Method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine

• US 6,757,606 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Gonring, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US10/452,622
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 701/103, 701/104, 701/105, 701/110, 701/115, 123/406.64
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2432 Methods of calibration

Abstract

A method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine includes the storing of two or more sets of operational relationships which are determined and preselected by calibrating the engine to achieve predetermined characteristics under predetermined operating conditions. The plurality of sets of operational relationships are then stored in a memory device of a microprocessor and later selected in response to a manually entered parameter. The chosen set of operational relationships is selected as a function of the selectable parameter entered by the operator of the marine vessel and the operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled according to that chosen set of operational parameters. This allows two identical internal combustion engines to be operated in different manners to suit the needs of particular applications of the two internal combustion engines.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of operational relationships which is preselected for use in a first type of application of said internal combustion engine;

providing a second set of operational relationships which is preselected for use in a second type of application of said internal combustion engine;

monitoring a manually selectable parameter;

selecting a chosen set of operational relationships from said first and second sets of operational relationships as a function of said selectable parameter; and

controlling the operation of said internal combustion engine according to said chosen set of operational relationships.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said manually selectable parameter is a resistance magnitude of a resistive component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of engine operating speed, each of said plurality of values of engine operating speed being stored as a function of a position of a manually movable throttle selector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of ignition timing values, each of said plurality of ignition timing values being stored as a function of both an engine operating speed value and a load value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of a duration of air injection through a fuel injector during each injection event, each of said plurality of values of a duration of air injection through a fuel injector during each injection event being stored as a function of both an engine operating speed value and a load value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of an amount of fuel injected through a fuel injector during each injector event, each of said plurality of values of an amount of fuel injected through a fuel injector during each injector event being stored as a function of both an engine operating speed value and a load value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of fuel injection timing values, each of said plurality of fuel injection timing values being stored as a function of both an engine operating speed value and a load value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of throttle plate positions for a supercharger bypass conduit, each of said plurality of throttle plate positions for a supercharger bypass conduit being stored as a function of both an engine operating speed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said manually selectable parameter is a selection made through the use of a data entry terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said manually selectable parameter is a status of one or more switches.

11. A method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of operational relationships which is preselected for use in a first type of application of said internal combustion engine;

providing a second set of operational relationships which is preselected for use in a second type application of said internal combustion engine;

monitoring a manually selectable parameter, said manually selectable parameter being selected from the group consisting of a resistance magnitude of a resistive component, a selection made through the use of a data entry terminal, and a status of one or more switches;

selecting a chosen set of operational relationships from said first and second sets of operational relationships as a function of said selectable parameter; and

controlling the operation of said internal combustion engine according to said chosen set of operational relationships.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of engine operating speed, each of said plurality of values of engine operating speed being stored as a function of a position of a manually movable throttle selector.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of ignition timing values, each of said ignition timing values being stored as a function of an engine operating speed value.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of a duration of air injection through a fuel injector during each injection event, each of said plurality of values of a duration of air injection through a fuel injector during each injection event being stored as a function of an engine operating speed value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of an amount of fuel injected through a fuel injector during each injector event, each of said plurality of values of an amount of fuel injected through a fuel injector during each injector event being stored as a function of an engine operating speed value.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of fuel injection timing values, each of said plurality of fuel injection timing values being stored as a function of an engine operating speed value.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of throttle plate positions for a supercharger bypass conduit, each of said plurality of throttle plate positions for a supercharger bypass conduit being stored as a function of an engine operating speed.

18. A method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of operational relationships which is preselected for use in a first type of application of said internal combustion engine;

storing said first set of operational relationships in a memory device which is accessible to a microprocessor;

providing a second set of operational relationships which is preselected for use in a second type of application of said internal combustion engine;

storing said second set of operational relationships in said memory device which is accessible to said microprocessor;

monitoring a manually selectable parameter, said manually selectable parameter being selected from the group consisting of a resistance magnitude of a resistive component, a selection made through the use of a data entry terminal, and a status of one or more switches;

selecting a chosen set of operational relationships from said first and second sets of operational relationships, from said memory device, as a function of said selectable parameter; and

controlling the operation of said internal combustion engine according to said chosen set of operational relationships.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of values of engine operating speed, each of said plurality of values of engine operating speed being stored as a function of a position of a manually movable throttle selector.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

each of said first and second sets of operational relationships comprises a plurality of engine control settings, each of said plurality of engine control settings being stored as a function of an engine operating speed value.