Control system for an engine supercharging system

• US 6,378,506 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Ehlers, Jeffery C., Suhre, Blake R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US09/825,710
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 123/559.1, 123/564, 606/051
• US Class Current: 123/564
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/32 Engines with pumps other than of reciprocating-piston type with crankcase pumps F02B33/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/34 with rotary pumps with cell-type pressure exchangers or the like F02B33/42
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for outboard marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/703 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A bypass control valve is controlled by an engine control module as a function of manifold absolute pressure and temperature within an air intake manifold in conjunction with the barometric pressure. An air per cylinder (APC) magnitude is calculated dynamically and compared to a desired APC value which is selected as a function of engine operating parameters. The air per cylinder value is calculated as a function of the manifold absolute pressure, the cylinder swept volume, the volumetric efficiency, the ideal gas constant, and the air inlet temperature. The volumetric efficiency is selected from stored data as a function of engine speed and a ratio of manifold absolute pressure to barometric pressure.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a supercharger, comprising the steps of:

disposing said supercharger in fluid communication within an air stream flowing to a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine;

selecting a desired magnitude of air to be provided to said combustion chamber of said engine;

measuring an actual pressure of air provided to said cylinder;

measuring an actual temperature of air provided to said cylinder;

providing a throttle valve disposed upstream of said supercharger and said combustion chamber for controlling the amount of air flowing to an inlet of said supercharger;

providing a bypass conduit connecting said inlet of said supercharger to an outlet of said supercharger;

providing a bypass valve within said bypass conduit to control the flow of air from said outlet of said supercharger to said inlet of said supercharger through said bypass conduit;

calculating an actual magnitude of air provided to said combustion chamber as a function of said actual temperature and said actual pressure;

determining a difference between said actual magnitude of air and said desired magnitude of air; and

controlling the position of said bypass valve as a function of said difference between said actual magnitude of air and said desired magnitude of air.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring an actual barometric pressure of the air surrounding said engine;

calculating a ratio of said actual pressure and said actual barometric pressure; and

calculating an actual magnitude of air provided to said combustion chamber as a function of said actual pressure, said ratio, and said actual temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said actual pressure is measured at a location in fluid communication between said outlet of said supercharger and said combustion chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said actual temperature is measured at a location in fluid communication between said outlet of said supercharger and said combustion chamber.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a microprocessor connected in signal communication with temperature sensor for measuring said actual temperature of air provided to said cylinder and a pressure sensor for measuring an actual pressure of air provided to said cylinder, said microprocessor performing said calculating and determining steps.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said calculating step calculates the air per cycle (APC) for said cylinder according to the relationship;

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said engine is a powerhead of an outboard motor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said engine is a powerhead of a marine propulsion system.

9. A method for controlling a supercharger for an engine, comprising the steps of:

disposing said supercharger in fluid communication within an air stream flowing to a combustion chamber of a cylinder of said engine;

selecting a desired magnitude of air to be provided to said combustion chamber of said engine;

measuring an actual pressure of air provided to said cylinder;

measuring an actual temperature of air provided to said cylinder;

providing a throttle valve disposed upstream of said supercharger and said combustion chamber for controlling the amount of air flowing to an inlet of said supercharger, said actual pressure being measured at a location in fluid communication between said outlet of said supercharger and said combustion chamber;

providing a bypass conduit connecting said inlet of said supercharger to an outlet of said supercharger;

providing a bypass valve within said bypass conduit to control the flow of air from said outlet of said supercharger to said inlet of said supercharger through said bypass conduit;

measuring an actual barometric pressure of the air surrounding said engine;

calculating a ratio of said actual pressure and said actual barometric pressure;

calculating an actual magnitude of air provided to said combustion chamber as a function of said actual pressure, said ratio, and said actual temperature;

determining a difference between said actual magnitude of air and said desired magnitude of air; and

controlling the position of said bypass valve as a function of said difference between said actual magnitude of air and said desired magnitude of air.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

said actual temperature is measured at a location in fluid communication between said outlet of said supercharger and said combustion chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a microprocessor connected in signal communication with temperature sensor for measuring said actual temperature of air provided to said cylinder and a pressure sensor for measuring an actual pressure of air provided to said cylinder, said microprocessor performing said calculating and determining steps.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said calculating step calculates the air per cycle (APC) for said cylinder according to the relationship;

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

said engine is a powerhead of an outboard motor.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

said engine is a powerhead of a marine propulsion system.

15. A method for controlling a supercharger for an engine, comprising the steps of:

disposing said supercharger in fluid communication within an air stream flowing to a combustion chamber of a cylinder of said engine;

selecting a desired magnitude of air to be provided to said combustion chamber of said engine;

measuring an actual pressure of air provided to said cylinder;

measuring an actual temperature of air provided to said cylinder;

providing a throttle valve disposed upstream of said supercharger and said combustion chamber for controlling the amount of air flowing to an inlet of said supercharger, said actual pressure being measured at a location in fluid communication between said outlet of said supercharger and said combustion chamber;

providing a bypass conduit connecting said inlet of said supercharger to an outlet of said supercharger;

providing a bypass valve within said bypass conduit to control the flow of air from said outlet of said supercharger to said inlet of said supercharger through said bypass conduit;

measuring an actual barometric pressure of the air surrounding said engine;

calculating a ratio of said actual pressure and said actual barometric pressure;

calculating an actual magnitude of air provided to said combustion chamber as a function of said actual pressure, said ratio, and said actual temperature;

determining a difference between said actual magnitude of air and said desired magnitude of air;

controlling the position of said bypass valve as a function of said difference between said actual magnitude of air and said desired magnitude of air; and

providing a microprocessor connected in signal communication with temperature sensor for measuring said actual temperature of air provided to said cylinder and a pressure sensor for measuring an actual pressure of air provided to said cylinder, said microprocessor performing said calculating and determining steps.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said actual temperature is measured at a location in fluid communication between said outlet of said supercharger and said combustion chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

said calculating step calculates the air per cycle (APC) for said cylinder according to the relationship;

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

said engine is a powerhead of an outboard motor.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

said engine is a powerhead of a marine propulsion system.