Fuel Pressure Patents (Class 73/114.43)
  • Patent number: 11353251
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and a method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus are provided. The air conditioning apparatus may include a controller that performs an abnormal operation diagnosis of the air conditioning apparatus based on an output signal of a pump, thereby directly checking introduction of air into pipes or clogging of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ahrae Jo, Chiwoo Song, Yongcheol Sa, Youngjoo Shin
  • Patent number: 11339737
    Abstract: A fuel filter monitoring method includes receiving pressure signals that are indicative of a pressure drop across at least one fuel filter of a fuel supply system configured to supply fuel to at least one fuel injector of an internal combustion engine and receiving a condition signal indicative of a condition of a fuel supply system, the condition signal being generated by one or more of a geographic location sensor, an altitude sensor, and/or a fuel temperature sensor. The method includes estimating a remaining life of at least one fuel filter of the fuel supply system based on the pressure signal and the condition signal and outputting a notification indicative of the estimated remaining life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Tian, Sravan K. Karri, Michael T. McKinley, Brenton W. Bush
  • Patent number: 11320330
    Abstract: Provided is an arrangement for a semiconductor-based pressure sensor chip including: piezoresistive elements which are formed having an electrically doped channel in a layer arrangement in the region of a pressure membrane of a semiconductor substrate; an electrically conductive cover layer which is formed in the layer arrangement and is electrically insulated from the piezoresistive elements by an insulating layer; a bridge circuit of transistors, each of which are formed having one of the piezoresistive elements, wherein gate electrodes of the transistors are arranged in electrically doped layer regions in the electrically conductive cover layer, said layer regions being formed separately from one another; and a signal feedback, using which an output signal applied to the output of the bridge circuit is fed back in a signal-amplifying manner to one or more of the gate electrodes. Also provided is a pressure sensor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FIRST SENSOR AG
    Inventor: Michael Pierschel
  • Patent number: 11280277
    Abstract: The systems and methods are generally directed to engine combustion modeling of an engine having a combustion chamber. In one embodiment, a method includes determining the thermodynamic state of the engine combustion chamber based on received engine parameters. The laminar flame speeds of the combustible mixture are determined based on tabulated measurement results or from correlations available in the literature. The dynamics of the turbulent flame brush thickness are calculated using a 1D nonlinear ordinary differential equation. The mass fraction burned ratio is found by tracking the motion of a presumed truncated spherical flame front as it propagates through the combustion chamber using the mass continuity equation. One or more engine control calibration efficiency factors are then determined based on the resultant mass fraction burned ratio. One or more efficiency factors control at least one aspect of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Phillip Andrew Aquino
  • Patent number: 10823104
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to detect variations between the quantities of fuel injected into cylinders by fuel injection devices and correct the fuel injection quantity variation while minimizing the computational load on a drive device and the level of performance required of a pressure sensor. A drive device for fuel injection devices according to the present invention performs 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: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Toshihiro Aono, Takashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10711726
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an engine is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel rail, a pressure sensor, a relief valve, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a fuel rail pressure, identify exceeding of the fuel rail pressure beyond a first threshold, identify the fuel rail pressure drop below a second threshold, and initiate a counter for a first predefined amount of time accordingly. The controller is also configured to identify if the fuel rail pressure drops below a third threshold within the first predefined amount of time, and identify if the fuel rail pressure remains below the third threshold for at least a second predefined amount of time. The controller is further configured to determine an open status of the relief valve based, at least in part, on the identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Steven Ulstad, Ye Tian, Purvarag S. Shah, Kranti Kumar Nellutla, Sasidhar Rayasam, Brian P. Brennan, Purna Chandra Sekhar Mokkarala, Mohammed Rafi H, Gregory Lance Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10315162
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining or diagnosing a reagent dosing system failure to provide sufficient reagent to an exhaust aftertreatment system that includes an SCR catalyst to satisfy a reagent dosing command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Balbahadur Singh, Clyde W. Xi, Mickey R. McDaniel, Baohua Qi, Paul C. McAvoy
