IP Library Granted Patent US 7,370,629
Granted Patent B2
US 7,370,629 · App. 11/580,709 · Granted May 13, 2008

Method for operating an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection during a post-start phase

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,370,629
App. No.
11/580,709
Granted
May 13, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection in the post-start phase at low temperatures, fuel is supplied to the combustion air in a pilot injection (M H ) of a first fuel quantity during an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine such that the pilot injection (M H ) forms a homogeneous, lean air/fuel mixture (λ>1) in substantially the entire combustion chamber, and a main injection (M S ) of a second fuel quantity is subsequently injected into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke directly before the ignition time (ZT), said main injection (M S ) forming in the region of the spark plug a stratified, rich air/fuel mixture (λ<1), which is then ignited by the spark plug.

Claims (18)

1. A method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine ( 10 ) including a combustion chamber ( 18 ) with a fuel injector ( 20 ) for direct fuel injection into a combustion chamber ( 18 ) and a spark plug ( 26 ) for the ignition of the fuel with combustion air supplied to the combustion chamber ( 18 ) in a post-start phase (T) during a period between the start-up phase of the internal combustion engine and before the lambda sensors is operational, wherein the engine is operating at low temperatures, said method comprising the steps of:

Supplying the combustion air to the combustion chamber ( 18 ) in an engine intake stroke; injecting a pilot fuel quantity by means of the fuel injector ( 20 ) into the combustion air supplied to the combustion chamber ( 18 ) during the intake stroke of the internal combustion engine ( 10 ), said pilot injection (M H ) forming a homogeneous, lean air/fuel mixture (λ<1) in substantially the entire combustion chamber ( 18 ); subsequently injecting in a main injection (M S ) a second fuel quantity into the combustion chamber ( 18 ) during a compression stroke directly before the ignition time (ZT), said main fuel injection (M S ) being carried out as a double injection each forming a stratified, rich air/fuel mixture (λ<1) in the region of the spark plug ( 26 ) and igniting the stratified rich air/fuel mixture by means of the spark plug ( 26 ) at a predetermined ignition time (ZT) after the second stratified fuel injection.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the pilot injection (M H ) generates a slightly lean air/fuel mixture, in particular an air/fuel mixture of λ≈1.2, in the combustion chamber ( 18 ).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein, averaged across the entire combustion chamber ( 18 ), the air/fuel mixture after the second stratified injection (M S ) is between stoichiometric (λ≈1) and slightly lean (λ≈1.05).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the ignition time (ZT) occurs between approximately 10° CA and approximately 20° CA before an ignition top dead center (ITDC).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the end of the main injection (M S ) or of the first stratified injection of the main injection (M S ) occurs at approximately 1° CA to 15° CA before the ignition time (ZT).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein also the pilot injection (M H ) is carried out as a multiple injection with a plurality of homogeneous injections.

7. A method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine ( 10 ) including a combustion chamber ( 18 ) with a fuel injector ( 20 ) for direct fuel injection into a combustion chamber ( 18 ) and a spark plug ( 26 ) for the ignition of the fuel with combustion air supplied to the combustion chamber ( 18 ) in a post-start phase (T) during a period between the start-up phase of the internal combustion engine and before the lambda sensors is operational, wherein the engine is operating at low temperatures, said method comprising the steps of:

Supplying the combustion air to the combustion chamber ( 18 ) in an engine intake stroke; injecting a pilot fuel quantity by means of the fuel injector ( 20 ) into the combustion air supplied to the combustion chamber ( 18 ) during the intake stroke of the internal combustion engine ( 10 ), said pilot injection (M H ) forming a homogeneous, lean air/fuel mixture (λ<1) in substantially the entire combustion chamber ( 18 ); subsequently injecting in a main injection (M S ) a second fuel quantity into the combustion chamber ( 18 ) during a compression stroke directly before the ignition time (ZT), said main fuel injection (M S ) being carried out as a triple injection each forming a stratified, rich air/fuel mixture (λ<1) in the region of the spark plug ( 26 ) and igniting the stratified rich air/fuel mixture by means of the spark plug ( 26 ) at a predetermined ignition time (ZT) after the third stratified fuel injection.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein, averaged across the entire combustion chamber ( 18 ), the air/fuel mixture after the third stratified injection (M S ) is between stoichiometric (λ≈1) and slightly lean (λ≈1.05).

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the ignition time (ZT) occurs between approximately 10° CA and approximately 20° CA before an ignition top dead center (ITDC).

10. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the end of the main injection (M S ) or of the first stratified injection of the main injection (M S ) occurs at approximately 1° CA to 15° CA before the ignition time (ZT).

11. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein also the pilot injection (M H ) is carried out as a multiple injection with a plurality of homogeneous injections.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 28, 2008
From: DAIMERCHRYSLER AG
To: DAIMLER AG
Reel/Frame 020746/0620 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2006
From: KOHLER, BERND; LUX, CHRISTOPH; OECHSLE, MICHAEL; SPIETH, ANDREAS
To: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
Reel/Frame 018637/0528 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2006
From: KOHLER, BERND; LUX, CHRISTOPHER; OECHSLE, MICHAEL; SPIETH, ANDREAS
To: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
Reel/Frame 018637/0530 →