Abstract:
A method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, whereby the metering of fuel is adjustable in particular by varying the stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection valve, makes it possible to prevent an incomplete closure of the valve due to soiling (the risk of damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder) in operating states of the internal combustion engine in which no complete strokes of the nozzle needle occur over a prolonged period of time and the nozzle is therefore not sufficiently scavenged. The nozzle is scavenged with fuel when a jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle is detected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, whereby the metering of fuel is adjustable in particular by varying the stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection valve. The present invention also relates to a computer program and a control device for carrying out the method, and an internal combustion engine with a control device of this type. 
   High-pressure fuel injection valves for direct fuel injection in the context of internal combustion engines are generally known. Specific types of high-pressure fuel injection valves  300 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , are also known, in particular, with which it is possible to meter the fuel to be injected into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine via the opening time of the valve, and, in particular, by varying the stroke of valve needle  330 . With these valves, nozzle needle  330  is actuated, e.g., directly with the aid of a piezoelectric actuator  320 . Valves of this type are suited in particular for transmitting very short injection pulses and a plurality of injection pulses during a single working cycle, i.e., “multiple injection”, within a very short time window. An example of a nozzle used with a valve of this type is the outwardly opening nozzle, i.e., the “A” nozzle. 
   In the related art, the needle stroke with the injection valves described—which allow the nozzle needle stroke to be varied—is limited in terms of high values and low values for the valve stroke using diverse restrictions: 
   The needle stroke is limited in terms of high values, for example, by
         the possibilities for realizing a required small amount, because the nozzle surface and the fuel system pressure are specified by the combustion method used and are variable, although in a limited manner;   the size of piezoelectric actuators  320  that can be inserted, and by their physical properties, such as their stroke capacity, the amount of force they can apply, their ability to accelerate, etc.; and by   the capacity of the end stage of the control device (power dissipation, installation space).       

   In contrast, the needle stroke under rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, i.e., the nominal needle stroke in terms of small stroke values, i.e., in the form of a minimum needle stroke, is limited by
         the need to ensure an adequate scavening effect.       

   The purpose of this minimum needle stroke is to ensure that, under rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, when the injection valve is operated primarily with the nominal stroke, a valve is prevented from closing incompletely or jamming open due to the presence of particles in the cross section of the injection nozzle. 
   The assurance of an adequate scavenging effect is particularly important because it prevents the risk of damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder. Damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder occurs when the cross section of the injection valve is blocked by dirt particles, thereby preventing the injection valve from closing completely. In this case, fuel is delivered continuously into the cylinder whose injection valve is jammed. Since fuel can be considered to be an incompressible medium, the piston motion is hindered or blocked when the amount of fuel injected exceeds the compression volume of the cylinder. If other cylinders in the internal combustion engine are functioning properly at this time, they exert—via the crankshaft—very strong forces on the connecting rod and the piston of the blocked cylinder, which usually results in irreparable engine damage, particularly in the form of the connecting rod breaking and a damaged cylinder. 
   As described above, soiling of the nozzle with dirt particles is prevented via specification of the minimum needle stroke under rated operating conditions. 
   This specification of the minimum needle stroke applies only for the rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, however. It does not rule out the fact that the injection valve must also be closed completely at times between individual injection impulses and/or strokes of the nozzle needle. This applies in particular for operating states with a low fuel requirement, e.g., during idle, when the nozzle needle is actuated for a prolonged period of time not with complete strokes, as is the case under rated operating conditions, but only with partial strokes. In these operating states of the internal combustion engine, an adequate scavenging effect is no longer ensured, due to the partial-stroke actuation. This results in a greatly increased risk that the injection nozzle will become soiled and make it more difficult to detect such soiling. 
   During idle operation in particular, two injection cycles of a cylinder can be separated by a long period of time. As a result, only relatively few injection events are available for diagnosing the undesired jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle; this makes diagnosis of this operating state less reliable overall. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Based on this related art, the object of the present invention is to further develop known methods for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, known computer programs and control devices for carrying out this method, and known internal combustion engines with a control device of that type, such that soiling of the nozzle of the injection valve by particles and, associated therewith, the risk of damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder, is more easily detected and prevented. 
   This object is attained by the subject of claim  1 . According thereto, the object of the invention is attained in particular by the fact that a method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, in which the metering of fuel is adjustable by varying the injection time and stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection valve, is composed of the following steps: 
   This object of the invention is attained in particular by the fact that a method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, in which the metering of fuel is adjustable by varying the injection time and stroke of the nozzle needle of the injection valve, is composed of the following steps:
         a) The internal combustion engine is monitored for proper functioning;   b) A jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle of the injection valve is detected, due to soiling in particular, whereby the nozzle of the injection valve cannot be closed any further by the nozzle needle, but it can be opened further; and   c) The nozzle is scavenged with fuel by setting an essentially maximum stroke of the nozzle needle to remove the soiling.       

