Alternating Multiple Injectors (e.g., Series Injection) Patents (Class 123/300)
  • Patent number: 7334398
    Abstract: In combustion control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas purifying section is disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, a determination is made, on the basis of a state of the exhaust gas purifying section, whether a request is issued to switch a combustion mode of the engine to a split retard combustion (a predetermined fuel combustion mode) in which a preliminary combustion is carried out at least once at or near to a top dead center and a main combustion to develop a main torque is started after a completion of the preliminary combustion, and the combustion mode of the engine is switched to the split retard combustion when the combustion mode switching request determining section determines that the request is issued and during a low load driving state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Kitahara
  • Patent number: 7290522
    Abstract: High compression ratio, homogeneous charge compression ignition engines. In one aspect the engine is dual mode utilizing spark ignition at high load levels including the addition of hydrogen or a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture. In another aspect, the engine operates on a high cetane fuel with the addition of hydrogen or a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture at low-to-mid-load levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Masschusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John Heywood, Leslie Bromberg, Daniel Cohn
  • Patent number: 7278397
    Abstract: An Engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating (S100) a wall deposit correction quantity fmw, a DI reference injection quantity taudb of an in-cylinder injector, and a PFI reference injection quantity taupb of an intake manifold injector; sensing (S200) an engine coolant temperature THW; if THW is higher than a THW threshold value (YES in S300) and DI ratio r is not 100% (NO in S400), making a correction (S600) with wall deposit correction quantity fmw using the intake manifold injector; if THW is at most THW threshold value (NO in S300), making a correction (S500) with wall deposit correction quantity fmw using the in-cylinder injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7270108
    Abstract: An engine of the opposed piston, two-stroke, compression ignition type includes provision for injection of a main charge of liquid fuel into the bore of a cylinder between opposed pistons early in a compression stroke to permit the fuel to evaporate and mix with air during the remainder of the compression stroke to the point where the stoichiometric components of the mixture are insufficient for autoignition. Further provision is made for injection of a pilot charge of liquid fuel into the compressed air/fuel mixture later in the compression stroke. The pilot charge provides a stoichiometric component which autoignites, thereby activating ignition of the compressed air/fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Achates Power LLC
    Inventor: James U. Lemke
  • Patent number: 7219634
    Abstract: For the purpose of improving the fuel efficiency by lean combustion and enhancing the fuel efficiency improvement effects by performing compression ignition efficiently in some cylinders, a multi-cylinder spark ignition engine is constructed such that exhaust gas, that is exhausted from preceding cylinders 2A, 2D on the exhaust stroke side among pairs of cylinders whose exhaust stroke and intake stroke overlap in a low load, low rotational speed region, is directly introduced through an inter-cylinder gas passage 22 into following cylinders 2B, 2C on the intake stroke side and only gas exhausted from the following cylinders 2B, 2C is fed to an exhaust passage 20, which is provided with a three-way catalyst 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hitomi, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Yoshiyuki Shinya, Kouji Sumida, Takayoshi Hayashi, Noriyuki Iwata, Kouji Asanomi, Taketoshi Yamauchi, Keiji Araki
  • Patent number: 7216632
    Abstract: A valve body surrounds a first passage connecting with a cylinder of an engine. A valve member is adapted to be seated on and lifted from the valve seat. An injector body connects with the valve body. The injector body has a pressure control chamber for controlling hydraulic pressure applied to the valve member thereby controlling a lift of the valve member. The injector body has a second passage through which fuel in the pressure control chamber is exhausted. An actuator is adapted to communicating the pressure control chamber with the first passage through the second passage and blocking the pressure control chamber from the first passage. The first passage introduces fuel from the pressure control chamber into the cylinder through the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nagatomo, Kimitaka Saito, Masatoshi Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 7201145
    Abstract: In a fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a first fuel injection valve for directly injecting a fuel into a cylinder and a second fuel injection valve for injecting the fuel into an intake manifold, production of deposits in the first fuel injection valve is prevented and a satisfactory homogenous air-fuel mixture can be formed during homogenous combustion while an engine is at idle. In order to achieve this effect, during homogenous combustion while the engine is idle, a second fuel injection valve injects the fuel and a first fuel injection valve injects the fuel to which pressure has been applied by a low-pressure pump, without a high-pressure pump applying further pressure to the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eriko Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7198203
