Fuel Switched In Response To Engine Starting Condition Patents (Class 123/576)
  • Patent number: 11873768
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel management unit for a fuel system. The method including: receiving data indicative of a state of an exhaust assembly using a sensor of the fuel system, the state of the exhaust assembly including a temperature of a working gas flow within the exhaust assembly; determining an amount of a hydrogen fuel in a liquid phase to provide to a hydrogen delivery assembly in response to receiving data indicative of the state of the exhaust assembly; and directing one or more components to provide the determined amount of the hydrogen fuel to the hydrogen delivery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mustafa Dindar, Scott Alan Schimmels
  • Patent number: 11815036
    Abstract: A vehicle, system, and method include a first tank configured to contain compressed gaseous fuel, such as hydrogen, and a second tank fluidly couplable to the first tank and an internal combustion engine, the second tank configured to store the gaseous fuel from the first tank in a communal cavity with a non-combustible liquid, such as water, without a bladder or physical separation barrier therebetween, and to selectively deliver the gaseous fuel via a first outlet, and the non-combustible liquid via a second outlet, to the internal combustion engine. A turbine may be disposed between the first and second tanks. One or more condensers may condense water from engine exhaust and/or an air conditioning system and pump the liquid water into the second tank. Pressure within the second tank may be controlled via fuel supplied by the first tank and/or liquid supplied via the condensers and pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Maziar Khosravi
  • Patent number: 11639698
    Abstract: A dual fuel system includes a liquid pilot fuel supply, a liquid main fuel supply, and a fuel injection apparatus. The dual fuel system further includes a fueling control unit coupled with a cylinder pressure sensor and a NOx sensor, and structured to vary, via outputting a fueling control command to a main fuel injection control valve, fuel delivery parameters each on the basis of at least one of a cylinder pressure parameter or a NOx parameter. The fueling control unit compensates via the varying fuel delivery parameters for a change to a liquid main fuel composition such as a change from a first alcohol fuel or blend to a second alcohol fuel or blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Schroeder, Kenth I Svensson, Richard C Kulaga
  • Patent number: 9567897
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for the preparation of an oxygenate compound or mixture of oxygenate compounds suitable for use in internal combustion engines are disclosed. An internal combustion engine system includes: a fuel system including an oxygenate compound synthesis device including a reactor including a catalyst, the oxygenate compound synthesis device being configured to convert at least a portion of a feedstock to an oxygenate compound or a mixture of oxygenate compounds; and an internal combustion engine configured to initiate combustion through compression or high energy discharge, the internal combustion engine including: a fuel injection system configured to provide fuel injection, and a cooling system configured to cool the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being configured to heat the oxygenate compound synthesis device using heat from the cooling system of the internal combustion engine. Applications of the devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: David McCann
  • Patent number: 9212643
    Abstract: A dual fuel system provides first and second fuels to internal an engine. Both fuels are stored in a storage tank, separated by a flexible membrane. A fuel rail receives either or both of the fuel types and distributes the fuels to fuel injectors. Upon shutdown of the engine, the second fuel is evacuated from the fuel rail into an auxiliary tank. The first fuel is subsequently supplied to the fuel rail from the storage tank. Upon a restarting of the engine after a predetermined time subsequent to the shutdown of the engine, the first fuel from the fuel rail is used for combustion. The second fuel from the auxiliary tank is then slowly bled into the engine or intake manifold. As the first fuel from the storage tank continues to supply the fuel rail, and the second fuel begins to supplement the first fuel in the fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DELIA LTD.
