U.S. patent application number 16/219135 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for spark ignition type internal combustion engine.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Junichi KAKO, Shuntaro OKAZAKI.
Application Number | 20190120148 16/219135 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42633574 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190120148 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OKAZAKI; Shuntaro ; et
al. |
April 25, 2019 |
SPARK IGNITION TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
Abstract
A control system of an internal combustion engine includes an
S/V ratio changing mechanism able to change an S/V ratio of a
combustion chamber and a detection device having an output value
changing in accordance with a hydrogen concentration in exhaust
gas, which increases along with an increase in the S/V ratio, the
internal combustion engine being controlled by the output value of
the detection device. Further, the output value of the detection
device or a parameter relating to operation of the internal
combustion engine is corrected in accordance with the S/V ratio of
the above S/V ratio changing mechanism.
Inventors: |
OKAZAKI; Shuntaro;
(Sunto-gun, JP) ; KAKO; Junichi; (Susono-shi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Toyota-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
42633574 |
Appl. No.: |
16/219135 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13202340 |
Sep 16, 2011 |
10202909 |
|
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PCT/JP2009/053622 |
Feb 20, 2009 |
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16219135 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02D 13/0226 20130101;
F02D 41/1454 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101; F02D 2041/147 20130101;
F02D 15/04 20130101; Y02T 10/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F02D 15/04 20060101
F02D015/04; F02D 13/02 20060101 F02D013/02 |
Claims
1. A control system of an internal combustion engine comprising: an
S/V ratio changing mechanism that changes an S/V ratio of a
combustion chamber; a three-way catalyst which is arranged in an
engine exhaust passage; an oxygen sensor or an air-fuel ratio
sensor that is arranged upstream of the three-way catalyst in the
engine exhaust passage and that is to output an output value
changing in accordance with a hydrogen concentration in exhaust
gas, which increases along with an increase in the S/V ratio; and a
controller configured to control an air-fuel ratio of gas
corresponding to the output value of the oxygen sensor or the
air-fuel ratio sensor to be leaner so that the air-fuel ratio of
gas which flows into the three-way catalyst is closer to a
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the air-fuel ratio of gas
corresponding to the output value of the oxygen sensor or the
air-fuel ratio sensor is low than when the air-fuel ratio of gas is
high, and so that a lean changing degree of the air-fuel ratio of
gas corresponding to the output value of the oxygen sensor or the
air-fuel ratio sensor is larger when the S/V ratio is high than
when the S/V ratio is low.
2. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the oxygen sensor or the air-fuel ratio
sensor includes an upstream side sensor which is arranged at an
upstream side of the three-way catalyst and a downstream side
sensor which is arranged at a downstream side of said three-way
catalyst, an amount of fuel feed is corrected based on an output
value of the upstream side sensor so that the actual air-fuel ratio
of the exhaust gas becomes a target air-fuel ratio, when the output
value of the upstream side sensor deviates from an actual air-fuel
ratio of the exhaust gas, the output value of the upstream side
sensor or the amount of fuel feed is corrected based on an output
value of the downstream side sensor, and an amount of correction of
the output value of the upstream side sensor or the amount of fuel
feed based on the output value of the downstream side sensor is
corrected in accordance with the S/V ratio of the S/V ratio
changing mechanism, wherein each of the upstream side sensor and
the downstream side sensor is an oxygen sensor or an air-fuel ratio
sensor.
3. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the S/V ratio changing mechanism is a
variable compression ratio mechanism which changes a mechanical
compression ratio.
4. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 3, further comprising a variable valve timing
mechanism which controls a closing timing of an intake valve,
wherein an amount of intake air which is fed into the combustion
chamber is mainly controlled by changing the closing timing of the
intake valve, and the mechanical compression ratio is made higher
at a time of engine low load operation compared with a time of
engine high load operation.
5. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 3, wherein, at a time of engine low load operation,
the mechanical compression ratio is made a maximum mechanical
compression ratio.
6. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 3, wherein, at a time of engine low load operation,
an expansion ratio is made 20 or more.
7. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 1, further comprising: a variable valve timing
mechanism which controls a closing timing of an intake valve; and
an EGR valve which opens and closes an EGR passage which connects
an engine intake passage and the engine exhaust passage, wherein
the controller is further configured to: calculate an amount of
correction of the output value of the oxygen sensor or the air-fuel
ratio sensor or a target air-fuel ratio for compensating for a
deviation amount between the output value of the oxygen sensor or
the air-fuel ratio sensor and an actual air-fuel ratio of the
exhaust gas due to a change of the hydrogen concentration in the
exhaust gas due to a change of the closing timing of the intake
valve, based on the closing timing of the intake valve; calculate
an amount of correction of the output value of the oxygen sensor or
the air-fuel ratio sensor or the target air-fuel ratio for
compensating for the deviation amount between the output value of
the oxygen sensor or the air-fuel ratio sensor and the actual
air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas due to a change of the hydrogen
concentration in the exhaust gas due to a change of an opening
degree of the EGR valve, based on the opening degree of the EGR
valve; and correct the output value of the oxygen sensor or the
air-fuel ratio sensor or the target air-fuel ratio based on the
amount of correction which is calculated on the basis of the
closing timing of the intake valve, and the amount of correction
which is calculated on the basis of the opening degree of the EGR
valve.
8. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the S/V ratio changing mechanism includes
at least one cam shaft that engages with a cylinder block that
includes the combustion chamber, so that the cylinder block is
movable.
9. A control system of an internal combustion engine comprising: an
S/V ratio changing mechanism that changes an S/V ratio of a
combustion chamber; a three-way catalyst which is arranged in an
engine exhaust passage; an oxygen sensor or an air-fuel ratio
sensor that is arranged upstream of the three-way catalyst in the
engine exhaust passage and that is to output an output value
changing in accordance with a hydrogen concentration in exhaust
gas, which increases along with an increase in the S/V ratio; and a
controller configured to control the output value of the oxygen
sensor or the air-fuel ratio sensor so that: when the air-fuel
ratio of gas which flows into the three-way catalyst is a
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the output value of the air-fuel
ratio sensor is made smaller when the S/V ratio is high than when
the S/V ratio is low, or when the air-fuel ratio of gas which flows
into the three-way catalyst is the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio,
the output value of the oxygen sensor is made larger when the S/V
ratio is high than when the S/V ratio is low.
10. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 9, wherein the oxygen sensor or the air-fuel ratio
sensor includes an upstream side sensor which is arranged at an
upstream side of the three-way catalyst and a downstream side
sensor which is arranged at a downstream side of said three-way
catalyst, an amount of fuel feed is corrected based on an output
value of the upstream side sensor so that the actual air-fuel ratio
of the exhaust gas becomes a target air-fuel ratio, when the output
value of the upstream side sensor deviates from an actual air-fuel
ratio of the exhaust gas, the output value of the upstream side
sensor or the amount of fuel feed is corrected based on an output
value of the downstream side sensor, and an amount of correction of
the output value of the upstream side sensor or the amount of fuel
feed based on the output value of the downstream side sensor is
corrected in accordance with the S/V ratio of the S/V ratio
changing mechanism, wherein each of the upstream side sensor and
the downstream side sensor is an oxygen sensor or an air-fuel ratio
sensor.
11. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 9, wherein the S/V ratio changing mechanism is a
variable compression ratio mechanism which changes a mechanical
compression ratio.
12. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 11, further comprising a variable valve timing
mechanism which controls a closing timing of an intake valve,
wherein an amount of intake air which is fed into the combustion
chamber is mainly controlled by changing the closing timing of the
intake valve, and the mechanical compression ratio is made higher
at a time of engine low load operation compared with a time of
engine high load operation.
13. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 11, wherein, at a time of engine low load operation,
the mechanical compression ratio is made a maximum mechanical
compression ratio.
14. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 11, wherein, at a time of engine low load operation,
an expansion ratio is made 20 or more.
15. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 9, further comprising: a variable valve timing
mechanism which controls a closing timing of an intake valve; and
an EGR valve which opens and closes an EGR passage which connects
an engine intake passage and the engine exhaust passage, wherein
the controller is further configured to: calculate an amount of
correction of the output value of the oxygen sensor or the air-fuel
ratio sensor or a target air-fuel ratio for compensating for a
deviation amount between the output value of the oxygen sensor or
the air-fuel ratio sensor and an actual air-fuel ratio of the
exhaust gas due to a change of the hydrogen concentration in the
exhaust gas due to a change of the closing timing of the intake
valve, based on the closing timing of the intake valve; calculate
an amount of correction of the output value of the oxygen sensor or
the air-fuel ratio sensor or the target air-fuel ratio for
compensating for the deviation amount between the output value of
the oxygen sensor or the air-fuel ratio sensor and the actual
air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas due to a change of the hydrogen
concentration in the exhaust gas due to a change of an opening
degree of the EGR valve, based on the opening degree of the EGR
valve; and correct the output value of the oxygen sensor or the
air-fuel ratio sensor or the target air-fuel ratio based on the
amount of correction which is calculated on the basis of the
closing timing of the intake valve, and the amount of correction
which is calculated on the basis of the opening degree of the EGR
valve.
16. The control system of the internal combustion engine as set
forth in claim 9, wherein the S/V ratio changing mechanism includes
at least one cam shaft that engages with a cylinder block that
includes the combustion chamber, so that the cylinder block is
movable.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/202,340, filed on Sep. 16, 2011, which is
the U.S. national stage of International Patent Application No.
PCT/JP09/053622, filed on Feb. 20, 2009. The entire contents of
each of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference
herein in entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a control system of an
internal combustion engine.
Background Art
[0003] The applicant proposed in Japanese Patent Publication (A)
No. 2007-303423 a spark ignition type internal combustion engine,
comprising a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a
mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism
able to change a closing timing of the intake valve, wherein the
mechanism compression ratio is raised at the time of engine low
load operation compared with engine high load operation, to make an
expansion ratio 20 or more.
[0004] In such a spark ignition type internal combustion engine, at
the time of engine low load operation, the mechanical compression
ratio (expansion ratio) is made 20 or more and the closing timing
of the intake valve is made a timing away from intake bottom dead
center so as to maintain the actual compression ratio relatively
low compared with mechanical compression ratio, to suppress the
occurrence of knocking due to the actual compression ratio becoming
higher, and while doing so realize an extremely high heat
efficiency.
