Having A Single Combustible Mixture Inlet Combined With Means For Injecting Additional Fuel Into The Combustion Chamber Patents (Class 123/431)
  • Patent number: 11965473
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a port injection valve, a direct injection valve, and a forced-induction device. A ratio of an amount of fuel injected from the port injection valve with respect to a total amount of fuel supplied for one fuel combustion in the cylinder is defined as a port injection ratio. The internal combustion engine is controlled such that, in a case in which a condition is satisfied that the forced-induction device is in an operation of performing forced induction and the internal combustion engine is in an engine operation region in which a valve overlap period is greater than zero, the port injection ratio is set to be small and a start timing of fuel injection from the port injection valve is delayed as compared with a case in which the condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanao Idogawa, Rihito Kaneko, Motohiro Sugimoto, Takahiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 11536207
    Abstract: An apparatus of controlling a vehicle and a method thereof are provided. The operating region of an engine is operated with theoretical air-fuel ratio. The apparatus includes a supercharger that supplies compressed air to a the combustion chamber of the engine and a spark plug that ignites mixed air supplied to the combustion chamber. An intake valve selectively opens and closes the combustion chamber for inflowing the mixed air therein. A variable valve apparatus adjusts an opening timing and closing timing of the intake valve and a controller adjusts an ignition timing of the spark plug and the closing timing of the intake valve through the variable valve apparatus based on the operating region of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Yeongseop Park, Dong Hee Han, Jong Il Park, Hyunjin Kang, Heechang Oh, Jaun Ku, Seungwoo Hong, Jonghyeok Lee, Kwanhee Lee, Dongwon Jung, Jaeheun Kim
  • Patent number: 11480127
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a port fuel and direct injection fuel system of a rolling variable displacement engine (rVDE). In one example, a method may include selecting between controlling a lift pump of the fuel system to output fuel at a mechanically limited pressure and controlling the lift pump to output fuel at a pressure lower than the mechanically limited pressure based on whether port fuel injection is used. In this way, the lift pump may be controlled without feedback from a pressure sensor, reducing system costs, while electrical power consumption increases due to operating the lift pump to output fuel at the mechanically limited pressure are minimized due to the rVDE technology, which reduces port fuel injection usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Banker, Ross Pursifull
  • Patent number: 11454189
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing hot fuel vapor formation in a port injection fuel rail. In one example, a method may include operating a dual fuel injection system with at least a calibrated minimum amount of port fuel injection over a wide range of engine operating conditions, even as conditions change. A direct fuel injection amount is adjusted in accordance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen George Russ, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Scott Allan Lehto, Christopher Arnold Woodring, Jeanne Wei, David Shelley
  • Patent number: 11255276
    Abstract: Spark ignition engine operation at higher RPM so as to reduce alcohol requirements in high efficiency alcohol enhanced gasoline engines is disclosed. Control of engine upspeeding (use of a higher ratio of engine RPM to wheel RPM) so as to achieve an alcohol reduction objective while limiting any decrease in efficiency is described. High RPM alcohol enhanced gasoline engine operation in plug-in series hybrid powertrains for heavy duty trucks and other vehicles is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 11149668
    Abstract: A conventional gasoline engine is retrofitted to operate as a bi-fuel engine using Hydrogen gas as a primary fuel and gasoline as a secondary fuel at various acceptable air fuel ratios while avoiding forbidden air fuel ratios. The engine is preferably operated to burn Hydrogen fuel in a charged mode and lean mode at certain acceptable air fuel ratios where relatively little NOx emissions occur. When additional power or acceleration is requested, processor controlled fuel injectors are operated to inject relatively small amounts of gasoline into the engine resulting in a fuel mixture that prevents increases in NOx emissions as the processor operates at a stoichiometric air fuel ratio where a catalytic converter is best able to reduce harmful emissions. The injection of the liquid gasoline fuel to the gaseous Hydrogen fuel reduces the temperature of the fuels significantly and reduces or eliminates backfiring tendency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ALSET IP S.à r.l.
