Method of torque control for an engine with valves that may be deactivated

• US 7,532,972 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kolmanovsky, Ilya V., Michelini, John O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US12/016,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 701103-105, 701/102, 701/110, 701/115, 123/90.11, 123/90.15, 123/198.F
• US Class Current: 701/105
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0211 the change of valve timing is caused by the change in valve lift, i.e. both valve lift and timing are functionally related
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0253 Fully variable control of valve lift and timing using camless actuation systems such as hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators, e.g. solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1006 Engine torque losses, e.g. friction or pumping losses or losses caused by external loads of accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system for operating an internal combustion engine with electromechanical valves, the system comprising of a cylinder with at least an electromechanical intake valve and at least an mechanically actuated exhaust valve that can be controlled to adjust valve opening and closing events relative to a crankshaft location; and a controller to adjust said electromechanical valve timing and said mechanically actuated valve timing.

Claims

1. A system for operating an internal combustion engine with electromechanical valves, the system comprising:

a cylinder with at least an electromechanical intake valve and at least an mechanically actuated exhaust valve that can be controlled to adjust valve opening and closing events relative to a crankshaft location; and

a controller to adjust said electromechanical valve timing and said mechanically actuated valve timing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said mechanically actuated valve timing adjusts the phase of exhaust valve timing relative to a crankshaft position.

3. A system for operating an internal combustion engine with electromechanical valves, the system comprising:

a cylinder with at least an electromechanical intake valve and at least an mechanically actuated exhaust valve that can be controlled to adjust valve opening and closing events relative to a crankshaft location;

a hybrid electric vehicle controller; and

a controller to adjust said electromechanical valve timing and said mechanically actuated valve timing, the controller further starting the engine based on a communication from the hybrid electric vehicle controller, the controller further deactivating a cylinder of the engine based on communication from the hybrid electric vehicle controller.

4. The system of claim 3 where the controller deactivates a cylinder by deactivating the electromechanical intake valve.