Secondary-air System Master-Slave Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secondary-air systems for internal combustion engines require an increased number of components for individual control of secondary-air valves, making them inefficient and complex for diagnosing operability issues.
Innovation Solution
A secondary-air system with a master and slave configuration, utilizing two controls to manage four exhaust gas banks and associated secondary-air valves, allowing crosswise control and reduced component usage for accurate fault localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual control of secondary-air valves is implemented, then fault localization precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control functions by making the first control device responsible for both the first and second secondary-air valves, and the second control device responsible for both the third and fourth secondary-air valves. This merging of control responsibilities reduces the total number of control devices needed while maintaining the ability to individually control each valve for precise fault localization.
Solution Approach 2:
The control devices are designed with multi-functional capabilities, where each control device can manage multiple secondary-air valves. This universality allows a reduced number of control devices to perform the functions that would otherwise require more dedicated controls, thereby reducing system complexity while preserving diagnostic precision.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate controls are used for each secondary-air valve, then operational control precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control functions by assigning multiple secondary-air valves to each control device. Specifically, the first control device controls both the first and second valves, while the second control device controls both the third and fourth valves. This reduces the total number of control devices from four to two, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining sufficient control precision through the ability to individually actuate each valve.
3Measurement precision
If individual pressure measurement for each valve is implemented, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but component quantity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pressure measurement locations by implementing a single pressure measurement point in the common secondary-air line upstream of all secondary-air valves. This single pressure measurement serves diagnostic purposes for the entire secondary-air system, reducing the number of pressure sensors from four to one while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through centralized pressure monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables efficient and accurate diagnosis of secondary-air system faults with reduced component count, minimizing repair time and preventing unnecessary part replacement.
Implementation Method 1
through the use of the at least one secondary-air pump, secondary air is guidable, via the secondary-air lines, to the exhaust gas banks
Implementation Method 2
The exothermic reaction of the secondary air with uncombusted fuel in the hot exhaust gas and the further oxidation thereof upstream of and in the exhaust gas catalytic converter leads to an accelerated heating of the exhaust gas catalytic converter
Implementation Method 3
The pollutant emissions of an internal combustion engine can be reduced effectively by a catalytic aftertreatment through the use of exhaust gas catalytic converters
Data Source
AI summary
A method for checking the operability of a secondary-air system of an internal combustion engine includes measuring a first pressure between a first secondary-air pump and a first master secondary-air valve as well as a second master secondary-air valve, measuring a second pressure between a second secondary-air pump and a first slave secondary-air valve and a second slave secondary-air valve, controlling the first master secondary-air valve and the first slave secondary-air valve together, and controlling the second master secondary-air valve and the second slave secondary-air valve together. A secondary-air system includes a first control and a second control, wherein a first master secondary-air valve and a first slave secondary-air valve are controllable together by the first control and wherein a second master secondary-air valve and a second slave secondary-air valve are controllable together by the second control.