    Inventors: Jose Ignacio Galindo, Klaus M. Schaffer, Daniel Leitner, Christof Hepp
  • Patent number: 10989146
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that introduces oil droplets into the combustion chamber of a lean burn natural gas engine via dedicated channels located in the cylinder head and a valve seat insert for providing multiple distributed sources of ignition in addition to the spark plug based ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jaswinder Singh, Martin Leo Willi, Darryl Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10808650
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing fluid injection through a cylinder valve seat. The engine system may include a cylinder valve with a valve head mating with a valve seat when the valve is closed. The valve seat includes an injection orifice blocked by the valve head when the cylinder valve is closed and unblocked when the cylinder valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Basmaji, Mark Madin, William Charles Ruona, John Cornell
  • Patent number: 10760518
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating engine port injectors. After pressurizing a low pressure fuel rail, a lift pump may be disabled and port injector variability may be correlated with a measured fuel rail pressure drop at each port injection event by sweeping injection pressure while maintaining injection voltage, and then sweeping injection voltage while maintaining injection pressure. A port injector variability map learned as a function of injection voltage and injection pressure is then transformed into a map learned as a function of injection current and injection pressure by accounting for injector variability caused due to changes in injector temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10738718
    Abstract: A conventional gasoline engine is retrofitted and calibrated to operate as a bi-fuel engine using Hydrogen as the second fuel. When operated with Hydrogen, which typically leads to a reduction of engine output power, the engine is preferably operated in a charged mode and in a lean mode with the engine throttle kept in a wide open position during charged and lean mode operation resulting in a more efficient engine with a reduction of engine output power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ALSET IP S A R.L.
    Inventors: Jose Ignacio Galindo, Klaus M. Schaffer, Daniel Leitner, Christof Hepp
  • Patent number: 10718289
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a high pressure injection pump to provide each of high fixed fuel pressure at a port injection fuel rail and high variable fuel pressure at a direct injection fuel rail. Port injection fuel rail pressure can be raised above a pressure provided with a lift pump via a fuel system configuration that includes various check valves, pressure relief valves, and a spill valve positioned between an inlet of the high pressure injection pump and the port injection fuel rail. High pressure port injection may be advantageously used to provide fuel at high pressure during conditions when fuel delivery via high pressure direct injection is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph F. Basmaji, Mark Meinhart, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 10711725
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a port fuel and direct injection fuel system of a rolling variable displacement engine (rVDE). In one example, a method may include selecting between controlling a lift pump of the fuel system to output fuel at a mechanically limited pressure and controlling the lift pump to output fuel at a pressure lower than the mechanically limited pressure based on whether port fuel injection is used. In this way, the lift pump may be controlled without feedback from a pressure sensor, reducing system costs, while electrical power consumption increases due to operating the lift pump to output fuel at the mechanically limited pressure are minimized due to the rVDE technology, which reduces port fuel injection usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Banker, Ross Pursifull
  • Patent number: 10578047
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an internal combustion engine includes an injection amount calculation portion that calculates a base injection amount, an injection amount correction portion that corrects the base injection amount to calculate first and second corrected injection amounts, and an injection count determination portion that determines first and second fuel injection counts, which are respectively a number of times fuel is injected from first and second fuel injection valves. When the first and second corrected injection amounts are respectively calculated using the same base injection amount, the injection count determination portion sets the first fuel injection count corresponding to the first corrected injection amount to be equal to the second fuel injection count corresponding to the second corrected injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sohichi Imai, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 10550791
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting operation of fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine to reduce injector ticking noise during direct injection fuel rail pressure release. The method includes first reducing a significant part of the direct injection fuel rail pressure via a mechanical high pressure pump relief valve and only if further pressure relief is required then intermittently activating the direct injector to inject in small amount of fuel. Due to the reduced frequency of activation and small pulse-widths, the impact force transmitted from injectors to cylinder head is small thereby reducing the objectionable ticking noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Mark L. Stickler, Kwan Jamal Barber
  • Patent number: 10519890
    Abstract: A method for operating a fluid delivery system of a vehicle powerplant is provided. The method includes sampling a fluid pressure in a port injection section of the fluid delivery system, determining if an isolation valve positioned upstream of a direct injection pump is degraded based on the fluid pressure, where the isolation valve separates the port injection section from a direct injection section, and when it is determined that the isolation valve is degraded, indicating said degradation of the isolation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Uhrich, Ross Pursifull
