Engine control system and method
First Claim
1. An internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion chambers, a fuel/air charging system for delivering a fuel/air charge to said combustion chambers for combustion therein, a fuel/air ratio sensor for measuring the fuel/air ratio, feedback control means for controlling the fuel/air ratio supplied to said engine to maintain the desired fuel/air ratio therein by shifting between the rich side of said desired ratio and the lean side of said desired ratio, means for sensing an undesirable engine condition, means for disabling the running of at least one of said combustion chambers when the undesirable engine condition is sensed, and means for discontinuing feed back control when the combustion chamber running is disabled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system and method for a multi cylinder engine that employs a single sensor associated with only one of the combustion chambers for feedback control of that combustion chamber and for controlling the fuel/air ratio of the remaining combustion chambers. The control of the remaining combustion chambers is based upon the value of the feedback control upon the time of shifting between lean and rich mixtures. The reference value is selected, however, after the initial switch between rich and lean so as to permit time for stabilization. Engine protection is accomplished by cylinder diseabling. At that time feed back control is discontinued.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. An internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion chambers, a fuel/air charging system for delivering a fuel/air charge to said combustion chambers for combustion therein, a fuel/air ratio sensor for measuring the fuel/air ratio, feedback control means for controlling the fuel/air ratio supplied to said engine to maintain the desired fuel/air ratio therein by shifting between the rich side of said desired ratio and the lean side of said desired ratio, means for sensing an undesirable engine condition, means for disabling the running of at least one of said combustion chambers when the undesirable engine condition is sensed, and means for discontinuing feed back control when the combustion chamber running is disabled.
- 10. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion chambers, a fuel/air charging system for delivering a fuel/air charge to said combustion chambers for combustion therein, said method comprising the steps of measuring the fuel/air ratio, controlling the fuel/air ratio supplied to said engine to maintain the desired fuel/air ratio therein by shifting between the rich side of said desired ratio and the lean side of said desired ratio, sensing an undesirable engine condition, disabling the running of at least one of said combustion chambers when the undesirable engine condition is sensed, and discontinuing feed back control when the combustion chamber running is disabled.
Specification