Controller for cylinder cut-off type internal combustion engine

• US 6,408,618 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ide, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/774,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 602/85, 602/86, 602/76, 602/77, 602/87, 123/481, 123/198.F
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/011 having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/00 Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1824 six
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/22 with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0804 Estimation of the temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A controller for a cylinder cut-off type internal combustion engine is provided for ensuring an activated state of catalysts in cylinders, which are stopped during a partial cylinder operation, at all times to maintain favorable emission characteristics upon switching from the partial cylinder operation to a full cylinder operation, and for maintaining a satisfactory fuel consumption rate by conducting the partial cylinder operation to the utmost. The cylinder cut-off type internal combustion engine can be switched between the partial cylinder operation and the full cylinder operation. Exhaust gas from cylinders in a right bank, which are switched off during the partial cylinder operation, and from cylinders in a left bank is purified by two catalyst units in exhaust pipes independent of each other. The controller estimates an estimated catalyst temperature of the catalyst for the right bank, and disables the partial cylinder operation when the estimated catalyst temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. A controller for a cylinder cut-off type internal combustion engine which is switched between a full cylinder operation in which a plurality of cylinders are all operated and a partial cylinder operation in which some of said plurality of cylinders are prohibited from operating, said cylinder cut-off internal combustion engine having first and second catalysts provided respectively in two exhaust systems independent of each other for purifying exhaust gas from said some cylinders and from the remaining cylinders respectively, said controller comprising:

catalyst temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of said first catalyst; and

partial cylinder operation disabling means for disabling said partial cylinder operation when the detected temperature of said first catalyst is lower than a predetermined temperature.

2. A controller for a cylinder cut-off type internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising:

operating state detecting means for detecting an operating state of said cylinder cut-off type internal combustion engine,

wherein said catalyst temperature detecting means includes catalyst temperature estimating means for estimating the temperature of said first catalyst based on the detected operating state.