With Accumulator Patents (Class 123/447)
  • Patent number: 11905908
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine fueling system to manage fuel in an accumulator supplying fuel to an engine including multiple cylinders comprising monitoring fuel load in the accumulator, determining that the engine is operating in a cylinder deactivation mode such as a skip-fire mode during which one or more fueling events to one or more of the cylinders is being skipped, and controlling a supply of fuel from a fuel pump to the accumulator during the cylinder deactivation mode operation. In embodiments, controlling the supply of fuel includes causing fuel to be supplied from the fuel pump to the accumulator if the monitored fuel load is less than or equal to a first fuel load, and causing fuel to be not supplied from the fuel pump to the accumulator if the monitored fuel load is greater than the first load value. Controlling the supply of fuel may comprise controlling the supply of fuel during each fueling event cycle of each deactivated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Ross A. Phillips, Donald J. Benson, J. Steven Kolhouse, Avra Brahma
  • Patent number: 11459973
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling operation of a fueling system including a fuel pump driven by an engine geartrain and a fuel accumulator supplied fuel by the fuel pump, comprising: determining whether an operating parameter of the engine is less than a threshold value; responding to the operating parameter being less than the threshold value by causing an inlet valve of the fuel pump to operate in a 100 percent fill mode, whereby a pumping chamber in the fuel pump is approximately fully filled for at least one pumping cycle; determining whether a fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator is greater than a desired value while the inlet valve is in the 100 percent fill mode; and responding to the fuel pressure being greater than the desired value by activating an outlet valve of the fuel accumulator to drain fuel in the fuel accumulator to a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Dhanesh M. Purekar
  • Patent number: 11448149
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for predicting the failure time of the pressure limiting valve of a high-pressure fuel pump of a motor vehicle. The method includes measuring a characteristic parameter of the pressure limiting valve each time the motor vehicle has been switched off, determining and storing a variable determined by using the measured characteristic parameter, determining the time profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter, predicting the future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter, and comparing the predicted future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter with a predetermined wear limiting value. The comparison is to predict the time at which the predicted future profile of the variable determined from the characteristic parameter reaches the predetermined wear limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Wirkowski, Tobias Ritsch, Claus Stephani
  • Patent number: 11428187
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling operation of a fueling system including a fuel pump driven by an engine geartrain and a fuel accumulator supplied fuel by the fuel pump, comprising: determining whether an operating parameter of the engine is less than a threshold value; responding to the operating parameter being less than the threshold value by causing an inlet valve of the fuel pump to operate in a 100 percent fill mode, whereby a pumping chamber in the fuel pump is approximately fully filled for at least one pumping cycle; determining whether a fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator is greater than a desired value while the inlet valve is in the 100 percent fill mode; and responding to the fuel pressure being greater than the desired value by activating an outlet valve of the fuel accumulator to drain fuel in the fuel accumulator to a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Dhanesh M. Purekar
  • Patent number: 11293365
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, including aligning an injection behavior of the number of injectors. Aligning the injection behavior includes switching off one injector of the number of injectors, detecting a signal of the internal combustion engine that is to be assigned to the switched off injector, determining an alignment characteristic from the signal and assigning the alignment characteristic to the switched off injector as an alignment characteristic assigned to the injector, and switching on the previously switched off injector. Aligning the injection behavior further includes performing the aforementioned steps sequentially for the other injectors of the number of injectors and correcting a control of an injector that is to be corrected using the measured value assigned to the injector that is to be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Frank, Jörg Remele, Aron Toth
  • Patent number: 11208966
    Abstract: A storage device is configured to store a first mapping that receives, as an input, a first input variable including a cam phase variable on present and past phases of a cam, and output a pulsating variable on a pulsating component. The execution device is configured to acquire the first input variable and estimate the pulsating variable by applying the acquired first input variable to the first mapping. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the pulsating variable without providing a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor by estimating a fuel pressure variable by applying the first input variable to the first mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Iwai
  • Patent number: 11199150
    Abstract: A fuel pressure estimation system estimates a fuel pressure variable on a fuel pressure in a supply pipe for an engine apparatus including an engine having a fuel injection valve, and a fuel supply device having a fuel pump that supplies the fuel in a fuel tank to the supply pipe, and includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device stores a first mapping that receives, as an input, first input variables including a pump variable, a consumption flow rate variable on a consumption flow rate of the fuel, and a property variable on a property of the fuel, and outputs the fuel pressure variable. The execution device acquires the first input variables and estimates the fuel pressure variable by applying the first input variables to the first mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Iwai
