Fuel Injection System Patents (Class 123/445)
  • Publication number: 20140360469
    Abstract: The fuel injection valve (1) for the intermittent injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has a valve housing (12) that defines a longitudinal axis (14) and is provided with a high-pressure chamber (16). The connecting part (20) of the valve housing (12) has two identically formed high-pressure connections (22, 24) for high-pressure fuel lines. The two identically formed high-pressure connections (22, 24) are arranged in a common connecting face (30?) in such a way that said high-pressure connections are oriented in the same direction and the connection axes (22?, 24?) thereof run parallel to each other. In the interior of the valve housing (12), the high-pressure connections (22, 24) are connected to each other and to the high-pressure chamber (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Marco Ganser
  • Publication number: 20140358405
    Abstract: A premixed charge of air and a low reactivity fuel is created in a combustion chamber space by the time at which a piston comes substantially to top dead center at which time a high reactivity fuel is directly injected into a central zone of the combustion chamber space which is bounded partially by a central bowl cavity in the piston head which is itself surrounded by an upright intermediate wall. The high reactivity fuel combusts by conventional diesel combustion and creates a flame front which propagates into an outer zone of the combustion chamber space which is bounded partially by the upright intermediate wall and an outer bowl cavity in the piston head to initiate combustion of the premixed air-fuel charge in the outer zone of the combustion chamber space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: William de Ojeda, Ming Zheng
  • Publication number: 20140352664
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a flow limiting system for a dual fuel engine is disclosed. The flow limiting system includes a first valve configured to regulate a flow of a liquid fuel therethrough based on a pressure difference across the first valve. The flow limiting system further includes a second valve configured to regulate a flow of a gaseous fuel therethrough based on a pressure difference across the second valve. The second valve includes a valve body movably provided within a valve chamber. The valve body includes a control orifice extending therethrough. The valve body also includes grooves defined on an outer surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Dennis H. Gibson, Sana Mahmood, Sunil J. Bean
  • Publication number: 20140345568
    Abstract: Intake apparatus for an engine comprising: injection means for injecting fuel into a flow stream of intake gas through the apparatus; and heating means for heating intake gas passing through the apparatus, the apparatus being operable to inject fuel into the flow stream of intake gas by means of the injection means such that when intake gas flows through the apparatus at a first flow rate injected fuel impinges on the heating means; and when intake gas flows through the apparatus at a second flow rate greater than the first a flowpath of injected fuel is deflected by intake gas such that substantially no fuel impinges on the heating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Shaun Addy
  • Publication number: 20140345567
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine may include at least one distributor unit to supply liquid fluid and a plurality of preheating systems each connected to the distributor unit. The respective preheating systems may have a preheating chamber and at least one heating element. A plurality of connection nozzles may each be connected to respective preheating systems. A fuel path may lead from the distributor unit through the respective preheating chambers to the respective injection nozzles of the plurality of preheating systems. The respective preheating systems may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing may be connected via a plug-in connection on the inlet to the distributor unit and via a plug-in connection on the outlet to the respective injection nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tadeu Amaral, Roberta Cruz, Fabio Moreira, Juergen Stehlig
  • Publication number: 20140345569
    Abstract: A device for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one injector. The injector includes an injector body, a high-pressure accumulator integrated into the injector body, an injection nozzle, a high-pressure bore, and a feed bore. The injection nozzle defines a nozzle chamber and has a nozzle needle configured to be guided in an axially movable manner and that is surrounded by the nozzle chamber. The high-pressure bore is connected to the high-pressure accumulator and the nozzle chamber. The feed bore is configured to feed high-pressure fuel to the high-pressure accumulator. Additionally, the feed bore has a lance connection positioned laterally on the injector body, is formed as a bore separate from the high-pressure bore, and connects the lance connection directly to the high-pressure accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Schnedt
  • Publication number: 20140338638