    Abstract: A fuel injector in injection systems for internal combustion engines having a valve body containing a control chamber that can be pressure-relieved and can be acted on with fuel via an inlet throttle and can be pressure-relieved via an outlet throttle. A first actuator can actuate a closing element. The valve body is connected to a holding body that has a nozzle body connected to it, which encompasses an injection valve element. In order to relieve the pressure in the control chamber, an additional, second outlet throttle is provided, whose closing element can be actuated either by an additional actuator or as a function of the power supply to a double-switching actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Brenk, Martin Kropp, Manfred Mack, Juergen Hammer, Reinhard Tampe, Heike Bastian
  • Patent number: 7198023
    Abstract: A sequential injection lubrication system for a spherical rotary valve internal combustion engine operating on natural gas or alternative fuels, the lubrication system having a plurality of injectors, one for each cylinder, the injectors and communication with a lubricant reservoir and with a control unit which sequentially opens and closes the injectors for the introduction of lubricant into the cylinder, the control unit in communication with a control panel allowing the selective setting of the duration of the pulse injection and the frequency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Gregory Coates
  • Patent number: 7182067
    Abstract: The injection system (1) includes a pump (7) for supplying high-pressure fuel to a storage volume, defined for example by a common rail (6), for supplying a number of injectors (5). The pump (7) has at least one reciprocating pumping member (18) with a sinusoidal compression stroke (24). The injection system (1) includes at least one bypass solenoid valve (14) controlled by a control unit (16) having a chopper unit (28) for producing multiple deliveries (29, 31) at each compression stroke (24), so that the pressure in the common rail (6) is substantially level. Each pumping member (18) may be associated with a corresponding bypass solenoid valve (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis, Annunziata Anna Satriano, Raffaele Ricco
  • Patent number: 7143739
    Abstract: In a method of operating an internal combustion engine in which exhaust gas is retained in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and compressed during a charge change together with fresh combustion air, a first fuel quantity is injected into the retained exhaust gas by means of direct fuel injection, a second fuel quantity is subsequently supplied to the combustion chamber together with the fresh combustion air so that a homogeneous fuel/gas/air mixture is formed in the combustion chamber, and an auto-ignition time of the fuel/gas/air mixture is established as a function of a quantity ratio of the first fuel quantity and the second fuel quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Götz Brachert, Rüdiger Herweg, Matthias Pfau, Jochen Schäflein, Hans-Jürgen Weimann
  • Patent number: 7096856
    Abstract: A fuel feed pump is provided that has a fuel flow-rate regulating valve, on the inlet side. The fuel flow-rate regulating valve includes a housing with a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow rate of the fuel from the inlet port to the outlet port, and a regulating mechanism for regulating a backpressure to control the position of a needle valve of the valve mechanism in response to a system pressure, to thereby control the flow rate by controlling the fuel flow through an opening provided in a valve chamber. This arrangement makes it difficult for contamination to accumulate, and also enables a low-cost implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukuhara, Nobuo Aoki, Koji Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7093579
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting fuel injection timing detects (401) a change in the number of fuel injections for a combustion chamber (105). During a timing adjustment period, the timing for fuel injection(s) may be adjusted (405) incrementally, e.g., in a series of steps or increments, and/or based at least in part on the time elapsed since the detected of the change in the number of fuel injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Dickerson, James T. Beaucaire
  • Patent number: 7086221
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for at least temporarily increasing an exhaust gas temperature of a spark-ignition, direction injection internal combustion engine (10) involving at least one measure, which is executed by the engine, whereby this at least one measure consists of a spark retarding and of a multiple injection (ME). During the multiple injection (ME), at least two fuel injections into the cylinder (12) are carried out within an induction cycle and compression cycle of a cylinder (12) of the internal combustion engine (10), and the latest of these injections ensues during a compression cycle of the cylinder (12). The invention also relates to the utilization of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Eric Bree, Kai Philipp, Michael Zillmer
  • Patent number: 7082927
    Abstract: When an internal combustion engine is stopped, a ratio of a quantity of fuel injection from an in-cylinder fuel injection valve to the total fuel injection quantity is increased and a ratio of a quantity of fuel injected from a manifold fuel injection valve to the total fuel injection quantity is decreased. Thereafter, the internal combustion engine is stopped. In this manner, a quantity of fuel adhered to an intake manifold when the internal combustion engine is stopped is reduced, and deterioration in emission can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7062902
