Patent Application
20140251273
The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to control systems and methods for oil pumps.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Air is drawn into an engine through an intake manifold. A throttle valve and/or engine valve timing controls airflow into the engine. The air mixes with fuel from one or more fuel injectors to form an air/fuel mixture. The air/fuel mixture is combusted within one or more cylinders of the engine. Combustion of the air/fuel mixture may be initiated by, for example, injection of the fuel or spark provided by a spark plug.
Combustion of the air/fuel mixture produces torque and exhaust gas. Torque is generated via heat release and expansion during combustion of the air/fuel mixture. The engine transfers torque to a transmission via a crankshaft, and the transmission transfers torque to one or more wheels via a driveline. The exhaust gas is expelled from the cylinders to an exhaust system.
An engine control module (ECM) controls the torque output of the engine. The ECM may control the torque output of the engine based on driver inputs and/or other inputs. The driver inputs may include, for example, accelerator pedal position, brake pedal position, and/or one or more other suitable driver inputs. The other inputs may include, for example, one or more measured values and/or one or more parameters determined based on one or more measured values.
An engine control system includes a cylinder control module and a pump control module. The cylinder control module selectively deactivates cylinders of an engine. In response to a determination that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated, the pump control module: selectively increases a target displacement for an oil pump that is driven by a balance shaft of the engine; and selectively adjusts displacement of the oil pump based on the target displacement.
In further features, the engine is a four-cylinder engine, and the pump control module determines the target displacement when two of the cylinders are deactivated and two of the cylinders are activated.
In still further features, the pump control module determines the target displacement in response to determinations that an engine speed is less than a predetermined speed and that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated.
In yet further features, the pump control module determines the target displacement in response to determinations that a temperature of the engine is greater than a predetermined temperature and that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated.
In further features, the pump control module determines the target displacement in response to determinations that an engine speed is less than a predetermined speed, that a temperature of the engine is greater than a predetermined temperature, and that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated.
In still further features, the pump control module determines the target displacement based on an engine speed.
In yet further features, the pump control module: increases the target displacement as the engine speed decreases; and decreases the target displacement as the engine speed increases.
In further features, the pump determines the target displacement based on a temperature of the engine.
In still further features, the pump control module: decreases the target displacement as the temperature decreases; and increases the target displacement as the temperature increases.
In yet further features the engine control system further includes a fuel control module that disables fueling to first selected ones of the cylinders that are deactivated and that provides fuel to second selected ones of the cylinders that are activated.
An engine control method includes selectively deactivating cylinders of an engine and, in response to a determination that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated: selectively increasing a target displacement for an oil pump that is driven by a balance shaft of the engine; and selectively adjusting displacement of the oil pump based on the target displacement.
In further features, the engine control method further includes determining the target displacement when two of the cylinders of a four-cylinder engine are deactivated and two of the cylinders are activated.
In still further features, the engine control method further includes determining the target displacement in response to determinations that an engine speed is less than a predetermined speed and that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated.
In yet further features, the engine control method further includes determining the target displacement in response to determinations that a temperature of the engine is greater than a predetermined temperature and that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated.
In further features, the engine control method further includes determining the target displacement in response to determinations that an engine speed is less than a predetermined speed, that a temperature of the engine is greater than a predetermined temperature, and that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated.
In still further features, the engine control method further includes determining the target displacement based on an engine speed.
In yet further features, the engine control method further includes: increasing the target displacement as the engine speed decreases; and decreasing the target displacement as the engine speed increases.
In further features, the engine control method further includes determining the target displacement based on a temperature of the engine.
In still further features, the engine control method further includes: decreasing the target displacement as the temperature decreases; and increasing the target displacement as the temperature increases.
In yet further features, the engine control method further includes: disabling fueling to first selected ones of the cylinders that are deactivated; and providing fuel to second selected ones of the cylinders that are activated.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
An engine combusts air and fuel within cylinders to generate torque. An engine control module (ECM) controls the torque output of the engine. The ECM may control the torque output of the engine based on driver inputs, such as accelerator pedal position, brake pedal position, and/or one or more other suitable driver inputs.
The engine outputs torque to a transmission via a crankshaft. The crankshaft drives an oil pump via an oil pump drivetrain. For example, the crankshaft drives one or more balance shafts. The balance shaft(s) attenuate vibration produced by combustion and/or mechanical forces within the engine. In some instances, a balance shaft drives the oil pump. The oil pump pumps engine oil from a sump to various locations within the engine.
Under some circumstances, the ECM may deactivate one or more cylinders of the engine. When one or more cylinders are deactivated, however, the period between combustion events may be such that a combustion event may cause the oil pump drivetrain to produce audible noise, such as a tick or a rattle between drive and driven gears.