  • Patent number: 10316773
    Abstract: Methods and systems for simultaneously operating port fuel injectors and direct fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, operation of all of an engine's port fuel injectors may be adjusted in response to degradation of a sole port fuel injector so that an engine may operate as desired with a plurality of direct fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Paul Hollar, Xiaoying Zhang, Stephen George Russ, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10309336
    Abstract: The present invention determines whether multi-stage injection control is operating normally or abnormally, and carries out a failsafe of multi-stage injection control as necessary. The present invention, which solves the problem described above, has means such as the following.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Mukaihara, Masahiro Toyohara
  • Patent number: 10240540
    Abstract: An engine system includes: an intake line through which fresh air flows; an exhaust line through which exhaust gas flows; an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system which recirculates some of exhaust gas to a combustion chamber; a turbocharger having: a turbine that rotates by the exhaust gas; and a compressor rotating by the rotation of the turbine; an intercooler disposed in the intake line at a rear end of the compressor; an intake bypass line penetrating the intercooler from the intake line, adjusting the amount of intake gas to be supplied into the combustion chamber, and merging into the intake line at a front end of the compressor; a recirculation valve disposed in the intake bypass line; and a controller controlling opening and closing of the recirculation valve so that some of the intake gas is supplied into the intake line through the intake bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Choo Saeng Choi
  • Patent number: 10167819
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating water usage with spark usage based on the effect on an engine torque ratio. Water is injected based on torque ratio at a current spark timing relative to torque ratio at borderline knock to improve the impact of the water injection on the engine performance. Manifold water injection and direct water injected are coordinated based on intake manifold humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Patent number: 10151266
    Abstract: A control system of an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) obtain a detection value of a fuel pressure sensor at fixed sampling time intervals; (ii) calculate a center fuel pressure value of a pulsation of the fuel pressure, based on at least a first latest fuel pressure value and a second latest fuel pressure value as detection values of the fuel pressure sensor, (iii) calculate an amplitude of the pulsation of the fuel pressure, based on at least the second latest fuel pressure value and the first latest fuel pressure value; (iv) calculate an initial phase of the pulsation of the fuel pressure, based on at least one of the second latest fuel pressure value and the first latest fuel pressure value, and (v) predict a fuel pressure value corresponding to the crank angle, based on a predetermined formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rintarou Tachibana, Tooru Suda, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 10132263
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device learns a port injection learning value and a direct injection learning value separately for each of learning regions that are divided according to the engine operating state. It is assumed that a port injection learning condition and a direct injection learning condition are both satisfied in a learning region in which neither the learning of the port injection learning value nor the learning of the direct injection learning value has been completed. In such a situation, the fuel injection control device executes the port injection learning process if the ratio of the port injection amount is less than the ratio of the direct injection amount, and executes the direct injection learning process if the ratio of the direct injection amount is less than the ratio of the port injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryusuke Kuroda, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 10066571
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for leveraging the charge cooling effect of a manifold fuel injection. A charge cooling effect of a scheduled manifold fuel injection may be predicted based on feedback received from a manifold charge temperature sensor during a preceding manifold injection event. If sufficient charge cooling is not predicted, the manifold fuel injection is temporarily disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kutaiba Alrefaai, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Calvin Trescott, Mohannad Hakeem, Stephen B. Smith, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10018139
    Abstract: A fuel injection device is used in an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber partitioned by a cylinder head, a cylinder, and a piston crown surface so that at least one of the amount of NOx, Pmax, and a thermal efficiency ? is maintained at a predetermined value. The fuel injection device includes a fuel injection change unit. The fuel injection change unit virtually divides the combustion chamber into N number of combustion zones where N is a natural number of 2 or more, and can change a fuel injection method according to the respective combustion zones. The fuel injection change unit divides the combustion chamber into the N number of combustion zones, thereby being capable of eliminating a difference of heat in the respective combustion zones, and precisely controlling an in-cylinder pressure P in the combustion chamber. As a result, the amount of NOx and the thermal efficiency can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamasa Itou, Wakichi Kondoh, Shinichiro Kawakita
  • Patent number: 9970379
