Control Of Glow Plug During Starting Patents (Class 123/179.6)
  • Patent number: 6712032
    Abstract: Method for heating an electrical heating element, for example, a glow plug for an internal combustion engine, from an initial temperature to the operating temperature. In order to prevent the heating element from overheating in cases where the initial temperature is higher than a set temperature that is normally taken as a basis, the actual initial temperature of the heating element is first determined, and an amount of electrical power depending on the level of the determined initial temperature is supplied to the heating element. In this way, the supplied amount of electrical power is reduced at higher initial temperatures, thus preventing the heating element from becoming overheated to a temperature at which damage can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Günther Uhl, Olaf Toedter, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6691660
    Abstract: A glow plug energizing device for energizing glow plugs in glow ignition engines which includes a glow plug connector configured to be releasably coupled to a glow plug, at least one battery for supplying electrical energy to the glow plug connector, a housing containing the at least one battery, an electrical lead coupled between the housing and the glow plug connector, and a first manual switch coupled to the electrical lead for selectively applying electrical energy from the battery to the glow plug connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Frank W. Silva, II, Larry E. Keeling, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030188706
    Abstract: A glow plug energizing device for energizing glow plugs in glow ignition engines which includes a glow plug connector configured to be releasably coupled to a glow plug, at least one battery for supplying electrical energy to the glow plug connector, a housing containing the at least one battery, an electrical lead coupled between the housing and the glow plug connector, and a first manual switch coupled to the electrical lead for selectively applying electrical energy from the battery to the glow plug connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Frank W. Silva, Larry E. Keeling
  • Publication number: 20030037747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for automatic starting of a diesel engine, actuation of the ignition key (1) initiating preheating (2) and turnover of the engine by the starter (3) and fuel injection (4) being triggered at the earliest when the minimum temperature of the glow plugs (2′) required for starting of the engine has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Christoph Streng
  • Publication number: 20030029405
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the heating of the glow plugs in a diesel engine, wherein the engine temperature is determined, independently of initialization of the engine control system and following a signal for starting the engine, by a sensor communicating with the glow control system. A glow command is generated if the engine temperature is below a predetermined value. Commencement of the heating procedure is automatically determined by the glow control system independently of initialization of the engine control system, and heating of the glow plugs can start prior to completion of initialization of the engine control system. The time required for the completion of initialization of the engine control system can be saved during heating of the glow plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Gunther Uhl, Heinz-Georg Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6186107
    Abstract: The heating glow plug controller for diesel engines is capable of controlling the activation of the glow plugs and consists of a set of electronic relays which in addition can also detect failures due to open circuit or short-circuit, and then acting in under 1 millisecond since electronic relays are semiconductors and no electromechanical elements are involved. There is one electronic relay per glow plug and each one may consist of a separate semiconductor wafer or alternatively, several relays may be integrated in a single semiconductor wafer. The set of relays is in turn connected to controlling or calculating module, and may even be included in the same block as the calculator module or in a different one connected by connectors and leads to the calculator block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nagares, S.A.
    Inventor: D. Herminio Navalon Carretero