Diagnostic device for exhaust gas recirculation system

• US 7,104,259 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Terada, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US11/085,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 123/568.11, 123/568.16, 123/568.21, 731/173, 731/181, 731/182, 701/103, 701/108
• US Class Current: 123/568.16
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/108 with means for detecting or resolving a stuck throttle, e.g. when being frozen in a position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0055 Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/47 the characteristics being temperatures, pressures or flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/49 Detecting, diagnosing or indicating an abnormal function of the EGR system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A failure diagnostic device for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) apparatus, which can detect an intake pipe pressure at a high accuracy with a simple control and can prevent false diagnosis of an EGR system. If at least either one of first and second off-mode intake pipe pressures P_1off, P_2off exceeds a cancel determination value K, an ECU determines that the intake pipe pressures P_1off, P_on and P_2off are not properly detected, and cancels the failure diagnosis of the EGR system. Therefore, the false diagnosis of the EGR system can be avoided with a simplified process without requiring specific determinations on individual abnormal states of the various components other than the EGR system. By setting the cancel determination value K based on the intake pipe pressure P resulting when EGR off-control is executed in a state of an EGR valve being stuck in a fully-open position, each improperly-detected intake pipe pressure can be excluded with reliability.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device for an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus with an EGR valve disposed in a recirculation pipe interconnecting an exhaust pipe and an intake pipe downstream of a throttle valve, comprising:

EGR control means for selectively executing an EGR on-control to return an exhaust gas from said exhaust pipe to said intake pipe and an EGR off-control to cut off said return of said exhaust gas from said exhaust pipe to said intake pipe;

diagnostic means for diagnosing a failure of said EGR system based on an intake pipe pressure during said EGR on-control and an intake pipe pressure during said EGR off-control when a diagnosis run condition is satisfied; and

cancellation means for canceling diagnosis executed by said diagnostic means when said intake pipe pressure during the EGR off-control exceeds a presetted cancel determination value so as to easily and precisely perform to diagnose said failure.

2. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein:

said EGR control means successively executes said EGR off-control, said EGR on-control, and said EGR off-control when said diagnosis run condition is satisfied, and

said cancellation means cancels said diagnosis executed by said diagnostic means when at least one of the intake pipe pressures during two steps of the EGR off-control exceeds said presetted cancel determination value.

3. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein:

said cancellation means sets a cancel determination value on the basis of said intake pipe pressure when said EGR off-control is executed in a state of said EGR valve being stuck to a fully-open position.

4. The diagnostic device according to claim 3, wherein:

said EGR control means successively executes said EGR off-control, said EGR on-control, and said EGR off-control when said diagnosis run condition is satisfied, and

said cancellation means cancels said diagnosis executed by said diagnostic means when at least one of the intake pipe pressures during two steps of the EGR off-control exceeds said presetted cancel determination value.