  • Patent number: 11170773
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for resuming a partially completed action that is to be performed by an automated assistant. The action can require the automated assistant to prompt the user to provide information that the automated assistant can use to complete the action. During a dialog session in which the user is providing the information, an event can occur that interferes with the completion of the action. In response, the automated assistant can cause any information obtained during the dialog session to be stored locally, in order that the automated assistant can resume completing the action at a later time. For instance, the user can be prompted by the automated assistant to complete the action, or the user can independently invoke the automated assistant to complete the action at a time that is convenient for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Vikram Aggarwal, Moises Morgenstern Gali
  • Patent number: 11132638
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for capturing product indications from an Internet of Things connected device to estimate supply and replenish. An indication can be received from the IoT connected device located at a location, wherein the indication corresponds to a product stocked at the location. A plurality of indications corresponding to the product can be captured over a period of time. A supply level of the product at one or more warehouses can be established based on the indications, wherein the one or more warehouses supply the location with the product. Computer code can be executed to generate an instruction to ship the product from a supplier to the one or more warehouses based on the estimated supply level. The product can be shipped from the supplier to the one or more warehouses based on the executed computer code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dheeraj Akula
  • Patent number: 11035309
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a control device, and at least one injector for liquid fuel. The injector(s) can be controlled by the control device via an actuator control signal. The injector(s) include an injector outlet opening for the liquid fuel which can be closed by a needle. A sensor is also provided for measuring a measurement variable of the injector(s). The sensor is or can be in a signal connection with the control device. An algorithm is stored in the control device, which algorithm calculates a state of the injector(s) based on input variables and an injector model, compares the state calculated via the injector model with a target state, and produces a state signal in accordance therewith. The state signal is characteristic of a change in the state of the injector(s) that occurs during intended use of the injector(s) and/or an unforeseen change in the state of the injector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Raphael Burgmair, Medy Satria, Dino Imhof
  • Patent number: 11035331
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes tubular roller valve and a fuel injector assembly. The fuel injector assembly includes a fixed tubular outer insulator with holes and a fixed inner insulator with holes. A rotatable tubular valve is between the fixed outer insulator and the fixed inner insulator, the rotatable tubular valve having holes in a staggered configuration. A fuel injector is connected to each of the first fixed holes of the fixed tubular outer insulator. When the rotatable tubular valve rotates, fuel is given to only one of the fuel injectors at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Jonathan Tom Tavernier
  • Patent number: 11028796
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a control device, and at least one injector for liquid fuel. The injector(s) can be controlled by the control device via an actuator control signal. The injector(s) include an injector outlet opening for the liquid fuel which can be closed by a needle. A sensor is also provided for measuring a measurement variable of the injector(s). The sensor is or can be in a signal connection with the control device. An algorithm is stored in the control device, which algorithm calculates a state of the injector(s) based on input variables and an injector model, compares the state calculated via the injector model with a target state, and produces a state signal in accordance therewith. The state signal is characteristic of a change in the state of the injector(s) that occurs during intended use of the injector(s) and/or an unforeseen change in the state of the injector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Medy Satria, Dino Imhof, Raphael Burgmair
  • Patent number: 10968850
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector configured to inject fuel, a pressure increasing device that is provided upstream of the feel injector and is configured to increase the pressure of fuel supplied to the fuel injector, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to calculate an actual fuel injection amount based on a difference between a fuel pressure in the fuel injector in a case where the pressure increasing device increases the fuel pressure without fuel injection by the fuel injector and a fuel pressure in the fuel injector in a case where the fuel injector performs fuel injection according to the driving of the pressure increasing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Hirano, Mao Hosoda
  • Patent number: 10954893
    Abstract: An engine includes an intake, an air-fuel path coupled to the intake, an accumulator configured coupled to the air-fuel path and configured to store an air-fuel mixture, and at least one valve configured to selectively provide the air-fuel mixture from the engine to the accumulator at a first time and store the air-fuel mixture within the accumulator at a second time. A controller may be configured to provide commands to the at least one valve. The plurality of commands may include an open command to release air and fuel mixture from the accumulator and a close command to store air and fuel mixture in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler, Co.
