Patent ID: 11885258
Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 5:
6. A method to control a drive assembly (1) for a motor vehicle; said drive assembly (1) comprising:
an internal combustion engine (2) comprising, in turn, at least one intake duct (5), through which fresh air can flow, and at least one exhaust duct (7), through which a burnt air and gas mixture can flow;
a turbocharger (3) designed to supercharge said internal combustion engine (2); and
a catalysing system (4) arranged in series to said exhaust duct (7);
said turbocharger (3) comprising, in turn:
a compressor (15), which can be operated to increase the fresh air flow rate flowing, in use, through said intake duct (5); and
a turbine (20), which is operatively connected to said compressor (15), can be flown through by said mixture and is designed to drag the compressor (15);

said drive assembly (1) further comprising:
a first wastegate duct (30) interposed between said turbine (20) and said catalysing system (4); and
a first wastegate valve (35);

said method comprising the step of:
i) moving said first valve (35) between:
a first opening position, so as to convey a maximum flow rate of said mixture inside said first wastegate duct (30); and
a second opening position, so as to convey a minimum flow rate of said mixture inside said first wastegate duct (30); and

said method further comprising the step of:
ii) moving a second bypass valve (75) between:
a third position, in which it fluidly connects said exhaust duct (7) and said catalysing system (4) so as to convey said mixture along said second duct (70) bypassing, in use, the entire turbine (20); and
a fourth position, in which it fluidly isolates said second duct (70) from said exhaust duct (7);

said second duct (70) being interposed between said exhaust duct (7) and said catalysing system (4);
said control method further comprising the steps of:
iii) generating a first signal when said internal combustion engine (2) is in a first condition;
iv) generating a second signal when said internal combustion engine (2) is in a second condition of said engine (2); and
v) placing said second valve (75) in said fourth position and regulating said first valve (35) between said first and second position depending on the load acting upon said engine (2), in said second condition of the engine (2);
said control method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
vi) detecting the operating station of said engine (2) and placing:
said second valve (75) in said third position and said first valve (35) in said second position, in said first condition of said engine (2) and in case of a cold start of the engine (2);
said first valve and second valve (35, 75) in corresponding intermediate positions between said first and second position and said third and fourth position, in case, in use, said catalysing system (4) needs to be heated with said engine (2) already running;

vii) processing a third signal associated with the simulated temperature of said catalysing system (4);
viii) generating said first signal when said third signal is below a first threshold value and to generate said second signal when said third signal exceeds said first threshold value;
ix) detecting a characteristic temperature (T) of said catalysing system (4) by means of a sensor (80); and
x) generating said first or second signal also based on the characteristic temperature (T).