Engine system and method with cylinder deactivation

• US 7,311,079 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Surnilla, Gopichandra, Bidner, David, Elwart, Shane, Doering, Jeff, Goralski, Christian T. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/239,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20060030998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 701/103, 701/104, 123/325, 123/326, 123/481, 123/198.F, 123/324, 123/568.14, 602/99, 603/01, 602/74, 602/76
• US Class Current: 123/325
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/027 using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0814 combined with catalytic converters, e.g. NOx absorption/storage reduction catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0842 Nitrogen oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/101 Three-way catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0042 Controlling the combustible mixture as a function of the canister purging, e.g. control of injected fuel to compensate for deviation of air fuel ratio when purging
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0045 Estimating, calculating or determining the purging rate, amount, flow or concentration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/022 in relation with the clutch status
• 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: F02D 41/0275 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a NOx trap or adsorbent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/065 at hot start or restart F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/086 taking into account the temperature of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/126 transitional corrections at the end of the cut-off period
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/182 for the control of a fuel injection device
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 : Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/045 : combined with electronic control of other engine functions, e.g. fuel injection in general F02D37/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1504 : with particular means during a transient phase, e.g. acceleration, deceleration, gear change during starting F02P5/1506
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Claims

1. A method for operating an engine, the method comprising:

in response to a pedal tip-out by the vehicle driver, operating a first group of cylinders without injected fuel and a second group cylinder to combust a lean air-fuel mixture, and then increasing engine outnut by commencing combustion in the first group of cylinders with lean combustion; and

mixing gasses exhaust from the first and second cylinder groups, and treating the mixed exhaust gasses in an emission control device capable of storing NOx in excess oxygen conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a NOx trap coupled to the first and second group of cylinders.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the engine has a first upstream three way catalyst coupled to said first cylinder group.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the engine has a second upstream three way catalyst coupled to said second cylinder group.

5. A method for operating an engine, the method comprising:

in response to a pedal tip-out by the vehicle driver, operating a first group of cylinders without injected fuel and a second group of cylinder to combust a lean air-fuel mixture, then increasing engine output by commencing combustion in the first group of cylinders with lean combustion, and then operating at least one of the first and second groups stoichiometric or rich to purge stored NOx; and

mixing gasses exhaust from the first and second cylinder groups, and treating the mixed exhaust gasses in an emission control device capable of storing NOx in excess oxygen conditions.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said device is a NOx trap coupled to the first and second group of cylinders.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the engine has a first upstream three way catalyst coupled to said first cylinder group.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the engine has a second upstream three way catalyst coupled to said second cylinder group.

9. A method for operating an engine, the method comprising:

during a first operating condition, operating with a first and second cylinder group performing stoichiometric combustion;

during a second operating condition, operating with the first cylinder group performing stoichiometric combustion and the second cylinder group performing lean combustion;

during a third operating condition, operating with the first and second cylinder group performing lean combustion;

during a fourth operating condition which includes in response to a pedal tip-out by the vehicle driver, operating with one of the first and second cylinder groups performing lean combustion and the other operating without injected fuel; and

mixing gasses exhaust from the first and second cylinder groups, and treating the mixed exhaust gasses in an emission control device capable of storing NOx in excess oxygen conditions.