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting operation of fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine to reduce injector ticking noise during direct injection fuel rail pressure release. The method includes first reducing a significant part of the direct injection fuel rail pressure via a mechanical high pressure pump relief valve and only if further pressure relief is required then intermittently activating the direct injector to inject in small amount of fuel. Due to the reduced frequency of activation and small pulse-widths, the impact force transmitted from injectors to cylinder head is small thereby reducing the objectionable ticking noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Mark L. Stickler, Kwan Jamal Barber
  • Patent number: 9964052
    Abstract: A device, system, and method are provided for blending multiple fuels in multiple states and optimizing the blended fuel for parameters including cost, energy content, pressure, etc. In a primary fuel/supplemental fuel system, the present invention allows a user to consume as much primary fuel as possible even if the primary fuel is hampered by inconsistent pressure or quality issue, thus ensuring a downstream engine runs continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BM Group LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Millican, Justin Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 9915212
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with an engine. The control system may have a plurality of fuel valves, at least one sensor, a starter motor, and a controller in communication with the plurality of fuel valves, the at least one sensor, and the starter motor. The controller may be configured to set at least a first of the plurality of fuel valves to a first admission setting, to set at least a second of the plurality of fuel valves to a second admission setting different from the first admission setting, and to cause the starter motor to crank the engine. The controller may also be configured to determine, based on the signal, which one of the first and second admission settings results in combustion initiation during cranking, and to responsively set all of the plurality of fuel valves to the one of the first and second admission settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas Allen Burger, Robert Jay Maxson
  • Patent number: 9890734
    Abstract: An engine includes first nozzles, second nozzles and a control unit. The first nozzles are arranged in cylinders, and inject fuel directly into the cylinders respectively. The second nozzles are arranged in intake ports of the cylinders, and inject fuel into the intake ports respectively. The control unit controls fuel injection of the first nozzles and the second nozzles. When the engine is started, the control unit performs initial fuel injection by one of the first and second nozzles into the cylinders having odd-number of initial ignition order, and performs initial fuel injection by the other one of the first and second nozzles into the cylinders having even-number of initial ignition order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kawabe, Fumiaki Hiraishi, Nobuaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 9810172
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to stabilize the fuel injection amount for each cylinder and to execute fuel injection control accurately in a single-pressure-feed dual-injection type alcohol fuel injection system. An engine includes two injection valves and and a single-pressure-feed dual-injection type fuel supply system. The fuel supply system is configured such that fuel is injected sequentially in two cylinders during the pressure-feed-interval period from the execution of one fuel pressure-feed operation to the execution of the next fuel pressure-feed operation. If the alcohol concentration in the fuel is higher than a predetermined determination value ? at a startup operation time, an ECU executes only a cylinder injection for the first of the two cylinders described above, and executes both an intake passage injection and a cylinder injection for the second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Mitani, Eiji Murase, Takahiro Tsukagoshi, Kazuhisa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9771909
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a low pressure pump in port fuel direct injection (PFDI) engines. One method includes, when operating a high pressure pump in a default pressure mode, pulsing the low pressure pump when pressure in a high pressure fuel rail decreases below a threshold. The method further includes, when operating the high pressure pump in a variable pressure mode, pulsing the low pressure pump based on presence of fuel vapor at an inlet of the high pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9683510
    Abstract: A fuel control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a parameter determination module, a parameter learning module, and an injector driver module. The parameter determination module determines a parameter of a fuel injector in an engine at an operating condition of the engine. The parameter learning module identifies index values in a table based on the engine operating condition and adjusts learned values of the fuel injector parameter corresponding to the index values based on the determined value of the fuel injector parameter. The injector driver module selectively applies power to the fuel injector based on the learned values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Michael J. Lucido
  • Patent number: 9683501
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes: a first fuel injection valve that injects fuel into each cylinder; a second fuel injection valve that injects fuel into an intake passage; and an exhaust recirculation device that causes some of exhaust flowing in an exhaust passage to recirculate into the intake passage. A control device is used in the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The control device limits recirculation of exhaust into the intake passage by the exhaust recirculation device when imbalance determination is conducted during engine operation by fuel injection from the first fuel injection valve only, compared to when imbalance determination is conducted during engine operation involving fuel injection from the second fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Tomoya Suzuki, Chisa Watanabe, Tatsuya Fujii, Akihiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9650985