    Inventors: Joshua Salley, Louis Lautman
  • Patent number: 10934885
    Abstract: A system may comprise a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of an engine component. A valve assembly may have an airflow outlet in fluid communication with the engine component. The valve assembly may include a first valve. A first valve control device may be coupled to the first valve and configured to control the first valve based on a measurement by the sensor. A second valve may be in fluidic series with the first valve. A second valve control device may be coupled to the second valve and configured to control the second valve based on the measurement by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D Greenberg, Robert Goodman, John M Dehais
  • Patent number: 10876490
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a fuel injection valve and a fuel pressure adjustment mechanism sets an air-fuel ratio of a fuel-air mixture to be generated within a combustion chamber to be equal to or leaner than a theoretical air-fuel ratio, based on an operating condition of an engine; drives the fuel injection valve, based on the set air-fuel ratio; estimates a deposition amount of deposits on an injection hole of the fuel injection valve, based on an operating condition of the engine; causes the fuel pressure adjustment mechanism to increase the fuel pressure, when the estimated deposition amount of deposits exceeds a predetermined value; and restricts the fuel pressure from increasing, even when the estimated deposition amount of deposits exceeds the predetermined value, as long as the fuel-air ratio is set to an air-fuel ratio leaner than the theoretical fuel-air ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takemoto, Michio Ito, Masanari Sueoka, Kazuhiro Nishimura, Kouji Hadama, Masataka Sumita, Masami Nishida
  • Patent number: 10871137
    Abstract: A fuel supply device for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injection valves that are disposed side by side in an engine main body or in an intake system component forming part of an intake system, and a fuel distribution pipe that is connected in common to the fuel injection valves and supported via a support part provided on the intake system component or on the engine main body, wherein the fuel distribution pipe is formed from a pipe material, and a restricting member that is a separate member from the fuel distribution pipe is mounted on the support part at a position adjacent to the fuel distribution pipe so as to abut against the fuel distribution pipe to suppress displacement of the fuel distribution pipe from the support part. Thus, it is possible to suppress displacement of fuel piping while ensuring the mass productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kontani, Takahiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10787987
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having an injection system which has a high-pressure accumulator, wherein a high pressure in the high-pressure accumulator is regulated via a suction throttle on the low-pressure side as a first pressure control member in a first high-pressure control loop, wherein in a normal operation a high-pressure disturbance variable is produced via a pressure control valve on the high-pressure side as a second pressure control member, via which fuel is redirected from the high-pressure accumulator to a fuel reservoir. For this purpose, the high pressure in a safety operation is regulated by the pressure control valve via a second high-pressure control loop, or, in the safety operation, a maximum fuel volume flow is continuously redirected from the high-pressure accumulator to the fuel reservoir via the pressure control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 10781780
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fuel injection system having a valve arrangement for connecting a pressure chamber of a high-pressure fuel pump to a high-pressure accumulator. The valve arrangement has an outlet valve and a pressure-limiting valve. An outlet valve seat and a pressure-limiting valve seat are formed on a common valve seat element which is formed in one piece, and are arranged eccentrically with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Yury Mikhaylov, Yavuz Kurt
  • Patent number: 10731592
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for adjusting an initial attenuation current for an injection valve comprising: moving a piston to a TDC; while moving the piston, closing an inlet valve; expelling the fluid; moving the piston away from TDC and applying an attenuation current to an electromagnet with the inlet valve still closed; switching a source for the attenuation current off; detecting an induction pulse resulting from an opening movement of the inlet valve by monitoring a current intensity signal of a subsequent decay in the current; adjusting a current intensity over a plurality of pump cycles to a current intensity level; checking for each current intensity level whether a time profile of the induction pulse satisfies a predetermined detention criterion; and when the detention criterion is satisfied, adjusting the current intensity level for future pump cycles to a lower current intensity level than the most recent level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Tet Kong Brian Chia, Dmitriy Kogan
  • Patent number: 10724517
