Engine cylinder deactivation to improve vehicle interior heating and defrosting

• Main Author: FOSTER MICHAEL RALPH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.06.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS OR ADAPTATIONS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING,OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY FOR PASSENGER OR GOODSSPACES OF VEHICLES; BLASTING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TOTRANSPORTATION; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES ORENGINES IN GENERAL; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; STEAM ENGINES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

The present invention employs cylinder deactivation hardware and control systems to increase the heat rejected to the engine cooling system to improve heating of an internal combustion engine and a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The heat rejected to the cooling system is a result of an increase in combustion temperatures in the non-deactivated cylinders, due to increased work. The invention also includes a system to reduce the cooling system heat capacity. The invention provides heat quickly after a cold start and while operating at low engine operating points. This method and system are particularly suited to compression-ignition engines and direct-injection spark ignition engines that primarily operate lean of stoichiometry.