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus of an engine, which can inhibit a learning time from lengthening, is provided. With the fuel injection control apparatus, learning control over one of a first fuel injection valve and a second fuel injection valve is exercised in an operating region of the engine where fuel is injected from each of the first fuel injection valve and the second fuel injection valve, and the change rate of a learning value by the learning control is altered in accordance with an injection ratio between the first fuel injection valve and the second fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Toda, Toshiyuki Miyata
  • Patent number: 9631572
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enriching an engine cylinder in response to an indication of pre-ignition. The cylinder is enriched by initially increasing a proportion of fuel delivered to the cylinder via a port injector on an open intake valve event. The cylinder is then continued to be enriched by increasing a proportion of fuel delivered to the cylinder via a direct injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 9599060
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine with dual fuel injection capabilities to enable fuel rail over-pressure control is shown. The method comprises operating an engine cylinder with only port injection, while selectively activating and deactivating a direct injector in response to an estimated minimum fuel injection mass from the direct injector. Direct fuel injection is actuated until the minimum fuel mass injected by the direct injector has reached a lower threshold that is above an NVH limit of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Daniel Dusa
  • Patent number: 9518517
    Abstract: An engine control device (1) for an engine provided with a supercharger (30), including a cylinder injection valve (11), a port injection valve (12), and a variable valve actuating mechanism (40). The device includes an injection controller (3) that controls injections of fuel through the cylinder injection valve (11) and through the port injection valve (12), on the basis of a load P on the engine (10), and a variable valve controller (5) that controls the variable valve actuating mechanism (40) on the basis of the load P. The variable valve controller (5) provides a valve overlap period in an operating state where the load P is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value P1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kawabe, Koji Hata, Fumiaki Hiraishi
  • Patent number: 9518508
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle having a drive-train with a hybrid drive unit including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. A clutch is connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. An automatic or automated transmission is connected between the hybrid drive unit and a drive output. When the hybrid vehicle has been driving and comes to a standstill with its internal combustion engine stopped, the control device automatically determines, on the one hand, a starting mode for the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine when the hybrid vehicle is at rest, and the control device, on the other hand, automatically changes at least the transmission and the clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine of the hybrid drive unit to a condition appropriate for the starting mode determined by emitting appropriate control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Thea Schlueter
  • Patent number: 9453474
    Abstract: A method, comprising: during engine cylinder operation with fuel from a first injector and not a second injector: increasing a rail pressure of a fuel rail coupled to the second injector in response to a temperature increase of a tip of the second injector. In this way, by raising the rail pressure of a fuel rail coupled to the second injector in response to a temperature increase of a tip of the second injector, the method may be utilized to prevent a vapor space from forming within the tip of the second injector which is exposed to the heat of combustion within the engine cylinder. By preventing a vapor space from forming, the method may be used to prevent fuel distillation in the tip of the second injector during periods where the engine cylinder is operating with fuel from a first injector and not the second injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Kramer, Michael Damian Czekala, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9416747
    Abstract: In a dual-fuel injection operation, when a fuel injection time by a direct injector as determined on the basis of a direct fuel pressure is less than a minimum value, a dual-injection is performed with a duel injection rate such that the amount of fuel injected by the direct injector is greater than when the dual-injection is performed with a duel injection rate which is determined in accordance with an engine operation state. Thus, the amount of fuel injected by the direct injector is increased, so that the high-temperature fuel that has remained in a high-pressure fuel pipe connected to the injector is rapidly injected and consumed. As a result, the direct fuel pressure can be rapidly lowered, whereby the fuel injection time by the direct injector for implementing an amount of fuel injection in accordance with a direct injection command value can be rapidly increased to the minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Patent number: 9322339
    Abstract: A premixed charge of air and a low reactivity fuel is created in a combustion chamber space by the time at which a piston comes substantially to top dead center at which time a high reactivity fuel is directly injected into a central zone of the combustion chamber space which is bounded partially by a central bowl cavity in the piston head which is itself surrounded by an upright intermediate wall. The high reactivity fuel combusts by conventional diesel combustion and creates a flame front which propagates into an outer zone of the combustion chamber space which is bounded partially by the upright intermediate wall and an outer bowl cavity in the piston head to initiate combustion of the premixed air-fuel charge in the outer zone of the combustion chamber space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.
