Method and system for increasing vacuum generation by an engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518541-B2
Application number	US-201615077722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Jul 17, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A method and a system for providing vacuum via an engine are described. In one example, introduction of a gaseous fuel is ceased in response to a request for the engine to provide vacuum to a vehicle vacuum system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating an engine, comprising:
combusting an amount of a first fuel at an engine speed and load in absence of a vacuum request, the first fuel introduced to the engine in a gaseous state; and
reducing the amount of the first fuel and increasing an amount of a second fuel introduced to the engine at the engine speed and load in response to presence of the vacuum request.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the second fuel is introduced to the engine in a liquid state.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the amount of the first fuel is reduced to substantially zero in response to the presence of the vacuum request.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the first fuel is compressed natural gas, hydrogen, or propane, and where the first fuel is injected to the engine.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the second fuel is gasoline and where the vacuum request is based on an amount of vacuum stored in a vacuum reservoir.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising advancing intake valve timing in response to the presence of the vacuum request.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the first fuel is a fuel that is stored in a canister that holds carbon.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Pursifull Ross Dykstra
• Cunningham Ralph Wayne

Classifications

• Y02T10/30

  Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels · CPC title

• F02D41/12

  for deceleration {(F02D41/0005, F02D41/107 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F02D2250/41

  Control to generate negative pressure in the intake manifold, e.g. for fuel vapor purging or brake booster · CPC title

• F02D41/0032

  Controlling the purging of the canister as a function of the engine operating conditions · CPC title

• F02D41/0027 Primary

  the fuel being gaseous (non-electrical control F02D19/02) · CPC title