generating a third signal indicative of the running of at least one auxiliary power consuming unit driven by said engine; and (g) sixth means responsive to said third signal for decreasing the number of said control signals so as to increase the number of enabled cylinders for compensating the load increasing caused by the operation of said power consuming unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification