US6457461B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
EGR and VGT system diagnostics and control
Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corp
•
Filing: 2001-05-04
•
Granted: 2002-10-01
•
Expires: 2021-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for diagnosing a component failure in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation system and a variable geometry turbocharger for diverting exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake include determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode, comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode, generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period, and operating in boost control mode if the fault persists for a second predetermined time period. In one embodiment, the system and method determine that the engine is operating in the EGR control mode with the threshold corresponding to a minimum EGR flow rate and determine whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold. The system and method then determine whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range relative to a desired EGR flow rate and generate a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is outside of the acceptable operating range but exceeds the minimum threshold. Likewise, the system and method generate an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is less than the minimum threshold. When operating in the boost control mode, the system and method generate an EGR fault if the EGR mass flow rate exceeds a maximum flow rate and generate a VGT fault if the turbo boost pressure is not within an acceptable operating range of a desired boost pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Romzek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:04
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/0025; F02D41/0047; F02D41/0065; F02D41/0072; F02D41/0002; F02D41/0007; F02D41/22; F02D41/221; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/49; F02B; F02B29/00; F02B29/04; F02B29/0406; F02B37/00; F02B37/12; F02B37/24; F02D2041/0017; F02M26/02; F02M26/04; F02M26/05; F02M26/09; F02M26/10; F02M26/13; F02M26/22; F02M26/23; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for diagnosing a component failure in an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation and a variable geometry turbocharger cooperating to divert exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake, the method comprising: determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode; comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode; and generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for diagnosing a component failure in an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation and a variable geometry turbocharger cooperating to divert exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake, the method comprising: determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode; comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode; and generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising operating in boost control mode if the fault persists for a second predetermined time period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the engine is operating in the EGR control mode, the threshold corresponds to a minimum EGR flow rate, and wherein the step of comparing includes determining whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold, the method further comprising: determining whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range of a desired EGR flow rate; and wherein the step of generating a fault includes generating a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is outside of the acceptable operating range but exceeds the minimum threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of generating a fault includes generating an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is less than the minimum threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the engine is operating in the EGR control mode, the threshold corresponds to a minimum EGR flow rate, and wherein the step of comparing includes determining whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold, the method further comprising: determining whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range of a desired EGR flow rate; and wherein the step of generating a fault includes generating an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is below the minimum EGR flow rate threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the EGR fault indicates that the EGR valve is inoperative.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of generating a fault includes generating a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is above the minimum EGR flow rate threshold but outside of the acceptable operating range.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the VGT fault indicates VGT vanes are not responding as commanded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to diagnose a component failure in an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation and a variable geometry turbocharger cooperating to divert exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode; instructions for comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode; instructions for generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period; and instructions for operating in boost control mode if the fault persists for a second predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to diagnose a component failure in an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation and a variable geometry turbocharger cooperating to divert exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode; instructions for comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode; instructions for generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period; and instructions for operating in boost control mode if the fault persists for a second predetermined time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the engine is operating in the EGR control mode, the threshold corresponds to a minimum EGR flow rate, and wherein the instructions for comparing include instructions for determining whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold, the computer readable storage medium further comprising: instructions for determining whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range of a desired EGR flow rate; and wherein the instructions for generating a fault include instructions for generating a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is outside of the acceptable operating range but exceeds the minimum threshold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the instructions for generating a fault include instructions for generating an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is less than the minimum threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the engine is operating in the EGR control mode, the threshold corresponds to a minimum EGR flow rate, and wherein the instructions for comparing include instructions for determining whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold, the computer readable storage medium further comprising: instructions for determining whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range of a desired EGR flow rate; and wherein the instructions for generating a fault include instructions for generating an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is below the minimum EGR flow rate threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the EGR fault indicates that the EGR valve is inoperative.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the instructions for generating a fault include instructions for generating a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is above the minimum EGR flow rate threshold but outside of the acceptable operating range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the VGT fault indicates VGT vanes are not responding as commanded.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for diagnosing a component failure in an internal combustion engine, the system comprising: an exhaust gas recirculation circuit including an exhaust gas recirculation valve for diverting exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake; an EGR sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the recirculated exhaust gas indicative of EGR flow; a turbocharger controllable to vary at least one turbocharger operating parameter in response to a command signal; and a controller in communication with the exhaust gas recirculation valve and the turbocharger, the controller determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode, comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode, generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for diagnosing a component failure in an internal combustion engine, the system comprising: an exhaust gas recirculation circuit including an exhaust gas recirculation valve for diverting exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake; an EGR sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the recirculated exhaust gas indicative of EGR flow; a turbocharger controllable to vary at least one turbocharger operating parameter in response to a command signal; and a controller in communication with the exhaust gas recirculation valve and the turbocharger, the controller determining whether the engine is operating in boost control mode or EGR control mode, comparing EGR flow rate to a threshold corresponding to the current control mode, generating a fault if the EGR flow rate is outside an acceptable operating range based on the threshold for a first predetermined time period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the controller generates an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is less than the minimum threshold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the controller determines the engine is operating in the EGR control mode, the threshold corresponds to a minimum EGR flow rate, determines whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold, determines whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range of a desired EGR flow rate, and generates an EGR fault if the EGR flow rate is below the minimum EGR flow rate threshold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the controller determines the engine is operating in the EGR control mode, the threshold corresponds to a minimum EGR flow rate, the controller determines whether the EGR flow rate exceeds the threshold, determines whether the EGR flow rate is within an acceptable operating range of a desired EGR flow rate, and generates a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is outside of the acceptable operating range but exceeds the minimum threshold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the step of generating a fault includes generating a VGT fault if the EGR flow rate is above the minimum EGR flow rate threshold but outside of the acceptable operating range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5257534A
Cited
US5778674A
Cited
US6308517B1
Cited
US6085732A
Cited
US6128902A
Cited
US6247311B1
Cited
US6164270A
Cited
US20010045209A1
Cited
US6314735B1
Cited
US6360541B2
Cited
US6305167B1
Cited
US6347519B1
Cited
US6363922B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-30 | 2006-04-01 | 2006-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | 2010-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-30 | 2014-04-01 | 2014-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |