Irregular Fuel Request Detection for Engine Idle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines experience irregular idle conditions, leading to engine speed fluctuations and potential stalls during vehicle operation, which detract from vehicle quality and customer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
An engine idle management system that includes a controller capable of determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) based on clutch control parameters and fuel requests during idle conditions, using vehicle and engine speed thresholds, combustion modes, and gear states to implement control actions such as notifying the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engine operates during idle conditions, then the vehicle can remain stationary with engine running, but irregular fuel requests cause engine speed fluctuations and potential stalls
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors fuel requests during idle conditions and compares them against expected ranges. When an irregular fuel request is detected (fuel request outside the idle fuel request range), the controller identifies this as an IFR condition and can implement control actions to correct the issue, such as adjusting fuel delivery or notifying the operator. This closed-loop feedback mechanism stabilizes engine speed by correcting deviations caused by irregular fuel requests.
2Reliability
If the controller monitors fuel requests to identify irregular conditions, then engine stability can be improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing engine controller is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it continues to manage normal fuel injection control while also monitoring for irregular fuel requests during idle conditions. The controller determines idle conditions based on vehicle speed and engine speed thresholds, calculates appropriate idle fuel request ranges based on combustion mode and gear state, detects IFR conditions, and implements control actions. This multi-functionality approach improves engine idle performance without adding separate dedicated hardware systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.