    Abstract: A proportional metering pump includes a hydraulic machine, a metering mechanism provided with a nozzle, and a unit for attaching the nozzle to the pipe for access to the cavity inside the hydraulic machine, including a securing ring mounted in rotation about one of the ends of the nozzle, a locking ring mounted so as to be able to translate along the longitudinal axis around the pipe for access to the mixing chamber and is pressed, in the direction of the metering mechanism, against a shoulder created on the access pipe by a spring, the securing ring and the pipe being able to engage following a screw connection at the end of which they are secured in rotation so as to prevent unscrewing of the securing ring. Also disclosed is a method for assembling and disassembling a metering mechanism on a hydraulic machine of such a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: DOSATRON INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Najib Laatiaoui, Christophe Charriere
  • Patent number: 10648416
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a control device, and at least one injector for liquid fuel that includes a discharge opening for the liquid fuel. The at least one injector is connected to a collection volume by means of a line for liquid fuel. Liquid fuel can flow through the line for liquid fuel from the at least one injector to the collection volume. A control element that can be adjusted by the control device via a control signal is also provided. Via the control element, a back pressure in the line for liquid fuel can be adjusted in order to adjust an amount of liquid fuel discharged through the discharge opening of the at least one injector. Also provided is a method for operating an internal combustion engine and an injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: INNIO JENBACHER & GMBH CO OG
    Inventors: Raphael Burgmair, Medy Satria, Dino Imhof, Stephan Laiminger
  • Patent number: 10641199
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders and an injection system having an injection system that has a common rail and a number of injectors associated with the cylinders, wherein an individual accumulator is associated with each injector and stores fuel from the common rail for the injector. The method has the following steps: starting the internal combustion engine, operating the internal combustion engine, shutting off the internal combustion engine. The following steps are also provided: a state indicating an engine standstill is detected, in particular after the internal combustion engine has been shut off, a high-pressure limit value is defined and a target high pressure is specified, a leakage is produced in the common rail without injection, the fuel pressure in the common rail is reduced to the defined high-pressure limit value below the target high pressure by way of the leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 10590900
    Abstract: A pump device for an internal combustion engine, having a high-pressure fuel pump for supplying fuel to a first injection device, having at least one low-pressure inlet, via which the fuel is fed to the high-pressure fuel pump from a low-pressure fuel pump, having at least one low-pressure outlet for conducting the fuel conveyed by the low-pressure fuel pump and fed via the low-pressure inlet to the high-pressure fuel pump out of the high-pressure fuel pump, and having at least one low-pressure port, for conducting fuel conveyed by the low-pressure fuel pump to a second injection device. At least one mixing region mixes the fuel flowing through the low-pressure outlet with fuel fed to the mixing region from the low-pressure fuel pump upstream of the high-pressure fuel pump. The low-pressure port is fluidically connected to the mixing region, and the low-pressure inlet is supplied with fuel from the mixing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Yavuz Kurt, Michael Mauer
  • Patent number: 10584622
    Abstract: The invention relates to an expansion body having an equalization chamber, which is separated by an elastic diaphragm from a fluid which flows through part of the expansion body. A mechanical spring applies an additional spring force to the diaphragm, wherein the spring has mechanical prestress. In addition, the invention relates to an SCR system with such an expansion body, and a method for monitoring a pressure sensor in such a SCR system with an expansion body. The method comprises the following steps: first, an anticipated characteristic pressure at which the spring force of the spring of the expansion body is overcome is defined by setting the prestress of the spring in the expansion body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Farr, Claus Linsenmaier
  • Patent number: 10550808
    Abstract: A fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine includes: an injector having a hydraulic control chamber controlling the delivery of fuel through the injector, an actively controlled first valve system controlling the pressure relief from the control chamber, movable between: a first position in which the first valve system closes the injector by deterring the pressure from being relieved from the control chamber through the first relief circuit, and a second position in which the first valve system opens the injector by allowing the pressure to be relieved from the control chamber through the first relief circuit. A second relief circuit allows the pressure to be relieved from the control chamber through the second relief circuit. The second relief circuit includes a second valve system passively controlled by the fuel pressure and movable between two positions deterring or allowing the pressure to be relieved from the control chamber through the second relief circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Guillaume Millet
