IP Library Granted Patent US 7,698,935
Granted Patent B2
US 7,698,935 · App. 11/943,884 · Granted Apr 20, 2010

Diagnostic system for valve actuation mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,698,935
App. No.
11/943,884
Granted
Apr 20, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A diagnostic system for an engine includes a pressure monitoring module that determines a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser. A diagnostic module identifies one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on the first and the second average pressure values. Each of the first and the second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of the plurality of cylinders.

Claims (26)

1. A diagnostic system for an engine, comprising:

a pressure monitoring module that determines a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser; and

a diagnostic module that identifies one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on said first and said second average pressure values;

wherein each of said first and said second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of said plurality of cylinders.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure monitoring module determines said plurality of first average pressure values when said engine is operating in a first lift state and determines said second average pressure values when said engine is operating in a second lift state.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said diagnostic module commands said engine to transition to said second lift state after said pressure monitoring module determines said plurality of first average values.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said pressure monitoring module determines said second average pressure values after operating in said second lift state for a calibrated number of revolutions of said engine.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic module identifies said one of said plurality of cylinders based on pressure differences between each of said plurality of first average pressure values and said plurality of second average pressure values.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said diagnostic module identifies said one of said plurality of cylinders when one of said plurality of pressure differences corresponding to said one of said plurality of cylinders exceeds a pressure threshold.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic module generates a control signal identifying said one of said plurality of cylinders.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a control module that commands remedial action based on said control signal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure monitoring module determines said first and said second average pressure values over a calibrated number of revolutions of said engine.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an enablement module that enables said system when at least one enablement condition is met.

11. A diagnostic method for an engine, comprising:

determining a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser; and

identifying one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on said first and said second average pressure values;

wherein each of said first and said second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of said plurality of cylinders.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining said plurality of first average pressure values when said engine is operating in a first lift state and determines said second average pressure values when said engine is operating in a second lift state.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising commanding said engine to transition to said second lift state after determining said plurality of first average values.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining said second average pressure values after operating in said second lift state for a calibrated number of revolutions of said engine.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising identifying said one of said plurality of cylinders based on pressure differences between each of said plurality of first average pressure values and said plurality of second average pressure values.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising identifying said one of said plurality of cylinders when one of said plurality of pressure differences corresponding to said one of said plurality of cylinders exceeds a pressure threshold.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising generating a control signal identifying said one of said plurality of cylinders.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising commanding remedial action based on said control signal.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining said first and said second average pressure values over a calibrated number of revolutions of said engine.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising enabling said method when at least one enablement condition is met.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0780 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0215 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0880 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0670 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0479 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2008
From: DIBBLE, DONOVAN L.; CINPINSKI, KENNETH J.; WILES, MATTHEW A.; PATEL, VIMESH M.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020469/0757 →