  • Patent number: 10024264
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the point in time of a predetermined open state (e.g., start or stop time of an opening or closing process) of a fuel injector having a coil drive for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The method includes applying a first voltage pulse to the magnetic coil drive of the fuel injector, detecting a first temporal progression of the current intensity of a current flowing through the coil drive, applying a second voltage pulse to the magnetic coil drive of the fuel injector, detecting a second temporal progression of the current intensity of the current flowing through the coil drive, determining a differential progression based on the first and second temporal progressions of the current intensity, and determining a point in time at which the differential progression exhibits an extremum, which corresponds with the point in time of the predetermined open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Denk
  • Patent number: 10024750
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle, comprising: following a refueling event, venting a capless refueling assembly to a fuel tank; and then executing an evaporative emissions leak test. In this way, residual fuel trapped in the capless refueling assembly may be removed. This, in turn will prevent a pressure build-up in the capless refueling assembly which could lead to the downstream door opening during a leak test, thereby confounding results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Aed M. Dudar, Rob Ognjanovski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9863358
    Abstract: A method for operating a common-rail system of a motor vehicle that includes a common-rail-pressure sensor configuration having at least two signal paths, and that can be operated at a maximally permissible common-rail pressure and at a minimally permissible common-rail pressure. Sensor signals are read out in each case in response to a pressure measurement in a common rail of the common-rail system via the at least two signal paths, and a signal deviation value is ascertained that characterizes a deviation between the pressure values that are each determined on the basis of the sensor signals. The method includes reducing the maximally permissible common-rail pressure by a correction value to a maximally permissible emergency common-rail pressure and/or increasing the minimally permissible common-rail pressure by a correction value to a minimally permissible emergency common-rail pressure in response to the signal deviation value exceeding a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Becker, Rene Zieher, Andreas Sommerer, Kai Wipplinger, Guenter Veit
  • Patent number: 9839877
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining or diagnosing a reagent dosing system failure to provide sufficient reagent to an exhaust aftertreatment system that includes an SCR catalyst to satisfy a reagent dosing command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Balbahadur Singh, Clyde W. Xi, Mickey R. McDaniel, Baohua Qi, Paul C. McAvoy
  • Patent number: 9109529
    Abstract: A fuel supplying controller detecting a clogging of a fuel filter includes a period setting portion setting a non-detection period where a clogging detection is prohibited, an ambient-temperature detection portion detecting an ambient temperature of an exterior of a vehicle, and a residual-fuel detection portion detecting a residual-fuel quantity in a fuel tank. The period setting portion sets the non-detection period, based on the ambient temperature detected by the ambient-temperature detection portion and the residual-fuel quantity detected by the residual-fuel detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromu Kashiyama
  • Patent number: 9068540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising a nozzle needle (1) which is able to perform stroke motions and by the stroke motion of which at least one injection opening can be exposed or closed, and further comprising a control valve (2) for controlling the stroke motion of the nozzle needle (1) in that, depending on the respective switch position of the control valve (2), hydraulic pressure applied in closing direction to the nozzle needle (1) in a control chamber (3) is altered, and further comprising a sensor array (4) for detecting the needle closing time. According to the invention, the sensor array (4) is arranged in the low-pressure area of the fuel injector in a space (5) which is sealed with respect to the fuel-conducting area (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Rapp, Helmut Clauss, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Bernd Berghaenel, Marco Beier, Changyi Wang
  • Patent number: 9038489
    Abstract: A control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel system diagnostic module and a pump control module. The fuel system diagnostic module performs a diagnostic test on a fuel system when a vacuum pump is switched off to prevent flow through the vacuum pump and thereby seal a portion of the fuel system from an atmosphere. The vacuum pump includes a cam ring, a rotor that rotates within the cam ring, and vanes that slide into and out of slots in the rotor as the rotor rotates. The pump control module switches on the vacuum pump for a predetermined period to force the vanes out of the slots and into contact with the cam ring to seal the vacuum pump before switching off the vacuum pump for the fuel system diagnostic test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jackson, William R. Cadman, Paul William Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9032788
