Electric Fuel Pump Patents (Class 123/497)
  • Publication number: 20110146627
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a relief valve, a pressure regulator, and a controller. The controller controls a first pump to send fuel into an engine through a first passage, and controls a second pump to send fuel into a second passage to communicate with the first passage. The relief valve discharges fuel from the second passage when a fuel pressure of the second passage is higher than a relief pressure. The pressure regulator discharges fuel when a fuel pressure of fuel chamber is higher than a regulation pressure higher than the relief pressure in a state that a fuel pressure of backpressure chamber is equal to the relief pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaharu OOHASHI, Toshihiko Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110132328
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel system may employ a fuel pump module with a reservoir within a fuel tank. The system may also employ a fuel injection common rail, a fuel supply line leading from the fuel pump module reservoir to the fuel injection common rail, and a fuel return line leading from the fuel injection common rail through a fuel pump module flange. Additionally, the system may employ a first return fuel check valve to release fuel only into a reservoir jet pump and/or a transfer jet pump, while a second return fuel check valve may release fuel only directly into the fuel pump module reservoir. An electric fuel pump within the reservoir may have a fuel pump check valve and supply fuel only to the reservoir jet pump and/or the transfer jet pump, and not to an engine, when activated by a pressure sensor in the fuel return line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicants: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: William E. Attwood, Norihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7950371
    Abstract: A control system includes a fuel pump control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel pump control module controls a fuel pump to provide fuel to a fuel rail. The diagnostic module controls the fuel pump control module to provide a predetermined amount of fuel to the fuel rail, determines an estimated pressure increase within the fuel rail based on the predetermined amount of fuel, and compares an actual pressure increase within the fuel rail to the estimated pressure increase. The fuel pump control module selectively controls the fuel pump based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Byungho Lee
  • Publication number: 20110120424
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel pump in a motor vehicle and a fuel pump. A brushless direct current motor arranged in a housing of the fuel pump has a stator and a rotor on a shaft. When the rotor rotates at least one pump stage arranged in the housing is driven via the shaft. The variables of the direct current motor necessary for determining the commutation are fed to a processor in the engine controller of the motor vehicle. The processor generates the electrical signals for the commutation based on these variables according to the field-oriented closed-loop control. These electrical signals are fed to the brushless direct current motor for the commutation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fischer, Stefan Gebühr, Reiner Grossmann, Christoph Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7942133
    Abstract: A control method of an electronic injection fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine and displaying at least one injector and a non-continuous flow rate fuel pump actuated by a an actuator device; the control method includes the steps of: determining the desired fuel amount which must be injected at each cycle of the internal combustion engine; driving the injector for injecting the desired fuel amount at each cycle of the internal combustion engine; determining an optimal pumping frequency of the actuator device of the fuel pump according to the desired fuel amount which must be injected at each cycle of the internal combustion engine; and actuating the actuator device of the fuel pump at the optimal pumping frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Alessandri, Fabrizio Naccarato, Maurizio Fiorentini, Massimo Mattioli
  • Patent number: 7905217
    Abstract: An electronic fuel injection control device of the present invention has at least a fuel injection device for injecting a fuel devoted to a combustion, and a power source circuit for rectifying and stabilizing an alternating-current voltage generated, based on a rotation of a crank shaft; controls the fuel injection device in an internal combustion engine started by rotating the crank shaft through a manual operation; and further has a power source voltage detection mechanism for detecting a value of a power source voltage supplied to the injection device by the circuit, and an Information processing mechanism for starting an operation when receiving a supply of a direct-current voltage from the circuit, initializing itself, inputting a power source voltage value detected by the detection mechanism, and instructing a first fuel injection for the fuel injection device when the input voltage value attains a predetermined voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Namari, Masato Ono
  • Patent number: 7886720
    Abstract: In a method for operating a fuel pump in order to guide fuel from the fuel container of an internal combustion engine, the electric energy, which is in the form of pulses, is periodically guided to the fuel pump and the duration of the pulses is controlled according to the fuel required by the internal combustion engine. The frequency of the pulses is controlled in such a manner that, in the event of low pump rate of the fuel pump, the frequency is controlled to a higher level than in the even of a high pump rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Graf