    Abstract: An engine control equipment capable of activating a catalyst and preventing exhaust gas from deteriorating in order to early perform combustion by compressive self-ignition is disclosed. The engine control equipment is an engine control equipment including a catalyst for burning a mixed gas in a combustion chamber by compressive self-ignition and purifying exhaust-gas components in the combustion chamber and a controller for controller the catalyst which determines the activation of the catalyst and activates the catalyst in accordance with a determination result based upon determining the activation of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Minoru Ohsuga, Shiro Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 7036482
    Abstract: A liquid primary fuel is ignited by HCCI with the assistance of the early injection of a liquid pilot fuel. Pilot fuel injection and/or ignition are preferably controlled so as to permit the injected pilot fuel to become thoroughly distributed through and mixed with the primary fuel/air charge in the combustion chamber and vaporized prior to ignition. Pilot fuel having a lower autoignition temperature will be ignited by compression ignition, followed by the ignition of the homogeneous mixture of the primary fuel and air. HCCI combustion of the primary fuel is facilitated by 1) selection of the properties of the primary and pilot fuels and 2) obtaining a homogenous mixture of primary fuel and air by injecting primary fuel into the engine's intake air stream in the form of finely atomized droplets having a mean diameter in the micron range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Clean Air Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Johannes Beck, Kresimir Gebert, Hoi-Ching Wong
  • Patent number: 7024851
    Abstract: An engine control device is configured to perform optimum combustion control according to environmental conditions when warming up of a catalyst for emission purification is required. The engine control device performs stratified combustion by the compression stroke injection at the time of startup, when warming up of the catalyst is required. However, under conditions of low air density, stratified combustion by compression stroke injection is prevented, and either homogenous combustion by intake stroke injection is performed, or double injection combustion by intake stroke injection and compression stroke injection is performed. Thus, the engine control device maintains starting properties and prevents adverse effects on engine operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Akagi, Tsutomu Kikuchi, Yuichi Iriya, Hitoshi Ishii, Masahiro Fukuzumi, Katsuaki Uchiyama, Masahiko Yuya, Takao Maitani, Masayuki Tomita
  • Patent number: 7003945
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control device for internal combustion engine comprising air-fuel ratio modulating means and air-fuel ratio modulation adjusting means. The air-fuel ratio modulation adjusting means adjusts a lean period to be longer or the degree of leaning to be higher, during which the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas is a lean air-fuel ratio, compared with when an oxygen storage (S10) of a three-way catalyst exceeds a first given value X1 if the oxygen storage is not higher than the first given value X1 (S16, S18), and adjusts a rich period to be longer or the degree of enriching to be higher, during which the exhaust air-fuel ratio is a rich air-fuel ratio, compared with when a reducing agent storage (S12) exceeds a second given value Y1 if the reducing agent storage is not higher than the second given value Y1 (S20, S22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 6948476
    Abstract: Method for controlling a diesel engine with a common-rail injection system and a particulate filter, comprising the steps of performing at least one main injection (PRE, MAIN, AFTER) of fuel into a cylinder of the engine, the fuel being intended to take part in combustion inside the cylinder, and performing a post-injection (POST) in order to inject a predefined total quantity of fuel (QPOST) inside the cylinder, the post-injection being separated from the main injection (PRE, MAIN, AFTER) by means of a time separation interval such that the fuel injected during post-injection does not take part in combustion. The method also comprises the step of dividing the post-injection (POST) into a plurality of separate post-injections (POST1, POST2, POST3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Alberto Gioannini, Alessio Del Mastro
  • Patent number: 6932048
    Abstract: A combustion control device for an engine, comprises a fuel injection valve for injecting a fuel into a combustion chamber, ignition timing adjustment unit for adjusting an ignition timing of a mixture inside the combustion chamber, and control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve and the ignition timing adjustment unit. The control unit controls the fuel injection valve so as to execute at least a first injection which is conducted within the interval from an intake stroke to a compression stroke and a second injection conducted in the vicinity of a compression top dead center after the execution of the first injection, and controls the ignition timing adjustment unit so that the mixture formed by a fuel injected by the first injection and second injection and an intake air or the like is ignited after completion of the injection of the second injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Naoki Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 6928983