  • Patent number: 10527005
    Abstract: An improved body defining a restricted fluid flow passage in a fuel supply system for delivering a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine. The body is formed for installation between and fluidly connecting a gaseous fuel supply conduit and a gaseous fuel flow passage that defines a predetermined volume between the restricted fluid flow passage and a nozzle chamber of a fuel injector from which the gaseous fuel is injected into the internal combustion engine. The restricted fluid flow passage has the smallest effective flow area between the gaseous fuel supply conduit and the nozzle chamber. The restricted fluid flow passage is located a predetermined distance from an injection valve seal within the fuel injector. The predetermined distance is calculated as a function of the speed of sound in the gaseous fuel and an opened time of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Ashish Singh, Alain M. J. Touchette, David K. Mumford, Guowei Li, Michael C. Wickstone, Christopher J. B. Dicken
  • Patent number: 10465577
    Abstract: A fuel supply device (2), in particular for use in a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine (20), has a fuel supply pump (4) which is designed to remove fuel (28) from a fuel tank (6) and to release said fuel under increased pressure through an outlet; a first fluid connection (7) which is provided for connecting an exhaust line metering device (8) and; a second fluid connection (10) which is provided for connecting an engine injection device (12). The first fluid connection (7) is directly connected to the outlet of the fuel supply pump (4). A fluid choke (16) is arranged between the outlet of the fuel supply pump (4) and the second fluid connection (10). The invention enables an exhaust line metering device (8) and an engine injection device (12) to be operated reliably on a common fuel supply device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Roberto Scarfone
  • Patent number: 10465644
    Abstract: A high pressure pump for complex injection engines is provided. A body of the high pressure pump includes a first flow path that transports the low pressure fuel flowing in through the low pressure fuel inlet and a low pressure fuel storage chamber that is disposed in a lower portion of the body to store the low pressure fuel transported from the first flow path. A second flow path transports the low pressure fuel stored in the low pressure fuel storage chamber and a flow control valve is disposed over the low pressure fuel storage chamber to discharge the low pressure fuel, transported through the second flow path, to the pressure unit or the damper disposed in an upper portion of the body based on an opening or closing operation. A low pressure fuel outlet discharges the low pressure fuel, transported through the damper, to a low pressure fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Kefico Corporation
    Inventors: Eun Woo Nah, Kyung Chul Han, Chun Ky Hong
  • Patent number: 10450984
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel tank, a high pressure fuel passage, a pressure increasing device, a switching device, a low pressure fuel passage, a temperature sensor, a fuel injector, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that there is an abnormality in the switching device when a temperature measured by the temperature sensor when the pressure increase signal is output is not higher than a temperature measured by the temperature sensor when the pressure increase signal is not output. The electronic control unit is configured to stop fuel pressure increase by the pressure increasing device by stopping an output of the pressure increase signal regardless of the engine operation state when the electronic control unit determines that there is the abnormality in the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Hirano
  • Patent number: 10428758
    Abstract: A fuel injection controller for an internal combustion engine includes first and second calculation sections. The first calculation section acquires a fuel pressure at a predetermined point of time before an injection starting point of time and calculates an injection time using the acquired fuel pressure. The second calculation section acquires a fuel pressure when the injection starting point of time arrives and calculates the injection time by using the acquired fuel pressure. The controller is configured to, before starting the energization to the injector, set a point of time to stop energization to an injector based on a calculation result of the injection time by the first calculation section. The controller is also configured to, after starting the energization to the injector, reset the point of time to stop the energization to the injector based on a calculation result of the injection time by the second calculation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sohichi Imai, Masanao Idogawa
