Patent US5374224A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5374224A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for controlling the transient torque output of a variable displacement internal combustion engine
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1993-12-23
•
Granted: 1994-12-20
•
Expires: 2013-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling the transient torque output of a multicylinder, variable displacement, spark-ignited, fuel injected automotive internal combustion engine during periods when the effective displacement of the engine is being changed includes a spark timing controller, a throttle controller for positioning an intake air throttle, an engine cylinder operator for deactivating and reactivating at least some of the engine's cylinders, and an engine controller having a processor for selecting the number of cylinders for operation and for operating the spark timing controller, the throttle controller, and the cylinder operator so that during any transition from operation with a first number of activated cylinders to operation with a second number of activated cylinders, the processor will alter the spark advance and control the amount of air entering the engine cylinders so that the torque output of the engine will remain relatively unchanged during the transition.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger L. Huffmaster
- 👤 Jerry D. Robichaux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:23
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/15; F02P5/1502; F02P5/1504; F02D; F02D37/00; F02D37/02; F02D41/00; F02D41/008; F02D41/0087; F02P5/045; F02D41/0002; F02D2041/001; F02D2041/0012; F02D2250/00; F02D2250/18; F02D2250/21; F02F; F02F7/00; F02F7/0085; F02F2007/0092; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for controlling the torque output of a multicylinder, variable displacement, spark-ignited, fuel injected automotive internal combustion engine coupled to an automatic transmission including a torque converter, comprising: a spark timing controller; a throttle controller for positioning an intake air throttle; an engine cylinder operator means for deactivating and reactivating at least some of said cylinders; a bypass clutch associated with said torque converter, for controlling the degree of lockup of the torque converter; and a controller having a processor which selects a number of cylinders for operation and operates said spark timing controller, said throttle controller, said cylinder operator means, and said bypass clutch such that during transitions from operation with a first number of activated cylinders to operation with a second number of activated cylinders, the processor will alter a spark advance, control the amount of air entering the engine cylinders, and control the bypass clutch such that a torque transmitting capacity of the torque converter is at least partially reduced.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for controlling the torque output of a multicylinder, variable displacement, spark-ignited, fuel injected automotive internal combustion engine coupled to an automatic transmission including a torque converter, comprising: a spark timing controller; a throttle controller for positioning an intake air throttle; an engine cylinder operator means for deactivating and reactivating at least some of said cylinders; a bypass clutch associated with said torque converter, for controlling the degree of lockup of the torque converter; and a controller having a processor which selects a number of cylinders for operation and operates said spark timing controller, said throttle controller, said cylinder operator means, and said bypass clutch such that during transitions from operation with a first number of activated cylinders to operation with a second number of activated cylinders, the processor will alter a spark advance, control the amount of air entering the engine cylinders, and control the bypass clutch such that a torque transmitting capacity of the torque converter is at least partially reduced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said processor commands said throttle to a wide-open position whenever the engine transitions from a state of operation of a greater number of cylinders to a lesser number of cylinders, with said processor commanding the throttle to a closed position whenever the engine transitions from a state of operation of a lesser number of cylinders to a greater number of cylinders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said engine has eight cylinders and said processor commands the throttle to the closed position for an amount of time equivalent to two crankshaft revolutions when the engine transitions from a state of operation with four cylinders to operation with eight cylinders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said engine has eight cylinders and said processor commands the throttle to the wide open position for an amount of time equivalent to two crankshaft revolutions when the engine transitions from a state of operation with eight cylinders to operation with four cylinders.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4040395A
Cited
US4144864A
Cited
US4104991A
Cited
US4144863A
Cited
US4188933A
Cited
US4224920A
Cited
US4354471A
Cited
US4509488A
Cited
US4552114A
Cited
US4494502A
Cited
US4541387A
Cited
US4550704A
Cited
US4484551A
Cited
US4556026A
Cited
US4655187A
Cited
US4722411A
Cited
US4708108A
Cited
US4870934A
Cited
US5035220A
Cited
US4962740A
Cited
US4976228A
Cited
US5099816A
Cited
US5124922A
Cited
US5042444A
Cited
US5113823A
Cited
JPH0441944A
Cited
US5119781A
Cited
US5213081A
Cited
US5190013A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-19 | 1998-06-20 | 1998-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-19 | 2002-06-20 | 2002-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-19 | 2006-06-20 | 2006-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |