Internal Combustion Engine Speed Control Cylinder Fuel Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

In internal combustion engine speed control systems, data communication issues between the main control module and cylinder control modules lead to uneven fuel distribution, causing some cylinders to be overloaded, which can result in engine damage due to independent and unsynchronized operation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that form an internal speed reference value by subtracting a part of the set reference value based on control signal data, using this internal reference value to generate a control signal for fuel injection, ensuring more even load distribution across cylinders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is transferred directly from the main control module to each cylinder control module, then communication speed is improved, but synchronization between cylinders deteriorates leading to uneven fuel distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication speedVSAvoidfuel distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing step where the main control module calculates a correction value based on the difference between actual and target engine speed, and this correction value is used to adjust the fuel injection timing across all cylinders. This mediator (correction value) ensures that all cylinders receive synchronized adjustments, maintaining fuel distribution uniformity while enabling fast data transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual engine speed and comparing it with target speed, then using the difference to generate correction values that are applied to all cylinder control modules. This feedback mechanism ensures that all cylinders are adjusted simultaneously based on real-time engine performance, preventing synchronization issues even with direct data transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If each cylinder control module operates independently, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to overloaded cylinders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidengine operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into a main control module that performs centralized calculations for fuel injection timing and correction values, and cylinder control modules that execute the adjusted timing. This segmentation allows the main module to ensure reliability through centralized coordination while keeping individual cylinder modules relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the speed calculation and correction value generation functions into the main control module, which then distributes these corrections to all cylinder control modules. This merging ensures that all cylinders operate from a unified reference point, maintaining reliability while allowing each cylinder module to remain functionally simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2379865B1Apparatus and method for controlling the speed of an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 WARTSILA FINLAND OY
  • EP2379865B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2379865B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2379865B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a controller for forming a speed signal arranged to receive speed measurement data (51) of an internal combustion engine as well as speed reference data. The apparatus additionally comprises a module for forming an internal speed reference value (52) based on a speed reference value set, to be used when forming the control signal (53).