    Inventors: William de Ojeda, Ming Zheng
  • Patent number: 9322340
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock control by accounting for a drop in charge cooling efficiency of a knock control fluid at higher temperatures. In response to the prediction of an elevated temperature of a knock control fluid at a time of release from a direct injector, a pulse width of the injection is adjusted. Any knock relief deficits are compensated for using alternate engine adjustments, such as boost or spark timing adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan VanDerWege, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Patent number: 9309825
    Abstract: A method for adapting the adaptation values for the adaptation of fuel injection quantities of an internal combustion engine, to which fuel is supplyable via a mixed operation of two injection types, a first adaptation value for adapting a first injection quantity specification according to which the internal combustion engine is operated by a first injection type, and a second adaptation value for adapting a second injection quantity specification according to which the internal combustion engine is operated by a second injection type, the adaptation values being each adapted in defined, not overlapping adaptation ranges as a function of the operating state, at least one of the adaptation ranges including operating states in which fuel is supplied to the internal combustion engine via both injection types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Roth, Alexander Schenck Zu Schweinsberg, Kai Jakobs
  • Patent number: 9272702
    Abstract: When an engine is to be started, operation of the engine is started with injection of fuel from a port fuel injection valve, without injecting fuel from an in-cylinder fuel injection valve (S100). If a gear rattling noise is produced (S110), the engine is operated with fuel injection, from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve, without injecting fuel from the port fuel injection valve (S120). This restrains occurrence of a gear rattling noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ikuo Ando
  • Patent number: 9273654
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine fuel system including fuels of different fuel types. A first fuel type is delivered for port injection upon circulation through a high pressure pump when direct injection of a fuel is not requested to cool and/or lubricate the high pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Basmaji, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9188076
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system is provided. The fuel injection control system comprises a first injector and a second injector positioned upstream of the first injector; a memory section which contains a map for defining a correspondence between a running state of an engine and first and second fuel injection ratios; a fuel injection ratio setting section for setting the first fuel injection ratio as a first set value and the second fuel injection ratio as a second set value; and a fuel injection ratio compensation section for making compensation such that the first set value is greater than a value of the first fuel injection ratio derived from the map, when a condition in which the second fuel injection ratio read out from the map is greater in magnitude than a predetermined determination criterion is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Kai, Osamu Tani, Masakazu Noro, Tetsuya Masuda
  • Patent number: 9163560
    Abstract: A method is provided for switching over a gas turbine burner operation from liquid fuel to gas fuel and vice-versa, with the burner comprising nozzles for feeding a premixed gas fuel, nozzles for injecting a pilot gas fuel and nozzles for injecting a liquid fuel. According to the method, while the liquid fuel and the premix gas fuel are regulated to switch over from liquid fuel to gas fuel operation or vice-versa, the pilot gas fuel is controlled at a substantially constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Thiemo Meeuwissen, Stanka Kokanovic, Susanne Renate Schell, Rudolf Lachner
  • Patent number: 9027534
    Abstract: A compression ignition dual fuel engine supplies natural gas fuel and liquid diesel fuel to each engine cylinder from a common fuel injector. Each fuel injector is fluidly connected to both a liquid fuel common rail and a gaseous fuel common rail. The engine includes a surplus gas system for capturing surplus gas, such as evaporated gas from the gaseous fuel supply and pressure control system, or left over pressurized natural gas produced by engine shut down. Rather than being vented to atmosphere, the surplus gas can be burned in the engine when operating conditions present burn opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Alan Stockner, Mark F. Sommars
  • Patent number: 9020738
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to suppress, in an internal combustion engine in which two injectors are disposed in a line upstream and downstream in an intake pipe, adhesion of deposits to the downstream-side injector. In order to suppress such adhesion, a fuel injection control device according to one embodiment of the present invention operates both injectors together when a required fuel injection amount is equal to or greater than a reference value. The reference value is set to a value equal to or greater than the sum of lower limit injection amounts of the injectors. In such case, the fuel injection control device adjusts the proportion of fuel injected from the injector disposed downstream in the intake pipe to be greater than the proportion of fuel injected from the injector disposed upstream in the intake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8997714
    Abstract: A method, comprising: operating an engine cylinder with fuel from a first injector and not a second injector and activating the second injector in response to a rail pressure increase of a fuel rail, the fuel rail coupled to the second injector. In this way, degradation of the second injector may be reduced by activating the second injector and allowing fuel flow through the second injector to reduce the pressure and temperature of the fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 8997711
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency or the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Patent number: 8977474
    Abstract: A diesel-gasoline dual fuel powered combustion engine system is provided with spark-assisted fouling free EGR system in which gasoline and air are homogeneously combined and supplied to cylinders and then a diesel fuel is injected and combusted together. The system may include: a plurality of cylinders each having a fuel injector; and an exhaust line through which flows an exhaust gas discharged as a fuel from each cylinder is combusted; wherein gasoline fuel combustion type is adapted to one or more cylinder of the plurality of the cylinders, and diesel-gasoline fuel pre-mixed combustion type is adapted to the other cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dae Choi, Hyunsung Jung, Minyoung Ki, Hyeungwoo Lee