[0005] In this regard, when using a variable compression ratio
mechanism such as described in Japanese Patent Publication (A) No.
2007-303423, the higher the mechanical compression ratio, the
smaller the volume of a combustion chamber when the piston is at
top dead center, therefore the larger the surface-volume ratio
(ratio of the surface area and volume of a combustion chamber,
hereinafter referred to as "the S/V ratio"). If the S/V ratio
becomes larger in this way, the quench region (region near the wall
surfaces of a combustion chamber etc. which flame cannot reach)
becomes relatively larger. The HC in the air-fuel mixture which was
included in this quench region will not burn since even if the
air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber burns, the flame will
not reach it. On the other hand, the HC in the air-fuel mixture
which was included in this quench region is exposed to a high
temperature along with combustion of the air-fuel mixture, so part
is converted to hydrogen (H.sub.2). That is, if using a variable
compression ratio mechanism to raise the mechanical compression
ratio, the S/V ratio will increase and therefore the H.sub.2 in the
exhaust gas will increase.
[0006] On the other hand, in many internal combustion engines, for
the purpose of increasing the efficiency of combustion and
improving exhaust emissions, the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel
mixture which is fed into a combustion chamber is maintained at a
target air-fuel ratio (for example, stoichiometric air-fuel ratio)
by using an oxygen sensor or an air-fuel ratio sensor. However, an
oxygen sensor and air-fuel ratio sensor are highly sensitive to
H.sub.2. If the amount of H.sub.2 generated increases, the output
value tends to deviate to the rich side.
[0007] In particular, in the above-mentioned type of spark ignition
type internal combustion engine where the mechanical compression
ratio becomes 20 or more, the S/V ratio becomes extremely large and
along with this the amount of H.sub.2 which is exhausted from a
combustion chamber also becomes large. For this reason, the output
value of the oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor greatly deviate
to the rich side to an extent which cannot be ignored, and the
oxygen concentration etc. in the exhaust gas can no longer be
accurately detected. As a result, the air-fuel ratio can no longer
be suitably controlled and deterioration of the combustion
efficiency or deterioration of the exhaust emission is invited in
some cases.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Therefore, in consideration of the above problems, an object
of the present invention is to provide a control system of an
internal combustion engine which enables suitable control of the
internal combustion engine even if the hydrogen concentration in
exhaust gas increases along with an increase in the S/V ratio.
[0009] The present invention provides, as means for solving this
problem, a spark ignition type internal combustion engine described
in the claims.
[0010] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a control system of an internal combustion engine
comprising an S/V ratio changing mechanism able to change an S/V
ratio of a combustion chamber and a detection device having an
output value changing in accordance with a hydrogen concentration
in exhaust gas, which increases along with an increase in the S/V
ratio, the internal combustion engine being controlled by the
output value of the detection device, wherein the output value of
the detection device or a parameter relating to operation of the
internal combustion engine is corrected in accordance with the S/V
ratio of the above S/V ratio changing mechanism.
[0011] In a second aspect of the present invention, the output
value of the detection device or parameter relating to operation of
the internal combustion engine is corrected so that the effect of
the hydrogen concentration in the exhaust gas, which increases
along with an increase in the S/V ratio, becomes smaller.
[0012] In a third aspect of the present invention, the above
detection device is a device which detects a concentration of a
specific ingredient in the exhaust gas other than hydrogen, and the
concentration of the specific ingredient which was detected by the
above detection device is corrected in accordance with the S/V
ratio of the S/V ratio changing mechanism.
[0013] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the above
detection device is a device which detects a concentration of a
specific ingredient in the exhaust gas other than hydrogen, and a
parameter relating to operation of the internal combustion engine
is corrected in accordance with the S/V ratio of the S/V ratio
changing mechanism.
[0014] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the above
detection device is an oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor which
detects an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas or air-fuel
ratio.
[0015] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the parameter
relating to operation of the internal combustion engine is a target
air-fuel ratio.
[0016] In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the above
detection device is an NO.sub.X sensor which detects an NO.sub.X
concentration in the exhaust gas.
[0017] In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the system
further comprises a variable valve timing mechanism which is able
to control a closing timing of the intake valve, wherein the output
value of the detection device or the parameter relating to
operation of the internal combustion engine is corrected in
accordance with not only the S/V ratio of the S/V ratio changing
mechanism, but also the closing timing of the intake valve.
[0018] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the system
further comprises an EGR passage which connects an engine intake
passage and an engine exhaust passage, and an EGR valve which opens
and closes the EGR passage, wherein the output value of the
detection device or the parameter relating to operation of the
internal combustion engine is corrected in accordance with not only
the S/V ratio of the S/V ratio changing mechanism, but also the
opening degree of the EGR valve.
[0019] In a 10th aspect of the present invention, the system
further comprises an exhaust purification catalyst which is
arranged in an engine exhaust passage, wherein the above detection
device has an upstream side oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor
which is arranged at an upstream side of the above exhaust
purification catalyst and a downstream side oxygen sensor or
air-fuel ratio sensor which is arranged at a downstream side of the
exhaust purification catalyst, the amount of feed of fuel is
controlled based on the output value of the upstream side oxygen
sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor so that the exhaust air-fuel ratio
becomes the target air-fuel ratio, when the output value of the
upstream side oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor deviates from
the actual exhaust air-fuel ratio, the output value of the upstream
side oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor or the amount of fuel
feed is corrected based on the output value of the downstream side
oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor, and the amount of
correction of the output value of the upstream side oxygen sensor
or air-fuel ratio sensor or the amount of fuel based on the output
value of the downstream side oxygen sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor
is corrected in accordance with the S/V ratio of the S/V ratio
changing mechanism.
[0020] In an 11th aspect of the present invention, the above S/V
ratio changing mechanism is a variable compression ratio mechanism
which can change the mechanical compression ratio.
[0021] In a 12th aspect of the present invention, the system
further comprises a variable valve timing mechanism which can
control the closing timing of the intake valve, wherein the amount
of intake air which is fed into a combustion chamber is mainly
controlled by changing the closing timing of the intake valve, and
the mechanical compression ratio is made higher at the time of
engine low load operation compared with the time of engine high
load operation.
[0022] In a 13th aspect of the present invention, at the time of
engine low load operation, the mechanical compression ratio is made
the maximum mechanical compression ratio.
[0023] In a 14th aspect of the present invention, at the time of
engine low load operation, the expansion ratio is made 20 or
more.
[0024] Below, the present invention will be able to be understood
more sufficiently from the attached drawings and the description of
the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is an overview of a spark ignition type internal
combustion engine.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of a variable
compression ratio mechanism.
[0027] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are side cross-sectional views of a
schematically illustrated internal combustion engine.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a view showing a variable valve timing
mechanism.
[0029] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are views showing lift amounts of an
intake valve and exhaust valve.
[0030] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C are views for explaining a mechanical
compression ratio, actual compression ratio, and expansion
ratio.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a view showing a relationship between a
stoichiometric heat efficiency and expansion ratio.
[0032] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are views for explaining an ordinary
cycle and a superhigh expansion ratio cycle.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a view showing changes in the mechanical
compression ratio etc. in accordance with the engine load.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control routine of control
for calculating a target fuel feed rate from a fuel injector.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control routine of F/B
control for calculating a fuel correction amount.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and target air-fuel ratio.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and target air-fuel ratio.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and target air-fuel ratio.
[0039] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a control routine of control
for setting a target air-fuel ratio.
[0040] FIG. 16A to FIG. 16C are views showing maps of the different
parameters and the amount of correction of the target air-fuel
ratio.
[0041] FIG. 17 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the amount of correction of the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor to the lean side.
[0042] FIG. 18 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the amount of correction of the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor to the lean side.
[0043] FIG. 19 is an overview of a spark ignition type internal
combustion engine of a fourth embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 20 is a time chart of the actual exhaust air-fuel
ratio, the output value of the oxygen sensor, and the output
correction value of the air-fuel ratio sensor.
[0045] FIG. 21 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and a padding correction value.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0046] Below, embodiments of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or
similar components in the drawings are assigned the same
notations.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a spark ignition
type internal combustion engine.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, 1 indicates a crank case, 2 a cylinder
block, 3 a cylinder head, 4 a piston, 5 a combustion chamber, 6 a
spark plug arranged at the top center of the combustion chamber 5,
7 an intake valve, 8 an intake port, 9 an exhaust valve, and 10 an
exhaust port. The intake port 8 is connected through an intake
branch tube 11 to a surge tank 12, while each intake branch tube 11
is provided with a fuel injector 13 for injecting fuel toward a
corresponding intake port 8. Note that each fuel injector 13 may be
arranged at each combustion chamber 5 instead of being attached to
each intake branch tube 11.
[0049] The surge tank 12 is connected through an intake duct 14 to
an air cleaner 15. The intake duct 14 is provided inside it with a
throttle valve 17 driven by an actuator 16 and an intake air amount
detector 18 using for example a hot wire. On the other hand, the
exhaust port 10 is connected through an exhaust manifold 19 to a
catalytic converter 20 housing for example a three-way catalyst 21,
and the exhaust manifold 19 is provided inside it with an air-fuel
ratio sensor 22.
[0050] The exhaust manifold 19 and the intake branch tube 11 (or
the intake port 8, surge tank 12) are connected with each other
through an EGR passage 23 for recirculated exhaust gas (below,
referred to as "EGR gas"). Inside this EGR passage 23, an EGR
control valve 24 is arranged. Further, around the EGR passage 23,
an EGR cooling device 25 for cooling the EGR gas flowing through
the inside of the EGR passage 23 is arranged. In the internal
combustion engine shown in FIG. 1, engine coolant is led into the
EGR cooling device 25, and the engine coolant is used to cool the
EGR gas. Note that, in the following explanation, the intake port
8, intake branch tube 11, surge tank 12, and intake duct 14 are
referred to all together as the "engine intake passage".
[0051] On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, at a
connecting part of the crank case 1 and cylinder block 2, a
variable compression ratio mechanism A is provided which can change
a relative position of the crank case 1 and cylinder block 2 in the
cylinder axial direction so as to change the volume of a combustion
chamber 5 when a piston 4 is positioned at compression top dead
center. Furthermore, a variable valve timing mechanism B is
provided which can change a closing timing of an intake valve
7.