The ECM of the present disclosure selectively adjusts the displacement of the oil pump to minimize or prevent the occurrence of such audible noise. More specifically, the ECM increases the displacement of the oil pump to increase the torque load of the oil pump. The increased torque load of the oil pump maintains the components of the oil pump drivetrain in contact with each other and minimizes the audible noise produced by the oil pump drivetrain.
Referring now to
Air is drawn into an intake manifold 106 through a throttle valve 108. The throttle valve 108 varies airflow into the intake manifold 106. For example only, the throttle valve 108 may include a butterfly valve having a rotatable blade. An engine control module (ECM) 110 controls a throttle actuator module 112 (e.g., an electronic throttle controller or ETC), and the throttle actuator module 112 controls opening of the throttle valve 108.
Air from the intake manifold 106 is drawn into cylinders of the engine 102. While the engine 102 may include more than one cylinder, only a single representative cylinder 114 is shown. The engine 102 may be a single-cylinder engine, a two-cylinder engine, a four-cylinder engine, a six-cylinder engine, an eight-cylinder engine, or an engine having another suitable number of cylinders. Air from the intake manifold 106 is drawn into the cylinder 114 through one or more intake valves, such as intake valve 118.
A fuel actuator module 120 controls a fuel injector 122 of the cylinder 114 based on signals from the ECM 110 to control fuel injection (e.g., amount and timing) into the cylinder 114. While direct fuel injection is shown and discussed, port fuel injection or another suitable type of fuel injection may be used. The ECM 110 may control fuel injection to achieve a desired air/fuel ratio, such as a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.
The injected fuel mixes with air and creates an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder 114. Based upon a signal from the ECM 110, a spark actuator module 124 may energize a spark plug 126 of the cylinder 114. Spark generated by the spark plug 126 may ignite the air/fuel mixture. In various implementations, heat generated by compression may ignite the air/fuel mixture.
The engine 102 may operate using a four-stroke cycle or another suitable operating cycle. The four strokes, described below, may be referred to as the intake stroke, the compression stroke, the combustion stroke, and the exhaust stroke. During each revolution of a crankshaft 128, two of the four strokes occur within the cylinder 114. Therefore, two revolutions of the crankshaft 128 are necessary for all of the cylinders to experience all four of the strokes.
During the intake stroke, air from the intake manifold 106 is drawn into the cylinder 114 through the intake valve 118. Fuel injected by the fuel injector 122 mixes with air and creates an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder 114. One or more fuel injections may be performed during a combustion cycle. During the compression stroke, a piston (not shown) within the cylinder 114 compresses the air/fuel mixture. During the combustion stroke, combustion of the air/fuel mixture drives the piston, thereby driving the crankshaft 128. During the exhaust stroke, the byproducts of combustion are expelled through one or more exhaust valves, such as exhaust valve 130, to an exhaust system 134.
A valve actuator module 138 controls the intake and exhaust valves 118 and 130. For example, the valve actuator module 138 may control opening and closing timing of the intake and/or exhaust valves 118 and 130 and/or lift of the intake and/or exhaust valves 118 and 130. The valve actuator module 138 may also control whether the intake and exhaust valves 118 and 130 are activated or deactivated. One or more cylinders of the engine 102 may be deactivated under some circumstances, for example, to decrease fuel consumption.
The engine 102 also includes one or more balance shafts, such as a first balance shaft 142 and a second balance shaft 146. Rotation of the first balance shaft 142 is driven by the crankshaft 128. A first toothed wheel 150 may be coupled to and rotate with the crankshaft 128, and a second toothed wheel 154 may be coupled to and rotate with the first balance shaft 142. The first toothed wheel 150 may directly drive the second toothed wheel 154 or drive the second toothed wheel 154 via a belt, a chain, a gear drive mechanism, or in another suitable manner.
Rotation of the second balance shaft 146 may be driven by the first balance shaft 142. A third toothed wheel 158 may be coupled to and rotate with the second balance shaft 146. The second toothed wheel 154 may directly drive the third toothed wheel 158 or drive the third toothed wheel 158 via a belt, a chain, a gear drive mechanism, or in another suitable manner.
An oil pump 162 is driven by a balance shaft, such as the second balance shaft 146. For example only, a fourth toothed wheel 166 may be coupled to and rotate with an input shaft of the oil pump 162. The third toothed wheel 158 may directly drive the fourth toothed wheel 166 or drive the fourth toothed wheel 166 via a belt, a chain, a gear drive mechanism, or in another suitable manner. While the oil pump 162 is shown and described as being driven by the second balance shaft 146, the oil pump 162 may be driven by the first balance shaft 142. The toothed wheels, belt(s), chain(s), and/or gear drive mechanism(s) that drive the oil pump 162 may be referred to as an oil pump drivetrain.