    Abstract: A propulsion device for vehicles includes a device for the partial oxidation of fuel, a fuel tank and a diesel internal combustion engine. The device for the partial oxidation of fuel is in fluid connection with the fuel tank and the diesel internal combustion engine, with the result that at least some of the fuel carried in the vehicle is taken for partial oxidation before combustion in the diesel internal combustion engine. A method for operating such propulsion devices using partially oxidized fuel in the propulsion devices reduces soot emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Man Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: Dieter ROTHE
  • Publication number: 20140338637
    Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The engine may have a crankshaft and a plurality of cylinders. The fuel system may have a plurality of plungers separately connectable to the crankshaft and a plurality of fuel injectors associated with the plurality of cylinders. The fuel system may also have a common rail configured to store pressurized fuel. The fuel system may additionally have a plurality of first conduits, each first conduit fluidly connecting a barrel associated with a respective one of the plurality of plungers to the common rail. The fuel system may also have a plurality of second conduits, each second conduit fluidly connecting the common rail to a respective one of the plurality of fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Shafer, Steven Tian
  • Publication number: 20140338639
    Abstract: A method of controlling injection rate shape of gaseous fuel in a dual fuel injector of an engine is disclosed. The dual fuel injector comprises a gaseous fuel needle check, a gaseous fuel control chamber, and a spring chamber. The method includes determination of an injection rate shape based on current operational characteristics of the engine. On the basis of the determined injection rate shape, liquid fuel pressure of the liquid fuel to be supplied to the gaseous fuel control chamber and the spring chamber is determined. The liquid fuel at the determined liquid fuel pressure, is delivered to the gaseous fuel control chamber and the spring chamber. The gaseous fuel needle check is lifted to inject the gaseous fuel based on the determined injection rate shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Cory A. Brown
  • Patent number: 8881709
    Abstract: A common rail single fluid injection system includes fuel injectors ramp shaped injection curves at both the front and back ends of an injection event. This is accomplished by including a check speed control device fixed in position within the check control chamber of a fuel injector. The check speed control device controls the speed of a check by restricting fuel flowing into and out of the check control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark F. Sommars
  • Publication number: 20140326216
    Abstract: A diesel engine enhancement assembly, including a microprocessor connected to the ECM, a control interface, a pump assembly connected to the microprocessor, an injector connected in fluidic communication the pump assembly and to an engine and the microprocessor, and a tank assembly connected to the pump assembly. The microprocessor initiates injection of predetermined amounts of combustion enhancing fluid into the engine when predetermined conditions are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Jerry R. Shrum, J. Michael Jarvis
  • Patent number: 8875680
    Abstract: At a time of start of an internal combustion engine, vaporization or atomization of a fuel for initial explosion is promoted, and thereby, discharge of HC can be restrained. The internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve which injects a fuel into an intake port, and an exhaust valve which can be stopped in a closed state for each cylinder. When the cylinder before initial explosion is in an exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve of the cylinder is stopped in a closed state. Subsequently, the fuel injection valve of the cylinder in which the exhaust valve is stopped in the closed state in the exhaust stroke is caused to inject the fuel for initial explosion so that an injection time is before opening timing of an intake valve or coincides with the opening timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20140318497
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank arrangement is provided for a fuel that includes at least a first fluid and a second fluid. The tank arrangement includes a tank and a partition wall arranged inside the tank in order to create at least a first compartment for storing the first fluid and a second compartment for storing the second fluid. The position of the partition all inside the tank can be changed to set the volume of the first compartment and the second compartment to predetermined values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKS
    Inventors: Iyad Balloul, Jean-Christophe Palmer, Michel Vanvolsem
  • Publication number: 20140311452
    Abstract: A connecting element for fuel injection systems is used for connecting a fuel injector to a fuel-carrying component, in particular a fuel distributor rail. A base body having a receiving space is provided for this purpose. The base body has an opening, via which a fuel fitting of the fuel injector is insertable into the receiving space of the base body. Furthermore, a first annular element is provided in the receiving space, which in the installed state on the one hand interacts with the fuel fitting inserted into the receiving space and on the other hand interacts with the base body. Furthermore, a second annular element is provided in the receiving space of the base body, the first annular element and the second annular element abutting against an outside of the fuel fitting in the installed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael FISCHER, Michael KNORPP, Martin RIEMER, Hans-Georg HORST, Andreas GLASER, Philipp ROGLER, Jan HERRMANN, Andreas REHWALD, Michael MAYER, Volker SCHEEF, Wilhelm REINHARDT