    Abstract: A common rail fuel system diagnostic algorithm is executed by an engine control and real time to detect and identify a faulty fuel system component. Rail pressure data is processed through a digital resonating filter having a resonance frequency corresponding to a fault signature. A peak magnitude and phase of the output from the digital resonating filter reveals a degradation level of a fuel injector, and a phase of the output identifies which fuel injector is faulted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nandagopal Methil-Sudhakaran, Daniel Reese Puckett, Frank Lombardi
  • Publication number: 20150075267
    Abstract: A method for verifying reliable operation of a fuel tank pressure transducer coupled to a fuel tank of a PHEV. The method monitors pressure and fuel level within the fuel tank, employing a fuel level sensor providing fuel level signals to a controller, as well as a pressure transducer providing pressure signals to the controller. The system identifies a sloshing event, as indicated by high amplitude, rapidly fluctuating fuel level signals, and it then analyzes the vapor dome pressure signals to determine whether vapor dome pressure signals respond to the sloshing event. Reliable operation of the fuel tank pressure transducer is indicated upon a determination that the vapor dome pressure signals appropriately respond to the sloshing event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL STEPHEN SWEPPY, AED M. DUDAR, ROBERT ROY JENTZ
  • Patent number: 8938349
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a fuel injection system, in particular of an internal combustion engine, in which fuel under pressure is made available in a pressure reservoir and a fuel pressure prevailing in the pressure reservoir is ascertainable with the aid of a pressure sensor. Fuel is removed from the pressure reservoir over a predefinable pressure reduction time period, measured pressure values are ascertained (determined) with the aid of the pressure sensor at least two different points in time during the pressure reduction period, and an actual fuel pressure at the beginning of the pressure reduction period is inferred from the measured pressure values ascertained (determined) during the pressure reduction period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Sommerer, Patrick Amann
  • Patent number: 8905003
    Abstract: In a fuel injector, a body has formed therein a spray hole and a fuel supply passage. Fuel supplied to the fuel supply passage is delivered to the spray hole. A fuel pressure sensor produces a signal indicative of a pressure of the fuel. First terminals are attached to the fuel pressure sensor and include a terminal for outputting the signal. The fuel pressure sensor is threadedly installed in the body while the first terminals are rotated. A connector includes a housing attached to the body, and second terminals supported by the housing for external electric connection of the fuel pressure sensor. Wires are operative to establish electrical connection between the first terminals and the second terminals. A wire holder is configured to hold each of the plurality of wires at least partly around the fuel pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Morita, Yutaka Miyamoto, Jun Kondo, Tomoki Fujino
  • Patent number: 8833147
    Abstract: Based on a detection signal of a fuel pressure sensor provided in a first fuel injector, an ECU determines whether a fuel pressure in a first fuel injector is increased over a specified amount when a second fuel injector provided with no fuel pressure sensor terminates a fuel injection. When the ECU determines that the fuel pressure in the first fuel injector is increased over a specified amount, it is diagnosed that the second fuel injector does not have a malfunction of continuous injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toyomori Tsuiki
  • Patent number: 8806927
    Abstract: In a method for testing a pressure sensor of a fuel accumulator device in an internal combustion engine, the pressure in the fuel accumulator device is altered using a first actuating variable. The influence of that alteration on the torque generated by the internal combustion engine is determined by a closed loop control system adjusting a second actuating variable to counteract the effect of the first on the torque output by the internal combustion engine. A deviation of the measured alteration from the expected alteration is then calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carl-Eike Hofmeister, Michael Käsbauer, Matthias Stampfer
  • Publication number: 20140224218
    Abstract: A system and method for is provided to determine a fuel flow cutout delay between transmitting a signal to stop a fuel flow to a fuel accumulator of a fuel system and the actual stop of fuel flow to the fuel accumulator. The fuel flow cutout delay is used to determine when pressure data from a sensor associated with the fuel accumulator is unaffected by fuel flow to the fuel accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: David M. CAREY, Donald J. BENSON, Sanjay MANGLAM, Paul V. MOONJELLY, Richard E. REISINGER
  • Publication number: 20140224220