The oil pump 162 draws (engine) oil from a sump (not shown) and pumps the oil to various locations within the engine 102. The oil pump 162 is a variable displacement pump. A pump actuator module 170 controls displacement of the oil pump 162 based on signals from the ECM 110. The displacement of the oil pump 162 dictates how much oil the oil pump 162 pumps. For example, the oil pump 162 pumps more oil as the displacement increases and vice versa.
The engine system 100 includes a plurality of sensors, such as a crankshaft position sensor 180, an oil temperature (OT) sensor 184, and an engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor 188. The crankshaft position sensor 180 monitors rotation of the crankshaft 128 and generates a crankshaft position signal based on the rotation of the crankshaft 128. For example only, the crankshaft position sensor 180 may include a variable reluctance (VR) sensor or another suitable type of crankshaft position sensor.
The OT sensor 184 measures temperature of the oil and generates an OT signal based on the temperature of the oil. The ECT sensor 188 measures temperature of engine coolant and generates an ECT signal based on the temperature of the engine coolant. While the ECT sensor 188 is shown as being implemented within the engine 102, the ECT sensor 188 may be implemented at another location where the engine coolant is circulated, such as in a radiator or in a coolant line.
The engine system 100 may also include one or more other sensors 190. For example, the other sensors 190 may include one or more fuel pressure sensors, a mass air flowrate (MAF) sensor, a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor, an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor, and/or one or more other suitable sensors.
Under some circumstances, the period between cylinder firing events of the engine 102 may be such that the drivetrain of the oil pump 162 may generate audible noise after combustion within a cylinder. The audible noise (e.g., tick or rattle) may be attributable to teeth of a toothed wheel losing contact with a component that drives the toothed wheel before combustion and contacting the component as a result of the combustion. The ECM 110 of the present disclosure selectively adjusts the displacement of the oil pump 162 to vary the torque of the oil pump 162 in an effort to maintain toothed wheel contact to minimize or prevent the occurrence of such audible noise.
Referring now to
One or more engine actuators may be controlled based on the torque request 208 and/or one or more other parameters. For example, a throttle control module 216 may determine a target throttle opening 220 based on the torque request 208. The throttle actuator module 112 may adjust opening of the throttle valve 108 based on the target throttle opening 220.
A spark control module 224 may determine a target spark timing 228 based on the torque request 208. The spark actuator module 124 may generate spark based on the target spark timing 228. A fuel control module 232 may determine one or more target fueling parameters 236 based on the torque request 208. For example, the target fueling parameters 236 may include fuel injection amount, number of fuel injections for injecting the amount, and timing for each of the injections. The fuel actuator module 120 may inject fuel based on the target fueling parameters 236.
A valve control module 237 may determine target intake and exhaust valve parameters 238 and 239 based on the torque request 208. The valve actuator module 138 may regulate intake and exhaust valve actuation based on the desired intake and exhaust valve parameters 238 and 239, respectively. For example only, the target intake and exhaust valve parameters 238 and 239 may include intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing, lift, and/or one or more other parameters.
A cylinder control module 244 determines a target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248 based on the torque request 208. The valve actuator module 138 deactivates the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be deactivated according to the target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248. The valve actuator module 138 allows opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves of cylinders that are to be activated according to the target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248.
Fueling is halted (zero fueling) to cylinders that are to be deactivated according to the target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248, and fuel is provided to the cylinders that are to be activated according to the target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248. Spark is provided to the cylinders that are to be activated according to the target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248. Spark may be provided or halted to cylinders that are to be deactivated according to the target cylinder activation/deactivation sequence 248. Cylinder deactivation is different than fuel cutoff (e.g., deceleration fuel cutoff) in that the intake and exhaust valves of cylinders to which fueling is halted during fuel cutoff are still opened and closed during the fuel cutoff whereas the intake and exhaust valves are maintained closed when deactivated.
A pump control module 260 determines a target displacement 264 for the oil pump 162, and the pump actuator module 170 adjusts the displacement of the oil pump 162 based on the target displacement 264. The pump control module 260 selectively sets the target displacement 264 to minimize or prevent generation of audible noise by the oil pump drivetrain.
Referring now to
For example only, the enabling module 304 may enable the triggering module 308 when half of the cylinders of an even firing engine (e.g., two cylinders of a four-cylinder engine) are deactivated per engine cycle. If the engine 102 is a two-cylinder engine or operating as a two-cylinder engine, the enabling module 304 may enable the triggering module 308. The enabling module 304 may disable the triggering module 308 when one or more of the enabling conditions are not satisfied.