    Abstract: In an engine including a passage injector and an in-cylinder injector that allocates and injects fuel, a fuel injection controller prevents the fuel injection amount of each injector from falling below an allowable lower limit value. When the fuel injection amount of one of the passage injector and the in-cylinder injector becomes less than or equal to a value indicating the possibility of the fuel injection amount falling to less than an allowable lower limit value due to correction with the correction value, the fuel injection amount of only the other one of the passage injector and the in-cylinder injector is corrected with the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Patent number: 6920862
    Abstract: The invention relates to two methods for controlling a fuel metering of a direct-injection internal combustion engine (10) in a multiple injection operating mode according to which at least two fuel injections into a cylinder (12) are carried out during a compression cycle of the cylinder (12) of the internal combustion engine (10) by means of at least one injection valve (22). The invention provides that a pressure (rail pressure, PR), under which the fuel is stored in front of the injection valve (22), is present in such a manner and/or injected fuel portions of the individual injections of a combustion cycle and/or a total fuel quantity, which is injected during a multiple injection, are varied in such a manner as to prevent a forthcoming valve opening time (?t) of the injection valve (22) from falling below a preset valve opening time (?tK) during at least one injection of a combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Eric Bree, Kai Philipp, Michael Zillmer
  • Patent number: 6912992
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing pilot fuel into a piston cylinder of an operating gaseous fuelled internal combustion engine monitoring a set of engine parameters, determining engine load and engine speed from the set of engine parameters, introducing a first portion of the gaseous fuel into the cylinder where the first portion of gaseous fuel forms a substantially homogeneous mixture comprising gaseous fuel and air prior to combustion, and introducing a pilot fuel to avoid a excessive knocking range for the engine. A second quantity of gaseous fuel can also be added to burn in a substantially diffusion combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Cummins Westport Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Ancimer, Konstantin V. Tanin
  • Patent number: 6866016
    Abstract: Ignition of a main fuel in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber is accomplished by diverting a portion of the main fuel to a processing system; processing said portion of the main fuel to increase ignition sensitivity thereof and form a pilot fuel; introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber; and introducing said pilot fuel to control ignition of the main fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael Kent Cueman
  • Patent number: 6843221
    Abstract: Methods for operating a fuel injection device. A single fuel shot is delivered when rack is less than a first predetermined threshold. A first fuel shot and a second fuel shot is delivered when rack is above the first predetermined threshold and below a second predetermined threshold. A single fuel shot is delivered when rack is above a third predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar
    Inventors: Brian G. McGee, John P. Timmons, Mark E. Rettig
  • Patent number: 6840211
    Abstract: In the diesel engine of the present invention, an early-stage injection (A) is performed so that this injection is divided into a plurality of injections during the compression stroke of the engine, and a main injection (B) is performed following the completion of this early-stage injection. Furthermore, the early-stage injection is performed using an amount of fuel and timing which are such that the generation of heat caused by fuel of the early-stage injection occurs in the vicinity of compression top dead center, and the main injection is performed using an amount of fuel and timing which are such that the generation of heat caused by fuel of the main injection occurs after the generation of heat caused by fuel of the early-stage injection has been completed. Since the early-stage injection is divided into a plurality of injections, the adhesion of fuel to the inside walls of the cylinder is prevented, and pre-mixing of the fuel is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Susumu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6837212
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for delivering fuel to at least two combustion chambers of an engine. A fuel controller receives a first fuel quantity signal indicative of a first desired quantity of fuel to be delivered to each combustion chamber of the engine during a combustion cycle. The fuel controller transmits at least one second fuel quantity signal as a function of the first fuel quantity signal, and transmits at least one third fuel quantity signal as a function of the first fuel quantity signal. The second and third fuel quantity signals are indicative of a respective second and third desired quantities of fuel to be delivered during a combustion cycle. The sum of the fuel quantities corresponding to the second fuel quantity signals transmitted during a combustion cycle are less than the first desired fuel quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason K. Bloms, Brian G. McGee, David Andrew Pierpont, Jeffrey A. L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040250790
    Abstract: High compression ratio, homogeneous charge compression ignition engines. In one aspect the engine is dual mode utilizing spark ignition at high load levels including the addition of hydrogen or a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture. In another aspect, the engine operates on a high cetane fuel with the addition of hydrogen or a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture at low-to-mid-load levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: John B. Heywood, Leslie Bromberg, Daniel Cohn