    Abstract: A system and method is provided to analyze an intermediate pressure signal portion between an end of an injection event signal portion and a start of a subsequent injection event signal portion. The analysis is simplified by identifying a plurality of single cycle windows and calculating a single value, such as a mean or a median, for each of the windows. An intermediate portion single value is determined by averaging the single values for each of the windows. The intermediate portion single value may then be used to identify pumping events or leakage errors that occur during the intermediate pressure signal portion that affect further analysis of the intermediate pressure signal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Paul V. MOONJELLY, David Lee BALDWIN, David M. CAREY, Donald J. BENSON
  • Patent number: 8800355
    Abstract: When change of fuel pressure sensed with a fuel pressure sensor is small, it is temporarily determined that the fuel pressure sensor is abnormal. After the abnormality is temporarily determined, transfer quantity from a high-pressure fuel supply pump is increased and pressure reduction is performed by driving a pressure reducing valve, thereby increasing the change of the fuel pressure of a common rail. When the change of the fuel pressure sensed with the fuel pressure sensor is small thereafter, it is formally determined that the fuel pressure sensor is abnormal. Thus, a pressure accumulation fuel injection device can appropriately perform abnormality detection of the fuel pressure sensor, irrespective of existence/nonexistence of fuel leak from an injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 8756985
    Abstract: A method for checking a rail pressure sensor, in which at least two values for the pressure of fuel in a fuel reservoir of an injection system are set on the basis of values for the pressure, which are ascertained by the rail pressure sensor; a desired quantity of fuel to be injected that is demanded by an idle-speed controller being ascertained for each set value of the pressure; and the desired quantities being compared to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Henning Hermes
  • Patent number: 8762030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine and a fuel vapor processing method. In the fuel supply control device that calculates a manipulated variable of a fuel pump such that a fuel pressure detected by a fuel pressure sensor is brought close to a target fuel pressure, a determination whether a fuel vapor is generated is made based on a detection value of the fuel pressure and the manipulated variable in a fuel pump, or the determination is made based on an amplitude of the detection value of the fuel pressure and an average fuel pressure in a fuel supply piping. During the fuel vapor generation, the target fuel pressure is corrected to be a higher value to increase the fuel pressure, thereby compressing and removing the fuel vapor. Therefore, in a fuel supply system, the fuel vapor generation can be detected at low cost to suppress the fuel vapor generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 8725391
    Abstract: In order to locate errors of the rail pressure sensor (38) when starting problems occur, the following method steps are proposed: determination of whether starting problems occur in the engine and if this is the case, an engine state is induced, in which the engine controller is already active but the starting phase of the engine has not yet commenced; substitution of the measured rail pressure sensor value used by the engine controller with a substitute value; start attempt of the engine and determination whether the engine has achieved an independent operation; and identification of an error function of the rail pressure sensor if the starting problems only occur when the measured rail pressure sensor value is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carl-Eike Hofmeister, Michael Käsbauer, Matthias Stampfer
  • Patent number: 8710971
    Abstract: A control method of an LPI lamp for an LPI vehicle and logic for the control method can turn on again an LPG switch when the LPG switch is unintentionally turned off, by making a driver recognize whether the LPG switch is turned off, by switching an LPI lamp on and off. For this configuration, the control method of an LPI lamp for an LPI vehicle includes checking whether an LPG switch that stops fuel supply to an engine has been turned on or off, and switching the LPI lamp on and off, when it is determined that the LPG switch has been turned off, in an LPI vehicle in an ignition-on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jungjoo Park
  • Patent number: 8707772
    Abstract: The electronic component device includes an electronic component such as a pressure sensor for detecting pressure of fuel injected into an internal combustion engine, an insulating member made of an insulative resin and sealing the electronic component, and a shield member made of a conductive resin and surrounding the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Kazufumi Serizawa
  • Patent number: 8701468
    Abstract: A method for determining the flow of an anode gas out of an anode sub-system. The method includes providing pressure measurements at predetermined sample times over a predetermined sample period and using the pressure measurements to calculate a slope of a line defining a change of the pressure from the beginning of the time period to the end of the time period. The slope of the pressure line is then used in a flow equation to determine the amount of gas that flows out of the anode sub-system, which can be through a valve or by system leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Di Fiore, Jan Biebrach
