SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFE VALVE ACTIVATION IN A DYNAMIC SKIP FIRING ENGINE

摘要

A variety of methods and devices for controlling the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine during skip fire operation are described. In various embodiments, an exhaust valve monitor or other suitable mechanism is used to detect exhaust valve actuation faults. When an exhaust valve actuation fault is detected for a particular cylinder, the corresponding intake valve is deactivated (or not activated) in circumstances when it would otherwise be activated in order to prevent the intake valve from opening into a cylinder that contains high pressure combustion gases. The described approach is particularly beneficial when skip fire operation is combined with cylinder deactivation so that air is not pumped through the cylinders during the skipped working cycles.

主权项

1. A method of controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, each cylinder having an associated intake valve and an associated exhaust valve, the method comprising:
directing skip fire operation of the engine; determining whether an exhaust valve actuation failure has occurred in which the exhaust valve associated with a selected cylinder fails to open properly during a selected working cycle during the skip fire operation of the engine; and when it is determined that an exhaust valve actuation failure has occurred, deactivating the intake valve associated with the selected cylinder during a subsequent working cycle in which the intake valve would otherwise have been actuated in response to the detection of the exhaust valve actuation failure.