Method and system for controlling fuel delivery during engine cranking

• US 5,735,249 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Parke, Alastair William, Doering, Jeffrey Allen, Dixon, Jon, Cullen, Michael J., Mingo, Paul Charles, Marzonie, Robert Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/887,127
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.16, 123/478, 123/480, 123/491, 123/492, 123/493
• US Class Current: 123/491
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/047 Taking into account fuel evaporation or wall wetting; special correction after fuel cut-off F02D41/126
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow

Abstract

A method and system for controlling fuel delivery to an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine during engine cranking compensates for fuel transport dynamics and the actual fuel injected into the cylinder. A plurality of engine parameters are sensed, including engine temperature, inducted air mass per cylinder and number of engine intake events since cranking. A temperature of the engine stored at key-off is determined. A new puddle mass estimate for the cylinder is determined based on the decay ratio of the new puddle mass estimate to the prior puddle mass estimate stored before key-off utilizing the temperature of the engine stored at key-off. A desired fuel mass to be injected into the cylinder is then determined based on the new puddle mass estimate and the plurality of engine parameters.

Claims

1. A method for determining an amount of fuel to be delivered to an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine during engine cranking, the individual cylinder having an intake port for regulating entry of the fuel into the cylinder and having a prior puddle mass estimate corresponding to a mass of fuel previously remaining in the intake port before key-off of the engine, the method comprising:

sensing a plurality of engine parameters;

determining a temperature of the engine stored at key-off;

determining a new puddle mass estimate for the cylinder based on the temperature of the engine stored at key-off and the prior puddle mass estimate; and

determining a desired fuel mass to be injected into the cylinder based on the new puddle mass estimate and the plurality of engine parameters.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising controlling the fuel mass delivered to the cylinder based on the desired fuel mass.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the new puddle mass estimate includes determining a decay effect based on the engine temperature.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein determining a decay effect includes determining an exponential decay.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein determining the exponential decay includes determining an amount of time that has elapsed since key-off.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the desired fuel mass includes determining a base fuel mass and a transient fuel mass.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein determining the base fuel mass includes determining a desired in-cylinder air/fuel ratio.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein determining the desired in-cylinder air/fuel ratio includes determining a number of engine intake events since cranking.

9. A system for determining an amount of fuel to be delivered to an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine during engine cranking, the individual cylinder having an intake port for regulating entry of the fuel into the cylinder and having a prior puddle mass estimate corresponding to a mass of fuel previously remaining in the intake port before key-off of the engine, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of engine parameters; and

control logic operative to determine a temperature of the engine stored at key-off, determine a new puddle mass estimate for the cylinder based on the temperature of the engine stored at key-off and the prior puddle mass estimate, and determining a desired fuel mass to be injected into the cylinder based on the new puddle mass estimate and the plurality of engine parameters.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the control logic is further operative to control the fuel mass delivered to the cylinder based on the desired fuel mass.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the control logic, in determining the new puddle mass estimate, is further operative to determine a decay effect based on the engine temperature.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the control logic, in determining the decay effect, is further operative to determine an exponential decay.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the control logic, in determining the exponential decay, is further operative to determine an amount of time that has elapsed since key-off.

14. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the control logic, in determining the desired fuel mass, is further operative to determine a base fuel mass and a transient fuel mass.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein the control logic, in determining the base fuel mass, is further operative to determine a desired in-cylinder air/fuel ratio.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the control logic, in determining the desired in-cylinder air/fuel ratio, is further operative to determine a number of engine intake events since cranking.

17. An article of manufacture for an internal combustion engine of an automotive engine having an individual cylinder having an intake port for regulating entry of the fuel into the cylinder and having a prior puddle mass estimate corresponding to a mass of fuel previously remaining in the intake port before key-off of the engine and the vehicle further having a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of engine parameters comprising:

a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for determining a temperature of the engine stored at key-off, determining a new puddle mass estimate for the cylinder based on the temperature of the engine stored at key-off and the prior puddle mass estimate, and determining a desired fuel mass to be injected into the cylinder based on the new puddle mass estimate and the plurality of engine parameters.