  • Patent number: 10378524
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump capable of reducing the number of components and decreasing the manufacturing cost by processing of a pump body is provided. The high-pressure fuel pump includes a metal damper, a pump body in which a damper housing that houses the metal damper is formed, a damper cover attached to the pump body, covering the damper housing, and holding the metal damper between the pump body and the damper cover, and a holding member fixed to the damper cover and holding the metal damper from a side opposite to the damper cover. The holding member is provided with an elastic portion that urges the pump body so that the metal damper is urged toward the damper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuji Saito, Satoshi Usui, Masamichi Yagai, Minoru Hashida, Masayuki Suganami, Kenichiro Tokuo, Atsushi Hohkita, Yuta Saso, Kazuaki Tokumaru
  • Patent number: 10371111
    Abstract: A device for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one injector. The injector includes an injector body, a high-pressure accumulator integrated into the injector body, an injection nozzle, a high-pressure bore, and a feed bore. The injection nozzle defines a nozzle chamber and has a nozzle needle configured to be guided in an axially movable manner and that is surrounded by the nozzle chamber. The high-pressure bore is connected to the high-pressure accumulator and the nozzle chamber. The feed bore is configured to feed high-pressure fuel to the high-pressure accumulator. Additionally, the feed bore has a lance connection positioned laterally on the injector body, is formed as a bore separate from the high-pressure bore, and connects the lance connection directly to the high-pressure accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Schnedt
  • Patent number: 10371084
    Abstract: A method for detecting variations between the quantities of fuel injected into cylinders by fuel injection devices and correcting the fuel injection quantity variation while minimizing the computational load on a drive device and the level of performance required of a pressure sensor includes a drive device for fuel injection control, wherein movable valves are driven so that predetermined quantities of fuel are injected by applying, for the duration of a set energization time, a current that will reach an energization current to solenoids of a plurality of fuel injection devices which open/close fuel flow paths. The drive device is characterized in that the set energization time or energization current is corrected on the basis of a pressure detection value from a pressure sensor that is attached to a fuel supply pipe disposed upstream of the plurality of fuel injection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Toshihiro Aono, Takashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10344703
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion engine is provided. A fuel injector is operated to perform a fuel injection, a sequence of pressure signals of the fuel rail pressure during the fuel injection is sampled and filtered and a total pressure difference between a first sample after a top dead center of the fuel pump and before the fuel injection has started and a chosen second sample after the injection and before a next pumping stroke is determined. A linear pressure slope at the second sample and a leakage pressure difference between the first sample and the second sample based on the linear pressure slope is calculated, leading to calculating an injection pressure difference as the difference between total pressure difference and the leakage pressure difference. With this, a value of a fuel quantity injected as a function of the injection pressure difference can be determined, while leakages are compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stefano Nieddu, Andrea Mollar
  • Patent number: 10344698
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating injectors of an injection system, which has a pressure accumulator (rail), of an internal combustion engine, in which needle movement of the injectors is controlled directly by way of an actuator. The method may comprise: determining an actual injection quantity of each injector of the injection system via a fuel quantity which is requested at a pump of the injection system for each injector for a predefined time period or via a pressure loss in the pressure accumulator, the pressure loss brought about by way of the injection operation; comparing the determined actual fuel quantity with a setpoint fuel quantity; and if a deviation is determined in an injector, carrying out an open/closed loop control method for reducing/eliminating the determined deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Barth, Roman Etlender
  • Patent number: 10294884
    Abstract: System for controlling an injection of fuel in an engine is disclosed. The engine includes a cylinder and a first fuel injector to inject a first fuel in the cylinder. The system includes a sensor disposed on or proximate to the first fuel injector and configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of at least one of a start of the injection and an end of the injection of the first fuel. The system further includes a controller configured to adjust at least one of a mass and the start of injection of the first fuel to be injected by the first fuel injector based on the electrical signal. A dual-fuel engine employing the system for controlling an injection of fuel in an engine is also disclosed. Moreover, method and non-transitory computer readable media for controlling an injection of the fuel are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC
