Engine control device and engine device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12234786-B2
Application number	US-202418663584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2024
Priority date	May 19, 2023
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

Provided is an engine control device and an engine device that enable stable self-travelling of the engine in a limp home mode. The engine control device includes a revolution speed detection unit that detects revolution speed of the engine, and an arithmetic unit that calculates an opening of a throttle valve opened by an electronic throttle mechanism, and an injection amount of fuel injected by injectors. In an operation of the engine in the limp home mode, in a case where the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit exceeds a predetermined limiting value, the arithmetic unit performs an operation to suppress injection of the fuel to be injected by the injectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine control device to control an engine equipped with an electronic throttle mechanism and a fuel injection mechanism, comprising:
a revolution speed detection unit that detects revolution speed of the engine; and
an arithmetic unit that calculates an opening of a throttle valve opened by the electronic throttle mechanism, and an injection amount of fuel injected by the fuel injection mechanism, wherein
the electronic throttle mechanism includes a valve rotation mechanism unit that rotates the throttle valve, and
the valve rotation mechanism unit is configured to set the throttle valve at a mechanically neutral position in a case where electronic control of the electronic throttle mechanism is disabled,
the valve rotation mechanism unit has a tolerance from the neutral position of the throttle valve in a rotating direction, and
a reference position of the valve rotation mechanism unit installed in the engine is set so that the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit becomes at least a lower limit revolution speed that is a minimal speed at which self-traveling in a limp home mode is possible, even if the tolerance from the neutral position of the throttle valve is at the maximum tolerance on the side of closing the throttle valve,
in an operation of the engine in the limp home mode, in a case where the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit exceeds a predetermined limiting value, the arithmetic unit performs an operation to suppress injection of the fuel to be injected by the fuel injection mechanism, and
the limiting value of the revolution speed for suppressing the injection is set between the lower limit revolution speed and an upper limit revolution speed that is a maximum speed with which a driving gear to transmit output of the engine is engageable in a state where a clutch in a subsequent stage of the engine is connected.

2. The engine control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation of the engine in the limp home mode, in a case where the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit is the limiting value or less, the arithmetic unit determines the injection amount of the fuel to be injected by the fuel injection mechanism by performing the same operation as a normal operation mode.

3. The engine control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the normal operation mode is defined as a mode under which the engine device runs in a situation where no problem is detected,
the limp home mode is defined as another mode other than the normal operation mode, and
in the limp home mode, the opening of the throttle valve is fixed to degrees that is mechanically maintained by the valve rotation mechanism unit installed in the engine so that the throttle valve is not driven by a motor using the electronic throttle mechanism.

4. An engine device, comprising an engine control device to control an electronic throttle mechanism and a fuel injection mechanism, and a driving mechanism that is driven by output of an engine, wherein
the driving mechanism includes
a clutch that is installed in a subsequent stage of the engine, and
a transmission unit that is installed in a subsequent stage of the clutch and includes a driving gear to transmit output of the engine, wherein
the engine control device includes
a revolution speed detection unit that detects revolution speed of the engine, and
an arithmetic unit that calculates an valve rotation mechanism unit of a throttle valve opened by the electronic throttle mechanism, and an injection amount of fuel injected by the fuel injection mechanism, wherein
the electronic throttle mechanism includes a valve rotation mechanism unit that rotates the throttle valve, and
the valve rotation mechanism unit is configured to set the throttle valve at a mechanically neutral position in a case where electronic control of the electronic throttle mechanism is disabled,
the valve rotation mechanism unit has a tolerance from the neutral position of the throttle valve in a rotating direction, and p 1 a reference position of the valve rotation mechanism unit installed in the engine is set so that the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit becomes at least a lower limit revolution speed that is a minimal speed at which self-traveling in a limp home mode is possible, even if the tolerance from the neutral position of the throttle valve is at the maximum tolerance on the side of closing the throttle valve,
in an operation of the engine in the limp home mode, in a case where the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit exceeds a predetermined limiting value, the arithmetic unit performs an operation to suppress injection of the fuel to be injected by the fuel injection mechanism, and
the limiting value of the revolution speed for suppressing the injection is set between the lower limit revolution speed and an upper limit revolution speed that is a maximum speed with which a driving gear to transmit output of the engine is engageable in a state where a clutch in a subsequent stage of the engine is connected.

5. The engine device according to claim 4 , wherein
in the operation of the engine in the limp home mode, in a case where the revolution speed of the engine detected by the revolution speed detection unit is the limiting value or less, the arithmetic unit determines the injection amount of the fuel to be injected by the fuel injection mechanism by performing the same operation as a normal operation mode.

6. The engine control device according to claim 5 , wherein
the normal operation mode is defined as a mode under which the engine device runs in a situation where no problem is detected,
the limp home mode is defined as another mode other than the normal operation mode, and
in the limp home mode, the opening of the throttle valve is fixed to degrees that is mechanically maintained by the valve rotation mechanism unit installed in the engine so that the throttle valve is not driven by a motor using the electronic throttle mechanism.

7. The engine device according to claim 4 , wherein the clutch is a centrifugal clutch.

8. The engine device according to claim 4 , wherein
the transmission unit includes a belt type continuously variable transmission that is installed between the clutch and the driving gear.

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Iga Michisuke
• Tanaka Tomotaka
• Aoki Kosuke
• Kawasoe Hiroyuki
• Hidaka Kengo

Classifications

• F02D2200/0404

  Throttle position · CPC title

• B60K17/08

  of mechanical type · CPC title

• F02D2041/227

  Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions · CPC title

• F02D2200/0614

  Actual fuel mass or fuel injection amount · CPC title

• B60K17/02

  characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch · CPC title