  • Patent number: 6823832
    Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling the injection of fuel into an internal combustion engine, a distinction is made at least between a first state and a second state. Immediately before the transition from the first state to the second state, the injection data is altered so that the emissions, in particular the production of noise, are gradually made to approximate the emissions in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ruben-Sebs Henning, Klemens Brack, Andreas Kerst, Burkhard Veldten, Dietmar Ottenbacher, Iris Sauerwein, Stefan Becher
  • Patent number: 6813881
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, in which fuel may be injected into a combustion chamber during an intake phase in a first mode of operation or during a compression phase in a second mode of operation, and in which exhaust gases may be sent to a catalytic converter. A control unit determines a temperature difference between an actual exhaust gas temperature and a setpoint exhaust gas temperature at an operating point having a low exhaust gas temperature. In addition, at least one additional injection after combustion is implemented by the control unit as a function of the temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Roth, Andreas Koring, Beate Rittmann, Holger Bellmann, Klaus Winkler
  • Patent number: 6802880
    Abstract: An air guide filter for an internal combustion engine includes an air filter having a pair of support rings coupled to upper and lower portions of the filter. A pleated filter plate is disposed between the support rings, and an air guide is disposed between the support rings parallel with the filter plate. The air guide comprises a plurality holes defined by half-cone cross-section depressions uniformly disposed about its face, such that, when the air guide is placed at a certain elevation angle with respect to the support rings, air flowing into the filter is guided, rotated and mixed with fuel to generate a uniform air-fuel mixture. The uniform mixture improves combustion and engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Heru Prasanta Wijaya
  • Patent number: 6769635
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a homogenous charge nozzle outlet set and a conventional nozzle outlet set controlled respectively, by first and second needle valve members. One of the needle valve members moves to an open position while the other needle valve member remains stationary for a homogeneous charge injection event. The former needle valve member stays stationary while the other needle valve member moves to an open position for a conventional injection event. One of the needle valve members is at least partially positioned in the other needle valve member. Thus, the injector can perform homogeneous charge injection events, conventional injection events, or even a mixed mode having both types of injection events in a single engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Chris Stewart, Scott A. Chockley, Daniel R. Ibrahim, Keith Lawrence, Jay Tomaseki, Junru H. Azam, Steven Ye Tian, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 6763810
    Abstract: A novel injection-pump plunger used in a unit injector for an EMD-type diesel engine has its upper (cut-off) control edge shaped to retard start of injection at full power from what it is with standard plungers, and to provide in a straight-line manner a relatively small increase in retardation from full load to idle. In a preferred form, the plunger has one or more steps in its upper (cut-off) control edge, the step or steps being formed between adjacent segments of the edge that are associated with different load points. A method of improving emissions/fuel-economy of EMD diesel engines comprises using prototype injection-pump plungers shaped within certain parameters, assessing their performance, selecting new patterns of timing based on the assessment, making new prototype plungers and assessing them, and repeating the steps of selecting, making and assessing if and as required until an assessment indicates compliance with applicable performance standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Jerry A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6748920
    Abstract: An injection ratio control system for an internal combustion engine performs a multi-injection, in which multiple pilot injections and a main injection are performed. The system prohibits a first injection among the pilot injections if a main injection quantity command value for the main injection is less than an N time(s) minimum guarantee determination value. An injection quantity for the first injection is added to the injection quantity for the main injection. Thus, the system controls an injection frequency per combustion in the multi-injection to prevent the use of a minute main injection quantity command value equal to or less than the N time(s) minimum guarantee determination value. As a result, the main injection is prevented from vanishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Ito, Yoshimitsu Takashima
  • Publication number: 20040103649
    Abstract: Diesel engine with unit injectors and a catalytic converter arranged in the engine exhaust system, for reaction with uncombusted fuel. The injectors have spill valves, which in their closed position build up pressure in the injectors, and needle control valves, which in their closed position keep the needle valves of the injectors closed and which, when they are open, open the needle valves. The unit injectors have pump plungers, which are driven by individual cam elements whit a cam curve shaped so that a pressure is maintained in the injects for so long a period during one cycle that injection of fuel is permitted at least when an associated exhaust valve in the combustion chamber begins to open so late during the expansion stroke and temperature drop, that fuel after injection is not combusted in the cylinder but reaches the catalytic converted uncombusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Per Persson, Jan Wiman, Jonas Rick
