초록 ▼

A control system and method to dynamically determine a parametric value for combustion chamber deposits (CCD), e.g. in a controlled auto-ignition engine, including in-situ evaluation of thickness of CCD, based on a sensor which monitors combustion. It includes a temperature sensor operative to monit

A control system and method to dynamically determine a parametric value for combustion chamber deposits (CCD), e.g. in a controlled auto-ignition engine, including in-situ evaluation of thickness of CCD, based on a sensor which monitors combustion. It includes a temperature sensor operative to monitor the combustion chamber, and a CCD parameter that is based upon a peak combustion temperature measured at a crank angle. A CCD parameter can also be determined utilizing an in-cylinder pressure monitor, wherein a combustion chamber deposit parameter is based upon crank angle location of a peak in-cylinder pressure parameter.

대표청구항 ▼

It is claimed: 1. Control system for an internal combustion engine, said engine comprising a spark-ignition, four-stroke, internal combustion engine including a variable volume combustion chamber defined by a piston reciprocating within a cylinder between top-dead-center and bottom-dead-center poin

It is claimed: 1. Control system for an internal combustion engine, said engine comprising a spark-ignition, four-stroke, internal combustion engine including a variable volume combustion chamber defined by a piston reciprocating within a cylinder between top-dead-center and bottom-dead-center points and a cylinder head, said piston operably connected to a rotating crankshaft, said control system adapted to: monitor a combustion parameter; and, determine a combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon the combustion parameter. 2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control system adapted to monitor a combustion parameter comprises the control system signally connected to a temperature sensing device operative to monitor temperature of the combustion chamber. 3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the temperature sensing device operative to monitor temperature of the combustion chamber comprises a temperature sensing device operative to monitor temperature of a surface of the combustion chamber. 4. The control system of claim 2, wherein the control system adapted to determine a combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon the combustion parameter further comprises: the control system signally connected to a crank sensor; and, the control system operable to determine the combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon an engine crank angle at which a peak combustion chamber temperature occurs during an engine cycle. 5. The control system of claim 2, wherein the control system adapted to determine a combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon the combustion parameter further comprises: the control system signally connected to a pressure sensing device operative to determine an in-cylinder pressure parameter; and, the control system operable to determine the combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon a peak in-cylinder pressure parameter. 6. The control system of claim 5, further comprising: the control system signally connected to a crank sensor; and, the control system operable to determine the combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon an engine crank angle at which the peak in-cylinder pressure parameter occurs during an engine cycle. 7. The control system of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensing device operative to determine an in-cylinder pressure parameter comprises an in-cylinder pressure sensor. 8. The control system of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensing device operative to determine an in-cylinder pressure parameter comprises a pressure sensor operatively connected to a spark-plug device. 9. The control system of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensing device operative to determine an in-cylinder pressure parameter comprises a spark-ionization sensing device. 10. Method for determining a combustion chamber deposit parameter for an engine, said engine comprising a spark-ignition, four-stroke, internal combustion engine including a variable volume combustion chamber defined by a piston reciprocating within a cylinder between top-dead-center and bottom-dead-center points and a cylinder head, said piston operably connected to a rotating crankshaft monitored by a crank sensor, the method comprising: monitoring a combustion parameter; and, determining a combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon the combustion parameter. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the combustion parameter comprises monitoring a combustion chamber surface temperature and a related engine crank angle. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining a combustion chamber deposit parameter based upon the combustion parameter comprises: determining magnitude of combustion chamber deposits based upon an engine crank angle at which a peak combustion chamber surface temperature occurs during an engine cycle. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the combustion parameter farther comprises: monitoring a related engine crank angle; determining an in-cylinder combustion pressure parameter during each engine cycle; and, determining the combustion pressure parameter based upon a peak in-cylinder pressure and the crank angle location of the peak in-cylinder pressure. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the in-cylinder combustion pressure parameter comprises monitoring output of an in-cylinder pressure sensing device. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the in-cylinder combustion pressure parameter comprises monitoring an in-cylinder spark ionization signal.