  • Patent number: 8676473
    Abstract: A method for the self-learning of the variation of a nominal functioning feature of a high pressure pump in an internal combustion engine, which pump feeds fuel to a common rail and is controlled by a solenoid valve depending on an objective pressure inside the common rail and by using the nominal functioning feature which provides a delivery of fuel; in cut-off conditions of the engine, the method includes determining the value of the pressure leaks due to blow-by in the common rail; measuring the real pressure of the fuel inside the common rail; actuating the high pressure pump by controlling the solenoid valve with a predetermined closing angle; measuring the real pressure of the fuel inside the common rail again; determining a pressure deviation between the real pressure and an expected pressure of the fuel, and correcting the nominal functioning feature according to this deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Prodi, Roberto Betro', Serino Angellotti, Walter Nesci
  • Patent number: 8640670
    Abstract: A fuel-pressure waveform detector has a detect-waveform obtaining unit for obtaining a multi-stage injection pressure waveform by means of a fuel-pressure sensor while performing a multi-stage fuel injection during one combustion cycle. A model waveform memory stores a reference model pressure waveform of when a single fuel injection is performed. A waveform extracting unit extracts a pressure waveform due to the subject fuel injection by subtracting the reference model pressure waveform from the multi-stage injection pressure waveform. A correction unit corrects the reference model pressure waveform in such a manner that its attenuation degree becomes larger as a fuel injection period of the subject fuel injection is longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamada, Yoshiharu Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8616183
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel distributor (2), in the interior space (4) of which is formed a high-pressure accumulator, wherein transverse bores (6) open into the interior space (4). The transverse bores (6) are connected by connecting pipes (8a, 8b) to pressure lines (10) for the supply and discharge of fuel. A high-pressure sensor (30) is arranged at the face-side end of the fuel distributor (2), which high-pressure sensor (30) is connected by a measurement bore (30c) to the interior space (4), and a permanent magnet ring is arranged at that face-side end of the interior space (4) which is assigned to the high-pressure sensor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Thomas Riedel, Wolfgang Stapf, Björn von Willmann
  • Patent number: 8613218
    Abstract: After an engine stop duration exceeds a predetermined time period (that is, if a decision outcome of S100 is positive), diagnosis of a leakage mechanism, which is a relief valve, for diagnosing the presence/absence of an abnormality is not performed during a current engine stop (S102). Therefore, even if the fuel pressure in the high-pressure fuel system is reduced to a low-pressure level due to temperature decrease as though fuel has been leaked in a state in which high-pressure fuel in a high-pressure fuel system cannot be leaked due to an abnormality in the relief valve, it generally occurs after the predetermined time period since such a decrease to a low-pressure level due to the temperature decrease is slow. Thus, an erroneous diagnosis as being normal is prevented from being made since the diagnosis has been suspended when the fuel pressure becomes equal to the low-pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Publication number: 20130333455
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring the state of a piezoelectric injector of the fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, the piezoelectric injector having a piezoelectric actuator and a nozzle needle that can be moved by said piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric injector can be operated in a partial-stroke mode and a full-stroke mode. In the partial-stroke mode, the curve of an electrical parameter over time is recorded, the maximum value of the curve is determined, a constant parameter value that arises after the presence of the maximum value is determined, the duration between the presence of the maximum value and the reaching of the constant parameter value is determined, the difference between the maximum value and the constant parameter value is determined, and conclusions about the state of the piezoelectric injector are drawn on the basis of the determined duration and the determined difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Michael Katzenberger, Nicolas Nozeran
  • Patent number: 8593162
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a fuel-aspect sensor having higher detection accuracy. A first electrode is inserted into a hole formed in a first housing member. A cylindrical second electrode is inserted into and firmly fixed to the first electrode by a cylindrical insulating member. A first elastic member, for example, made of rubber, is arranged between the first electrode and a second housing member. The first electrode has a large-diameter portion, which is biased by the first elastic member toward a sealing surface formed on an inner wall of the hole, so as to fluid-tightly seal a space between the first electrode and the second housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akikazu Uchida
