Method for controlling engine braking in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11725598-B2
Application number	US-202217727298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2022
Priority date	Apr 23, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A method for controlling engine braking in a vehicle comprises: determining a position of a throttle operator; determining a speed of the vehicle; and determining an engine braking mode selected. In response to the position of the throttle operator being a fully released position and the selected braking mode being a first engine braking mode: controlling an engine and a position of a throttle valve according to the first engine braking mode for applying a first level of engine braking. In response to the position of the throttle operator being the fully released position and the selected braking mode being the second engine braking mode: controlling the engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode based at least on the speed of the vehicle for applying a second level of engine braking. A vehicle implementing the method is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
at least one ground engaging member, at least one of the at least one ground engaging member being operatively connected to the internal combustion engine for propelling the vehicle;
a throttle body fluidly connected to the internal combustion engine, the throttle body having a throttle valve for controlling a flow of air to the internal combustion engine;
a throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve for changing a position of the throttle valve;
an electronic control unit (ECU) communicating with the internal combustion engine for controlling the internal combustion engine and with the throttle valve actuator for controlling the position of the throttle valve;
a throttle operator;
a throttle operator position sensor (TOPS) for sensing a position of the throttle operator and communicating with the ECU for sending a signal indicative of the position of the throttle operator;
a vehicle speed sensor communicating with the ECU for sending a signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle to the ECU;
an engine braking mode selector communicating with the ECU,
the ECU having a memory storing computer executable instructions, in response to the instructions being executed, the ECU:
determining the position of the throttle operator;
determining the speed of the vehicle;
determining the engine braking mode selected from a plurality of engine braking modes by the engine braking mode selector, the plurality of engine braking modes comprising a first engine braking mode and a second engine braking mode;
in response to the position of the throttle operator being a fully released position and the selected braking mode being the first engine braking mode:
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the first engine braking mode for applying a first level of engine braking;

in response to the position of the throttle operator being the fully released position and the selected braking mode being the second engine braking mode:
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode to obtain a target engine torque based at least on the speed of the vehicle for applying a second level of engine braking,

for any given speed of the vehicle above a predetermined speed of the vehicle, the first level of engine braking being greater than the second level of engine braking; and
stopping to control the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the engine braking mode selected from the plurality of engine braking modes in response to the position of the throttle operator being any position other than the fully released position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the first engine braking mode comprises closing the throttle valve and stopping fuel injection.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode comprises moving the throttle valve to a partially open position and injecting fuel.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode further comprises retarding ignition.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the target engine torque is a first target engine torque;
the plurality of engine braking modes further comprises a third engine braking mode;
in response to the instructions being executed, the ECU controls the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the third engine braking mode to obtain a second target engine torque based at least on the speed of the vehicle for applying a third level of engine braking in response to the position of the throttle operator being the fully released position and the selected braking mode being the third engine braking mode; and
for any given speed of the vehicle above the predetermined speed of the vehicle, the second level of engine braking is greater than the third level of engine braking.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode comprises moving the throttle valve to a first partially open position;
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the third engine braking mode comprises moving the throttle valve to a second partially open position; and
for any given speed of the vehicle above the predetermined speed of the vehicle, the throttle valve is equally open or more open in the second partially open position than in the first partially open position.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode comprises injecting a first amount of fuel;
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the third engine braking mode comprises injecting a second amount of fuel; and
for any given speed of the vehicle above the predetermined speed of the vehicle, the second amount of fuel is greater than the first amount of fuel.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the second engine braking mode comprises retarding ignition by a first number of degrees;
controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the third engine braking mode comprises retarding ignition by a second number of degrees; and
for any given speed of the vehicle above the predetermined speed of the vehicle, the second number of degrees is less than the first number of degrees.

9. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
the first target engine torque is a negative engine torque that increases as the speed of the vehicle decreases; and
the second target engine torque is a positive engine torque that decreases as the speed of the vehicle decreases.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein in response to the instructions being executed, the ECU:
determines an engine speed; and
stops controlling the internal combustion engine and the position of the throttle valve according to the engine braking mode selected from the plurality of engine braking modes in response to the engine speed being an idle speed of the internal combustion engine.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a continuously variable transmission operatively connecting the internal combustion engine to the at least one of the at least one ground engaging member.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a steering device operatively connected to at least one of the at least one ground engaging member for steering the vehicle; and
wherein the engine braking mode selector is mounted to the steering device.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the steering device is a handlebar.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein:
the throttle operator is mounted to the handlebar; and
the engine braking mode selector is in proximity to the throttle operator.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the throttle operator is one of:
a throttle lever; and
a twist grip.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ground engaging member is at l

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Breton Remi
• Ben Attouch Walid
• Dulac Maxime
• Chaillou Stephane

Classifications

• F02D41/0005 Primary

  during deceleration · CPC title

• B62K5/01 Primary

  Motorcycles with four or more wheels (specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003) · CPC title

• B62K21/12

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62K23/04

  Twist grips · CPC title

• F02D41/40

  with means for controlling injection timing or duration · CPC title