Method for improving the running smoothness of an internal combustion engine, control device and internal combustion engine

1. A method for improving the running smoothness of an internal combustion engine which has at least one combustion chamber and at least one controllable actuator, the position of which has an influence on the combustion in the at least one combustion chamber, with the method comprising the steps of:

determining an uneven running value of the internal combustion engine,

comparing the uneven running value with a predefined first uneven running threshold value,

in the event of the uneven running value exceeding the first uneven running threshold value, moving the actuator from a starting position into an end position while the combustion in all of the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine being continued, and wherein

the uneven running value being determined in an individual manner for each combustion chamber, and

in the event of the uneven running value in one of the combustion chambers exceeding a predefined second uneven running threshold value, which is greater than that of the first uneven running threshold value, suppressing the combustion in the corresponding combustion chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the end position being characterized by the influence of the actuator on the combustion in the end position being minimal.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine having a plurality of actuators, the position of which in each case has an influence on the combustion in at least one of the combustion chambers, and wherein for at least some of the actuators, the method steps being carried out individually.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one of the actuators involved being a tank breather valve, which is arranged in a ventilation line between a fuel vapor reservoir and an inlet manifold of the internal combustion engine and which, in an open position, pneumatically connects the fuel vapor reservoir with the inlet manifold and, in a closed position, pneumatically disconnects the fuel vapor reservoir from the inlet manifold, and with wherein the tank breather valve being closed in the event of the uneven running value exceeding the predefined first uneven running threshold value.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator involved being an exhaust gas recirculation valve, which is arranged in an exhaust gas recirculation line between an exhaust gas tract and an inlet manifold of the internal combustion engine and which, in an open position, pneumatically connects the exhaust gas tract with the inlet manifold and, in a closed position, pneumatically disconnects the exhaust gas tract from the inlet manifold, and wherein the exhaust gas recirculation valve being closed in the event of the uneven running value exceeding the predefined first uneven running threshold value.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator involved being a swirl flap, which is arranged in an intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator involved being an adjusting mechanism for a valve by means of which the gas flow through the combustion chamber is controlled.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the event of an improvement in the running smoothness when the actuator moves to the end position, the actuator remaining in the end position.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein, in the event of an improvement in the running smoothness when the actuator moves to the end position, an entry being made into a memory device allocated to the internal combustion engine.

10. A control device for an internal combustion engine, which has at least one combustion chamber and at least one controllable actuator, the position of which has an influence on the combustion in the at least one combustion chamber, wherein the control device comprises for improving the running smoothness of the internal combustion engine,

means for determining an uneven running value, which determine an uneven running value of the internal combustion engine,

a comparator comparing the uneven running value with a predefined first uneven running threshold value, and wherein the control device is operable

in the event of the uneven running value exceeding the predefined first uneven running threshold value, to control the actuator to move from a starting position into an end position while the combustion in all of the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine is continued, and

to determine the uneven running value individually for each combustion chamber, and wherein the control device is further operable

in the event of the uneven running value in one of the combustion chambers exceeding a predefined second uneven running threshold value, which is greater than that of the first uneven running threshold value, to prevent the combustion in the corresponding combustion chamber.

11. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the end position being characterized in that the influence of the actuator on the combustion is minimal in the end position.

12. An internal combustion engine with a control device according to claim 10 .

13. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the internal combustion engine having a plurality of actuators, the position of which in each case has an influence on the combustion in at least one of the combustion chambers, and wherein for at least some of the actuators, the control device is operable to control each actuator individually.

14. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein one of the actuators involved being a tank breather valve, which is arranged in a ventilation line between a fuel vapor reservoir and an inlet manifold of the internal combustion engine and which, in an open position, pneumatically connects the fuel vapor reservoir with the inlet manifold and, in a closed position, pneumatically disconnects the fuel vapor reservoir from the inlet manifold, and wherein the tank breather valve being closed in the event of the uneven running value exceeding the predefined first uneven running threshold value.

15. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the actuator involved being an exhaust gas recirculation valve, which is arranged in an exhaust gas recirculation line between an exhaust gas tract and an inlet manifold of the internal combustion engine and which, in an open position, pneumatically connects the exhaust gas tract with the inlet manifold and, in a closed position, pneumatically disconnects the exhaust gas tract from the inlet manifold, and wherein the exhaust gas recirculation valve being closed in the event of the uneven running value exceeding the predefined first uneven running threshold value.

16. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the actuator involved being a swirl flap, which is arranged in an intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

17. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein the actuator involved being an adjusting mechanism for a valve by means of which the gas flow through the combustion chamber is controlled.

18. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein, in the event of an improvement in the running smoothness when the actuator moves to the end position, the control device is operable to control the actuator to remain in the end position.

19. The control device according to claim 18 , wherein, in the event of an improvement in the running smoothness when the actuator moves to the end position, the control device is operable to make an entry into a memory device allocated to the internal combustion engine.