[0052] The electronic control unit 30 is comprised of a digital
computer provided with components connected with each other through
a bidirectional bus 31 such as a ROM (read only memory) 32, RAM
(random access memory) 33, CPU (microprocessor) 34, input port 35,
and output port 36. The output signal of the intake air amount
detector 18 and the output signal of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
are input through corresponding AD converters 37 to the input port
35. Further, the accelerator pedal 40 is connected to a load sensor
41 generating an output voltage proportional to the amount of
depression of the accelerator pedal 40. The output voltage of the
load sensor 41 is input through a corresponding AD converter 37 to
the input port 35. Further, the input port 35 is connected to a
crank angle sensor 42 generating an output pulse every time the
crankshaft rotates by for example 300 On the other hand, the output
port 36 is connected through the corresponding drive circuits 38 to
a spark plug 6, fuel injector 13, throttle valve drive actuator 16,
EGR control valve 24, and variable compression ratio mechanism A
and variable valve timing mechanism B.
[0053] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the variable
compression ratio mechanism A shown in FIG. 1, while FIG. 3A and
FIG. 3B are side cross-sectional views of the internal combustion
engine schematically illustrated. Referring to FIG. 2, at the
bottom of the two side walls of the cylinder block 2, a plurality
of projecting parts 50 separated from each other by a certain
distance are formed. Each projecting part 50 is formed with a
circular cross-section cam insertion hole 51. On the other hand,
the top surface of the crank case 1 is formed with a plurality of
projecting parts 52 separated from each other by a certain distance
and fitting between the corresponding projecting parts 50. These
projecting parts 52 are also formed with circular cross-section cam
insertion holes 53.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of cam shafts 54, 55 is provided.
Each of the cam shafts 54, 55 has circular cams 56 fixed on it able
to be rotatably inserted in the cam insertion holes 51 at every
other position. These circular cams 56 are coaxial with the axes of
rotation of the cam shafts 54, 55. On the other hand, between the
circular cams 56, as shown by the hatching in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B,
extend eccentric shafts 57 arranged eccentrically with respect to
the axes of rotation of the cam shafts 54, 55. Each eccentric shaft
57 has other circular cams 58 rotatably attached to it
eccentrically. As shown in FIG. 2, these circular cams 58 are
arranged between the circular cams 56. These circular cams 58 are
rotatably inserted in the corresponding cam insertion holes 53.
[0055] When the circular cams 56 fastened to the cam shafts 54, 55
are rotated in opposite directions as shown by the solid line
arrows in FIG. 3A from the state shown in FIG. 3A, the eccentric
shafts 57 move toward the bottom center, so the circular cams 58
rotate in the opposite directions from the circular cams 56 in the
cam insertion holes 53 as shown by the broken line arrows in FIG.
3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the eccentric shafts 57 move toward
the bottom center, the centers of the circular cams 58 move to
below the eccentric shafts 57.
[0056] As will be understood from a comparison of FIG. 3A and FIG.
3B, the relative positions of the crank case 1 and cylinder block 2
are determined by the distance between the centers of the circular
cams 56 and the centers of the circular cams 58. The larger the
distance between the centers of the circular cams 56 and the
centers of the circular cams 58, the further the cylinder block 2
from the crank case 1. If the cylinder block 2 moves away from the
crank case 1, the volume of the combustion chamber 5 when the
piston 4 is positioned at compression top dead center increases,
therefore by making the cam shafts 54, 55 rotate, the volume of the
combustion chamber 5 when the piston 4 is positioned at compression
top dead center can be changed.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, to make the cam shafts 54, 55 rotate in
opposite directions, the shaft of a drive motor 59 is provided with
a pair of worm gears 61, 62 with opposite thread directions. Gears
63, 64 engaging with these worm gears 61, 62 are fastened to ends
of the cam shafts 54, 55. In this embodiment, the drive motor 59
may be driven to change the volume of the combustion chamber 5 when
the piston 4 is positioned at compression top dead center over a
broad range. Note that the variable compression ratio mechanism A
shown from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 shows an example. Any type of variable
compression ratio mechanism may be used.
[0058] On the other hand, further, FIG. 4 shows an intake valve
variable mechanism B attached to the cam shaft 70 for driving the
intake valve 7 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the intake variable
valve mechanism B is comprised of a cam phase changer B1 attached
to one end of the cam shaft 70 and changing the phase of the cam of
the cam shaft 70, and a cam actuation angle changer B2 arranged
between the cam shaft 70 and the valve lifter 26 of the intake
valve 7 and changing the actuation angle (working angle) of the
cams of the cam shaft 70 to different actuation angles for
transmission to the intake valve 7. Note that FIG. 4 is a side
sectional view and plan view of the cam actuation angle changer
B2.
[0059] First, explaining the cam phase changer B1 of the intake
variable valve mechanism B, this cam phase changer B1 is provided
with a timing pulley 71 made to rotate by an engine crank shaft
through a timing belt in the arrow direction, a cylindrical housing
72 rotating together with the timing pulley 71, a rotation shaft 73
able to rotate together with a cam shaft 70 and rotate relative to
the cylindrical housing 72, a plurality of partitions 74 extending
from an inside circumference of the cylindrical housing 72 to an
outside circumference of the rotation shaft 73, and vanes 75
extending between the partitions 74 from the outside circumference
of the rotation shaft 73 to the inside circumference of the
cylindrical housing 72, the two sides of the vanes 75 formed with
advancing use hydraulic chambers 76 and retarding use hydraulic
chambers 77.
[0060] The feed of working oil to the hydraulic chambers 76, 77 is
controlled by a working oil feed control valve 78. This working oil
feed control valve 78 is provided with hydraulic ports 79, 80
connected to the hydraulic chambers 76, 77, a feed port 82 for
feeding working oil discharged from a hydraulic pump 81, a pair of
drain ports 83, 84, and a spool valve 85 for controlling connection
and disconnection of the ports 79, 80, 82, 83, 84.
[0061] To advance the phase of the cams of the cam shaft 70, the
spool valve 85 is made to move to downward in FIG. 4, working oil
fed from the feed port 82 is fed through the hydraulic port 79 to
the advancing use hydraulic chambers 76, and working oil in the
retarding use hydraulic chambers 77 is drained from the drain port
84. At this time, the rotation shaft 73 is made to rotate relative
to the cylindrical housing 72 in the arrow X-direction.
[0062] As opposed to this, to retard the phase of the cam of the
cam shaft 70, the spool valve 85 is made to move upward in FIG. 4,
working oil fed from the feed port 82 is fed through the hydraulic
port 80 to the retarding use hydraulic chambers 77, and working oil
in the advancing use hydraulic chambers 76 is drained from the
drain port 83. At this time, the rotation shaft 73 is made to
rotate relative to the cylindrical housing 72 in the direction
opposite to the arrows X.
[0063] When the rotation shaft 73 is made to rotate relative to the
cylindrical housing 72, if the spool valve 85 is returned to the
neutral position shown in FIG. 4, the operation for relative
rotation of the rotation shaft 73 is ended, and the rotation shaft
73 is held at the relative rotational position at that time.
Therefore, it is possible to use the cam phase changer B1 so as to
advance or retard the phase of the cam of the cam shaft 70 by
exactly the desired amount as shown in FIG. 5A. That is, the cam
phase changer B1 can freely advance or retard the opening timing of
the intake valve 7.
[0064] Next, explaining the cam actuation angle changer B2 of the
variable valve timing mechanism B, this cam actuation angle changer
B2 is provided with a control rod 90 arranged in parallel with the
cam shaft 70 and made to move by an actuator 91 in the axial
direction, an intermediate cam 94 engaging with a cam 92 of the cam
shaft 70 and slidably fitting with a spline 93 formed on the
control rod 90 and extending in the axial direction thereof, and a
pivoting cam 96 engaging with a valve lifter 26 for driving the
intake valve 7 and slidably fitting with a spline 95 extending in a
spiral and formed on the control rod 90. The pivoting cam 96 is
formed with a cam 97.
[0065] When the cam shaft 70 rotates, the cam 92 causes the
intermediate cam 94 to pivot by exactly a constant angle at all
times. At this time, the pivoting cam 96 is also made to pivot by
exactly a constant angle. On the other hand, the intermediate cam
94 and pivoting cam 96 are supported not movably in the axial
direction of the control rod 90, therefore when the control rod 90
is made to move by the actuator 91 in the axial direction, the
pivoting cam 96 is made to rotate relative to the intermediate cam
94.
[0066] If the cam 97 of the pivoting cam 96 starts to engage the
valve lifter 26 when the cam 92 of the cam shaft 70 starts to
engage with the intermediate cam 94 due to the relative rotational
positional relationship between the intermediate cam 94 and
pivoting cam 96, as shown by a. in FIG. 5B, the opening time period
and amount of lift of the intake valve 7 become maximum. As opposed
to this, when the actuator 91 is used to make the pivoting cam 96
rotate relative to the intermediate cam 94 in the arrow Y-direction
of FIG. 4, the cam 92 of the cam shaft 70 engages with the
intermediate cam 94, then after a while the cam 97 of the pivoting
cam 96 engages with the valve lifter 26. In this case, as shown by
b in FIG. 5B, the opening time period and amount of lift of the
intake valve 7 become smaller than a.
[0067] When the pivoting cam 96 is made to further rotate relative
to the intermediate cam 94 in the arrow Y-direction of FIG. 4, as
shown by c in FIG. 5B, the opening time period and amount of lift
of the intake valve 7 become further smaller. That is, by using the
actuator 91 to change the relative rotational position of the
intermediate cam 94 and pivoting cam 96, the opening time period of
the intake valve 7 can be freely changed. However, in this case,
the amount of the lift of the intake valve 7 becomes smaller the
shorter the opening time of the intake valve 7.
[0068] The cam phase changer B1 can be used to freely change the
opening timing of the intake valve 7 and the cam actuation angle
changer B2 can be used to freely change the opening time period of
the intake valve 7 in this way, so both the cam phase changer B1
and cam actuation angle changer B2, that is, the intake variable
valve mechanism B, may be used to freely change the opening timing
and opening time period of the intake valve 7, that is, the opening
timing and closing timing of the intake valve 7.