  • Publication number: 20140311451
    Abstract: A dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a gaseous fuel subsystem and a liquid fuel subsystem. A plurality of fuel injectors each define a gaseous fuel passage fluidly connected to a gaseous fuel manifold of the gaseous fuel subsystem, a liquid fuel passage fluidly connected to a liquid fuel manifold of the liquid fuel subsystem, and a liquid fuel leak path from the liquid fuel passage to the gaseous fuel passage. A liquid fuel purging mechanism includes a drain conduit and at least one valve positioned fluidly between the drain conduit and the gaseous fuel manifold, and being adjustable to fluidly connect the drain conduit to the gaseous fuel manifold, to drain leaked liquid fuel to a low pressure outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dianqi Fang, Daniel Puckett
  • Publication number: 20140305407
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to the use of gas clathrates. More particularly, this disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses related to the use of gas clathrates as a fuel source for automobiles. The gas clathrates may first be dissociated into at least one gas and the at least one gas delivered to the prime mover of a vehicle or the gas clathrates may be directly utilized by the prime mover as a fuel source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140305408
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine is configured to be operated with fuel, such as gaseous or liquid fuel, to provide a more complete combustion of the fuel/air mixture. The cylinder head has at least one fuel guiding section, which includes a fuel inlet valve casing for accommodating a fuel inlet valve configured to control a fuel flow rate, a fuel/air mixing chamber for mixing the fuel with air, and a fuel guiding portion connecting the fuel inlet valve casing to the fuel/air mixture chamber. The fuel guiding portion is integrally formed with the cylinder head and defines at least a first fuel feeding passage and at least a second fuel feeding passage. The first fuel feeding passage and the second fuel feeding passage extend from the fuel inlet valve casing to the fuel/air mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benjamin Bleyer
  • Publication number: 20140299102
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a direct injection internal combustion engine having two fuel rails and a plurality of fuel injectors attached to and fluidly connected with each fuel rail. A first fuel pump has its output connected with the first fuel rail while a second fuel pump has its output connected with the second fuel rail. A crossover pipe fluidly connects the outlets of both the first and second pumps. Both the first pump and the second pump each have an intake stroke and a pumping stroke. Furthermore, the intake stroke of the first pump coincides with the pumping stroke of the second pump and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Donald J. McCune, Harsha Badarinarayan, Pilar Hernandez Mesa, George Saikalis
  • Publication number: 20140299100
    Abstract: A method for controlling natural gas injection in a cylinder of an engine through a gas admission valve is provided. The method comprises determination of an amount of substitution, which varies between 30%-85% of a combustible mixture. Duration of injection is determined based on the amount of substitution. Based on the duration of injection, a first crank angle and a second crank angle, selected from a range of 325 degrees to 420 degrees, are determined to start and stop the injection, respectively. The natural gas is injected for the determined duration of injection, by opening the gas admission valve at the first crank angle and closing the gas admission valve at the second crank angle. The amount of substitution of the natural gas is modulated to maintain engine operating parameters at optimal. Based on the modulated duration of injection, the duration of injection for the natural gas is tuned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: MICHAEL GOETZKE, DEEP BANDYOPADHYAY, RAGHAVENDRA SUBRAMANYA
  • Publication number: 20140299101
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying gaseous fuel from a tender car to an internal combustion engine on a locomotive comprising storing the gaseous fuel at a cryogenic temperature in a cryogenic storage tank on the tender car; pumping the gaseous fuel to a first pressure from the cryogenic storage tank; vaporizing the gaseous fuel at the first pressure; and conveying the vaporized gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine; whereby a pressure of the vaporized gaseous fuel is within a range between 310 bar and 575 bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Bradley E. Melanson, Melissa S.A. McKinnon, Paul M. Blomerus
  • Publication number: 20140290597
    Abstract: A method, comprising: operating an engine cylinder with fuel from a first injector and not a second injector and activating the second injector in response to a rail pressure increase of a fuel rail, the fuel rail coupled to the second injector. In this way, degradation of the second injector may be reduced by activating the second injector and allowing fuel flow through the second injector to reduce the pressure and temperature of the fuel rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Publication number: 20140283787
