This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-375487 filed on Nov. 5, 2003.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection control system of an internal combustion engine for performing a learning operation of an injection quantity.
2. Description of Related Art
A certain controlling method (an injection quantity learning operation) known as a method of controlling an injection quantity of a gasoline engine or a diesel engine estimates the injection quantity (or torque generated by injection) based on a fluctuation of an engine rotation speed, which is caused by combusting the injected fuel, to correct the injection quantity.
A publicly known calculating method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,634 or Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H07-59911 calculates the fluctuation of the engine rotation speed (a rotation speed fluctuation δ) by comparing a rotation speed ωt at a top dead center (TDC), which is sensed at a time point t10 in
The injected fuel is combusted to generate heat, and the heat increases the cylinder pressure. Thus, the crankshaft is rotated through a piston and a connecting rod. Therefore, it can be estimated that the torque generated by the fuel injection is continuously applied to the crankshaft until the increased cylinder pressure decreases to a level provided in the case where the injection is not performed.
If the single injection is performed, the cylinder pressure P1 of the first cylinder is increased from the pressure shown by the broken line “a′” to the pressure shown by the solid line “a” in
Therefore, if the rotation speed ωc measured at the ATDC 90° CA is compared with the rotation speed ωt measured at the TDC, the rotation speed fluctuation δi caused by the injection cannot be measured accurately. It is because all of the energy generated by combusting the injected fuel has not yet contribute to the rotation of the crankshaft. As a result, there is a problem that the quantity of the actually injected fuel (or the torque Ti generated by the injection) cannot be estimated accurately.
Moreover, the rotation speed fluctuation δ measured by the rotation speed sensor is affected by the compression in the next cylinder, in which the injection is performed next. Therefore, only the value provided by subtracting the rotation speed fluctuation δc caused by the compression in the next cylinder from the rotation speed fluctuation δi caused by the injection can be measured. Actually, the difference δa between the rotation speed ωc and the rotation speed ωt corresponds to a value provided by subtracting the rotation speed fluctuation δam caused by the compression in the next cylinder from the rotation speed fluctuation δap caused by the injection. Therefore, even if the same injection is performed (or even if the rotation speed fluctuation δap caused by the injection is the same), the variations in the rotation speed fluctuation δam caused by the compression in the next cylinder affect the rotation speed fluctuation δa to be measured. As a result, learning accuracy of the injection quantity will be deteriorated.
Even if the rotation speed fluctuation δam caused by the compression in the next cylinder is added to the difference δa between the rotation speed ωc and the rotation speed ωt, the rotation speed fluctuation δap corresponding to the rotation speed ω on the rise due to the injection is measured. As a result, the rotation speed fluctuation δi caused by the injection cannot be measured accurately.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an injection control system of an internal combustion engine capable of accurately measuring a rotation speed fluctuation of the engine caused by a single injection and of performing a learning operation highly accurately by eliminating influence of a rotation speed fluctuation caused by compression in a next cylinder.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an injection control system of an internal combustion engine includes measuring means for receiving a rotation speed of the engine sensed by a rotation speed sensor as an engine rotation speed and for measuring a rotation speed fluctuation of the engine caused by a single injection based on the engine rotation speed. The control system calculates a correction value for increasing or decreasing a command injection quantity corresponding to the single injection based on the rotation speed fluctuation of the engine, and corrects the command injection quantity in accordance with the correction value. The measuring means receives the engine rotation speed measured by the rotation speed sensor in a period from a time point when an exhaust valve opens to a time point when a top dead center of a next cylinder is detected and measures the rotation speed fluctuation based on the engine rotation speed.
In the above structure, the engine rotation speed sensed by the rotation speed sensor is inputted after the cylinder pressure increased by the single injection decreases to substantially the same level as a cylinder pressure provided when the single injection is not performed, or after torque generated by the single injection completes its work. The rotation speed fluctuation is measured based on the engine rotation speed. Therefore, the increase in the rotation speed (the rotation speed fluctuation) caused by the single injection can be measured accurately.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the measuring means includes estimating means for estimating a rotation speed fluctuation of the engine caused by a compression stroke in the next cylinder as a rotation speed fluctuation accompanying the compression stroke when the single injection is performed. The measuring means calculates a difference between a rotation speed provided before the single injection and a rotation speed provided after the single injection as an actual rotation speed fluctuation, based on the engine rotation speeds sensed by the rotation speed sensor. The measuring means measures the rotation speed fluctuation of the engine caused by the single injection based on the actual rotation speed fluctuation and the rotation speed fluctuation accompanying the compression stroke.
