Method for monitoring the operation of a piston-type internal-combustion engine with fully variable cylinder valves

US6382175B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• FEV Motortechnik GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Frank van der Staay · Aachen, DE
• Lutz Kather · Würselen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 19, 2000
• Grant date: May 7, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 19, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/40
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for monitoring the operation of a piston-type internal combustion engine, comprising electromagnetic actuators with filly variable actuation for the cylinder valves, wherein the engine control unit supplies current based on respective predetermined current flows. The actuators are associated with respective sensors for detecting operation and transmitting operationally relevant signals to the engine control unit of the displacement movement of the respective actuator. The engine control unit detects the current and voltage flows for the actuator and, if no sensor signal is received, a sensor failure or actuator failure is detected from the voltage flow at the actuator. If a sensor fails at the actuator, the detection of a sensor signal is taken from a different, corresponding actuator by the engine control unit and the engine control unit causes initiation of a starting operation (start of oscillations) for the actuator initially determined to be non-operative. If an actuator failure subsequently is detected, the associated cylinder is shut down.