[0069] Note that the intake variable valve mechanism B shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4 shows an example. It is also possible to use various
types of variable valve mechanism other than the example shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4. In particular, in the embodiment according to the
present invention, so long as a closing timing mechanism which can
change the closing timing of an intake valve 7, any type of
mechanism may be used. Further, for the exhaust valve 9 as well, a
variable valve timing mechanism similar to the variable valve
timing mechanism B of the intake valve 7 may be provided.
[0070] Next, the meaning of the terms used in the present
application will be explained with reference to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C.
Note that FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C show for explanatory purposes an
engine with a volume of the combustion chambers of 50 ml and a
stroke volume of the piston of 500 ml. In these FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C,
the combustion chamber volume shows the volume of the combustion
chamber when the piston is at compression top dead center.
[0071] FIG. 6A explains the mechanical compression ratio. The
mechanical compression ratio is a value determined mechanically
from the stroke volume of the piston and combustion chamber volume
at the time of a compression stroke. This mechanical compression
ratio is expressed by (combustion chamber volume+stroke
volume)/combustion chamber volume. In the example shown in FIG. 6A,
this mechanical compression ratio becomes (50 ml+500 ml)/50
ml=11.
[0072] FIG. 6B explains the actual compression ratio. This actual
compression ratio is a value determined from the combustion chamber
volume and the actual stroke volume of the piston from when the
compression action is actually started to when the piston reaches
top dead center. This actual compression ratio is expressed by
(combustion chamber volume+actual stroke volume)/combustion chamber
volume. That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, even if the piston starts to
rise in the compression stroke, no compression action is performed
while the intake valve is opened. The actual compression action is
started after the intake valve closes. Therefore, the actual
compression ratio is expressed as above using the actual stroke
volume. In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the actual compression
ratio becomes (50 ml+450 ml)/50 ml=10.
[0073] FIG. 6C explains the expansion ratio. The expansion ratio is
a value determined from the stroke volume of the piston at the time
of an expansion stroke and the combustion chamber volume. This
expansion ratio is expressed by the (combustion chamber
volume+stroke volume)/combustion chamber volume. In the example
shown in FIG. 7A, this expansion ratio becomes (50 ml+500 ml)/50
ml=11.
[0074] Next, the most basic features of the present invention will
be explained with reference to FIG. 7, FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. Note
that FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the theoretical thermal
efficiency and the expansion ratio, while FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show
a comparison between the ordinary cycle and superhigh expansion
ratio cycle used selectively in accordance with the load in the
present invention.
[0075] FIG. 8A shows the ordinary cycle wherein the intake valve
closes near the bottom dead center and the compression action by
the piston is started from near substantially compression bottom
dead center. In the example shown in this FIG. 8A as well, in the
same way as the examples shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the combustion
chamber volume is made 50 ml, and the stroke volume of the piston
is made 500 ml. As will be understood from FIG. 8A, in an ordinary
cycle, the mechanical compression ratio is (50 ml+500 ml)/50 ml=11,
the actual compression ratio is also about 11, and the expansion
ratio also becomes (50 ml+500 ml)/50 ml=11. That is, in an ordinary
internal combustion engine, the mechanical compression ratio and
actual compression ratio and the expansion ratio become
substantially equal.
[0076] The solid line in FIG. 7 shows the change in the theoretical
thermal efficiency in the case where the actual compression ratio
and expansion ratio are substantially equal, that is, in the
ordinary cycle. In this case, it is learned that the larger the
expansion ratio, that is, the higher the actual compression ratio,
the higher the theoretical thermal efficiency. Therefore, in an
ordinary cycle, to raise the theoretical thermal efficiency, the
actual compression ratio should be made higher. However, due to the
restrictions on the occurrence of knocking at the time of engine
high load operation, the actual compression ratio can only be
raised even at the maximum to about 12, accordingly, in an ordinary
cycle, the theoretical thermal efficiency cannot be made
sufficiently high.
[0077] On the other hand, studying the theoretical thermal
efficiency by strictly differentiating between the mechanical
compression ratio and actual compression ratio, it is discovered
that in the theoretical thermal efficiency, the expansion ratio is
dominant, and the theoretical thermal efficiency is not affected
much at all by the actual compression ratio. That is, if raising
the actual compression ratio, the explosive force rises, but
compression requires a large energy, accordingly even if raising
the actual compression ratio, the theoretical thermal efficiency
will not rise much at all.
[0078] As opposed to this, if increasing the expansion ratio, the
longer the period during which a force acts pressing down the
piston at the time of the expansion stroke, and therefore the
longer the time that the piston gives a rotational force to the
crankshaft. Therefore, the larger the expansion ratio is made, the
higher the theoretical thermal efficiency becomes. The broken line
s=10 in FIG. 7 shows the theoretical thermal efficiency in the case
of fixing the actual compression ratio at 10 and raising the
expansion ratio in that state. It is learned that the amount of
rise of the theoretical thermal efficiency when raising the
expansion ratio in the state where the actual compression ratio is
maintained at a low value in the above way and the amount of rise
of the theoretical thermal efficiency in the case where the actual
compression ratio is increased along with the expansion ratio as
shown by the solid line of FIG. 7 will not differ that much.
[0079] If the actual compression ratio is maintained at a low value
in this way, knocking will not occur, therefore if raising the
expansion ratio in the state where the actual compression ratio is
maintained at a low value, the occurrence of knocking can be
prevented and the theoretical thermal efficiency can be greatly
raised. FIG. 8B shows an example of the case when using the
variable compression ratio mechanism A and variable valve timing
mechanism B to maintain the actual compression ratio at a low value
and raise the expansion ratio.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 8B, in this example, the variable
compression ratio mechanism A is used to lower the combustion
chamber volume from 50 ml to 20 ml. On the other hand, the variable
valve timing mechanism B is used to retard the closing timing of
the intake valve until the actual stroke volume of the piston
changes from 500 ml to 200 ml. As a result, in this example, the
actual compression ratio becomes (20 ml+200 ml)/20 ml=11 and the
expansion ratio becomes (20 ml+500 ml)/20 ml=26. In the ordinary
cycle shown in FIG. 8A, as explained above, the actual compression
ratio is about 11 and the expansion ratio is 11. Compared with this
case, in the case shown in FIG. 8B, it is learned that only the
expansion ratio is raised to 26. Therefore, the cycle shown in FIG.
8B will be referred to the "superhigh expansion ratio cycle".
[0081] As explained above, generally speaking, in an internal
combustion engine, the lower the engine load, the worse the thermal
efficiency, therefore to improve the thermal efficiency at the time
of vehicle operation, that is, to improve the fuel consumption, it
becomes necessary to improve the thermal efficiency at the time of
engine low load operation. On the other hand, in the superhigh
expansion ratio cycle shown in FIG. 8B, the actual stroke volume of
the piston at the time of the compression stroke is made smaller,
so the amount of intake air which can be sucked into the combustion
chamber 5 becomes smaller, therefore this superhigh expansion ratio
cycle can only be employed when the engine load is relatively low.
Therefore, in the present invention, at the time of engine low load
operation, the superhigh expansion ratio cycle shown in FIG. 8B is
set, while at the time of engine high load operation, the ordinary
cycle shown in FIG. 8A is set.
[0082] Next, the operational control as a whole will be explained
while referring to FIG. 9.
[0083] FIG. 9 shows the various changes in parameters in accordance
with the engine load at a certain engine speed such as the
mechanical compression ratio, expansion ratio, the closing timing
of the intake valve 7, the actual compression ratio, the amount of
intake air, the opening degree of the throttle valve 17, and the
pumping loss. Note that, in this embodiment according to the
present invention, the average air-fuel ratio in the combustion
chamber 5 is normally feedback controlled to the stoichiometric
air-fuel ratio based on the output signal of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 so that the three-way catalyst 21 in the catalytic
converter 20 can simultaneously reduce the unburned hydrocarbons
(unburned HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.X)
in the exhaust gas.
[0084] Now then, as explained above, at the time of engine high
load operation, the ordinary cycle shown in FIG. 8A is executed.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, at this time, the mechanical
compression ratio is made lower, so the expansion ratio is low and,
as shown by the solid line in FIG. 9, the closing timing of the
intake valve 7 is advanced. Further, at this time, the amount of
intake air is large. At this time, the opening degree of the
throttle valve 17 is held at fully open or substantially fully
open, so the pumping loss becomes zero.
[0085] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 by the solid line, if
the engine load becomes lower, along with this, the amount of
intake air is reduced by the closing timing of the intake valve 7
being retarded. Further, at this time, the mechanical compression
ratio is increased as the engine load becomes lower so that the
actual compression ratio is held substantially constant, as shown
in FIG. 9, and, therefore, as the engine load becomes lower, the
expansion ratio is also increased. Note that, at this time as well,
the throttle valve 17 is held at the fully open or substantially
fully open state, therefore, the amount of intake air which is fed
into a combustion chamber 5 is controlled not by relying on the
throttle valve 17, but by changing the closing timing of the intake
valve 7. At this time as well, the pumping loss becomes zero.
[0086] When the engine load becomes lower from the engine high load
operation state in this way, under a substantially constant actual
compression ratio, as the amount of intake air is decreased, the
mechanical compression ratio is made to increase. That is, the
volume of a combustion chamber 5 when the piston 4 reaches
compression top dead center is reduced in proportion to the
decrease in the amount of intake air. Therefore, the volume of the
combustion chamber 5 when the piston 4 reaches compression top dead
center changes proportionally to the amount of intake air. Note
that, at this time, the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber 5
is the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, so the volume of the
combustion chamber 5 when the piston 4 reaches compression top dead
center changes in proportion to the amount of fuel.
[0087] If the engine load becomes further lower, the mechanical
compression ratio is made to further increase. If the engine load
falls down to the medium load L.sub.1 close to low load, the
mechanical compression ratio reaches the limit mechanical
compression ratio, which corresponds to the structural limit of a
combustion chamber 5. If the mechanical compression ratio reaches
the limit mechanical compression ratio, in the region of a load
lower than the engine load L.sub.1 when the mechanical compression
ratio reaches the limit mechanical compression ratio, the
mechanical compression ratio is held at the limit mechanical
compression ratio. Therefore, at the time of low load side of
engine medium load operation and at the time of engine low load
operation, the mechanical compression ratio becomes maximum and the
expansion ratio also becomes maximum. Explained in another way, at
the time of low load side of engine medium load operation and at
the time of engine low load operation, the mechanical compression
ratio is made maximum so that the maximum expansion ratio is
obtained.
