Method and apparatus for detecting trouble in exhaust-gas recirculation system

Claim 3

An apparatus for diagnosing the trouble as defined by claim 1, wherein the pressure detection means is a pressure sensor, and the valve-opening degree detection means is a lift sensor for detecting a lift amount of a valve body of the EGR control valve.

Claim 4

An apparatus for diagnosing the trouble as defined by claim 2, wherein the trouble determination means comprises: a first determination means for determining that the EGR control valve is normal when the lift amount of the valve body of the EGR control valve is in a predetermined range having a central value defined as a target lift amount; a second determination means for determining that the clogging occurs downstream of the EGR control valve if a value detected by the pressure sensor is smaller than a reference value when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the first operation zone; and a third determination means for determining that the clogging occurs upstream of the EGR control valve if a value detected by the pressure sensor is larger than the reference value when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the second operation zone.

Claim 5

An apparatus for diagnosing the trouble as defined by claim 1, wherein the pressure detection means is a pressure sensor capable of changing its ON/OFF states when the negative pressure exceeds a predetermined value, and the valve-opening detection means is a lift sensor for detecting a lift amount of the valve body of the EGR control valve.

Claim 6

An apparatus for diagnosing trouble as defined by claim 4, wherein said predetermined value of the pressure switch is selected so that, when the EGR control valve is normal, the pressure switch is in a first state (OFF) during the first operation state, while it is in a second state (ON) during the second operation state, whereby the ON/OFF state is changed between the first and second states.

Claim 7

An apparatus for diagnosing the trouble as defined by claim 5, wherein the trouble determination means comprises: a first determination means for determining that the EGR control valve is normal when the lift amount of the valve body of the EGR control valve is in a range having a central value defined as a target lift amount; second determination means for determining that the clogging occurs downstream of the EGR control valve if the pressure switch is in the second state when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the first operation zone; and third determination means for determining that the clogging occurs upstream of the EGR control valve if the pressure switch is in the first state when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the second operation zone.

Claim 8

An apparatus for diagnosing the trouble as defined by claim 5, wherein the trouble determination means comprises: a first determination means for determining that the EGR control valve is normal when the lift amount of the valve body of the EGR control valve is in a range having a central value defined as a target lift amount; first reversing frequency computing means for computing a frequency of the pressure switch being switched to the second state when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the first operation zone; second reversing frequency computing means for computing a frequency of the pressure switch being switched to the first state when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the second operation zone; second determination means for determining that clogging has occurred downstream of the EGR control valve if the frequency computed by the first frequency computing means is larger than a predetermined value when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the first operation zone; and third determination means for determining that clogging has occurred upstream of the EGR control valve if the frequency computed by the second frequency computing means is larger than a predetermined value when the EGR control valve is normal and the operation state of the internal combustion engine is in the second operation zone.

Claim 9

An apparatus for diagnosing the trouble as defined by claim 5, wherein the trouble determination means comprises: a first determination means for determining that the EGR control valve is normal when the lift amount of the valve body of the EGR control valve is in a range having a central value defined as a target lift amount; a pressure-switch reversing boundary line memory means for memorizing, as a boundary line, points at which ON/OFF of the pressure switch is reversed on a map representing the relationship between the rotational speed and the load of the engine when the EGR control valve is normal and no clogging occurs in the EGR passage; a determination map for memorizing a normal zone having a predetermined range provided parallel to the boundary line, an exhaust side clogging zone wherein a load is smaller than that in the normal zone for the same rotational speed of the engine, and an intake side clogging zone wherein a load is larger than that in the normal zone for the same rotational speed of the engine; and determination means for detecting positions of the load and the rotational speed of the engine in the determination map at the point where ON/OFF of the pressure switch is reversed, and determining that the clogging occurs in the exhaust side EGR passage if the reversing point is in the exhaust side clogging zone, while determining that the clogging occurs in the intake side EGR passage if the reversing point is in the intake side clogging zone.