    Inventors: Jassin Marcel Fritz, Dino Matthias Imhof
  • Patent number: 10260447
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 10253719
    Abstract: A method for starting a direct-injection internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes: rotating the high-pressure injection pump by a starter; measuring fuel pressure delivered by the pump, taken at two successive compression top dead centers of the pump operating in maximum output mode; establishing the pressure gradient of the fuel, on an angular reference system, based on the two successive pressure measurements; comparing the established gradient with a predefined bijective table that respectively matches a plurality of quantities of fuel to be injected and a plurality of pressure gradients; and adapting the quantity of fuel injected during the starting phase before the engine reaches steady operating speed, depending on the result of the comparison, in order to inject a quantity of fuel that corresponds, in the predefined bijective table, to the established pressure gradient, upon authorization of the first injection given by the engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Claude Courtiel, Philippe Serrecchia, Renaud Andre
  • Patent number: 10247127
    Abstract: A fuel injection equipment for an internal combustion engine is piloted by a central electronic unit, the equipment includes a piloted low pressure pump drawing the fuel from a low pressure tank and sending the fuel toward a piloted inlet valve controlling the inlet of a high pressure pump which pressurizes the fuel and sends it pressurized toward a manifold to which is connected at least one injector. The equipment also includes a high pressure accumulator, distinct from the manifold, and a piloted high pressure valve in fluid communication between the outlet of the high pressure pump and the manifold so that the high pressure accumulator stores and delivers pressurized fuel to the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Noureddine Guerrassi
  • Patent number: 10197001
    Abstract: A method for correcting an injector characteristic defining a relationship between an injector injection time and a valve closing time for a cylinder of an internal combustion engine by sensing an injector closing time includes steps of: sensing the injector closing time; determining a compensation amount for compensating for a commanded injection time using a number of sensing failures or a result of a learning of a relationship between a required commanded injection time and the injector closing time in a relevant cylinder, in addition to the number of sensing failures when there is a failure to sense the injector closing time; and controlling a commanded injection time according to an amount of required fuel injection in the relevant cylinder, based on the determined compensation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Ahn, Min-Kyu Han
  • Patent number: 10132266
    Abstract: A controller is provided that performs first injection that executes fuel injection with lower injection rate and subsequently performs second injection with higher injection rate. The controller configured to determine a target value for fuel pressure drop amount or difference between pressure of fuel within a fuel injection valve at starting point of the first injection and pressure of fuel within the fuel injection valve while the first injection is performed, and stop supply of command signal to the fuel injection valve once fuel pressure drop amount in the first injection becomes greater than target value for the fuel pressure drop amount, and supply command signal once the fuel pressure drop amount in the first injection becomes smaller than the target value for the fuel pressure drop amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoyoshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10113522
    Abstract: Provided is an end seal structure of a fuel rail for a gasoline direct injection engine, the end seal structure being characterized in that: a pressure receiving surface is formed on an inner wall surface of the end cap having the cap-nut shape, the pressure receiving surface defining a seat surface; a pressing surface is formed at an end of the rail body, the pressing surface defining a seat surface facing the pressure receiving surface; the end cap having the cap-nut shape and including the pressure receiving surface is screwed and fixed to the rail body; and the pressure receiving surface of the end cap is brought into pressure contact with the pressing surface of the rail body by an axial force created by tightening of the end cap having the cap-nut shape so as to seal the end of the rail body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: USUI KOKUSAI SANGYO KAISHA LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Asahi
  • Patent number: 10106032