[0088] On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, even
if the engine load becomes lower than L.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 9
by the solid line, the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is
retarded more as the engine load becomes lower. If the engine load
falls to L.sub.2, the closing timing of the intake valve 7 becomes
the limit closing timing able to control the amount of intake air
which is fed into the combustion chamber 5. If the closing timing
of the intake valve 7 reaches the limit closing timing, in the
region of a load lower than the engine load L.sub.2 when the
closing timing of the intake valve 7 reaches the limit closing
timing, the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is held at the
limit closing timing.
[0089] If the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is held at the
limit closing timing, the amount of intake air can no longer be
controlled by the change of the closing timing of the intake valve
7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, at this time, that is, in the
region of a load lower than the engine load L.sub.2 when the
closing timing of the intake valve 7 reaches the limit closing
timing, the throttle valve 17 is used to control the amount of
intake air which is fed into the combustion chamber 5. However, if
using the throttle valve 17 to control the amount of intake air, as
shown in FIG. 9, the pumping loss is increased.
[0090] Note that, to prevent such pumping loss from occurring, in
the region of a load lower than the engine load L.sub.2 when the
closing timing of the intake valve 7 reaches the limit closing
timing, it is also possible to increase the air-fuel ratio the more
the engine load becomes lower in the state holding the throttle
valve 17 fully open or substantially fully open. At this time, the
fuel injector 13 is preferably arranged inside of the combustion
chamber 5 to perform layered combustion. Alternatively, in the
region of a load lower than the engine load L.sub.2 when the
closing timing of the intake valve 7 reaches the limit closing
timing, it is possible to increase the opening degree of the EGR
valve 24 the more, the lower the engine load in the state where the
throttle valve 17 is held fully open or substantially fully
open.
[0091] Further, in the region of a load lower than the engine load
L.sub.1 when the mechanical compression ratio reaches the limit
mechanical compression ratio, it is not necessarily required to
control the closing timing of the intake valve 7 and the opening
degree of the throttle valve 17 as explained above. In this
operating region, it is sufficient to control one or the other of
the closing timing of the intake valve 7 and the opening degree of
the throttle valve 17 so as to control the amount of intake
air.
[0092] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the engine load
is higher than L.sub.1, that is, at the time of high load side of
engine medium load operation and at the time of engine high load
operation, the actual compression ratio is maintained at
substantially the same actual compression ratio for the same engine
speed. As opposed to this, when the engine load is lower than
L.sub.1, that is, when the mechanical compression ratio is held at
the limit mechanical compression ratio, the actual compression
ratio is determined by the closing timing of the intake valve 7. If
the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is retarded, the actual
compression ratio falls, as understood from when the engine load is
between L.sub.1 and L.sub.2. If the closing timing of the intake
valve 7 is held at the limit closing timing, the actual compression
ratio is held constant, as understood from when the engine load is
in the operational region lower than L.sub.2.
[0093] Note that, if the engine speed becomes higher, the air-fuel
mixture in the combustion chamber 5 becomes disturbed and knocking
becomes harder to occur. Therefore, in this embodiment according to
the present invention, the higher the engine speed becomes, the
higher the actual compression ratio is made.
[0094] On the other hand, as explained above, in the superhigh
expansion ratio cycle shown in FIG. 8B, the expansion ratio is made
26. This expansion ratio is preferably as high as possible, but as
will be understood from FIG. 7, even with respect to the actually
feasible lower limit actual compression ratio s=5, if 20 or more, a
considerably high stoichiometric heat efficiency can be obtained.
Therefore, in the present invention, the variable compression ratio
mechanism A is formed so that the expansion ratio becomes 20 or
more.
[0095] Further, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the mechanical
compression ratio is made to change continuously in accordance with
the engine load. However, the mechanical compression ratio may also
be made to change in stages in accordance with the engine load.
[0096] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 by the broken line,
even if advancing the closing timing of the intake valve 7 as the
engine load becomes lower, it is possible to control the amount of
intake air without regard as to the throttle valve 17. Therefore,
if expressed so as to include both the case shown in FIG. 9 by the
solid line and the case shown by the broken line, in this
embodiment according to the present invention, the closing timing
of the intake valve 7 can be made to move in a direction away from
compression bottom dead center up to the limit closing timing
L.sub.2 which can control the amount of intake air which is fed
into a combustion chamber as the engine load becomes lower.
[0097] In this regard, in this embodiment according to the present
invention, in the above-mentioned way, the average air-fuel ratio
in the combustion chamber 5 is feedback controlled (hereinafter
referred to as "F/B control") to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio
based on the output signal of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 so that
the unburned HC, CO and NO.sub.X in the exhaust gas can be
simultaneously reduced by the three-way catalyst 21. That is, in
the present embodiment, the exhaust air-fuel ratio (ratio of air
and fuel fed to exhaust passage at upstream side of three-way
catalyst 21, combustion chamber 5, and intake passage) is detected
by the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 which is arranged at the exhaust
upstream side from the three-way catalyst 21, and the output value
of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is made to become a value
corresponding to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by F/B control
of the amount of feed of fuel from the fuel injector 13.
[0098] Below, F/B control will be explained in detail. First, in
the present embodiment, the amount of fuel Qft(n) to be fed from a
fuel injector 13 to a cylinder (below, called the "target fuel feed
rate") is calculated by the following formula (1).
Qft(n)=Mc(n)/AFT+DQf(n-1) (1)
[0099] Here, in the above formula (1), "n" is a value showing a
number of times of calculation at the ECU 30. For example, Qft(n)
shows the target fuel feed rate which is calculated by the n-th
time of calculation (that is, at the time "n"). Further, Mc(n)
shows the amount of air which is predicted to have been sucked into
each cylinder up to the time of closing of the intake valve 7
(hereinafter referred to as the "in-cylinder intake air amount").
The in-cylinder intake air amount Mc(n) is calculated for example
by finding a map or calculation formula, having the engine speed Ne
and air flow rate mt which was detected by the intake air amount
detector 18 as arguments, in advance by experiments or calculation,
storing this map or calculation formula in the ROM 32 of the ECU
30, detecting the engine speed Ne and air flow rate mt during
engine operation, and using these detection values as the basis for
calculation using the above map or calculation formula. Further,
AFT is the target air-fuel ratio, in the present embodiment, the
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. Furthermore, DQf is the fuel
correction amount which is calculated relating to the later
explained F/B control. At the fuel injector 13, an amount of fuel
corresponding to the target fuel feed rate which was calculated in
this way is injected.
[0100] Note that, in the above explanation, the in-cylinder intake
air amount Mc(n) is calculated based on a map etc. having the
engine speed Ne and the air flow rate mt as arguments, but for
example it may also be found by other methods, such as a
calculation formula based on the closing timing of the intake valve
7, the opening degree of the throttle valve 17, the atmospheric
pressure.
[0101] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control routine of target
fuel feed rate calculation control which calculates a target fuel
feed rate Qft(n) from a fuel injector 13. The control routine shown
is performed by interruption at predetermined time intervals.
[0102] First, at step 11, the engine speed Ne and air flow rate mt
are detected by the crank angle sensor 42 and the intake air amount
detector 18. Next, at step 12, the in-cylinder intake air amount
Mc(n) at the time "n" is calculated based on the engine speed Ne
and intake passage air flow rate mt which were detected at step 11,
by using a map or calculation formula. Next, at step 13, the target
fuel feed rate Qft(n) is calculated by the above formula (1), based
on the in-cylinder intake air amount Mc(n) which was calculated at
step 12 and the fuel correction amount DQf(n-1) at the time n-1
which was calculated by the later explained F/B control, then the
control routine is ended. At the fuel injector 13, an amount of
fuel corresponding to the target fuel feed rate Qft(n) calculated
in this way is injected.
[0103] Next, the F/B control will be explained. In the present
embodiment, as the F/B control, a fuel difference .DELTA.Qf between
the actual fuel feed amount which was calculated based on the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 and the
above-mentioned target fuel feed rate Qft is calculated for each
calculation time, then the fuel correction amount DQf is calculated
so that this fuel difference .DELTA.Qf becomes zero. Specifically,
the fuel correction amount DQf is calculated by the following
formula (2). Note that, in the following formula (2), DQf(n-1)
shows the fuel correction amount in the n-1-th calculation, that
is, the previous calculation, Kmp shows a proportional gain, and
Kmi shows an integral gain. These proportional gain Kmp and
integral gain Kmi may be predetermined constant values or may be
values which change in accordance with the engine operating
state.
DQf ( n ) = DQf ( n - 1 ) + Kmp .DELTA. Qf ( n ) + Kmi k = 1 n
.DELTA. Qf ( k ) ( 2 ) ##EQU00001##
[0104] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control routine of F/B
control for calculating the fuel correction amount DQf. The control
routine shown is performed by interruption every predetermined time
interval.
[0105] First, at step S21, it is judged if the condition for
executing F/B control stands. As the case where the condition for
executing F/B control stands, for example, the case where the
internal combustion engine is not in the middle of a cold start
(that is, the engine coolant temperature is a certain temperature
or more and fuel is not being increased at the time of startup),
the case where the injection of fuel from a fuel injector is not
stopped during engine operation, that is, not during fuel cut
control, etc. may be mentioned. When it is judged at step S21 that
the condition for executing F/B control stands, the routine
proceeds to step S22.
[0106] At step S22, the output value VAF(n) of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 at the time of the n-th calculation is detected. Next, at
step S23, the actual air-fuel ratio AFR(n) at the time "n" is
calculated based on the output value VAF(n) which was detected at
step 22. The thus calculated actual air-fuel ratio AFR(n) normally
becomes a value substantially matching the actual air-fuel ratio of
the exhaust gas which flows into the three-way catalyst 21 at the
time of the n-th calculation.
[0107] Next, at step S24, the fuel difference .DELTA.Qf between the
amount of fuel feed which was calculated based on the output value
of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 and the target fuel feed rate Qft
is calculated by the following formula (3). Note that, in the
following formula (3), for the in-cylinder intake air amount Mc and
target fuel feed rate Qft, the values at the time of the n-th
calculation are used, but the values before the n-th calculation
may also be used.