    Inventor: Tzvetan Deliyski
  • Patent number: 9010305
    Abstract: An engine method, comprising delivering fuel with an octane level above a threshold to a first fuel tank and delivering fuel with an octane level below a threshold to a second fuel tank; monitoring a staleness of fuel within first fuel tank and the second fuel tank; delivering fuel with an octane level above the threshold to an engine in response to the staleness of fuel of the first fuel tank; and delivering fuel with an octane level below the threshold to the engine in response the staleness of fuel of the second fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8935079
    Abstract: An engine includes a normal fuel tank, fuel gas tank, an in-tank injection valve and a fuel gas supply valve. During operation of the engine, in a state where the fuel gas supply valve is closed, a fuel is injected into the fuel gas tank through the in-tank injection valve to generate a fuel gas by vaporizing the fuel. The fuel gas is stored in the fuel gas tank and is maintained in the gas phase due to the natural decompression even after the engine is stopped. To start the engine, the fuel gas supply valve is opened to supply the fuel gas in the fuel gas tank to a surge tank. Thus, compared with the case where the fuel gas is generated at the start of the engine, the fuel gas can be quickly supplied into the cylinder, so that the ability to start the engine is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Tsunooka, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Shinichi Mitani, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Akira Satou, Shigeyuki Urano
  • Patent number: 8905059
    Abstract: A system for controlling leakage of diesel fuel into the natural gas side of a dual fuel injector during low pressure natural gas conditions comprises a leakage control valve that blocks the diesel fuel line during very low natural gas line pressure conditions, including start-up and limp-home mode conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Sommars, Hoisan Kim
  • Patent number: 8807098
    Abstract: A twin vertical bank hybrid internal combustion H-engine system; an assembly having an engine block with parallel left side and right side vertical inline piston banks, each having a crankshaft and pistons, a cylinder head, and individual fuel feeds operable on a first and second fuel type respectively. Each piston bank operates independently of the other but is housed within the same engine block and has separate lubrication systems. An operator selects which engine to run based on fuel availability, convenience, or lower cost of a certain fuel type. The chosen engine is mechanically or electrically selected via an engine bank selector box using a selector control which selects the fuel type and engages a drive gear on the crankshaft of the selected engine, and transfers power to the transmission. The selector control actuates a transfer system that prevents simultaneous operation of both engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Herns Louis
  • Patent number: 8770156
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fuel system for a cold start of an engine is disclosed. An auxiliary fuel tank includes a separating device configured to separate a mixed fuel into a first fuel and a second fuel. A valve may be controlled to allow the flow of the first fuel to an engine of a motor vehicle to enable a cold start of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: M. Christine Theis, Reuben Bergsten
  • Patent number: 8695575
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an engine and a control unit. The engine can switch fuel to be used among plural kinds of fuel. The control unit delays a timing of switching the fuel to a timing of around a fuel cut in a case where switching the fuel is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8689768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel injection control apparatus for controlling fuel injection and a method therefor in an engine having first and second intake passages provided with first and second fuel injection valves, respectively. Fuel injection modes using the two injection valves include an alternative injection mode in which the first and second fuel injection valves are alternately operated every predetermined number of cycles and a combined injection mode in which both the first and second fuel injection valves are used for each cycle. Then, the combined injection mode is selected in a full load range. In a partial load range, the alternative injection mode is selected in a cold state and the combined injection mode is selected after warm-up. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce an equilibrium amount of adhering fuel to an inner wall of an intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 8498799
    Abstract: A first control system for an engine includes first and second control modules. The first control module determines first and second fuel masses for first and second fuel injection systems of the engine, respectively, and that controls the first fuel injection system to inject a first fuel based on the first fuel mass. The second control module controls the second fuel injection system to inject a second fuel based on the second fuel mass. A second control system for an engine includes first and second control modules. The first control module controls a first fuel injection system of the engine to inject a first fuel and selectively disables at least one of a plurality of components of a second fuel injection system of the engine. The second control module controls the second fuel injection system to inject a second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventors: James C. Matthews, Jr., Louis A. Avallone, Robert J. Horner, Nicholas John Kalweit, Marc Sauve, Charles E. Leady, Grant Meade, Amir R. Lodhi
  • Patent number: 8196567