  • Patent number: 8504277
    Abstract: In a method for determining a control parameter for a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine, the problem of enabling more precise determination of the control parameter, even if the fuel pressure (FUP) present on the fuel injector varies, is solved in that the fuel pressure (FUP) present on the fuel injector during the injection (I1, I2, I1?, I1?) is concluded while allowing for the time of the fuel pressure value detection and/or the crankshaft angle position of the internal combustion engine during the detection of the fuel pressure value, and that the control parameter is determined based on the fuel pressure (FUP) that was concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Baranowski, Klaus Hengl-Betz, Thorsten Lauer
  • Patent number: 8474438
    Abstract: A stem is installed to an injector body and is resiliently deformable upon receiving a pressure of high pressure fuel conducted through a high pressure passage of the injector body. A strain gauge is installed to the stem to sense a strain generated in the stem. A molded IC device executes an amplifying operation, which amplifies a signal received from the strain gauge. The stem, the strain gauge and the molded IC device are integrally assembled together to form a fuel pressure sensing unit, which is installed to the injector body by threadably fastening a threaded portion, which is formed at the stem, to the injector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Tomiko Fujino, Hiroshi Tsuda, Yutaka Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8437942
    Abstract: A fuel injection characteristic sensing device obtains an injection characteristic of a target injector (an injector of each cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine) at each time. The device has a program for sequentially sensing fuel pressure at a sensing point corresponding to a fuel pressure sensor, which is provided at a fuel inlet of each injector, based on an output of the fuel pressure sensor. The device has a program for detecting predetermined timings (injection timings such as an injection start timing and an injection end timing) in a series of operations concerning fuel injection of the injector of each cylinder based on the sequentially sensed fuel pressure. Thus, the injection characteristic at each time including a temporal characteristic change can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Nakata, Koji Ishizuka, Ru Long Li
  • Patent number: 8413496
    Abstract: A pressure-compensation unit, particularly for a tank-pressure sensor in a tank of a motor vehicle. The pressure-compensation unit includes a housing lid and a gas-permeable filter diaphragm, which covers an air hole. The pressure-compensation unit includes a cap-shaped cover element, which covers the filter diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reza Eslami, Masoud Habibi, Marcell Ott, Thomas Fessele
  • Patent number: 8412440
    Abstract: It is possible to perform a failure diagnosis of a pressure sensor with a simple structure without installing a dedicated circuit for the failure diagnosis. In a common rail type fuel injection control apparatus, a pressure control valve 12 is provided in a fuel return path from a common rail 1, and a rail pressure detected by a pressure sensor 11 can be controlled to match a target rail pressure through drive control of the pressure control valve 12 by an electronic control unit 4. The target rail pressure is calculated based on operational information of an engine 3. In the common rail type fuel injection control apparatus, learning processing is performed, in which a correction coefficient Cv is stored and updated as a learning value to correct energization characteristics of a median product of the pressure control valves 12 that are stored in the electronic control unit 4. At the same time, it is determined whether the learning value of the correction coefficient Cv is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kaneko, Sakae Suda, Kenichi Iino
  • Patent number: 8397557
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a component failure within a thermal regenerator operates as follows. The burner control unit monitors at least one of a fuel pump characteristic for a fuel pump and an ignition system characteristic for an ignition system. The fuel pump is used to supply fuel to a fuel-fired burner and the ignition system is used to ignite fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner. The fuel pump characteristic is communicated to the burner control unit which compares the fuel pump characteristic to a predetermined fuel pump criteria. The ignition system characteristic is communicated to the burner control unit which compares the ignition system characteristic to a predetermined ignition system criteria. The burner control unit identifies a fuel pump failure when the fuel pump characteristic does not meet the fuel pump criteria, and identifies an ignition system failure when the ignition system characteristic does not meet the ignition system criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Emcon Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Tony Parrish, Wilbur H. Crawley
  • Patent number: 8387441
