Apparatus for and method of controlling internal combustion engine

• US 5,666,916 A
• Filed: 12/23/1994
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shiraishi, Takuya, Ohsuga, Minoru, Nogi, Toshiharu, Fujieda, Mamoru, Oyama, Yoshishige
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/362,878
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 123/295, 123/299, 123/300, 123/305, 123/310
• US Class Current: 123/295
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/267 with means for varying the timing or the lift of the valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0036 the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2201/00 Electronic control systems; Apparatus or methods therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/00 Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 17/005 having direct injection in the combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/12 with positive ignition engines with non-timed positive ignition, and with incandescent chambers F02B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2023/102 the spark plug being placed offset the cylinder centre axis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2023/108 Swirl flow, i.e. the axis of rotation of the main charge flow motion is vertical
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/40 Squish effect
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/101 the injector being placed on or close to the cylinder centre axis, e.g. with mixture formation using spray guided concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/023 the change of valve timing is caused by the change in valve lift, i.e. both valve lift and timing are functionally related
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0261 Controlling the valve overlap
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/002 by simultaneous control of throttle and variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/389 for injecting directly into the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 : Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 : peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/00 : Controlling delivery of fuel or combustion-air, not otherwise provided for using exhaust gas sensors F02D35/0023, F02D35/0046
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/023 : by determining the cylinder pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 : one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0225 : in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/023 : in relation with the gear ratio shifting conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1446 : the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1475 : Regulating the air fuel ratio at a value other than stoichiometry
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/149 : Replacing of the control value by an other parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 : With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 : using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3029 : further comprising a homogeneous charge spark-ignited mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/307 : to avoid torque shocks
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 : Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/34 : with means for controlling injection timing or duration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3809 : Common rail control systems common rail apparatus F02M55/025, F02M63/0225
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3845 : by controlling the flow into the common rail, e.g. the amount of fuel pumped
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 : Multiple injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 2001/241 : specially adapted to pent roof shape of the combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2026/002 : EGR valve being controlled by vacuum or overpressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2026/003 : EGR valve controlled by air measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/55 : using vacuum actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/57 : using electronic means, e.g. electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 45/02 : with each cyclic delivery being separated into two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/045 : for injecting into the combustion chamber F02M69/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0018 : Transmission control for optimising exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 : characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/14 : Control of torque converter lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

Under a partial load, a pumping loss is reduced by a stratified combustion to enhance a fuel consumption, and during the maximum output operation, the output is increased by a premixture combustion, and the output of an engine is controlled, thereby enhancing the drivability. Under the partial load, an ignition source is provided in the vicinity of a fuel injection valve, and after the fuel is injected, the mixture is ignited, and a resulting flame is caused by a spray of the fuel to spread into a cylinder, thereby effecting a stratified combustion. When the load increases, so that soot and so on are produced in the stratified combustion, the fuel injection is effected a plurality of times in a divided manner, and a premixture is produced within the cylinder by the front-half injection, and a flame, produced by the latter-half injection, is injected into the cylinder to burn this premixture.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, comprising:

fuel injection means for injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber of the spark-ignition engine;

ignition means for igniting a mixture in said combustion chamber;

torque detection means for detecting an output torque of the spark-ignition engine;

valve means for introducing an intake air into said combustion chamber;

fuel control means for controlling an amount of the fuel to be injected from said fuel injection means, and a timing of the injection of the fuel;

ignition timing control means for controlling an ignition timing of said ignition means; and

intake air amount control means for controlling an amount of the intake air into said combustion chamber;

wherein in order that a value of the output torque detected by said torque detection means can approach a predetermined value, said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, and said intake air amount control means changes the intake air amount, thereby changing an air/fuel ratio;

wherein said ignition means is provided in the vicinity of said fuel injection means;

wherein under a partial load, an air-fuel mixture is ignited after the fuel is injected, and a resulting flame is caused by a spray of the fuel to spread into a cylinder of the engine, thereby effecting combustion; and

wherein when a load is increased, so that soot is produced in a stratified combustion, the fuel injection is effected a plurality of times in a divided manner, and a premixture is produced within the cylinder by a front-half injection, and a flame, produced by a latter-half injection, is jetted into the cylinder to burn said premixture.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said intake air amount control means keeps the intake air amount constant while said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, thereby changing the air/fuel ratio.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said intake air amount control means changes the intake air amount in a stepwise manner while said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, thereby changing the air/fuel ratio.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said intake air amount control means changes the intake air amount in accordance with a predetermined function while said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, thereby changing the air/fuel ratio.

