Variable displacement engine control system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879625-B2
Application number	US-201715641429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2017
Priority date	Aug 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for improving the performance of a variable displacement engine. Split injection and spark retard may be used in active cylinders during a VDE mode to heat an exhaust catalyst and extend the duration of VDE mode operation. Split injection and spark retard may also be used in reactivated cylinders at a time of cylinder reactivation to improve restart combustion stability.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An engine system, comprising:
an engine with each of a first and second group of cylinders;
a fuel injector coupled to each engine cylinder;
an emission control device coupled downstream of each of the first and second group of cylinders;
a temperature sensor configured to estimate a temperature of the emission control device; and
a controller including instructions for,
selectively deactivating the second group of cylinders while maintaining the first group of cylinders active responsive to operating conditions; and
during the deactivation, in response to a drop in temperature of the emission control device,
maintaining the second group of cylinders deactivated while shifting fuel injection of the first group of cylinders from single fuel injection to split fuel injection.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein shifting fuel injection from single fuel injection to split fuel injection includes shifting fuel injection from a single intake stroke injection to a first intake stroke injection and a second compression stroke injection, a ratio of the first injection amount to the second injection amount based on the temperature of the emission control device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes further instructions for, while shifting the fuel injection, operating the first group of cylinders with spark timing retarded, an amount of spark retard applied based on the drop in temperature of the emission control device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller includes further instructions for, while shifting the fuel injection, operating the first group of cylinders with exhaust valve opening retarded, an amount of exhaust valve opening retard applied based on the drop in temperature of the emission control device.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Glugla Chris Paul
• Schwochert Steven
• Jahr Ken

Classifications

• F02D41/0087 Primary

  Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation (deceleration cut-off F02D41/123) · CPC title

• F02D41/0082

  per groups or banks (F02D41/0087 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02D41/0055 Primary

  Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus · CPC title

• Y02T10/46

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T10/44

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic