IP Library Granted Patent US 6,851,416
Granted Patent B1
US 6,851,416 · App. 10/644,351 · Granted Feb 8, 2005

Engine operation on an unknown ethanol fuel blend

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,851,416
App. No.
10/644,351
Granted
Feb 8, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A vehicle controller adjusts fuel delivered to an engine to compensate for an unknown fuel type being added to a fuel tank in a flexible fueled vehicle. The controller fuels a first set of engine cylinders according to first fueling scheme. For example, the controller fuels the first set assuming that E85 fuel was added to the fuel tank. The controller fuels a second set of engine cylinders according to a second fueling scheme. For example, the controller fuels the second set assuming that E0 fuel was added to the fuel tank. The controller continues to fuel the engine in this manner until an oxygen sensor becomes available. When the oxygen sensor becomes available, the vehicle controller may fuel the engine according to information from the oxygen sensor.

Claims (23)

1. A method of controlling fuel delivery in an engine after adding an unknown fuel to a fuel tank, comprising:

controlling a fuel rate of a first set of engine cylinders according to a first fueling scheme that assumes a first fuel type was added to the tank; and

controlling a fuel rate of a second set of engine cylinders according to a second fueling scheme that assumes a second fuel type was added to the tank.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first fuel type is E85 fuel and the second fuel type is E0 fuel.

3. A method of controlling fuel delivery in an engine after adding an comprising:

controlling a fuel rate of a first set of engine cylinders according to a a fueling map calculated at a controller; and

controlling a fuel rate of a second set of engine cylinders according to a second fueling scheme based on said fueling map calculated at said controller, controlling a fueling map is calculated according to at least one of a age, a previous fuel volume, and a new fuel volume.

4. A method of controlling fuel delivery in an engine after adding an own fuel to a fuel comprising:

controlling a fuel rate of a first set of engine cylinders according to a first fueling scheme which assumes the unknown fuel is of a first fuel type;

controlling a fuel rate, of a second set of engine cylinders according to a second fueling scheme which assumes the unknown fuel is of a second type;

determining if exhaust from the first set and exhaust from the second set has an oxygen level of at least one of a lean condition and a rich condition

adjusting the fuel rate of at least one of the first and second sets to correct the oxygen level.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first fuel type is E85 fuel and the second fuel type is E0 fuel.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein adjusting the fuel rate includes decreasing the fuel rate of the first set if the oxygen level indicates a rich condition.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein adjusting the fuel rate includes increasing the fuel rate of the second set if the oxygen level indicates a lean condition.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein adjusting the fuel rate includes adjusting the fuel rate until the fuel rate of the first set is within a threshold of the fuel rate of the second set.

9. A method of controlling fuel delivery in an engine after adding an unknown fuel to a fuel tank comprising:

controlling a fuel rate of a first set of engine cylinders according to a first fueling scheme that assumes a first fuel type was added to the tank;

controlling a fuel rate of a second set of engine cylinders according to a second fueling scheme mat assumes a second fuel type was added to the tank;

determining exhaust from the first set has an abnormal oxygen level at a first oxygen sensor;

determining if exhaust from the second set has an abnormal oxygen level at a second oxygen sensor;

adjusting the fuel rate of at least one of the first and second sets to correct the abnormal oxygen level.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first fuel type is E85 fuel and the second fuel type is E0 fuel.

Assignments (19)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FCA US LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC)
Reel/Frame 048177/0356 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2017
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: FCA US LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC)
Reel/Frame 042885/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RELEASING SECOND-LIEN SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 026426 AND FRAME 0644, REEL 026435 AND FRAME 0652, AND REEL 032384 AND FRAME 0591 Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: FCA US LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 037784/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 30, 2015
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: FCA US LLC
Reel/Frame 035553/0356 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 4, 2014
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 032384/0640 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 13, 2011
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 026435/0652 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2011
From: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 026404/0123 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2011
From: THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC; CHRYSLER GROUP GLOBAL ELECTRIC MOTORCARS LLC
Reel/Frame 026343/0298 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 7, 2009
From: NEW CARCO ACQUISITION LLC
To: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 022919/0126 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2009
From: CHRYSLER LLC
To: NEW CARCO ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 022915/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS - SECOND PRIORITY Recorded Jul 6, 2009
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: CHRYSLER LLC
Reel/Frame 022910/0740 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2009
From: NEW CARCO ACQUISITION LLC
To: THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022915/0489 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS - FIRST PRIORITY Recorded Jul 6, 2009
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: CHRYSLER LLC
Reel/Frame 022910/0498 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2009
From: US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: CHRYSLER LLC
Reel/Frame 022902/0310 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS - THIR Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: CHRYSLER LLC
To: US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022259/0188 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 13, 2008
From: DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMPANY LLC
To: CHRYSLER LLC
Reel/Frame 021826/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 4, 2008
From: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
To: DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 021779/0793 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS - SECOND PRIORITY Recorded Aug 30, 2007
From: CHRYSLER LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019767/0810 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS - FIRST PRIORITY Recorded Aug 29, 2007
From: CHRYSLER LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019773/0001 →