METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATION OF THE GLOW PLUGS OF A DIESEL ENGINE

• US 20080319631A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: KERNWEIN, Markus, TOEDTER, Olaf, PETERS, Odd, MUELLER, Helmut, BLEIL, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/023 Individual control of the glow plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/025 with means for determining glow plug temperature or glow plug resistance
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/027 Safety devices, e.g. for diagnosing the glow plugs or the related circuits

Abstract

A method and device for operation of glow plugs of a Diesel engine in which the type of glow plugs used is determined, by a parameter typical of the glow plugs, for example, the electrical glow plug resistance, being detected and evaluated. The detected values of the parameter typical of the glow plugs are compared with corresponding data for various types of glow plugs stored in the glow controller to determine the type(s) of glow plug(s) in the engine. After identification of the type(s) of glow plug(s), stored sets of parameters, which correspond to the type(s) of glow plug(s) determined, are likewise called upon to control the glow plugs.

Claims

1. A method for operation of the glow plugs of a Diesel engine, comprising the steps of determining the type of glow plugs of the engine by detecting and evaluating a parameter typical of the glow plug, and controlling the glow plugs as a function of the type of glow plug that has been determined in this manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining and controlling steps are effected individually and separately for each of the glow plugs of the internal combustion engine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining and controlling steps are effected in common for all glow plugs of the engine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining and controlling steps are effected in common for some of the glow plugs, and are effected individually and separately for other of the glow plugs of the engine.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining and controlling steps are performed during on-going operation of the engine.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step is performed during a glow plug identification phase ahead of the on-going operation of the internal combustion engine.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining step is performed during in a glow plug type identification phase at a pre-defined point in time.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the parameter typical of the glow plugs is the electrical resistance of the glow plugs.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cold resistance of the glow plugs is used as a parameter typical of the glow plugs.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the hot resistance of the glow plugs is used as a parameter typical of the glow plugs.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the resistance gradient in glow operation is used as a parameter typical of the glow plugs.

12. The method according to claim 5, wherein the behavior of the resistance of the glow plugs during a clocked heating-up procedure is used as a parameter typical of the glow plugs.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein an initial decision concerning the type of glow plug is first made using the cold resistance of the glow plugs, and subsequently a final decision is made concerning the type of glow plug by means of an evaluation of the resistance gradient in glow operation.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein the parameter typical of the glow plugs is the inductance of the glow plugs.

15. The method according to claim 6, wherein the parameter typical of the glow plugs is the capacitance of the glow plugs.

16. The method according to claim 6, wherein the parameter typical of the glow plugs is the resonance frequency of an oscillation circuit formed of the capacitance and inductance of the glow plugs.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining step is performed by comparing the parameter with specified data for various types of glow plugs.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the type of the glow plugs determined is transferred to the engine controller of the internal combustion engine.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein a corresponding parameter set is automatically selected and drawn upon to control the glow plugs by the engine controller as a function of the type of the glow plugs determined.