    Abstract: Fuel is evacuated from a fuel rail by directing liquid fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel tank and then by directing gaseous fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel vapor canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8191534
    Abstract: An improved high viscosity fuel injection pressure reduction system and method is disclosed for use in an internal combustion engine. The system may include a first fuel line and a second fuel line. The first fuel line may be configured to be coupled upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine when the engine is operated with the first fuel and to provide a first pressurized volume when installed. Likewise, the second fuel line may be configured to be coupled upstream of the combustion chamber of the engine when the engine is operated with the second fuel and to provide a second pressurized volume when installed. The first and second volumes of the fuel lines may provide peak injection pressures lower than a desired pressure when the engine is operated with the first and second fuels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Manoj Prakash Gokhale, Bryan Thomas Jett
  • Patent number: 7983831
    Abstract: A fuel feed chamber and a residual fuel chamber that are connectable to each other via a shutoff valve are provided in a fuel tank. When the fuel tank is refueled, the fuel feed chamber and the residual fuel chamber, which have been connected to each other so far, are disconnected and then fuel is fed only into the fuel feed chamber to refuel the fuel tank. When the engine is restarted after the refueling, only the fuel in the residual fuel chamber is supplied to the engine while the fuel feed chamber and the residual fuel chamber remain disconnected from each other, and the engine is controlled in accordance with the property of the fuel in the residual fuel chamber, which has been determined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Tsunooka
  • Publication number: 20110114068
    Abstract: An engine system includes a primary fuel source and a secondary fuel source. The secondary fuel source includes a secondary fuel with which the engine can be initially started in order to preheat the engine such that it is better able to combust the primary fuel. In some examples, the secondary fuel source is in-line with the primary fuel source, such that the first and secondary fuel sources share a fuel line that supplies fuel to the engine. In addition, in some examples, the secondary fuel source is removably attached to the fuel line, such that it can be removed from the fuel line in a relatively efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Habing, Jonathan M. Wong
  • Patent number: 7942128
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Publication number: 20100300416
    Abstract: During starting of an engine that has a circulation path through which argon, used as working gas, is circulated back to a combustion chamber and that uses hydrogen as fuel during operation, oxygen is supplied in such a manner that the oxygen supply ratio is higher than that used during normal operation. Thus, the entirety of hydrogen supplied into the combustion chamber reacts with oxygen and is burned. When the engine is being started, because gas is not turbulent enough, hydrogen and oxygen are likely to be mixed poorly. Therefore, when oxygen is supplied in such a manner that the ratio of oxygen supply amount to the hydrogen supply amount is higher than the theoretical ratio, even if oxygen and hydrogen are not mixed so well, the chance that hydrogen contacts oxygen is increased. As a result, combustion takes place in a more appropriate manner, which improves the engine startability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Daisaku Sawada
  • Patent number: 7836865
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine that is operated with a fuel mixture made of at least two types of fuel. An injection of the fuel into combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine occurs starting at a predefined pressure threshold of the fuel in a fuel supply according to a high-pressure starting mode, and also according to a low-pressure starting mode if the predefined pressure threshold is no longer met. The pressure threshold is selected as a function of the mixture ratio of the fuel types in the fuel mixture. In this way it can be achieved that differences can be taken into consideration in the optimal mixture formation of the fuel types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Ruediger Weiss, Timm Hollmann, Manfred Dietrich, Peter Schenk, Erkan Danisman
  • Publication number: 20100224167
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Publication number: 20100206249
    Abstract: Turbocharged or supercharged spark ignition engine. The engine includes a source of methanol for direct injection of methanol into the engine and for delivering a portion of the methanol to a reformer for generating a hydrogen-rich gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn
  • Publication number: 20100192879
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting a vehicle engine are provided. One example method for starting a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders may include generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas onboard the vehicle from water. The method may further include maintaining the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas together as a gaseous mixture. The method may further include injecting the gaseous mixture to at least one cylinder of the engine during a start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7757651
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating an engine. The method may include injecting a primary fuel. The method may further include determining a need for a secondary fuel during starting of the engine and introducing the secondary fuel. The method may still further include determining an engine acceleration rate. The method may also include inhibiting the introduction of the secondary fuel when the engine acceleration rate is below an expected acceleration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Curtis Lyle Fitchpatrick, Brian Gene Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20100176135