   Advantageously, dirt particles in the cross section of the injection valve are rinsed away by the large amount of fuel that acts in a case of scavenging of this type, and by the strong pressure that is then applied. The nozzle is then free of dirt particles and can be closed completely again. The risk of damage caused by a gasoline-filled cylinder is therefore prevented. By scavenging the nozzle, the original spray pattern of the nozzle is also restored, if it was previously impaired by the dirt particles. Restoration of the spray pattern results in improved efficiency of the internal combustion engine. 
   Importantly, it must also be possible for several embodiments to be carried out simultaneously. To detect a jammed-open operating state, it is sufficient when one of conditions for detection is met. 
   Advantageously, the increased amount of fuel delivered with a complete stroke within the framework of scavenging can be compensated for by reducing the duration of actuation t i . 
   When the valve jam in an open position, fuel flows continuously into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. This results in level of engine torque that is higher than desired. Advantageous remedies for the occurrence of this undesired additional torque are provided in the invention. 
   To reduce excess amounts of fuel and prevent incorrect actuation of scavenging according to step c), it is advantageous when the execution of step c) is blocked for a predetermined period of time before it is allowed to continue. 
   The object described above is also attained using a computer program and a control device for carrying out the method, and by an internal combustion engine using a control device of this type. The advantages of these means of attaining the object correspond to the advantages described above in terms of the method according to the present invention. 
   The present invention is described in detail below in the form of various exemplary embodiments and will be described in greater detail with reference to the three figures associated with the drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows the method for operating an injection valve of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows an internal combustion engine with associated valve injection according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  shows an injection valve with variation of the stroke of the nozzle needle according to the state of the art. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The method according to the present invention serves to prevent soiling of nozzle  310  of injection valve  300 , in particular during operating states in which a small amount of fuel is required, such as idling. 
   To this end, the method according to a step Sa) provides that the internal combustion engine is monitored for proper functioning. This monitoring can take place via one of four methods, according to the present invention. 
   In one form of this monitoring, the air-fuel mixture of the internal combustion engine is monitored to determine when it becomes rich, as indicated by method step Sa 1 . The fuel mixture is determined to have become richer typically via a reduction in the lambda value for the cylinder involved. 
   According to a second form of monitoring the internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine or any of its cylinders is monitored for the occurrence of misfires, as proposed in method step Sa 2 . In this case, a misfire is understood to mean absence of combustion during an ignition cycle. 
   In a third form of monitoring, proper functioning of the internal combustion engine can also be monitored by monitoring the pressure in a fuel accumulator  110  assigned to the internal combustion engine. If this pressure drops, proper operation of the internal combustion engine is not ensured (Sa 3 ). 
   Finally, according to a fourth method of monitoring, individual cylinders of the internal combustion engine are observed to detect increases in torque or torque irregularities (Sa 4 ). 
   All four of the monitoring methods described according to method steps Sa 1 , Sa 2 , Sa 3  and Sa 4  can be carried out alone or in any combination with each other. Reference to the possible combinations is made in some of the claims using the wording: “—possibly in addition—” and “—possibly also—”. 
   Within the framework of the present invention, it makes sense to monitor the internal combustion engine only when the findings obtained by monitoring are also evaluated in terms of an undesired and detectable jammed-open operating state of nozzle needle  330  of injection valve  300 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , this evaluation is based on the monitoring of the internal combustion engine carried out previously in step Sa). For example, according to a method step Sb 1  for the case in which the fuel mixture of the internal combustion engine was monitored according to method step Sa 1  to determine whether it had become richer, a jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle is detected when the richness of the fuel mixture is greater than a specifiable enrichment threshold value or when the gradient of the enrichment is greater than a specifiable enrichment gradient threshold value. In the same manner, when the internal combustion engine is monitored according to method step Sa 2  to detect misfires, a jammed-open operating state of the nozzle needle is detected according to method step Sb 2  when the number of misfires detected in a cylinder per unit of time exceeds a specifiable threshold for frequency. When the internal combustion engine is monitored according to method step Sa 3  to detect a pressure drop in fuel accumulator  110 , a jammed-open operating state of nozzle needle  330  is detected according to method step Sb 3  when the pressure in fuel accumulator  110  falls below a specifiable threshold for pressure or when the course of pressure in fuel accumulator  110  over time deviates from a specifiable expected pressure gradient by more than a specifiable, expected course of pressure over time. Finally, when the internal combustion engine is monitored according to method step Sa 4 , torque increases or irregularities detected during stratified-charge operation indicate that a valve is not closing completely, i.e., they indicate a jammed-open operating state of nozzle needle  330  when the identified torque increases or irregularities exceed a specified threshold value. 
   In method step Sb according to  FIG. 1 , a check is carried out to determine whether a jammed-open operating state of nozzle needle  330  is detected, at least in accordance with one of the method steps Sb 1 , Sb 2 , Sb 3  or Sb 4 . If this is not the case, the monitoring is continued according to method step Sa). If a jammed-open operating state of nozzle needle  330  is detected, however, i.e., when it is detected that said nozzle needle is no longer capable of being closed but can be opened further, this indicates that nozzle  310  is soiled with particles. This deduction is allowed in particular when this jammed-open operating state does not occur on a regular basis, but rather only on a very temporary basis. In this case, an imperfectly-manufactured surface  310  of the nozzle can be ruled out as the cause of the jammed-open operating state. 
   For the case in which a soiling of the cross section of nozzle  310  was detected in method step Sb), the method according to the present invention provides that nozzle  310  is scavenged with fuel according to method step Sc, whereby the stroke of nozzle needle  330  is adjusted to an essentially maximum value. A particularly large amount of fuel under high pressure then flows through the nozzle of the injection valve, which washes away the undesired dirt particles. The nozzle is then free of dirt particles once more and can be closed properly again, resulting in proper functioning of the internal combustion engine. 
   Due to the setting of the maximum stroke of the nozzle needle during the scavenging procedure in method step Sc) (scavenging stroke), a particularly large amount of fuel is injected into the combustion chamber of internal combustion engine  100 . This amount of fuel can definitely be greater than a nominal amount of fuel, which is required under rated operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. In some cases, this excess amount of fuel causes the internal combustion engine to produce higher torque. If this higher torque is not desired, the method according to the present invention and shown in  FIG. 1  recommends various measures for offsetting the occurrence of this increased torque. 
   To accomplish this, it must first be determined in method step Sd) whether increased torque is even present. If it is, there is a first possibility, according to method step Sd 1 ), for holding the torque of the internal combustion engine constant. According to this method, while scavenging is being carried out according to method step Sc), the duration of actuation t i —during which time the maximum nozzle needle stroke is set—is reduced to the point at which the amount of fuel injected by the injection valve into the combustion chamber of internal combustion engine  100  does not exceed a specified mean amount of fuel. An alternative is a second possibility for holding the torque of the internal combustion engine constant. According to method step Sd 2 ), while scavenging is being carried out according to method step c), a misfire is artificially induced during ignition in the cylinder in which the jammed-open operating state of nozzle needle  330  was detected. This misfire can be artificially induced by delaying the moment of ignition until the air-fuel mixture is no longer flammable and/or until the high-pressure efficiency of combustion is minimal. 
   Two further measures for holding the torque constant depend on the operating mode of the internal combustion engine. 
   If it is determined in a method step Sd′) that internal combustion engine  100  is functioning in a “homogeneous operating condition”, i.e., that slight increases in torque in accordance with the lambda efficiency curve are being produced, it is possible to hold the torque of the internal combustion engine constant by delaying the moments of ignition during scavenging until the ignition timing efficiency is adjusted according to the following formula (method step Sd 3 ):
 