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis having an engine, a body assembly, a tailgate pivotally attached to the body assembly, a CNG fuel system having a CNG fuel tank coupled to the tailgate and moveable therewith, the engine configured to be powered by the CNG fuel system, at least one of one a non-structural conduit, a non-structural raceway, and a non-structural channel configured to contain at least one of wiring and a hydraulic line, and an impact mitigation system. The impact mitigation system is a passive system and includes a skeleton. The skeleton includes a plurality of structural frame members positioned to direct impact loads around the CNG fuel tank. The impact mitigation system provides a protected region within which the CNG fuel tank is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas D. Crist, Grant D. Wildgrube, Jarud H. Hoefker, Leslie H. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10077748
    Abstract: A fuel injector, comprising an injector body having a longitudinal axis, an injector cavity, an injector orifice at a distal end of the injector cavity, and an inlet conduit configured to supply fuel into the injector cavity, a nozzle valve in the injector cavity, a drain circuit configured to drain fuel from the injector cavity to a low pressure drain, a pilot valve in flow communication with the drain circuit, a chamber housing having an inlet passage to receive fuel from the injector cavity, a return port in flow communication with the pilot valve to drain fuel to the drain circuit, and an abutting surface surrounding the return port, and a control body slidably disposed in the chamber housing, the control body having, a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis parallel with the injector body longitudinal axis, a first depression at the distal end defining a first control chamber in which one end of the nozzle valve is guided, a second depression at the proximal end defining a second control cha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Benson, Ahmad M. Sabri, Hanumantharao Konakanchi
  • Patent number: 9964083
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a reciprocating engine, comprising injectors for injecting pressurized fuel into the cylinders of the engine, a high pressure pump for pressurizing fuel to be injected, a supply pipe for feeding fuel from the high pressure pump toward the injectors and feed pipes for feeding fuel from the supply pipe to the injectors. The first ends of the feed pipes are connected to the injectors and the second ends to the supply pipe. Each fuel injector is provided with a pressure accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: WARTSILA FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Kjell Eklund, Mikael Troberg, Anton Wintersteller, Vesa Voutilainen
  • Patent number: 9945308
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically calibrating an engine operating with a first fuel and a second fuel includes comparing each of a plurality of engine operating parameters with a corresponding limit, determining whether any of the plurality of engine operating parameters has exceeded its corresponding limit and, while none of the plurality of engine operating parameters has exceeded its corresponding limit, automatically and incrementally advance start of injection timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Gough, Nathan Atterberry, Jeff Howard, Brian Bell, Hua Xu
  • Patent number: 9903306
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring fuel pressure decreases in a fuel accumulator caused by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine is provided. The system includes the ability to stop a fuel flow to a fuel accumulator of the engine. Pressure signals are transmitted to a control system of the engine until the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator drops by a predetermined amount, at which time fuel flow is re-enabled. The pressure signals are then analyzed to determine the amount or quantity of fuel delivered by each fuel injector. The system and method maintain engine and emissions performance by limiting the amount of fuel pressure decrease in the fuel accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: David M. Carey, Paul V. Moonjelly
  • Patent number: 9897058
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine includes a valve member that is moveable within a bore of an injection nozzle so as to be engageable with a valve seat region to control fuel delivery through one or more nozzle outlets, an injector body housing an actuator that is operable to move the valve member within the bore, and defining an accumulator volume for storing high pressure fuel. The fuel injector includes a damping chamber in fluid communication with the accumulator volume through a fluid passage, the damping chamber serving to reduce pressure wave activity within the accumulator volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Christophe Tapin, Stephane Van Den Hende, Julien Roussilhe
  • Patent number: 9828988
    Abstract: A damper for a high-pressure pump includes a housing and a cover that can be coupled to the housing to form a damping space. The cover has an elevation including a plurality of concave regions and a plurality of convex regions, wherein the concave and convex regions are arranged about a central region of the elevation. Each of the concave regions is arranged between two of the convex regions in order to scatter sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Mario Koehler, Michael Mauer, Peter Voigt, Eugenia Herdt, Uwe Kasper, Stefan Kulzer