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fuel system for a cold start of an engine is disclosed. An auxiliary fuel tank includes a separating device configured to separate a mixed fuel into a first fuel and a second fuel. A valve may be controlled to allow the flow of the first fuel to an engine of a motor vehicle to enable a cold start of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: M. Christine Theis, Reuben Bergsten
  • Publication number: 20100179743
    Abstract: A method for starting an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine having an intake manifold, an intake throttle controlling admission of air into the intake manifold, and a plurality of combustion chambers communicating with the intake manifold, the method comprising providing a reduced pressure of air in the intake manifold prior to delivering fuel or spark to the engine, the reduced pressure of air responsive to a temperature of the engine; delivering fuel to one or more of the plurality of combustion chambers in an amount based on the reduced pressure of air; and delivering spark to the one or more combustion chambers to start the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7721710
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Publication number: 20100071661
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine that is operated with a fuel mixture made of at least two types of fuel. An injection of the fuel into combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine occurs starting at a predefined pressure threshold of the fuel in a fuel supply according to a high-pressure starting mode, and also according to a low-pressure starting mode if the predefined pressure threshold is no longer met. The pressure threshold is selected as a function of the mixture ratio of the fuel types in the fuel mixture. In this way it can be achieved that differences can be taken into consideration in the optimal mixture formation of the fuel types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Ruediger Weiss, Timm Hollmann, Manfred Dietrich, Peter Schenk, Erkan Danisman
  • Publication number: 20100070155
    Abstract: Fuel management system for operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. The system includes a gasoline engine powering the vehicle and a source of gasoline for introduction into the engine. A source of an anti-knock fuel such as ethanol is provided. An injector directly injects the anti-knock fuel into a cylinder of the engine and the control system shuts down the engine by stopping gasoline and anti-knock agent flow into the engine during vehicle deceleration and idling and restarts the engine upon driver demand. Direct ethanol injection and engine shutdown results in efficiencies similar to those of full hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: ETHANOL BOOSTING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Paul N. Blumberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John Heywood
  • Patent number: 7654231
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for powering a vehicle. The systems and methods provide techniques for agitating fuel stored in a fuel storage tank and then combusting that fuel to power a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ruben Valdez, Cindi Kathleen Scheele
  • Publication number: 20090314260
    Abstract: A start control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which takes an amount of a fuel vaporized from a heated fuel into consideration to prevent deterioration of startability due to an overrich or overlean condition caused by an excessive or insufficient amount of the vaporized fuel and to realize improvement of cold startability. The start control apparatus includes: a heater (14) for heating a fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine; fuel heating control unit (22) for energizing the heater when a cooling water temperature is less than an internal combustion engine start possible water temperature value to heat the fuel; and start time fuel setting unit (26) for setting a start time fuel injection amount of the internal combustion engine according to a fuel temperature after the fuel is heated by the fuel heating control unit (22), an alcohol concentration, and the cooling water temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu MAEDA, Hideki Takubo
  • Publication number: 20090248275
    Abstract: A fuel supply system supplies composite fuel containing alcohol and gasoline to multiple cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The composite fuel includes main-fuel and sub-fuel. The sub-fuel is lower than main-fuel in concentration of alcohol. Each of multiple first fuel injection valves is provided to each of the cylinders for injecting fuel. Each of multiple second fuel injection valves is provided to each of the cylinders for injecting fuel. A fuel inlet portion supplies at least sub-fuel to each of the first fuel injection valves and each of the second fuel injection valves. A selector control unit selects one of main-fuel and sub-fuel supplied through the fuel inlet portion to each of the first fuel injection valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Ichihara, Yoshinori Yamashita, Kouichi Sugiyama, Hidekazu Oomura
  • Publication number: 20090165761
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating an engine. The method may include determining an injection characteristic based on usage of a primary fuel and determining a need for a secondary fuel. The method may further include determining a first engine characteristic and modifying the injection characteristic based on the need for the secondary fuel and the first engine characteristic. The method may still further include injecting the primary fuel based on the modified injection characteristic and introducing the secondary fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Curtis Lyle Fitchpatrick, Brian Gene Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20090165762