.DELTA.Qf(n)=Mc(n)/AFR(n)-Qft(n) (3)
[0108] At step S25, the fuel correction amount DQf(n) at the time
"n" is calculated by the above formula (2), then the control
routine is ended. The calculated fuel correction amount DQf(n) is
used in the above formula (1) for calculating the target fuel feed
rate. On the other hand, when it is judged at step S21 that the
condition for F/B control does not stand, the control routine is
ended without the fuel correction amount DQf(n) being changed.
[0109] Note that, in the above embodiment, as the F/B control to
the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio based on the output signal of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22, the case of performing PI control is
shown, but the F/B control is not limited to the above control.
Various controls may be performed.
[0110] In this regard, when using such a variable compression ratio
mechanism A, the higher the mechanical compression ratio, the
smaller the volume of the combustion chamber at the time when the
piston is positioned at compression top dead center and, as a
result, the larger the surface-volume ratio (ratio of surface area
and volume of combustion chamber 5 when piston is positioned at
compression top dead center. Below, referred to as "the S/V
ratio"). If the S/V ratio becomes larger in this way, the quench
region in the combustion chamber 5 as a whole (region near wall
surfaces of combustion chamber etc. where flame does not reach)
becomes relatively large. The HC which is included in the air-fuel
mixture in this quench region basically will not burn since the
flame will not reach it even if the air-fuel mixture inside of the
combustion chamber 5 burns. Therefore, if the mechanical
compression ratio becomes higher and the S/V ratio increases, the
amount of HC which is difficult to burn even if combustion of the
air-fuel mixture occurs in the combustion chamber 5, relatively
increases.
[0111] On the other hand, if the air-fuel mixture in the combustion
chamber 5 burns, the inside of the combustion chamber 5 becomes a
high temperature. If the HC in the quench region is exposed to a
high temperature in this way, part will be converted to hydrogen
(H.sub.2). This H.sub.2 is then exhausted from the combustion
chamber 5 without being burned in the combustion chamber 5.
Therefore, if using the variable compression ratio mechanism A to
increase the mechanical compression ratio, the S/V ratio will
increase and as a result the amount of the H.sub.2 which is
contained in the exhaust gas will increase. In particular, in the
present embodiment, the mechanical compression ratio is made a high
compression ratio of 20 or higher, so compared with a normal
internal combustion engine (internal combustion engine where the
mechanical compression ratio is controlled to 12 or so), the S/V
ratio will become extremely great. Along with this, the amount of
the H.sub.2 which is contained in the exhaust gas will also
increase.
[0112] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in F/B control
of the air-fuel ratio, the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 is used. However, this air-fuel ratio sensor 22 has a
high sensitivity to H.sub.2. For this reason, if the H.sub.2
concentration in the exhaust gas is high, the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will tend to deviate to the rich side.
[0113] Even if the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
deviates in this way, if not using the variable compression ratio
mechanism A, the ratio of the H.sub.2 which is contained in the
exhaust gas will be constantly substantially uniform, and therefore
the extent of the deviation of the output value of the air-fuel
ratio sensor 22 will be constantly substantially uniform, so
certain correction can be applied in advance to suitably compensate
for this. However, if using the variable compression ratio
mechanism A, the ratio of the H.sub.2 which is contained in the
exhaust gas will change in accordance with the mechanical
compression ratio, that is, in accordance with the S/V ratio, so
even if certain correction is performed, suitable compensation is
not possible.
[0114] Further, in an ordinary internal combustion engine, the
amount of H.sub.2 which is contained in the exhaust gas is not that
great, therefore the deviation of the output value of the air-fuel
ratio sensor 22 also is of a negligible extent. However, in a spark
ignition type internal combustion engine where the mechanical
compression ratio is a high compression ratio of 20 or more, the
S/V ratio sometimes becomes extremely great. Along with this, the
ratio of the H.sub.2 which is contained in the exhaust gas also
becomes higher. For this reason, the output value of the air-fuel
ratio sensor 22 greatly deviates to the rich side to a
non-negligible extent and the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas can
no longer be accurately detected. As a result, the air-fuel ratio
can no longer be suitably controlled, and deterioration of the
combustion efficiency and deterioration of the exhaust emission are
sometimes invited.
[0115] Therefore, in a first embodiment of the present invention,
the target air-fuel ratio is controlled in accordance with the
mechanical compression ratio.
[0116] FIG. 12 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the target air-fuel ratio. As will
be understood from FIG. 12, the target air-fuel ratio is set low
(to the rich side) when the mechanical compression ratio is high,
compared to when it is low. In more detail, as the mechanical
compression ratio becomes higher, the target air-fuel ratio is set
lower. In other words, in the present embodiment, as the S/V ratio
becomes higher, the target air-fuel ratio is set lower.
[0117] Here, in the above-mentioned way, the amount of H.sub.2
which is contained in the exhaust gas increases as the mechanical
compression ratio becomes higher. Further, the more the amount of
H.sub.2 which is contained in the exhaust gas, the greater the
extent by which the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
deviates to the rich side. Therefore, as the mechanical compression
ratio becomes higher, the extent by which the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side becomes
larger.
[0118] In the present embodiment, as the mechanical compression
ratio becomes higher, the target air-fuel ratio is set to the rich
side. Therefore, even if the mechanical compression ratio becomes
higher and the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
deviates to the rich side, the target air-fuel ratio is set to the
rich side by exactly that amount, so as a result the air-fuel ratio
of the exhaust gas is F/B controlled to become the actual target
air-fuel ratio (that is stoichiometric air-fuel ratio). That is,
according to the present embodiment, the target air-fuel ratio is
corrected by exactly the amount of the deviation occurring in the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the mechanical
compression ratio becoming higher, whereby the deviation occurring
in the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is compensated
for. In other words, in the present embodiment, it can be said that
the effect of the H.sub.2 concentration changing due to a change in
the mechanical compression ratio is made smaller by correcting a
parameter relating to operation of the internal combustion engine,
that is, the target air-fuel ratio.
[0119] Further, in the first embodiment according to the present
invention, the target air-fuel ratio is controlled in accordance
with the closing timing of the intake valve 7.
[0120] FIG. 13 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the target air-fuel ratio. The
solid line in the figure shows the case where the closing timing of
the intake valve 7 is set to the retarded side, the broken line in
the figure shows the case where the closing timing of the intake
valve 7 is set to the advanced side, and the one-dot chain line in
the figure shows the case where the closing timing of the intake
valve 7 is set to a medium extent of timing. As will be understood
from FIG. 13, the target air-fuel ratio is set lower (to the rich
side) when the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is at the
advanced side, compared to when it is at the retarded side. In more
detail, as the closing timing of the intake valve 7 becomes
advanced, the target air-fuel ratio is set lower.
[0121] In this regard, if the closing timing of the intake valve 7
is advanced, the actual compression action is started earlier and,
as a result, the actual compression ratio becomes higher. If the
actual compression ratio becomes higher, the density of the
air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber 5 when the piston is
positioned at compression top dead center becomes higher. For this
reason, the amount of HC which is present in the quench region
increases and therefore the amount of H.sub.2 which is generated
inside of the combustion chamber 5 also increases. If the amount of
H.sub.2 increases in this way, the deviation which occurs at the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 also becomes larger. Summarizing the
above, if the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is advanced, the
deviation which occurs in the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 becomes
larger.
[0122] Here, in the present embodiment, as the closing timing of
the intake valve 7 is advanced, the target air-fuel ratio is set to
the rich side. Therefore, even if the closing timing of the intake
valve 7 is advanced and the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the target air-fuel ratio is
set to the rich side by exactly that amount, so as a result, the
air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is F/B controlled to become the
actual target air-fuel ratio (that is, stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio). That is, according to the present embodiment, the target
air-fuel ratio is corrected by exactly the amount of deviation of
the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 being advanced, whereby the deviation
which occurs in the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is
compensated for. In other words, in the present embodiment, it can
be said that a parameter relating to operation of the internal
combustion engine, that is, the target air-fuel ratio, is corrected
so that the effect of the H.sub.2 concentration changing due to a
change in the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is made
smaller.
[0123] Furthermore, in the first embodiment according to the
present invention, the target air-fuel ratio is controlled in
accordance with the opening degree of the EGR valve 24.
[0124] FIG. 14 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the target air-fuel ratio. The
solid line in the figure shows the case where the opening degree of
the EGR valve 24 is large, the broken line in the figure shows the
case where the opening degree of the EGR valve is small, and the
one-dot chain line in the figure shows the case where the opening
degree of the EGR valve 24 is the medium extent. As will be
understood from FIG. 14, the target air-fuel ratio is set lower (to
the rich side) when the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 is small
compared to when it is large. In more detail, as the opening degree
of the EGR valve 24 becomes smaller, the target air-fuel ratio is
set lower.
[0125] In this regard, if the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 is
made larger, the amount of the EGR gas which is fed into the
combustion chamber 5 is increased. If the amount of the EGR gas
which is fed into the combustion chamber 5 in this way is
increased, relatively, the amount of the air-fuel mixture of the
air and fuel which are fed into the combustion chamber 5 is
decreased and the density of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion
chamber 5 falls. For this reason, the amount of HC which is present
in the quench region decreases and therefore the amount of H.sub.2
which is generated in the combustion chamber 5 also decreases. If
the amount of H.sub.2 is decreased in this way, the deviation which
occurs in the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will become smaller.
Summarizing the above, if the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 is
made larger, the deviation which occurs in the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 will become smaller. Conversely speaking, if the opening
degree of the EGR valve 24 is made smaller, the deviation in the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will become larger.
[0126] Here, in the present embodiment, as the opening degree of
the EGR valve 24 becomes smaller, the target air-fuel ratio is set
to the rich side. Therefore, even if the opening degree of the EGR
valve 24 is made smaller and the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the target air-fuel ratio is
set to the rich side by that amount, so as a result, the air-fuel
ratio of the exhaust gas is F/B controlled to become the actual
target air-fuel ratio (that is, stoichiometric air-fuel ratio).