5. A method of controlling a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber of the spark-ignition engine using a fuel injection means;

igniting, in a vicinity of said fuel injection means, a fuel-air mixture in said combustion chamber using an ignition means;

detecting an output torque of the spark-ignition engine using a torque detection means;

introducing intake air into said combustion chamber using a valve means;

controlling an amount of the fuel to be injected from said fuel injection means, and a timing of the injection of the fuel, using a fuel control means;

controlling an ignition timing of said ignition means using an ignition timing control means;

controlling an amount of the intake air into said combustion chamber using an intake air amount control means;

in order that a value of the output torque detected by said torque detection means can approach a predetermined value, using said fuel control means to change the fuel amount and using said intake air amount control means to change the intake air amount to thereby change an air/fuel ratio in said combustion chamber in such a manner so that said value approaches said predetermined value;

when fuel consumption is under a partial load, igniting the air-fuel mixture after the fuel is injected into said combustion chamber as a spray, to thereby cause a resulting flame to spread into a cylinder of the engine to effect combustion therein; and

when a fuel consumption load is increased to a point where soot is produced in a stratified combustion, injecting the fuel into the combustion chamber a plurality of times in a divided manner to produce a premixture within the cylinder by a front-half injection that is burned when a flame, produced by a latter-half injection, is jetted into the cylinder.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

keeping, under control of said intake air amount control means, the intake air amount constant while said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, to thereby change the air/fuel ratio.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said intake air amount control means changes the intake air amount in a stepwise manner while said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, to thereby change the air/fuel ratio.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said intake air amount control means changes the intake air amount in accordance with a predetermined function while said fuel control means changes the fuel amount, to thereby change the air/fuel ratio.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said ignition means is provided in a position in relation to said injection means so that said ignition means introduces a spark downstream of said fuel spray.

10. A method for controlling a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, said engine including a fuel injection means for injection fuel directly into a combustion chamber of the engine, an ignition means, located in a vicinity of said fuel injection means, for igniting a fuel/air mixture in said combustion chamber, a torque detection means for detecting an output torque of the engine, a valve means for introducing air into said combustion chamber, and a control means for controlling an amount of the fuel to be injected into said combustion chamber, an amount of the air to be introduced into said combustion chamber, timing of fuel injection into said combustion chamber, and timing of ignition of said air/fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:

controlling the relative amounts of fuel and air passing into said combustion chamber to change an air/fuel ratio in said combustion chamber to such a degree that a value of the output torque of the engine approaches a predetermined value;

igniting the air/fuel mixture at a predetermined time after said fuel is injected as a spray into said combustion chamber to produce a flame which spreads into a cylinder of the engine for effecting combustion therein; and

injecting the fuel into the combustion chamber a plurality of times in a divided manner, when a fuel consumption load increases to such a degree that soot is produced in a stratified combustion, so as to produce a premixture within said cylinder by a front-half injection that is burned when a flame, produced by a latter-half injection, is jetted into the cylinder.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said ignition means is positioned in relation to said injection means so that said ignition means introduces a spark downstream of said fuel spray.

12. A spark-ignition internal combustion engine comprising:

a cylinder having therein a combustion chamber defined by a cylindrical portion and a vertically-movable piston;

a fuel injection means for injecting fuel directly into said combustion chamber;

ignition means for igniting a mixture of air and fuel in said combustion chamber;

ignition timing control means for controlling an ignition timing of said ignition means, said ignition means being provided at an inner peripheral wall surface of said cylindrical portion of said combustion chamber; and

fuel injection control means for causing said fuel injection means to inject fuel into said combustion chamber as a late injection during a stroke of the cylinder which corresponds to a time approaching said ignition timing, wherein said fuel is injected into said combustion chamber in such a manner as to cause the air/fuel mixture in said chamber to become stratified, and to thereby form a fuel-rich mixture in a central region of said chamber and a fuel-lean mixture at a peripheral region of said chamber.

13. The engine recited in claim 12, wherein:

said ignition means includes a gasket having electrodes and an insulating layer.

14. The engine recited in claim 12, wherein said igniting means ignites said fuel-lean mixture before said fuel-rich mixture is ignited.