초록 ▼

A variable displacement engine for a vehicle has a sequential fuel injector firing order to sequence the fuel injector firing signals to the fuel injectors of each cylinder of the engine in a sequential manner regardless of the number of cylinders which are operated under any given engine load. A co

A variable displacement engine for a vehicle has a sequential fuel injector firing order to sequence the fuel injector firing signals to the fuel injectors of each cylinder of the engine in a sequential manner regardless of the number of cylinders which are operated under any given engine load. A connecting bridge connects the injector firing signals as determined by the engine controller for the desired number of operative cylinders under any load to the fuel injectors in a sequential, manner as the bridge sequences through positions after each injector firing cycle. A solid torque tube system rigidly interconnects the engine, the transmission and the rear axle of the vehicle to form a solid torque member having a natural frequency of oscillation higher than any vibrational frequency that can occur during operation of the vehicle. A rigid torque tube is fixedly connected between the transmission and the rear axle. A universal pivotal connection mounts one end of the engine to the vehicle to allow rotational movement of the solid torque tube system about at least two mutually exclusive axes. A force absorption apparatus is coupled to the solid torque tube system for absorbing forces impacting on the solid torque tube system causing longitudinal fore or aft movement of the solid torque tube system. In one embodiment, the force absorption apparatus is coupled through a switchable valve to a source of modulated torque fluid pressure to assist force absorption under high torque loads.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. In a vehicle with an engine having a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder provided with a fuel injector for injecting fuel into each cylinder on a timed basis controlled by injector selection signals from an engine controller, the engine controller, in response to vary

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. In a vehicle with an engine having a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder provided with a fuel injector for injecting fuel into each cylinder on a timed basis controlled by injector selection signals from an engine controller, the engine controller, in response to varying engine loads, selecting any number of operative fuel injectors less than the maximum number of cylinders for operation, the vehicle further including a transmission, a rear axle, and a chassis, the improvement comprising:means for connecting each fuel injection firing signal from the engine controller to a fuel injector; andmeans for cycling the fuel injector firing signal connecting means to all of the other cylinders in the engine in a sequential order, in the selected number of operative fuel injectors at one time.