For instance, an engine rotation speed ω3 is measured between a phase t1 (timing t1) and an end phase of the expansion stroke of the first cylinder as shown in
Thus, when the single injection is performed, the rotation speed fluctuation δc of the engine caused by the compression stroke in the next cylinder is estimated, and the influence of the rotation speed fluctuation accompanying the compression stroke in the next cylinder is eliminated. As a result, the rotation speed fluctuation δi of the engine caused by the single injection can be measured more accurately.
Features and advantages of embodiments will be appreciated, as well as methods of operation and the function of the related parts, from a study of the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the drawings, all of which form a part of this application. In the drawings:
(First Embodiment)
Referring to
As shown in
The ECU 6 sets a target value of a rail pressure PC of the common rail 2 (a pressure of the fuel accumulated in the common rail 2). The common rail 2 accumulates the high-pressure fuel, which is supplied from the fuel pump 4, to the target value. A pressure sensor 7 and a pressure limiter 8 are attached to the common rail 2. The pressure sensor 7 senses the rail pressure Pc and outputs the rail pressure Pc to the ECU 6. The pressure limiter 8 limits the rail pressure Pc so that the rail pressure Pc does not exceed a predetermined upper limit value.
The fuel pump 4 has a camshaft 9, a feed pump 10, a plunger 12 and an electromagnetic flow control valve 14. The camshaft 9 is driven and rotated by the engine 1. The feed pump 10 is driven by the camshaft 9 and draws the fuel from the fuel tank 3. The plunger 12 reciprocates in a cylinder 11 in synchronization with the rotation of the camshaft 9. The electromagnetic flow control valve 14 regulates a quantity of the fuel introduced from the feed pump 10 into a pressurizing chamber 13 provided inside the cylinder 11.
In the fuel pump 4, when the plunger 12 moves from a top dead center to a bottom dead center in the cylinder 11, a quantity of the fuel discharged from the feed pump 10 is regulated by the electromagnetic flow control valve 14, and the fuel opens a suction valve 15, and the fuel is drawn into the pressurizing chamber 13. Then, when the plunger 12 moves from the bottom dead center to the top dead center in the cylinder 11, the plunger 12 pressurizes the fuel in the pressurizing chamber 13. Thus, the fuel opens a discharge valve 16 from the pressurizing chamber 13 side and is pressure-fed to the common rail 2.
The injectors 5 are mounted to the respective cylinders of the engine 1 and are connected to the common rail 2 through high-pressure pipes 17. Each injector 5 has an electromagnetic valve 5a, which operates responsive to a command outputted from the ECU 6, and a nozzle 5b, which injects the fuel when the electromagnetic valve 5a is energized.
The electromagnetic valve 5a opens and closes a low-pressure passage leading from a pressure chamber, into which the high-pressure fuel is supplied from the common rail 2, to a low-pressure side. The electromagnetic valve 5a opens the low-pressure passage when energized, and closes the low-pressure passage when deenergized.
The nozzle 5b incorporates a needle for opening or closing an injection hole. The fuel pressure in the pressure chamber biases the needle in a valve closing direction (a direction for closing the injection hole). If the electromagnetic valve 5a is energized and opens the low-pressure passage, the fuel pressure in the pressure chamber decreases. Accordingly, the needle lifts in the nozzle 5b and opens the injection hole. Thus, the nozzle 5b injects the high-pressure fuel, which is supplied from the common rail 2, through the injection hole. If the electromagnetic valve 5a is deenergized and closes the low-pressure passage, the fuel pressure in the pressure chamber increases. Accordingly, the needle descends in the nozzle 5b and closes the injection hole. Thus, the injection is ended.