    Abstract: A method for determining the amount of fuel flow from a high pressure gas tank to the anode side of a fuel cell stack through pulsed injector. The anode sub-system pressure is measured just before the injector pulse and just after injector pulse and a difference between the pressures is determined. The difference between the pressures, the volume of the anode sub-system, the ideal gas constant, the anode sub-system temperature, the fuel consumed from the reaction in the fuel cell stack during the injection event and the fuel cross-over through membranes in the fuel cells of the fuel cell stack are used to determine the amount of hydrogen gas injected by the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Falta, Steven G. Goebel, Daniel C. Di Fiore, Ralf Senner
  • Patent number: 8375924
    Abstract: A stem is installed to an injector body and is resiliently deformable upon receiving a pressure of high pressure fuel conducted through a high pressure passage of the injector body. A strain gauge is installed to the stem to sense a strain generated in the stem. A molded IC device executes an amplifying operation, which amplifies a signal received from the strain gauge. A housing is installed to the stem and holds the molded IC device. The stem, the strain gauge the molded IC device and the housing are integrally assembled together to form a fuel pressure sensing unit, which is installed to the injector body by threadably fastening a threaded portion, which is formed at the housing, to the injector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Tomiko Fujino
  • Patent number: 8333109
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an injection valve (5), in an overrun fuel cut-off phase the fuel supply to the fuel rail (4) is closed, and after the fuel supply has been closed off a first fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, and after the first measurement of the fuel pressure an injection valve (5) is actuated for a test injection. After the test injection a second fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, a differential pressure value (?P) is formed from the first and second measured fuel pressures and a difference of an operating parameter from a reference parameter is determined from the differential pressure value (?P), and when a previously defined maximum difference is exceeded the injection valve (5) is detected as being defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carlos Eduardo Migueis, Michael Stahl, Matthias Wiese
  • Publication number: 20120255348
    Abstract: A method for checking a rail pressure sensor, in which at least two values for the pressure of fuel in a fuel reservoir of an injection system are set on the basis of values for the pressure, which are ascertained by the rail pressure sensor; a desired quantity of fuel to be injected that is demanded by an idle-speed controller being ascertained for each set value of the pressure; and the desired quantities being compared to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Henning HERMES
  • Patent number: 8281768
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a fuel system of an engine includes a steady state determination module determining the engine is operating at a steady state and a memory storing a first fuel correction. A fuel pump control module commands a predetermined fuel rail pressure change. The memory stores a second fuel correction after the predetermined fuel rail pressure change. A sensor error correction module determines a fuel rail pressure sensor error based on the first fuel correction and the second fuel correction and determines a fuel rail pressure in response to the sensor error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Byungho Lee, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo
  • Publication number: 20120247193
    Abstract: The electronic component device includes an electronic component such as a pressure sensor for detecting pressure of fuel injected into an internal combustion engine, an insulating member made of an insulative resin and sealing the electronic component, and a shield member made of a conductive resin and surrounding the insulating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun KONDO, Kazufumi Serizawa
  • Patent number: 8220322
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a model pressure determination module and a sensor diagnostic module. The model pressure determination module determines a modeled fuel rail pressure based on a fuel pump flow rate and an engine fuel flow rate. The sensor diagnostic module generates a status of a fuel rail pressure sensor based on a comparison of the modeled fuel rail pressure and a sensed fuel rail pressure sensed by the fuel rail pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Michael J. Lucido, Vincent A. White
  • Patent number: 8215288
    Abstract: A method and control module for operating an engine that includes a pressure range determination module that determines a pressure value for a pressure sensor in a fuel rail is out of range. A fuel rail pressure estimate module that determines a predicted pressure value. An engine control module that operates the engine using the predicted pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Michael J. Lucido, Jon C. Miller, Michael N Kotsonas
  • Patent number: 8196564
    Abstract: In a method for determining a controlled variable of pressure control of a high-pressure accumulator of an injection system, a setpoint pressure gradient value is determined in the high-pressure accumulator as a function of the maximum possible actual pressure gradient value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Fredrik Borchsenius, Michael Wirkowski