Method and apparatus for optimizing the operation characteristics of an engine

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (e) reading the engine variables and checking if any of the variables has moved outside its predetermined operating limits after the engine has been placed in its optimum operating condition.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: (f) controlling the engine effectors such that all engine variables are within their predetermined operating limits if step (e) is affirmative.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling step (b) comprises the step of placing the engine in an optimum operating condition such that the engine fuel consumption variable is minimized.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b)(2) includes the step of determining the magnitude and direction that each effector can be moved in accordance with the simplex algorithmic method of solution.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b)(1) includes the steps of; moving one effector an incremental value in a first direction and reading the value of each variable, moving said one effector an incremental value in a second direction and reading the value of each variable, and calculating the amount of change of each variable per unit of effector change; moving a second effector an incremental value in a first direction and reading the value of each variable, moving the second effector an incremental value in a second direction and reading the value of each variable, and calculating the amount of change of each variable per unit of second effector change.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein said step (b)(1) further includes the step of determining if the operating limit of each variable will be exceeded as a result of movement of an effector, and inhibiting an effector movement if the determination is affirmative.

Claim 9

In an electronic engine controller for controlling a reciprocating engine wherein the engine controller is operatively connected with a plurality of engine sensors for detecting various engine variables, including the specific fuel consumption of the engine, and operatively connected with a plurality of engine effectors for selectively moving the effectors to control the operating characteristic of the reciprocating engine, said engine effectors including a spark advance angle effector and an air manifold pressure effector, a method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the engine variables and controlling the engine effectors to place the engine in an initial operating condition such that the spark advance angle effector and the air manifold pressure effector can be incremented and decremented by predetermined trim values without violating any operating limit of the engine; (b) determining the sensitivity of each engine variable to a change in spark advance angle; (c) determining the sensitivity of each engine variable to a change in air manifold pressure; (d) determining the magnitude and direction that the spark advance angle and the air manifold pressure can be moved as a function of the sensitivities of the engine variables so as to minimize the specific fuel consumption of the engine; (e) actuating at least one of the spark advance angle effector and air manifold pressure effector to move the respective spark advance angle and air manifold pressure a magnitude and direction in accordance with the determining step (d); and (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until no further decrease in specific fuel consumption is obtained.

Claim 10

In an electronic engine controller for controlling a reciprocating engine wherein the engine controller is operatively connected with a plurality of engine sensors for detecting various engine variables, including the specific fuel consumption of the engine, and operatively connected with a plurality of engine effectors for selectively moving the effectors to control the operating characteristic of the reciprocating engine, said engine effectors including a spark advance angle effector and an air manifold pressure effector, a method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the engine variables and controlling the engine effectors to place the engine in an initial operating condition such that the spark advance angle effector and the air manifold pressure effector can be incremented and decremented by predetermined trim values without violating any operating limit of the engine; (b) determining the sensitivity of each engine variable to a change in spark advance angle; (c) determining the sensitivity of each engine variable to a change in air manifold pressure; (d) determining the magnitude and direction that the spark advance angle and the air manifold pressure can be moved as a function of the sensitivities of the engine variables so as to minimize the specific fuel consumption of the engine; (e) actuating at least one of the spark advance angle effector and air manifold pressure effector to move the respective spark advance angle and air manifold pressure a magnitude and direction in accordance with the determining step (d); and (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until no further decrease in specific fuel consumption is obtained.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of checking the engine variables after the actuating step (e) to determine if any engine variable exceeded a predetermined operating limit and, if affirmative, controlling the effectors such that all engine variables are within their operating limits.

Claim 12

The method of claim 8 wherein said determining step (b) includes the steps of, moving the spark advance angle a predetermined trim value in one direction and reading the engine variables; moving the spark advance angle a predetermined trim value in an opposite direction and reading the engine variables; and determining the amount of change of each engine variable per unit of spark advance angle change.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step (b) further includes the steps of determining whether the spark advance angle can be moved a predetermined trim value without violating any operating limits of the engine variables, and moving the spark advance angle only if such determination is affirmative.

Claim 14

The method of claim 8 wherein said determining step (c) includes the steps of, moving the air manifold pressure a predetermined trim value in one direction and reading the engine variables; moving the air manifold pressure a predetermined trim value in an opposite direetion nd reading the engine variables; and determining the amount of change of each engine variable per unit of air manifold pressure change.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step (c) further includes the steps of determining whether the air manifold pressure can be moved a predetermined trim value without violating any operating limits of the engine variables, and moving the air manifold pressure only if such determination is affirmative.

Claim 16

An electronic control system for optimizing the operating characteristics of an engine, comprising: (a) engine variable detecting means for detecting a plurality of engine variables; (b) engine effector control means for selectively controlling a plurality of engine effectors in response to effector control signals; (c) computer means operably connected with said engine variable detecting means and said engine effector control means for storing predetermined operating limits of the engine variables, for determining the sensitivity of each engine variable to a change in each engine effector, for determining the magnitude and direction that the engine effectors can be moved, without violating any predetermined operating limits of the engine variables, so as to optimize at least one of said engine variables, and for providing effector control signals to said engine effector control means for moving said engine effectors.

Claim 17

An electronic control system for optimizing the operating characteristics of an engine, comprising: (a) engine variable detecting means for detecting a plurality of engine variables; (b) engine effector control means for selectively controlling a plurality of engine effectors in response to effector control signals; (c) computer means operably connected with said engine variable detecting means and said engine effector control means for storing predetermined operating limits of the engine variables, for determining the sensitivity of each engine variable to a change in each engine effector, for determining the magnitude and direction that the engine effectors can be moved, without violating any predetermined operating limits of the engine variables, so as to optimize at least one of said engine variables, and for providing effector control signals to said engine effector control means for moving said engine effectors.

Claim 18

An electronic control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said engine effector control means includes a closed-loop engine control means.