The ECU 6 is connected with a rotation speed sensor 18 for sensing an engine rotation speed (a rotation number per minute) ω, an accelerator position sensor for sensing an accelerator position ACCP (an engine load), and the pressure sensor 7 for sensing the rail pressure Pc. The ECU 6 calculates the target value of the rail pressure Pc of the common rail 2 and injection timing and an injection quantity suitable for the operating state of the engine 1 based on the information measured by the sensors. The ECU 6 electronically controls the electromagnetic flow control valve 14 of the fuel pump 4 and the electromagnetic valves 5a of the injectors 5 based on the result of the calculation.
In order to improve accuracy of a minute quantity injection such as a pilot injection performed before a main injection, the ECU 6 performs an injection quantity learning operation explained below.
In the injection quantity learning operation, an error between a command injection quantity (an injection command pulse) Q corresponding to the pilot injection and a quantity of the fuel actually injected by the injector 5 (an actual injection quantity) responsive to the command injection quantity Q is measured. Then, the command injection quantity Q is corrected in accordance with the error.
Next, processing steps of the injection quantity learning operation performed by the ECU 6 will be explained based on a flowchart shown in
First, in Step S10, it is determined whether a learning condition for performing the injection quantity learning operation is established or not. The learning condition is established at least when the engine 1 is in a no-injection state, in which the command injection quantity Q outputted to the injector 5 is zero or under, and a predetermined rail pressure is maintained. For instance, the engine 1 is brought to the no-injection state if the fuel supply is suspended when a position of a shift lever is changed or when a vehicle is decelerated. If the result of the determination in Step S10 is “YES”, the processing proceeds to Step S20. If the result of the determination in Step S10 is “NO”, the processing is ended.
In Step S20, a single injection for the injection quantity learning operation is performed in a specific cylinder of the engine 1 (for instance, in a first cylinder as shown in
Then, in Step S30, a characteristic value (a torque proportional value) Tp proportional to engine torque (generated torque) Ti generated by performing the single injection is calculated.
Then, in Step S40, it is determined whether the processing of Step S20 and Step S30 is performed under the aimed learning condition. In step S40, it is determined whether the learning condition presented in Step S10 has been maintained without resuming the injection or changing the rail pressure Pc while the characteristic value Tp is measured. If the result of the determination in Step S40 is “YES”, the processing proceeds to Step S50. If the result of the determination in Step S40 is “NO”, the processing proceeds to Step S60.
In Step S50, the characteristic value Tp measured in Step S30 is stored in a memory.
In Step S60, the characteristic value Tp measured in Step S30 is abandoned and the processing is ended.
In Step S70, a correction value C is calculated from the characteristic value Tp stored in the memory.
In Step S80, the command injection quantity Q outputted to the injector 5 is corrected in accordance with the correction value C calculated in Step S70.
Next, a method of calculating the characteristic value Tp performed in Step S30 of the flowchart shown in
First, in Step S31, the signal of the rotation speed sensor 18 is inputted and the engine rotation speed ω is measured. In the case of the four-cylinder engine 1 of the present embodiment, the engine rotation speed ω is measured four times (once for each-cylinder), or the rotation speeds ω1, ω2, ω3, ω4 are measured sequentially in that order, while the crankshaft rotates twice through the crank angle of 720° as shown by the solid line “f” in
The engine rotation speed ω is measured in a measuring period S2 from a time point t5 when the exhaust valve opens to a time point t7 when the TDC of the next cylinder is detected as shown in
The engine rotation speeds ω1, ω2, ω3, ω4 are respectively measured at time points t6, t9, t13, t15 shown in
In Step S32, the rotation speed fluctuations δi of the respective cylinders are calculated after the single injection is performed, and then, an average δx of the rotation speed fluctuations δi of the entire cylinders is calculated.
