Patent · US Expired

Smoldering determination method of internal combustion engine

US7451640B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
5References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 2005
Grant dateNov 18, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 11, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02P2017/125
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

According to the present invention, in a spark ignition-type internal combustion engine which has a spark plug and mounted in a vehicle, an ion current generated in a combustion chamber through the spark plug after ignition is detected and smoldering of the spark plug is determined on the basis of the detected ion current. An operation state of the internal combustion engine is detected and smoldering of the spark plug is determined based on that the detected ion current satisfies a predetermined condition when the detected operation state falls within an operation determination range set corresponding to an operation range in which an intake port pressure close to an atmospheric pressure is achieved using predetermined engine speed as an upper limit and a predetermined intake port pressure as a lower limit.

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