That is, according to the present embodiment, the target air-fuel
ratio is corrected by exactly the amount of the deviation occurring
in the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the
opening degree of the EGR valve 24 being made smaller, whereby the
deviation occurring in the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 is compensated for. In other words, in the present
embodiment, it can be said that a parameter relating to operation
of the internal combustion engine, that is, the target air-fuel
ratio is corrected so that the effect of the H.sub.2 concentration
changing due to a change in the opening degree of the EGR valve 24
is made smaller.
[0127] Note that, in the above embodiment, in performing F/B
control, the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is used. However, instead of
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22, it is also possible to use an oxygen
sensor to perform the F/B control. Further, an oxygen sensor, like
an air-fuel ratio sensor 22, is high in sensitivity to H.sub.2.
Therefore, instead of an air-fuel ratio sensor 22, an oxygen sensor
may also be used, and in this case as well, control is performed
similar to the case of using the above air-fuel ratio sensor
22.
[0128] Further, in addition to an air-fuel ratio sensor or oxygen
sensor, there are sensors with high sensitivity to H.sub.2. As an
example of such a sensor, for example, an NO.sub.X sensor which
detects the concentration of NO.sub.X in the exhaust gas may be
mentioned. With an NO.sub.X sensor, the higher the H.sub.2
concentration in the exhaust gas, the lower the NO.sub.X
concentration tends to be detected as.
[0129] Therefore, when using the output value of an NO.sub.X sensor
as the basis to control the internal combustion engine, the
parameter relating to the operation of the internal combustion
engine is corrected so that operational control of the internal
combustion engine, which is performed when the NO.sub.X
concentration is higher than the NO.sub.X concentration which is
detected by the NO.sub.X sensor, is performed more the higher the
mechanical compression ratio. For example, when the mechanical
compression ratio is high, the target air-fuel ratio is corrected
lower (to the rich side) or correction is performed so that the
frequency of execution of rich spike control for temporarily making
the exhaust air-fuel ratio rich is increased.
[0130] Summarizing these, in the embodiment of the present
invention, it can be said that a parameter relating to operation of
the internal combustion engine is corrected in accordance with the
mechanical compression ratio so that the effect of the H.sub.2
concentration in the exhaust gas, which increases along with an
increase in the mechanical compression ratio, is made smaller.
[0131] Note that, in the above embodiment, the target air-fuel
ratio is controlled in accordance with the mechanical compression
ratio. However, if the S/V ratio is changed, the concentration of
H.sub.2 in the exhaust gas will change and a similar problem will
occur, so the above-mentioned control is not limited to a variable
compression ratio mechanism A and can also be applied to an
internal combustion engine which has an S/V ratio changing
mechanism which can change the S/V ratio.
[0132] Further, in the above embodiment, as the exhaust
purification catalyst, a three-way catalyst is used, but it is also
possible to use an NO.sub.X storage reduction catalyst or other
exhaust purification catalyst. Further, in the above embodiment,
the target air-fuel ratio is made the stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio, but the target air-fuel ratio need not necessarily be the
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. For example, the target air-fuel
ratio is made an air-fuel ratio at the lean side from the
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
[0133] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the control routine of
control for setting the target air-fuel ratio. As shown in FIG. 15,
first, at step S31, the mechanical compression ratio is detected.
Next, at step S32, the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is
detected. Next, at step S33, the opening degree of the EGR valve 24
is detected. At step S34, the amount of correction ksm of the
target air-fuel ratio based on the mechanical compression ratio is
calculated based on the mechanical compression ratio which was
detected at step S31 and by using a map such as shown in FIG. 16A.
Next, at step S35, the amount of correction kivc of the target
air-fuel ratio based on the intake valve closing timing is
calculated based on the closing timing of the intake valve 7 which
was detected at step S32 and by using a map such as shown in FIG.
16B. At step S36, the amount of correction kegr of the target
air-fuel ratio based on the EGR valve opening degree is calculated
based on the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 which was detected
at step S33 and by using a map such as shown in FIG. 16C. Next, at
step S37, the value of the actual target air-fuel ratio AFTbase
minus the amount of correction which was calculated at step S34 to
step S36 is made the target air-fuel ratio AFT. The target air-fuel
ratio AFT which was calculated in this way is used at step S13 of
FIG. 10.
[0134] Note that, in the above embodiment, the amount of correction
of the target air-fuel ratio is calculated based on the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 and the opening degree of the EGR
valve 24. However, it is also possible to calculate the correction
coefficient of the target air-fuel ratio based on the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 and the opening degree of the EGR
valve 24 and multiply the correction coefficient which was
calculated in this way with the amount of correction of the target
air-fuel ratio which was calculated based on the mechanical
compression ratio.
[0135] Next, the control system of an internal combustion engine
according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. The configuration of the control system of an internal
combustion engine of the second embodiment is basically the same as
the configuration of the control system of an internal combustion
engine of the first embodiment. However, in the control system of
an internal combustion engine of the first embodiment, the value of
a parameter relating to operation of the internal combustion engine
is changed in accordance with the mechanical compression ratio
etc., while in a control system of an internal combustion engine of
the second embodiment, the output value of the detection device is
corrected in accordance with the mechanical compression ratio
etc.
[0136] FIG. 17 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the amount of correction of the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side. The
solid line in the figure shows the case where the closing timing of
the intake valve 7 is set to the retarded side, the broken line in
the figure shows the case where the closing timing of the intake
valve 7 is set to the advanced side, and the one-dot chain line in
the figure shows the case where the closing timing of the intake
valve 7 is set to a medium extent of timing.
[0137] As will be understood from FIG. 17, when the mechanical
compression ratio is high, compared to when it is low, the amount
of correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side is
made larger. In more detail, as the mechanical compression ratio
becomes higher, the amount of correction of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 to the lean side is made larger. In other words, in the
present embodiment, as the S/V ratio becomes higher, the amount of
correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side is made
larger.
[0138] According to the present embodiment, even if the mechanical
compression ratio becomes higher and the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the output
value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is set to the lean side by
exactly that amount, so as a result the corrected output value of
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 shows the actual air-fuel ratio of the
exhaust gas. That is, according to the present embodiment, the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is corrected by
exactly the amount of the deviation occurring in the output value
of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the mechanical compression
ratio becoming higher, whereby the deviation occurring in the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is compensated for. In
other words, in the present embodiment, it can be said that the
output value of a detection device which changes in accordance with
the H.sub.2 concentration is corrected so that the effect of the
H.sub.2 concentration, which changes due to a change in the
mechanical compression ratio, is made smaller.
[0139] Further, as will be understood from FIG. 17, the amount of
correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side is made
larger when the closing timing of the intake valve 7 is at the
advanced side, compared to when it is at the retarded side. In more
detail, as the closing timing of the intake valve 7 becomes more
advanced, the amount of correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
to the lean side is made larger.
[0140] According to the present embodiment, even if the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 is advanced and the output value of
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the output
value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is corrected to the lean side
by exactly that amount, so as a result the corrected output value
of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 shows the actual air-fuel ratio of
the exhaust gas. That is, according to the present embodiment, the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is corrected by
exactly the amount of the deviation occurring in the output value
of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the closing timing of the
intake valve 7 being advanced, whereby the deviation occurring in
the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is compensated
for. In other words, in the present embodiment, it can be said that
the output value of a detection device which changes in accordance
with the H.sub.2 concentration is corrected so that the effect of
the H.sub.2 concentration changing due to a change in the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 is made smaller.
[0141] Further, it is also possible to increase the amount of
correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side when
the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 is small, compared to when
it is large. In this case, in more detail, as the opening degree of
the EGR valve 24 becomes smaller, the amount of correction of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side is made larger. Due to
this, even if the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 is made
smaller and the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
deviates to the rich side, the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 will be corrected to the lean side by exactly that
amount, so the corrected output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 will show the actual air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas.
[0142] Note that, in the present embodiment as well, in the same
way as the above first embodiment, similar control may be performed
even when using an oxygen sensor or NO.sub.X sensor instead of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22. Therefore, summarizing these, it can be
said that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the output
value (that is, the concentration of the specific ingredient in the
exhaust gas) of a detection device for detecting the concentration
of a specific ingredient in the exhaust gas and changing in output
value in accordance with the concentration of hydrogen in the
exhaust gas is corrected in accordance with the mechanical
compression ratio.
[0143] Next, a control system of an internal combustion engine of a
third embodiment according to the present invention will be
explained. The configuration of the control system of an internal
combustion engine of the third embodiment according to the present
invention is basically the same as the configuration of the control
system of an internal combustion engine of the second embodiment.
However, in the control system of an internal combustion engine of
the present embodiment, the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 is corrected in accordance with the target air-fuel
ratio.
[0144] In this regard, in the internal combustion engine of the
above embodiment, the target air-fuel ratio is made substantially
constant at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. As opposed to this,
in the internal combustion engine of the present embodiment, the
target air-fuel ratio can be changed in accordance with the engine
operating state. For example, in the present embodiment, as the
exhaust purification catalyst, an NO.sub.X storage reduction
catalyst is used, the target air-fuel ratio is made lean at the
time of normal operation, and the target air-fuel ratio is made
rich when making the NO.sub.X which is stored in the NO.sub.X
storage reduction catalyst be desorbed. In this way, for an
internal combustion engine in which the target air-fuel ratio
changes in accordance with the engine operating state, in a control
system of an internal combustion engine of the third embodiment,
the amount of correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the
lean side is made to change in accordance with the target air-fuel
ratio.
[0145] FIG. 18 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the amount of correction of the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side. The
solid line in the figure shows the case where the target air-fuel
ratio is set to the lean side, the broken line in the figure shows
the case where the target air-fuel ratio is set to the rich side,
and the one-dot chain line in the figure shows the case where the
target air-fuel ratio is set to substantially the stoichiometric
air-fuel ratio.
[0146] As will be understood from FIG. 18, the amount of correction
of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean side is made larger
when the target air-fuel ratio is low (is at the rich side),
compared to when it is high (is at the lean side). More
specifically, as the target air-fuel ratio becomes lower, the
amount of correction of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the lean
side is made larger.