    Abstract: A system to lower fuel viscosity prior to fuel combustion includes at least one fuel heating system and a pressure pump system. The pressure pump system and the at least one fuel heating system are in fluid communication with the a fuel injection system to accommodate for the fuel circulation, where the at least one fuel heating system heats up the ambient temperature fuel from the fuel injection system prior to combustion. A plurality of valves that is electronically connected with an ECU functions within the pressure pump system, the at least one fuel heating system, and the fuel injection system for the optimized performance of the pressure pump system and the at least one fuel heating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph M. MCANDREWS
  • Publication number: 20140283788
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a leakage in a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel supply system includes a fuel line system with fuel line sections and a pressure monitoring system with monitoring segments, a set of valves, and a pressure sensor. The method includes detecting a leakage between the fuel line sections and the pressure monitoring system when the set of valves are opened to fluidly connect the monitoring segments. The method also includes performing at least two pressure measurements for at least two selected sets of neighboring monitoring segments for providing pressure behaviour information for the selected sets of neighboring monitoring segments. The method further includes comparing the pressure behaviour information of the selected sets of neighboring monitoring segments, and identifying a leaking monitoring segment based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benjamin Bleyer
  • Patent number: 8839747
    Abstract: A composite power cycle engine may include a fuel injector that injects fuel into air that is or is to be supplied into a combustion chamber, a high temperature medium injector that injects a high temperature medium into the combustion chamber to increase pressure of the combustion chamber, a low temperature medium injector that injects a low temperature medium into the combustion chamber to reduce pressure of the combustion chamber, and a piston that may be disposed in the combustion chamber to slidably move therein and that transforms gas expansion or contraction energy into kinetic energy, wherein the high temperature medium injector or the low temperature medium injector increases or reduces the pressure of the combustion chamber so as to generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Publication number: 20140261321
    Abstract: A fuel system is disclosed for use with an engine having a plurality of cylinders. The fuel system may have a fuel supply, and a fuel distributor configured to selectively connect the fuel supply with the plurality of cylinders. The fuel system may also have a fuel valve fluidly connected between the fuel supply and the fuel distributor. The fuel valve may be movable to affect a fueling parameter of individual cylinders of the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh MALHOTRA
  • Publication number: 20140261326
    Abstract: An injection device for an internal combustion engine is described, which has a first fuel injector for injecting fuel having a first fuel composition based on ethanol, and a separate second fuel injector for injecting fuel having a second fuel composition, which differs from the first fuel composition, the injection device having a heating device for preheating exclusively the fuel having the first fuel composition and injected by way of the first fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Thor Windbergs
  • Publication number: 20140261325
    Abstract: In some embodiments, split-cycle engines are disclosed that are capable of operating in a normal firing mode in which a firing stroke is performed in the expansion cylinder only on every other rotation of the crankshaft. Fuel can be injected directly into the expansion cylinder during the non-firing rotation of the crankshaft over a period of time greater than what is possible with traditional split-cycle engines. A number of other advantages are associated with such engines. In some embodiments, two expansion cylinders can be provided such that a firing stroke is performed on every rotation of the crankshaft, even though each individual expansion cylinder only performs a firing stroke on every other rotation of the crankshaft. Air hybridized and/or Millerized variations of these engines, as well as various cylinder arrangements, are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen P. Scuderi, Ford Allen Phillips, David Branyon, Thomas E. Briggs, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140261323
    Abstract: A fuel injection system comprising an injector-igniter and a fuel tank in fluid communication with the injector-igniter. The injector igniter includes an injector housing and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve and a valve seat electrode located within the injector housing. The valve seat electrode forms an annular spark gap between the electrode and an electrode portion of the injector housing. An actuator, such as a piezoelectric actuator, is disposed in the housing and connected to the valve. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a thermochemical reactor operatively coupled to the injector-igniter to provide a supplemental supply of hydrogen for combustion enhancement. In other embodiments, a hydraulic stroke amplifier is disposed between the actuator and valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Publication number: 20140261324