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating an engine. The method may include injecting a primary fuel. The method may further include determining a need for a secondary fuel during starting of the engine and introducing the secondary fuel. The method may still further include determining an engine acceleration rate. The method may also include inhibiting the introduction of the secondary fuel when the engine acceleration rate is below an expected acceleration rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Curtis Lyle Fitchpatrick, Brian Gene Wheeler
  • Patent number: 7546834
    Abstract: Various approaches are described for controlling operation of an engine. One example method includes delivering a gaseous fuel to the engine during a first operating range when an amount of stored gaseous fuel is greater than a threshold; and disabling the delivery of the gaseous fuel during the first operating range when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold and delivering a second fuel to operate the engine, yet continuing to deliver the gaseous fuel to start the engine during a cold start even when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7523739
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has a lubricity improver supply for adding a lubricity improver to low-viscosity fuel supplied to a fuel injection apparatus of the engine. A controller controls the lubricity improver supply so that the amount of the lubricity improver added to fuel at the inlet to the fuel injection apparatus is increased as engine rotation speed, engine load, or injection pressure is increased. With the system, wear or sticking of the plunger can be prevented even when low-viscosity fuel is used by improving lubrication conditions to secure necessary lubrication condition for the sliding part in accordance with engine operation conditions, fuel temperature and viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20090070021
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Patent number: 7493897
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a component adjustment unit, a low-pressure side passage, and a valve. The unit adjusts component composition of fuel by separating a particular component from fuel. The unit includes a component separation wall, which divides an interior of a portion of a fuel supply passage between an anterior chamber and a posterior chamber. The wall includes a separation membrane, which the particular component of fuel in the anterior chamber selectively permeates to be separated. The particular component after passing through the wall is temporarily stored in the posterior chamber. When the low-pressure side passage connected to the posterior chamber is opened by the valve, the particular component is separated. Fuel, from which the particular component is separated, is supplied to an injection valve from the anterior chamber. When the low-pressure side passage is closed by the valve, the separation of the particular component is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Miyao Arakawa, Yoshiaki Nishijima, Masatoshi Kuroyanagi, Yoshimichi Kiyozumi
  • Publication number: 20080245350
    Abstract: A system and method for using vegetable oil as fuel for a diesel engine includes: a diesel fuel tank; a vegetable oil fuel tank, a supply fuel valve for switching a supply fuel output port between a diesel fuel input port and a vegetable oil fuel input port; an overflow fuel valve for switching an overflow fuel input port between a vegetable oil fuel output port and a diesel fuel output port; a fuel selector switch; and an electronic block controller. The electronic block controller is for, in response to a user changing the fuel selector switch from diesel fuel to vegetable oil fuel, waiting a predetermined amount of time to allow the vegetable oil fuel to flush the diesel fuel to the overflow fuel valve, and then setting the overflow fuel valve to direct overflow vegetable oil fuel to the vegetable oil fuel tank. Cross-contamination of the fuel tanks is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: John TRISKA
  • Patent number: 7426925
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine, a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder, a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by both said first and second injectors during said start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Publication number: 20080173278
    Abstract: Fuel management system for operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. The system includes a gasoline engine powering the vehicle and a source of gasoline for introduction into the engine. A source of an anti-knock fuel such as ethanol is provided. An injector directly injects the anti-knock fuel into a cylinder of the engine and the control system shuts down the engine by stopping gasoline and anti-knock agent flow into the engine during vehicle deceleration and idling and restarts the engine upon driver demand. Direct ethanol injection and engine shutdown results in efficiencies similar to those of full hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: ETHANOL BOOSTING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Paul N. Blumberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080127933
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine, comprising of performing homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion during a first operating condition, and performing spark ignition combustion during a second operating condition, where an amount of directly injected alcohol in at least one of said homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion and said spark ignition combustion is varied in response to at least an operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Blumberg, Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John B. Heywood, George Davis, Michael Zubeck, Robert Stein
