Traction control system with fuel and spark control

• US 5,213,178 A
• Filed: 04/21/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Harnack, Donald W., Polidan, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US07/871,528
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 180/197, 364/426.01, 364/426.03, 364/424.1, 123/417, 123/416
• US Class Current: 180/197
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/16 Engines characterised by number of cylinders, e.g. single-cylinder engines F02B75/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/00 Non-electrical conjoint control of two or more functions of engines, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The torque reduction of an internal combustion engine in response to an excessive acceleration spin condition is provided by a combination of disabling selected engine cylinders and spark retard. When a reduction of engine torque output is required in response to an excessive acceleration spin condition of the vehicle, the first level of torque reduction is provided at a level less than the torque reduction resulting from disabling a single cylinder of the engine by retarding the spark timing of the spark ignition in the cylinders. The amount of the retard of spark timing is such that the resulting torque reduction is less than the torque reduction resulting from disabling a single cylinder of the engine.

Claims

1. A method of traction control for a vehicle having wheels driven by an engine having fuel injectors delivering fuel to cylinders of the engine and having an ignition system adapted to initiate combustion in each of the cylinders in timed relation to engine rotation in accordance with a spark timing value, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing an acceleration spin condition of the wheels;

determining an engine torque reduction amount as a predetermined function of the acceleration spin condition;

adjusting the spark timing value in response to a determined engine torque reduction amount (A) in a direction effecting a reduction in the engine torque output and (B) by an amount resulting in an engine torque reduction that is a predetermined amount less than a torque reduction amount resulting from disabling a single one of the fuel injectors;

when the determined engine torque reduction amount exceeds the engine torque reduction achieved by the step of adjusting the spark timing value, determining a number of injectors to be disabled from injecting fuel to achieve the determined torque reduction amount; and

disabling the determined number of injectors to inhibit delivery of fuel to the respective cylinders, whereby the step of adjusting the spark timing value provides for control of engine torque output when the determined engine torque reduction amount is less than the torque reduction that would result from disabling a single fuel injector.

2. The method of claim 1 further including a step of measuring engine speed and wherein the step of adjusting the spark timing value further includes a step of determining the spark adjustment amount as a predetermined function of the measured engine speed.

3. A method of traction control for a vehicle having wheels driven by an engine having fuel injectors delivering fuel to cylinders of the engine and having an ignition system adapted to initiate combustion in each of the cylinders in timed relation to engine rotation in accordance with a spark timing value, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing an acceleration spin condition of the wheels;

determining a requested percent reduction in engine torque output in response to a sensed acceleration spin condition;

adjusting the spark timing value in response to a requested percent reduction in engine torque (A) in a direction effecting a reduction in the engine torque output and (B) by an amount resulting in a percent reduction in engine torque output that is a predetermined amount less than a percent reduction in engine torque output that would result from disabling a single one of the fuel injectors;

when the requested percent reduction in engine torque output exceeds the percent reduction in engine torque output achieved by the step of adjusting the spark timing value, determining a number of injectors to be disabled from injecting fuel to achieve the requested percentage reduction in engine torque output; and

disabling the determined number of injectors to inhibit delivery of fuel to the respective cylinders, whereby the step of adjusting the spark timing value provides for control of engine torque output when the requested percent reduction in engine torque output is less than the percent reduction in engine torque that would result from disabling a single fuel injector.