    Abstract: A housing for an engine is provided. The housing includes an intake manifold configured to supply air to at least one chamber defined within the housing, a fuel port configured to supply fuel to the at least one chamber, and a compression control port configured to control at least one of a pressure and a volume of a fuel-air mixture in the at least one chamber during a compression cycle of the engine. The compression control port includes a passage defined through the housing, and at least one valve disposed in the passage and configured to control a flow through the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GOTEK ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Lee Herbruck, Brad Scott Farrenkopf
  • Publication number: 20140261322
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fuelling a plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The system includes a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system for recirculating exhaust gas flow from at least one dedicated cylinder of an engine into an intake system prior to combustion. The system further includes a fueling system to provide a first flow of fuel to each of the plurality of cylinders and a second flow of fuel to each of the dedicated cylinders that is in addition to the first flow of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Geckler, Marten H. Dane, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Patent number: 8833341
    Abstract: In one example, a method for controlling a fuel system with fuel is provided. The method includes, in response to an engine shutdown, increasing communication between a fuel rail and a fuel tank to increase boiling of fuel in the rail, and then decreasing the communication after the fuel rail cools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Chee Aun Wong, Adam Nolan, Jamie Terence Slaymaker
  • Patent number: 8833343
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a fuel system that supplies fuel to a plurality of injectors in an internal combustion engine via a first pump and a second pump with a bypass circuit returning fuel from between the first and second pumps to a fuel tank, the pumps connected in series, is provided. The bypass circuit increases its restriction to increase injection pressure during selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Dequan Yu
  • Publication number: 20140251274
    Abstract: When fuel is injected into a combustion chamber (2) of a cylinder (13) of an engine (30) of a vehicle (10), the fuel is injected in the form of multiple jets (3) with the aid of an injector (1). In this connection, a first plane is defined in which both the central axis (11) of the injector (1) and the central axis (12) of the cylinder (13) lie. Furthermore, a second plane is defined in which both the central axis (11) of the injector (1) and the surface normal of the first plane lie. The jets (3) are generated in such a way that for each jet pair, which is formed from two of the jets (3), an angle between the projections of the two central axes of the two jets of the jet pair into the second plane is smaller than 50°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Kay Schintzel, Lars Hentschel, Jörg Theobald, Andreas Thaysen, Feitse Ebus
  • Publication number: 20140238350
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for injecting gaseous fuel into a compression ignition engine are disclosed. A gaseous fuel injector includes a pintle valve and an intensifier. The pintle valve includes a pintle body defining a pintle bore therethrough, a first sealing surface disposed on a distal end of the pintle body, and a pintle disposed within the pintle bore. The pintle includes a shaft, a radially flared portion, and a second sealing surface disposed on a proximal face of the radially flared portion, such that the first sealing surface faces the second sealing surface. The intensifier includes an intensifier body defining a fuel pump chamber therein, the fuel pump chamber being fluidly coupled to a gaseous fuel supply and the pintle bore, a plunger having a distal end disposed in the fuel pump chamber, and an intensifier piston disposed on a proximal end of the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Fiveland, David Montgomery, Alan Stockner
  • Publication number: 20140230790
    Abstract: A device for providing ignition of a fuel-air mixture using a transient plasma discharge is provided. The device includes an anode coupled to receive a voltage; and a cathode disposed in proximity to the anode and coupled to a ground, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode includes a protrusion that enhances an electric field formed between the anode and the cathode, the protrusion forming a sharp edge defining a plurality of points, each point forming a path of shortest distance between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Daniel R. Singleton, Martin A. Gundersen, Jason M. Sanders, Andras Kuthi
  • Publication number: 20140224213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the injection of recirculated exhaust gases from a vehicle engine, in particular a diesel engine, the injection device comprising a plurality of injection ports (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4), provided in a portion of the material of the injection device, each injection port (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4) having a cross section and a height extending through the thickness of the material. According to the invention, the cross sections and/or the heights of at least two of the injection ports (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4) are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Georges De Pelsemaeker, Jean-Pierre Galland, Laurent Odillard
