Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A method for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine for a vehicle through a passage means connecting between an exhaust passage of said engine and an intake passage thereof, in response to operating conditions of said engine, the method comprising the steps of: (1) setting an operating region of said engine wherein the recirculation of exhaust gases is to be effected, as a function of the rotational speed of said engine and another engine operation parameter indicative of the quantity of intake air being supplied to said engine; (2) detecting the speed of said vehicle; (3) detecting the rotational speed of said engine and the value of said another engine operation parameter; (4) varying the range of said exhaust gas recirculation effecting region of said engine, in response to a value of the speed of said vehicle detected in said step (2); (5) determining whether or not said engine is operating in said exhaust gas recirculation effecting region varied in said step (4), from values of the rotational speed of said engine and said another engine operation parameter detected in said step (3); and (6) effecting the recirculation of exhaust gases while it is determined in said step (5) that said engine is operating in said varied exhaust gas recirculation effecting region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A method for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine for a vehicle through a passage means connecting between an exhaust passage of said engine and an intake passage thereof, in response to operating conditions of said engine, the method comprising the steps of: (1) setting an operating region of said engine wherein the recirculation of exhaust gases is to be effected, as a function of the rotational speed of said engine and another engine operation parameter indicative of the quantity of intake air being supplied to said engine; (2) detecting the speed of said vehicle; (3) detecting the rotational speed of said engine and the value of said another engine operation parameter; (4) varying the range of said exhaust gas recirculation effecting region of said engine, in response to a value of the speed of said vehicle detected in said step (2); (5) determining whether or not said engine is operating in said exhaust gas recirculation effecting region varied in said step (4), from values of the rotational speed of said engine and said another engine operation parameter detected in said step (3); and (6) effecting the recirculation of exhaust gases while it is determined in said step (5) that said engine is operating in said varied exhaust gas recirculation effecting region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation effecting region is defined as a region wherein the rotational speed of said engine lies between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value higher than the former, and said another engine operation parameter shows a value lying between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value representing a value of intake air quantity larger than that represented by said first predetermined value thereof on condition that the rotational speed of said engine remains constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step (4) comprises reducing the range of said exhaust gas recirculation effecting region as the speed of said vehicle decreases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein as the speed of said vehicle decreases, said second predetermined value of said another engine operation parameter is set closer to said first predetermined value thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein as the rotational speed of said vehicle decreases, said first predetermined value of the rotational speed of said engine is set to higher values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine includes a throttle valve arranged in said intake passage, said another engine operation parameter being pressure in said intake passage at a zone downstream of said throttle valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine includes a throttle valve arranged in said intake passage, said another engine operation parameter being the valve opening of said throttle valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said another engine operation parameter is the flow rate of intake air being supplied to said engine.