 eta   —   zw =( Md   —   soll/Mi   —   opt ).(1 /eta   —   lam ),
 
with  eta   —   lam−f (lambda), lambda= rl/rk   —   soll ; and
 
 rk   —   soll=f (scavenging stroke)
 
wherein
         eta_zw is the ignition time efficiency;   Md_soll is the target value for the engine torque and/or for the internal combustion engine ( 100 );   Mi_opt is the optimum engine torque and/or the optimal torque of the internal combustion engine ( 100 );   eta_lam is the λ efficiency;   rl is the air mass; and   rk_soll is the target value for the fuel mass.       

   If it is determined in method step Sd′, however, that internal combustion engine  100  is operating in a “stratified-charge mode”, this generally means there is an excess amount of air. As a result, slight-to-considerable increases in torque are produced, depending on the current operating point on the lambda efficiency curve, provided the mixture is flammable. In the case of stratified-charge operation, the torque can be kept constant by not carrying out at least some of the injection pulses—that normally take place during a multiple-injection cycle—before or after injection, according to method step Sc). 
   If the internal combustion engine is operated in the stratified-charge mode and a jammed-open injection valve is detected, a changeover should be made to the homogeneous operating condition, since, in this mode, torque can be limited by limiting the air mass supplied. 
   All approaches based on method steps Sd 1 ), Sd 2 ), Sd 3 ) and Sd 4 ) induce a limitation of the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion chambers of internal combustion engine  100 , although the injection valve is opened to a maximum extent when it is operated with a scavenging stroke. 
   Independently of which of the versions is used to hold the torque constant, it is recommended, after scavenging is carried out, to implement a pause of a predetermined period of time before carrying out scavenging once more; refer to step Se). In this manner, incorrect actuation of the method according to the present invention and, in particular, of the scavenging according to step Sc) is prevented.