A difference between an estimated engine rotation speed ω′ in the case where the single injection is not performed and the engine rotation speed ω (sensed by the rotation speed sensor 18), which is increased by performing the single injection, is calculated as the rotation speed fluctuation δi. For instance, in
In Step S33, the torque proportional value Tp is calculated by multiplying the average δx calculated in Step S32 by an engine rotation speed ωt at the time when the single injection is performed. The torque proportional value Tp is proportional to the torque Ti of the engine 1 generated by the single injection. More specifically, the torque Ti generated by the engine 1 is calculated based on a following equation (1). Therefore, the torque proportional value Tp, which is the product of the average δx and the rotation speed ωt is proportional to the torque Ti. In the equation (1), K represents a proportionality factor.
Ti=K·δx·ωt, (1)
In the present embodiment, the engine rotation speed ω is measured in the measuring period from the time point when the exhaust valve opens (for instance, a time point t12) to the time point when the TDC of the next cylinder is detected. Therefore, the engine rotation speed ω3 at the time immediately after the single injection is measured after the cylinder pressure P1 increased by the single injection as shown by the solid line “a” decreases to substantially the same level as the cylinder pressure P1 provided when the single injection is not performed as shown by the broken line “a′” in
Next, a method of calculating the rotation speed fluctuation δi in Step S32 of the flowchart shown in
The rotation speed fluctuation δi (for instance, the fluctuation δ1 shown in
The rotation speed ω′3 in the case where the single injection is not performed can be estimated from the rotation speed fluctuation δ′m caused by the compression stroke and the rotation speed ω2 shown in
The rotation speed fluctuation δ′m caused by the compression stroke in the next cylinder can be easily estimated from the rotation speed fluctuation δc provided when the engine 1 is in the no-injection state, or when the learning condition is established. More specifically, when the engine 1 is in the no-injection state, the rotation speed fluctuation δc accompanying the compression stroke in the next cylinder decreases substantially uniformly as shown by the solid line “e” in
Thus, the influence of the rotation speed fluctuation δc caused by the compression in the next cylinder can be eliminated. As a result, the injection quantity learning operation can be performed highly accurately.
In Step S70 of the flowchart shown in
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a method of calculating the torque proportional value (the characteristic value) Tp performed by an ECU 6 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on
First, in Step S31 of a flowchart shown in
Then, in Step S34, a rotation speed difference Δω is calculated for each cylinder from the engine rotation speeds ω, which are measured before and after the single injection respectively. In the case of the third cylinder, a difference Δω3 between the rotation speed ω3(i) and the next rotation speed ω3(i+1) is calculated as shown in
Then, in Step S35, the rotation speed increases δ1, δ2, δ3, δ4 of the respective cylinders caused by the single injection are calculated, and an average δx of the rotation speed increases δ1, δ2, δ3, δ4 is calculated. A difference between the rotation speed difference Δω calculated in Step S34 and an estimated rotation speed difference Δω in the case where the single injection is not performed is calculated as the rotation speed increase δ. The rotation speed difference Δω decreases monotonically when the single injection is not performed as shown by a broken line “c′” in
Then, in Step S36, the torque proportional value Tp is calculated by multiplying the average δx calculated in Step S35 by the engine rotation speed ωt (ω4(i), in the present embodiment) at the time when the single injection is performed. The torque proportional value Tp is proportional to the torque Ti of the engine 1 generated by the single injection.
(Modifications)
In the first embodiment, the injection quantity learning operation of the pilot injection is performed. Alternatively, the present invention may be applied to an injection quantity learning operation of any one of a normal injection (an injection performed only once in one combustion stroke of one cylinder) without the pilot injection, a main injection performed after the pilot injection, and an after injection performed after the main injection.
In the first embodiment, the average δx of the rotation speed fluctuations δ1, δ2, δ3, δ4 calculated for each cylinder is used to calculate the torque proportional value Tp. Instead of the average δx, the rotation speed fluctuation δi calculated in one cylinder may be used to calculate the torque proportional value Tp. Likewise, in the second embodiment, the rotation speed increase δ calculated in one cylinder may be used to calculate the torque proportional value Tp, instead of the average δx of the rotation speed increases δ1–δ4.
The present invention may be applied to a fuel injection system having a distribution type fuel injection pump, which includes an electromagnetic spill valve, in addition to the accumulation type (common rail type) fuel injection system.
The present invention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but may be implemented in many other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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