Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – With indicator or control of power plant
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-27
2004-04-27
Vo, Hieu T. (Department: 3747)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
With indicator or control of power plant
C701S102000, C123S480000, C123S676000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06728625
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to combustion control of an internal combustion engine, and more specifically, to control of a humidity compensated charge density of a combustion mixture for the engine.
BACKGROUND
Combustion control of engines has long been used to achieve various purposes. The three most notable purposes are to maximize power output, to maximize fuel economy, and to minimize emissions. In particular, emissions control has become a major factor in the development of engine controls.
Various conventional techniques exist for controlling the emissions of an engine. Most techniques deal in some form of controlling the amount of fuel, the amount of air or other combustible gas, and the timing of the ignition. These techniques vary significantly in the precision with which they are able to control emissions to a desired level. U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,127 to Quirchmayr, et. al. discloses regulating the combustion mixture pressure to achieve a desired NO
x
level. While this method may present some advantages over past strategies, further improvements are still sought by the industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for determining a desired charge density for an engine having an inlet air pathway. A first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine is determined. A second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine is determined. A third characteristic indicative of a humidity of air in the inlet air pathway. A value indicative of a desired charge density of a combustion mixture for the engine is determined as a function of the first, second, and third characteristics.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4364364 (1982-12-01), Subramaniam
patent: 4867127 (1989-09-01), Quirchmayr et al.
patent: 5735245 (1998-04-01), Kubesh et al.
patent: 6062204 (2000-05-01), Cullen
patent: 2003/0136390 (2003-07-01), Ramamurthy et al.
patent: 2003-239811 (2003-08-01), None
U.S. application # 09/933,544 filed Aug. 20, 2001.
U.S. application 10/209,630 filed: Jul. 31, 2002.
Boley William C.
Strubhar Sean R.
Caterpillar Inc
Green Clifton G
Vo Hieu T.
LandOfFree
Humidity compensated charge density control for an internal... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Humidity compensated charge density control for an internal..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Humidity compensated charge density control for an internal... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3192180