  • Patent number: 7370610
    Abstract: A Fuel Fractionation System (FFS) and associated methods to generate and store a fuel for internal combustion engines is provided. FFS provides a distillation column assembly to distill liquid fuel to form a volatile light fraction secondary fuel. The distillation column assembly includes a vaporization module to vaporize a feed fuel in the distillation column and includes a condensation module to condense heavy fraction components of the vaporized feed fuel. FFS also provides a controller positioned to control the vaporization of feed fuel in the distillation column to thereby control the separation of the feed fuel into light fraction fuel and heavy fraction fuel components, and positioned to control the condensation of the heavy fraction components so that fuel exiting a light fraction output port in the distillation column is substantially light fraction fuel components by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Marcus Ashford, Ron Matthews
  • Patent number: 7159568
    Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising of a cylinder of the engine, a first injector configured to inject a first fuel to said cylinder, a second injector configured to inject a second fuel to said cylinder, and a controller configured to, during a first operating condition, commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder from only said first injector during a first start, and during a second operating condition, to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder from only said second injector during a second start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Allan J. Lippa, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7055511
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine in which a gas delivery pump, a fuel pump and an electric motor are included in the fuel supply system and form a pump unit, the electric motor is incorporated in the system in such a way that it can selectively drive either one or both of the pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler AG, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Glenz, Guenter Hoenig, Eberhard Holder, Martin Matt, Andreas Posselt
  • Patent number: 6990948
    Abstract: An engine system is capable of switching between a first fuel injection mode, in which fuel is injected from a fuel injection valve 23 directly into a combustion chamber 6 in the compression stroke, and a second fuel injection mode, in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve 23 directly into the combustion chamber 6 in the intake stroke. A controller 30 determines the characteristic of the fuel that is supplied to the fuel injection valve 23, selects either the first fuel injection mode or the second fuel injection mode according to the fuel characteristic, and starts an engine 1 in the selected fuel injection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Fukuzumi, Tsutomu Kikuchi, Yuichi Iriya, Hitoshi Ishii, Mitsuhiro Akagi, Katsuaki Uchiyama, Masahiko Yuya, Takao Maitani, Masayuki Tomita
  • Patent number: 6959693
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector that injects a lower-octane fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and a second fuel injector that injects a higher-octane fuel into an intake passage of the engine. When the engine temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature during a start-up period of the internal combustion engine, fuel having the lower octane is injected via the first injector while prohibiting injection of the higher octane fuel via the second fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomihisa Oda
  • Patent number: 6923168
    Abstract: A distributed power generating system enables very rapid and reliable start-up of an engine used to generate back-up power, thereby substantially reducing the need for stored power. More particularly, the distributed power generating system comprises a power bus electrically coupled to commercial power and to a load, an engine comprising a rotatable shaft, a starter/generator operatively coupled to the shaft of the engine and electrically coupled to the power bus, and a temporary storage device electrically coupled to the power bus. The starter/generator is adapted to start the engine from a standstill condition and rapidly bring the engine to an operational speed sustainable by the engine alone. In an embodiment of the invention, the power generating system further includes a plurality of redundant fuel tanks each containing liquid fuel, such as propane, at a respective initial pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Power-One AS
    Inventor: Jan Henrik Bryde
  • Publication number: 20040139944
    Abstract: A bi-fuel internal combustion engine is intended for suppressing consumption of gasoline fuel and reducing exhaust emissions; under ordinary operations, a CNG fuel emitting smaller amounts of NOx, HC, CO, and the like as compared with a gasoline fuel, is used as a supply fuel to reduce the exhaust emissions; in this case, a fuel injection device is required for each of the two types of fuel, that is, the gasoline fuel and the CNG fuel and the problem is torque change and fluctuation occurring when the fuel is switched from gasoline to CNG, or vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nakano, Masami Nagano, Matsuo Amano
  • Patent number: 6494192
    Abstract: An on-board fuel vapor recovery system draws vapors from a fuel tank, compresses the vapors, and then cools the compressed vapors to form a condensate liquid fuel which is stored in an auxiliary condensate tank for introduction to an engine for enhanced cold start operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: William K. Capshaw, John C. Hedrick, David W. Naegeli, Michael G. Ross