  • Publication number: 20140224214
    Abstract: An injection valve is indicated for internal combustion engines, having a sealing seat formed by a valve seat and a closing head of a valve needle, and having a plurality of spray holes situated downstream from the sealing seat. The spray holes, which are stepped in cross-section, each have at least one upstream hole inlet section having a very small hole cross-section and a hole inlet opening, and a downstream hole outlet section having a very large hole cross-section and a hole outlet opening. In order to prevent unwanted deposition of burnt fuel on the edges of the hole outlet openings, all the hole outlet sections are connected to one another by a groove having a groove opening that points downstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Marco Vorbach
  • Publication number: 20140216403
    Abstract: A gas fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The gas fuel system includes a fuel tank configured to supply cryogenic fuel. A cryogenic pump is configured to pressurize the cryogenic fuel received from the fuel tank. A heat exchanger is configured to receive the pressurized cryogenic fuel and an engine coolant. Further, the engine coolant flows through the heat exchanger to vaporize the pressurized cryogenic fluid. The gas system further includes a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of temperature of the engine coolant. Further, the controller sends a signal to impose one or more parasitic loads on the engine based on the temperature of the engine coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20140216406
    Abstract: A combustion method for reciprocating internal combustion engines, in particular diesel engines, whose fuel injection system operates with pre-injection involves two pre-injections during a cold start phase, which are carried out prior to reaching top dead center of a piston. A first pre-injection is performed at approximately 25° CA before top dead center and a second pre-injection is performed at approximately 5° CA before top dead center. A crank angle interval ? of approximately 20° CA between the individual pre-injections and a crank angle interval ? of approximately 5° CA between the second pre-injection and a main injection, are maintained independently of the rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Tobias Weyand, Friedrich Schmid, Wilhelm Ruisinger, Fabian Trapp, Thomas Koch, Johannes Ritzinger, Volker Heiderich
  • Publication number: 20140216405
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes: a nozzle body having a plurality of injection holes; and a needle accommodated in the nozzle body to inject a DME fuel containing dimethyl ether as a main component. The nozzle body has a seat part to which the needle seated or from which the needle separated, and a tip end chamber arranged downstream of the seat part in a flow of the DME fuel to communicate with the plurality of injection holes. The DME fuel in the tip end chamber is heated with combustion heat in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to have a supercritical state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki KATO
  • Publication number: 20140216404
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel delivery system, includes: a first line configured to deliver fuel from a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine (ICE); a second line configured to return fuel from the ICE to the tank or the first line; a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second line; and a latent material in the heat exchanger configured to change from a solid state to a liquid state when fuel in the second line reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Armesto, Shiguang "Steven" Zhou
  • Patent number: 8794214
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method that is intended for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and that flushes the temporarily unused injection valves with fuel for the purpose of preventing and/or removing deposits. In order to make possible in a simple way a complete conversion of the undesired exhaust gas constituents in a catalytic converter of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is running, the invention proposes flushing the temporarily unused injection valves with fuel during an overrun mode of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Bodo Odendall
  • Publication number: 20140209064
    Abstract: The required fuel supply amount of an internal combustion engine is reduced by limiting the throttle opening when a high-pressure fuel pump is required to discharge fuel that exceeds the fuel delivery capacity thereof. Further, when the throttle opening is limited, the operation of a return valve, through which fuel and vapor thereof can be discharged from the high-pressure fuel pump, is prohibited. By performing the abovementioned control, a reduction in the fuel delivery amount of the high-pressure fuel pump due to the operation of the return valve is prevented when there is a possibility that the fuel deliver amount of the high-pressure fuel pump runs short and the fuel supply amount of the internal combustion engine runs short.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20140209063
