Turbocharger launch control

• US 8,718,853 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ulrey, Joseph Norman, Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fei, Jordan S
• Application Number:
  US13/763,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20130146023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/102, 180/65, 180/265
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0642 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/40 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0633 Inlet air flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0638 Turbocharger state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0683 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/305 target power to auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/435 Supercharger or turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 23/00 Controlling engines characterised by their being supercharged
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method for launching a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises, during operation with an idle engine speed prior to a pedal tip-in, increasing alternator and boost pressure while maintaining the idle engine speed, and decreasing alternator load responsive to the pedal tip-in. In this way, increased turbocharger output may be used to quickly accelerate the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle launch method, comprising:

during operation with an idle engine speed prior to an accelerator pedal tip-in, increasing alternator load and boost pressure via a turbocharger, and operating with retarded spark timing, while maintaining the idle engine speed; and

responsive to the accelerator pedal tip-in, decreasing alternator load and advancing spark timing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing alternator load and boost pressure while maintaining the idle engine speed are performed in response to a drop in hydraulic brake pressure exceeding a threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pedal tip-in comprises an accelerator pedal being depressed past a threshold level.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the operation with the idle engine speed prior to the pedal tip-in, closing a wastegate and compressor bypass valve.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the operation with the idle engine speed prior to the pedal tip-in, increasing a load to an air conditioning compressor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, responsive to the pedal tip-in, decreasing the load on the air conditioning compressor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the operation with the idle engine speed prior to the pedal tip-in, advancing intake cam timing.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, responsive to the pedal tip-in, advancing spark timing.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

prior to a vehicle launch while at idle engine speed and responsive to catalyst temperature below a temperature that causes damage, in response to a drop in hydraulic brake pressure, increasing boost pressure via a turbocharger above barometric pressure while increasing engine airflow, increasing an engine accessory load, advancing intake cam timing, and maintaining idle engine speed with retarded spark timing; and

launching the vehicle from the idle engine speed in response to an accelerator pedal being depressed past a threshold level by reducing the engine accessory load.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein launching the vehicle further comprises advancing spark.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising closing a wastegate and a compressor bypass valve prior to the vehicle launch.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein increasing the accessory load on the engine further comprises increasing a load placed on an alternator prior to the vehicle launch.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein reducing an accessory load on the engine further comprises decreasing the load placed on the alternator.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein voltage produced as a result of the increased load on the alternator is stored in a capacitor bank coupled to the alternator and wherein the stored voltage is subsequently discharged following the vehicle launch.

15. A vehicle launch method, comprising:

during an idle engine operation;

increasing alternator load and boost pressure via a turbocharger by closing a wastegate and a compressor bypass valve while maintaining idle engine speed;

storing voltage produced as a result of the increased load on the alternator in a capacitor bank coupled to the alternator; and

responsive to an accelerator pedal tip-in from idle engine speed, decreasing alternator load.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising discharging the stored voltage during engine operation following the pedal tip-in.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein maintaining the idle engine speed further comprises retarding spark timing.