Patent · US Expired

Method and code for controlling temperature of engine component associated with deactivatable cylinder

US7028661B1 · kind B1 · utility

48Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 2005
Grant dateApr 18, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02D2200/0414
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for controlling the operation of a deactivatable valve lifter of an internal combustion engine includes determining a first measure of heat loss from one or more components associated with a given deactivated cylinder based, for example, on the number of engine cycles that have occurred since cylinder deactivation. The given cylinder is reactivated when the component heat loss measure reaches a threshold level, as by comparing the first measure to a first predetermined threshold value. After cylinder reactivation, the given cylinder can thereafter be deactivated only after the temperature of the components has been restored to a nominal operating temperature, for example, as inferred from a second measure, representing the heat generated within the given cylinder subsequent to cylinder reactivation, determined based upon engine mass air flow or fuel flow. In this manner, the respective temperatures of such engine components are maintained above a desired minimum temperature.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.