[0147] Here, if the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture in the
combustion chamber 5 becomes lower, the HC concentration in the
air-fuel mixture is increased. If the HC concentration in the
air-fuel mixture becomes high, the amount of HC present in the
quench region increases and therefore the amount of H.sub.2 which
is generated in the combustion chamber 5 also increases. If the
amount of H.sub.2 increases in this way, the deviation which occurs
at the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 becomes larger. Summarizing the
above, if the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture in the
combustion chamber 5 becomes lower, the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side.
[0148] Here, in the present embodiment, as the target air-fuel
ratio becomes lower, the amount of correction of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 to the lean side is made larger. For this reason, even if
the target air-fuel ratio becomes lower and the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the output
value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will be corrected to the lean
side by exactly that amount, so as a result, the corrected output
value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will show the actual air-fuel
ratio of the exhaust gas. That is, according to the present
embodiment, by the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
being corrected by exactly the amount of deviation occurring in the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the target
air-fuel ratio becoming lower, the deviation occurring in the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is compensated for. In
other words, in the present embodiment, it can be said that the
output value of a detection device with an output value which
changes in accordance with the H.sub.2 concentration is corrected
so that the effect of the H.sub.2 concentration, which changes by
changing the target air-fuel ratio, is made smaller.
[0149] Next, a control system of an internal combustion engine of a
fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be
explained. The control system of an internal combustion engine of
the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, is provided with not
only the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 which is arranged at an exhaust
upstream side of the three-way catalyst 21, but also an oxygen
sensor 22' which is arranged at an exhaust downstream side of the
three-way catalyst 21.
[0150] In this regard, sometimes the heat of the exhaust gas causes
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to degrade and thereby deviation to
occur in the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22. If
deviation occurs in the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 in this way, the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will for example
generate an output voltage, which originally should be generated
when the exhaust air-fuel ratio becomes the stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio, when the ratio is leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio. Therefore, in the present embodiment, sub F/B control using
the downstream side oxygen sensor 22' is used to compensate for
deviation occurring in the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 and make the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
become a value which corresponds to the actual exhaust air-fuel
ratio.
[0151] That is, the oxygen sensor 22' can detect if the exhaust
air-fuel ratio is richer or leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio. When the actual exhaust air-fuel ratio becomes lean, the
output voltage of the oxygen sensor 24 becomes a low value, while
when the actual exhaust air-fuel ratio becomes rich, the output
voltage of the oxygen sensor 24 becomes a high value. Therefore,
when the actual exhaust air-fuel ratio has become the substantially
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, that is, when it repeatedly rises
and falls near the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the output
voltage of the oxygen sensor 22' repeatedly inverts between a high
value and a low value. From this viewpoint, in the present
embodiment, the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is
corrected so that the output voltage of the oxygen sensor 22'
repeatedly inverts between a high value and a low value.
[0152] FIG. 20 is a time chart of the actual exhaust air-fuel
ratio, the output value of the oxygen sensor, and the output
correction value efsfb of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22. The time
chart of FIG. 20 shows the state where, in spite of the actual
exhaust air-fuel ratio being controlled to become the
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, deviation occurs in the air-fuel
ratio sensor 22 and the actual exhaust air-fuel ratio does not
become the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and in that case the
deviation which occurs in the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is
compensated for.
[0153] In the example shown in FIG. 20, at the time to, the actual
exhaust air-fuel ratio does not become the stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio, but becomes leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
This is because when deviation occurs in the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 and then the actual exhaust air-fuel ratio becomes an air-fuel
ratio which is leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 outputs an output value corresponding to
the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. At this time, the output value
of the oxygen sensor 22' becomes a low value.
[0154] The output correction value efsfb of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 is a correction value which is added to the output value
VAF which is calculated at step S22 of FIG. 11. At step S23 of FIG.
11, the output value VAF which was calculated at step S22 is
increased by this output correction value efsfb and the result is
used as the basis for calculation of the actual air-fuel ratio
AFR(n). Therefore, when this output correction value efsfb is a
positive value, the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is
corrected to the lean side, while when it is a negative value, the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is corrected to the
rich side. Further, the larger the absolute value of the output
correction value efsfb, the greater the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is corrected.
[0155] When, despite the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 being substantially the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the
output value of the oxygen sensor 22' becomes a low value, this
means that the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22
deviates to the rich side. Therefore, in the present embodiment,
when the output value of the oxygen sensor 22' is a low value, as
shown in FIG. 20, the value of the output correction value efsfb is
increased to correct the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 to the lean side. On the other hand, when, despite the output
value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 being substantially the
stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the output value of the oxygen
sensor 22' becomes a high value, the value of the output correction
value efsfb is decreased to correct the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to the rich side.
[0156] Specifically, the value of the output correction value efsfb
is calculated by the following formula (4). Note that, in the
following formula (4), efsfb(n-1) shows the output correction value
of the n-1st time, that is, the time of the previous calculation,
Ksp shows the proportional gain, and Ksi shows the integral gain.
Further, .DELTA.VO(n) shows the output difference between the
output value of the oxygen sensor 22' at the time of the n-th
calculation and the target output value (in the present embodiment,
the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, that is).
efsfb ( n ) = efsfb ( n - 1 ) + Ksp .DELTA. VO ( n ) + Ksi k = 1 n
.DELTA. VO ( k ) ( 4 ) ##EQU00002##
[0157] In this way, in the example shown in FIG. 20, as the value
of the output correction value efsfb of the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 increases, the deviation occurring in the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is corrected and the actual exhaust
air-fuel ratio gradually approaches the stoichiometric air-fuel
ratio.
[0158] In this regard, the H.sub.2 which is contained in the
exhaust gas which is exhausted from the combustion chamber 5 is
burned inside the three-way catalyst 21, so the exhaust gas which
flows through the exhaust downstream side of the three-way catalyst
21 does not contain much H.sub.2 at all. On the other hand, in the
above-mentioned way, the oxygen sensor 22' is arranged at the
exhaust downstream side of the three-way catalyst 21. For this
reason, the oxygen sensor 22' is hardly affected by the H.sub.2 in
the exhaust gas. Therefore, even if the exhaust gas which is
exhausted from the combustion chamber 5 contains H.sub.2, the
oxygen sensor 22' can detect the oxygen concentration relatively
accurately. For this reason, even if deviation occurs in the output
value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 22, by performing
sub F/B control based on the output value of the downstream side
oxygen sensor 22', it is possible to compensate for deviation of
the output value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 22 to a
certain extent.
[0159] However, the sub F/B control based on the output value of
the downstream side oxygen sensor 22' is slow in response speed
compared with the speed of change of the mechanical compression
ratio etc. Even if the mechanical compression ratio etc. changes,
it takes time to compensate for deviation of the output value of
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 by the sub F/B control. For this
reason, the above sub F/B control cannot be used to swiftly
compensate for deviation of the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22.
[0160] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in sub F/B control, in
addition to the above-mentioned output correction value efsfb, a
padding correction value efsfbh which is calculated based on the
mechanical compression ratio etc. is calculated, and these output
correction value efsfb and padding correction value efsfbh are
added to the output value VAF which was calculated at step S22 of
FIG. 11.
[0161] FIG. 21 is a view showing the relationship between the
mechanical compression ratio and the padding correction value
efsfbh. The solid line in the figure shows the case where the
closing timing of the intake valve 7 is set to the retarded side,
the broken line in the figure shows the case where the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 is set to the advanced side, and the
one-dot chain line in the figure shows the case where the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 is set to a medium extent of
timing.
[0162] As will be understood from FIG. 21, the padding correction
value efsfbh is made larger when the mechanical compression ratio
is high, compared to when it is low. In more detail, as the
mechanical compression ratio becomes higher, the padding correction
value efsfbh is made larger. In other words, in the present
embodiment, as the S/V ratio becomes higher, the padding correction
value efsfbh is made larger.
[0163] According to the present embodiment, even if the mechanical
compression ratio becomes higher and the output value of the
air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the padding
correction value efsfbh is made larger by exactly that amount and
the amount of correction of the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 by sub F/B control is increased, so as a result the
corrected output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 will show
the actual exhaust gas air-fuel ratio. Further, the padding
correction value efsfbh changes in accordance with the mechanical
compression ratio, so it is possible to quickly respond to changes
in the mechanical compression ratio. That is, according to the
present embodiment, sub F/B control is used for swift correction by
exactly the amount of deviation which occurs in the output value of
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the mechanical compression
ratio becoming higher, whereby the deviation which occurs in the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is compensated
for.
[0164] Further, as will be understood from FIG. 21, when the
closing timing of the intake valve 7 is at the advanced side,
compared to when it is at the retarded side, the padding correction
value efsfbh is made larger. In more detail, as the closing timing
of the intake valve 7 is advanced, the padding correction value
efsfbh is made larger.
[0165] According to the present embodiment, even if the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 is advanced and the output value of
the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the rich side, the padding
correction value efsfbh is made larger by exactly that amount and
the amount of correction of the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 by sub F/B control is increased, so as a result the
output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 shows the actual
exhaust gas air-fuel ratio. Further, the padding correction value
efsfbh changes in accordance with the closing timing of the intake
valve 7, so it is possible to quickly respond to changes in the
closing timing of the intake valve 7. That is, according to the
present embodiment, the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor
22 is corrected by exactly the amount of deviation which occurs in
the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 due to the closing
timing of the intake valve 7 being advanced, whereby the deviation
which occurs in the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 is
compensated for.
[0166] Further, it is also possible to increase the padding
correction value efsfbh when the opening degree of the EGR valve 24
is small compared to when it is large. In this case, in more
detail, the padding correction value efsfbh is made larger as the
opening degree of the EGR valve 24 becomes smaller. Due to this,
even if the opening degree of the EGR valve 24 is made smaller and
the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 deviates to the
rich side, the padding correction value efsfbh is made larger by
that extent, so as a result the output value of the air-fuel ratio
sensor 22 shows the actual exhaust gas air-fuel ratio.
[0167] Note that, in the above embodiment, the explanation was
given of the case of arranging the air-fuel ratio sensor 22 at the
upstream side of the three-way catalyst 21 and arranging the oxygen
sensor 22' at the downstream side, but similar control is possible
even when using an oxygen sensor at the upstream side or when using
an air-fuel ratio sensor at the downstream side.
[0168] Note that, the present invention was explained in detail
based on specific embodiments, but a person skilled in the art
could make various changes, modifications, etc. without departing
from the claims and concept of the present invention.
* * * * *