    Abstract: A valve assembly in an internal combustion engine fuel system includes a valve member movable within a valve body to contact a valve seat and block fluid communication between first and second passages. The valve seat and valve member each include a multi-layered coating having a harder metal nitride base layer and a softer metal nitride outer layer. The base layer is relatively incompliant to impacts between the valve member and the valve seat, and the outer layer is relatively compliant to the impacts and thereby deformable. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Bao Feng, Steven C. Taylor, Lucy V. Berg, Colm M. Flannery
  • Publication number: 20140202429
    Abstract: A system, related method and computer program product are disclosed for controlling fuel mass of CNG received by an engine. The system may comprise a heat exchanger configured to receive CLNG and supply coolant and to output CNG and return coolant, an injector configured to inject CNG into the engine, a gas line between the injector and heat exchanger, a control valve configured to receive return coolant from the heat exchanger and to change the amount of return coolant flowing through control valve, and a controller connected to the control valve. The gas line may be configured to carry CNG from the heat exchanger to the injector. The controller may be configured to maintain a Gas Line Temperature within an operating range by adjusting the amount of return coolant flowing through the control valve based, at least in part, on the Gas Line Temperature and a Target Return Coolant Temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Grant, Frank Lombardi, Daniel Reese Puckett, Cory A. Brown, Joshua Wayne Steffen, Paul Joseph Desiderio
  • Publication number: 20140202430
    Abstract: A dual fuel system for a vehicle utilizing gasoline and propane fuel sources. The dual fuel system includes a micro-controlled switch box that switches back and forth between fuels. A fuel injector rail and fuel injectors are also included that can function to inject either gasoline or propane. A display and selector switch are also provided inside the cabin of the vehicle to allow the user to read system information and manually select a type of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventor: Serge V. Monros
  • Patent number: 8783229
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel internal combustion engine includes an engine housing defining at least one cylinder, and an intake housing defining an intake passage fluidly connecting with the at least one cylinder. The engine includes a gaseous fuel delivery mechanism coupled with the engine housing and a distributed ignition promoting mechanism having a bead presentation device extending into the intake passage and configured to present a liquid bead of distributed ignition promoting material therein such as engine lubricating oil. During operation, gases passing through the intake passage dislodge the liquid bead from the bead presentation device and carry the distributed ignition promoting material into the cylinder for distributively igniting therein a mixture containing a gaseous fuel, air and the distributed ignition promoting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark Sommars, Martin Willi, Scott Fiveland
  • Patent number: 8783228
    Abstract: A fuel separation device is configured to separate the first fuel from the mixed fuel to have a concentration of the high-octane fuel not more than a prescribed upper limit value. The prescribed upper limit is defined that a consumed amount of the high-octane fuel measured under a condition that the internal combustion engine is operated at an operation mode including a state in which a fuel injection amount from a first fuel injection valve for the first fuel is equal to a lower injection amount limit by using the first fuel and the second fuel separated by the fuel separation device is less than a consumed amount of the high-octane fuel measured under at the above operation mode by using the first fuel and the second fuel having the concentration of the high-octane fuel at 100% and 0%, respectively, by a prescribed amount or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Kamio, Yasuyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 8776763
    Abstract: There is provided an internal combustion engine controller that realizes a reduction in maximum current value and current regulation without sacrificing boost performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara Omori, Ryoichi Oura, Mitsuhiko Watanabe, Takuya Mayuzumi
  • Publication number: 20140190451
    Abstract: A fuel injector for internal combustion engines is provided, which has a valve seat member, bordering a valve chamber, having a valve seat and spray orifices and a central blind-end bore as well as a valve member that is able to be driven to cause a lift motion having a closing head, which, together with a valve seat, forms a sealing seat lying upstream of the spray orifices. In order to prevent an underpressure developing in the blind-end bore in the closing phase of the sealing seat, and a partial return flow of the fuel connected with it, the closing head of the valve member is provided, at its end face facing towards the valve seat member, with a plunger sticking out from closing head, which has a shape adjusted to the contour of the blind-end bore, and dips into the blind-end bore when the sealing seat is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Marco Vorbach