  • Publication number: 20040103875
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fuel injection timing in a compression ignition engine is provided. The method includes monitoring a position of a piston reciprocating in a cylinder between a top dead center (TDC) position and a bottom dead center (BDC) position and injecting a predetermined quantity of fuel into the cylinder when the piston is at least one of reciprocating from said TDC toward BDC during an intake stroke and at BDC reciprocating toward TDC during a compression stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Aaron Joseph Simon, Venkatraman Ananthakrishnan Iyer, Juan Carlos Alvarez, Samar Shaker Soliman
  • Publication number: 20040094118
    Abstract: Method and device (1) for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber that includes at least one main injector (3) and at least one pilot injector (2). The device includes a fuel tank (4), a line system (5) coupled from the fuel tank to the injectors (2, 3), a pump (6) for pumping fuel from the tank to the injectors, and a first regulator valve (7) for regulating the flow of fuel in a first line (8) in the system which is connected to the pilot injector (2). The device further includes a second regulator valve (9) for regulating the flow of fuel through a second line (10) in the system, which is connected to the pilot injector (2). The second regulator valve (9) is designed to regulate a substantially smaller flow than the first regulator valve (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: VOLVO AERO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bertil JONSSON
  • Patent number: 6732705
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection, the fuel injection includes at least two injections that are carried out at at least two different injection pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Oliver Ebelsheiser, Alois Raab, Martin Schnabel, Martin-Claudio Schuler, Guenter Wenninger
  • Patent number: 6729123
    Abstract: When an internal combustion engine is in a cold state (S12), fuel is injected during compression stroke with burn air/fuel ratio controlled so as to produce a slight lean air/fuel mixture equivalent to or slightly leaner than a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture (compression S/L operation) (S14), and also exhaust gas flow is restrained (S16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuki Tamura, Kazuhito Kawashima
  • Patent number: 6725838
    Abstract: A solitary fuel injector for a diesel engine that is capable of injecting fuel for a homogeneous charge compression ignition injection event, a conventional injection event. The solitary fuel injector also has a mixed mode that includes a homogeneous charge compression ignition injection and a conventional injection in a single compression stroke for the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Scott Shafer, Clifford Cotton, Joseph Angelino, Robert Dieffenbach, Ye Tian, Richard Holtman
  • Patent number: 6715464
    Abstract: A fuel injection device operating on the solid-state energy storage principle and configured as a reciprocating plunger pump having a delivery plunger element, the delivery plunger element being moved from its starting position in the direction of a pressure chamber, the delivery plunger element storing kinetic energy during a near zero-resistance acceleration phase, this kinetic energy being abruptly transmitted by a impulse movement to the fuel present in the pressure chamber so that a pressure impulse is generated for ejaculating fuel through an injector means, a second pressure chamber being arranged on the side of the delivery plunger element opposite the first pressure chamber such that kinetic energy absorbed on return movement of the delivery plunger element to its starting position is transmitted to fuel present in the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
    Inventor: Wolfgang Heimberg
  • Patent number: 6705278
    Abstract: An apparatus and method transitions fuel delivery between a first injection characteristic shape and a second injection characteristic shape based on engine operating parameters. The apparatus and method may be adapted to control a fuel injection system, and to operate in at least a split injection mode and a boot injection mode, including steps or means for determining whether an acceleration condition exists, and on the basis of such determination, rapidly changing from a split injection mode to a boot injection mode. This may include a fuel injection control system and/or a controller operative to identify an acceleration condition on the basis of at least one sensed acceleration-related engine operating condition, and to rapidly change the fuel injection mode for at least one fuel injector from the split fuel injection mode to the boot fuel injection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Brian G. McGee, Matthew R. Roth, Jason J. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20040025849
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiple fuel injections during a single combustion cycle for a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a common rail fuel distribution system determine the beginning of injection for the pilot and main injections based on crankshaft position while post injections are based on the main injection timing and an injector turn off delay determined using actual rail pressure. A rail pressure setpoint is determined based on current engine operating conditions including one or more fluid temperatures and current operating mode to provide more accurate injection control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: James A. West, James E. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6684853
    Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated unit fuel injector of the intensifier type is provided with two independently operable active control valves. A selectively actuable fuel pressure control valve is disposed on the hydraulic actuation fluid side to control the fuel pressure actuation process and provide a window of injection opportunity wherein the fuel pressure is maintained at high pressure. A selectively actuable timing control valve is disposed on the high pressure fuel side to provide precise control of injection timing events and duration, such as start of injection, end of injection, timing of interruption and duration of interruption, which all may occur during a single injection event within the window of opportunity. Both control valves are independently controlled to prevent reverse motion of the intensifier piston and plunger during dwell or interruption of injection while maintaining the full injection pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Ning Lei
  • Patent number: 6666020
    Abstract: A method of initiating regeneration of a particulate filter for a diesel engine having a common rail injection system permitting, at each engine cycle and in each cylinder of the engine, a fuel injection strategy performing one or more of the following injections; a main injection; a first pre-injection preceding the main injection and performed at the compression stroke; a second pre-injection preceding the main injection and following the first pre-injection; a first post-injection following the main injection; and a second post-injection following the first post-injection and performed at the exhaust stroke; the second pre-injection and the first post-injection being performed close enough to the main injection to participate, together with the main injection, in the actual fuel combustion phase, and wherein the timing of one or more of the injections performed is varied with respect to the timing of the injections in particulate filter non-regenerating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Marco Tonetti, Giovanni Maria Rossi Sebastiano, Maurizio Mugnaini, Pierluigi Rellecati
  • Patent number: 6666019
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine capable of post injection is disclosed which provides control such that the injection timing in sub injection is set to a point earlier than the target injection timing when the sub injection is started, and the injection timing in the sub injection is then delayed to the target injection timing. This realizes the post injection under the optimum conditions and enables an efficient rise in the exhaust temperature while inhibiting deterioration of the drivability due to a rapid change in torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Kawatani, Kihoko Kaita, Shinichi Saito, Takeshi Hashizume, Junya Watanabe, Kenji Kawai, Satoshi Hiranuma, Yoshinaka Takeda
  • Patent number: 6666185
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting pilot fuel in a combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a load of the engine, determining a desired injection timing of the pilot fuel and a desired quantity of pilot fuel to be injected as a function of a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel based on the engine load, and adjusting the injection timing and quantity of the pilot fuel to the desired values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Martin L. Willi, Scott B. Fiveland, Joel D. Hiltner, Weidong Gong
  • Patent number: 6659086
    Abstract: The fuel injection apparatus has one fuel pump for each cylinder of the engine, which pump has a pump piston, driven by the engine in a reciprocating motion, that defines a pump work chamber, which communicates via a line with a fuel injection valve, disposed on the engine separately from the fuel pump, which valve has an injection valve member, by which at least one injection opening is controlled, and which is movable in the opening direction, counter to a closing force, by the pressure generated in the pump work chamber, and at least one first electrically triggered control valve is provided, by which a communication of the pump work chamber with a relief chamber is controlled, and which is disposed near the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Nestor Rodriguez-Amaya, Roger Potschin, Juergen Gruen, Ulrich Projahn
  • Patent number: RE39257
    Abstract: A throttle control apparatus for an engine on a vehicle is provided, in which the number of component parts in the position detection means and the driven means is reduced to improve the accuracy in its position control and at the same time an integrated wiring is achieved and connectors are aggregated. The position detection means for detecting the position of a control valve, the driven means for controlling the position of the control valve, the means for processing control signals, an output from the position control means for controlling the position of the control valve are disposed within a sealed space defined by a body supporting a control valve shaft, and a cover. Based on the fact that the number of component parts of the position detection means may be reduced, the mechanical hysteresis and electrical hysteresis may also be reduced to improve the accuracy in controlling the control valve position, and it is possible to aggregate the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kamimura, Yasushi Sasaki, Sadayuki Aoki, Kazuo Nagayama