When enabled, the triggering module 308 generates a trigger signal 316 based on one or more engine operating conditions. For example only, the triggering module 308 may set the trigger signal 316 to a first state when an engine speed 320 is less than a predetermined speed and an engine temperature 324 is greater than a predetermined temperature. The triggering module 308 may set the trigger signal 316 to a second state when the engine speed 320 is greater than the predetermined speed and/or the engine temperature 324 is less than the predetermined temperature. The predetermined speed may be calibratable and may be set, for example, based on an idling speed of the engine 102. For example only, the predetermined speed may be approximately 1000 revolutions per minute (RPM)—approximately 1500 RPM or another suitable speed. The predetermined temperature may be calibratable and may be set, for example, based on a steady-state temperature of the engine 102 at idle. For example only, the predetermined temperature may be approximately 121 degrees Celsius or less. The triggering module 308 may set the trigger signal 316 to the second state when disabled.
Viscosity of engine oil is an inverse function of the engine temperature 324. Thus, oil viscosity increases as the engine temperature 324 decreases, and vice versa. Due to the lower oil viscosity (and therefore lower oil pump torque) at higher engine temperatures, audible noise may be more likely when the engine temperature 324 is greater than the predetermined temperature.
An engine speed module 328 (see
The target displacement module 312 (
When the trigger signal 316 is in the first state, the target displacement module 312 determines the target displacement 264 based on the engine speed 320 and the engine temperature 324. The target displacement module 312 may determine the target displacement 264, for example, using one of a function and a mapping that relates the engine speed 320 and the engine temperature 324 to the target displacement 264. For example only, the target displacement module 312 may increase the target displacement 264 as the engine speed 320 decreases and vice versa. Additionally or alternatively, the target displacement module 312 may increase the target displacement 264 as the engine temperature 324 increases and vice versa.
Relative to values of the target displacement 264 determined for operation in the normal mode, values of the target displacement 264 determined based on the engine speed 320 and the engine temperature 324 are larger. Thus, the target displacement module 312 increases the target displacement 264 when the trigger signal 316 is in the first state. The target displacement module 312 may apply one or more filters before outputting the target displacement 264, for example, to rate limit changes in the target displacement 264 associated with changes in the state of the trigger signal 316.
Referring now to
At 412, the triggering module 308 determines whether the engine speed 320 is less than the predetermined speed. If 412 is true, control continues with 416. If 412 is false, control transfers to 408, which is discussed above. At 416, the triggering module 308 determines whether the engine temperature 324 is greater than the predetermined temperature. If 416 is true, the triggering module 308 sets the trigger signal 316 to the first state, and control continues with 420. If 416 is false, control transfers to 408, which is discussed above. For example only, the predetermined speed may be approximately 1000 revolutions per minute (RPM)—approximately 1500 RPM or another suitable speed, and the predetermined temperature may be approximately 121 degrees Celsius or less.
The target displacement module 312 determines the target displacement 264 for the oil pump 162 at 420. The target displacement module 312 determines the target displacement 264 at 420 based on the engine speed 320 and the engine temperature 324. For example, the target displacement module 312 may increase the target displacement 264 as the engine speed 320 decreases and vice versa and/or increase the target displacement 264 as the engine temperature 324 increases and vice versa. At 424, the displacement of the oil pump 162 is controlled based on the target displacement 264. The increase in the displacement of the oil pump 162 (relative to operation in the normal mode) increases the torque load of the oil pump 162. The increased torque load of the oil pump 162 maintains the components of the oil pump drivetrain in contact with each other, thereby minimizing audible noise produced by the oil pump drivetrain. While control is shown as ending,
The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical OR. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure.
In this application, including the definitions below, the term module may be replaced with the term circuit. The term module may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by a processor; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.
The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, and/or objects. The term shared processor encompasses a single processor that executes some or all code from multiple modules. The term group processor encompasses a processor that, in combination with additional processors, executes some or all code from one or more modules. The term shared memory encompasses a single memory that stores some or all code from multiple modules. The term group memory encompasses a memory that, in combination with additional memories, stores some or all code from one or more modules. The term memory may be a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium does not encompass transitory electrical and electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium, and may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium include nonvolatile memory, volatile memory, magnetic storage, and optical storage.
The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by one or more computer programs executed by one or more processors. The computer programs include processor-executable instructions that are stored on at least one non-transitory tangible computer readable medium. The computer programs may also include and/or rely on stored data.
