Active adaptive EGR and spark advance control system

• US 6,041,756 A
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bonne, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US09/169,113
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 123/406.29, 123/406.24, 123/406.48, 701/111
• US Class Current: 123/406.29
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1015 Engines misfires
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/703 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/027 using knock sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/005 according to engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1498 measuring engine roughness
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2451 characterised by what is learned or calibrated
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/152 dependent on pinking detecting or indicating knocks in internal-combustion engines G01L23/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a control system for the active adaptive control of exhaust gas recirculation and spark advance for an internal combustion engine automobile. While the automobile is operating, a control algorithm continuously receives data input from various sources such as the driving mode monitor, fuel consumption monitor, engine roughness monitor, and the engine knock monitor. Based on the data, the control algorithm then causes either an EGR command, a spark advance command, both an EGR and spark advance command, or no command at all to be generated so as to optimize the fuel economy of the automobile. This process is repeated until there is no further beneficial effect on fuel economy or engine roughness and/or engine knock is detected.

Claims

1. A control system for optimizing fuel economy for use in combination with an internal combustion engine automobile having an exhaust gas recirculation system and a spark advance control system, comprising the steps of:

providing a driving mode monitor for determining a driving mode, a fuel consumption monitor for determining fuel consumption, an engine roughness monitor for determining the presence and level of engine roughness, and an engine knock monitor for determining the presence and level of engine knock;

determining whether a predetermined driving mode is present; and

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation.

2. The control system of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining fuel consumption.

3. The control system of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining the presence and level of engine roughness.

4. The control system of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in order to reduce the level of engine roughness.

5. The control system of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in order to reduce the level of engine roughness.

6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining the presence and level of engine knock.

7. The control system of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in order to reduce the level of engine knock.

8. The control system of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in order to reduce the level of engine knock.

9. The control system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined driving mode requires that the automobile is travelling at least 30 miles per hour.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas recirculation system contains a linear solenoid exhaust gas recirculation valve.

11. The control system of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance.

12. A control system for optimizing fuel economy for use in combination with an internal combustion engine automobile having an exhaust gas recirculation system and a spark advance control system, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a predetermined driving mode is present;

determining fuel consumption; and

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation.

13. The control system of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing a driving mode monitor for determining the driving mode;

providing a fuel consumption monitor for determining fuel consumption;

providing an engine roughness monitor for determining the presence and level of engine roughness; and

providing an engine knock monitor for determining the presence and level of engine knock.

14. The control system of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining the presence and level of engine roughness.

15. The control system of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in order to reduce the level of engine roughness.

16. The control system of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in order to reduce the level of engine roughness.

17. The control system of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

determining the presence and level of engine knock.

18. The control system of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in order to reduce the level of engine knock.

19. The control system of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in order to reduce the level of engine knock.

20. The control system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined driving mode requires that the automobile is travelling at least 30 miles per hour.

21. The control system of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance.

31. The control system of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in response to the driving mode monitor and the fuel consumption monitor.

22. A control system for optimizing fuel economy for use in combination with an internal combustion engine automobile having an exhaust gas recirculation system and a spark advance control system, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a predetermined driving mode is present, the driving mode being determined by a driving mode monitor;

determining fuel consumption, the fuel consumption being determined by a fuel consumption monitor; and

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in response to the driving mode monitor and the fuel consumption monitor.

23. The control system of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

providing an engine roughness monitor for determining the presence and level of engine roughness; and

providing an engine knock monitor for determining the presence and level of engine knock.

24. The control system of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

determining the presence and level of engine roughness.

25. The control system of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in order to reduce the level of engine roughness.

26. The control system of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in order to reduce the level of engine roughness.

27. The control system of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

determining the presence and level of engine knock.

28. The control system of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the exhaust gas recirculation system to either increase or decrease the level of exhaust gas recirculation in order to reduce the level of engine knock.

29. The control system of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the spark advance control system to either increase or decrease the spark advance in order to reduce the level of engine knock.

30. The control system of claim 22, wherein the predetermined driving mode requires that the automobile is travelling at least 30 miles per hour.