  • Publication number: 20110011373
    Abstract: An inexpensive fuel supply device having a high output is achieved using low-output fuel pumps. First and second pumps, which are two inexpensive pumps having a low output, are disposed on a common mounting seat an inlet of each of the fuel pumps approaches a common fuel filter, discharge ports are connected to a common discharge passage so that the amount of fuel corresponding to the sum of the amounts of discharged fuel of the fuel pumps can be supplied from the common discharge passage, a common pressure regulator is connected to the common discharge passage, and the entire structure is formed as a unit, thereby obtaining an inexpensive pump unit having a high output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimura, Tomoyuki Tagami, Takashi Udono, Mitsuo Kusa, Akihiro Nakamaru, Masaki Ueno, Yuji Kashiwabara
  • Patent number: 7869932
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling engine operation of an engine that may be shut-down during engine idle stop conditions. The engine may include a high pressure direct injection fuel system. In one embodiment, a method stops the engine when a temperature of a fuel rail is below a threshold during a selected engine idle stop condition. On the other hand, when the temperature of the fuel rail is above the threshold, engine operation is maintained during the selected engine idle stop condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew Alan Boesch
  • Patent number: 7827966
    Abstract: An ECU reduces a fuel flow rate discharged from an electric pump to the filter when a fuel temperature and a fuel pressure in the filter detected by a sensor portion drop. Since a mechanical pump continues to be driven without respect to the fuel quantity discharged from the electric pumps when the fuel flow rate discharged from the electric pump is decreased, a suction pressure is generated at an inlet of the filter. The fuel in a recirculation passage is introduced into the filter through a branch passage. As the result, relatively high temperature fuel is introduced into the filter to melt a solidified fuel causing a clogging of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Narisako, Yukihiro Shinohara, Takashi Kikutani, Toshiyuki Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 7830108
    Abstract: A device (1) for supplying electric current to the fuel pump (2) of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine (3) comprises a DC/DC converter (13) which increases voltage to a predetermined value in the event of a voltage drop of a direct current source (7). This ensures an adequate voltage supply of the fuel pump (2) even at low voltages of the direct voltage source. When the voltage (15) of the direct voltage source (7) is sufficient, the DC/DC converter (13) is bridged, so that the fuel pump (2) is directly supplied with fuel from the direct voltage source (7). The DC/DC converter is also bridged when the device is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Rumpf
  • Patent number: 7814889
    Abstract: An electric fuel pump includes a pump unit, motor unit, fuel discharge unit, stator holder, magnet wire, connection terminal, first mold resin, driver board assembly, and second mold resin. The fuel discharge unit includes a discharge port member and discharges fuel supplied from the pump unit through the motor unit. The stator holder is provided to the motor unit and includes a partition which defines the motor unit and the fuel discharge unit. The partition includes a terminal insertion hole and a fuel passage. The connection terminal is connected to the magnet wire. The driver board assembly is stored in a space formed in the discharge port member and electrically connected to the connection terminal. The second mold resin molds the driver board assembly and a connecting portion where the driver board assembly is connected to the connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ogura Clutch Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Mitsuhashi, Yoshihiro Kurosu, Takeharu Murakami, Haruhiko Ushirode
  • Patent number: 7806106
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine includes a control module that includes a fuel rail pressure module and a comparison module. The fuel rail pressure module determines a first fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail after a first event and a second fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail after a second event. The first event includes N conditions, a first of the N conditions comprises deactivation of a fuel pump of the engine, and N is an integer. The second event includes M conditions, a first of the M conditions comprises activation of a fuel injector, and M is an integer. The comparison module adjusts a fuel injector constant of the fuel injector based on the first fuel rail pressure, the second fuel rail pressure, and an injector activation period corresponding to the second event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Patent number: 7802557
    Abstract: Described herein is an electronic-injection fuel-supply system for an internal-combustion engine having at least one injector and a fuel pump; the fuel pump is provided with: a variable-volume pumping chamber; a one-way intake valve; a one-way delivery valve; a mobile piston that integrates within it the intake valve and is coupled to the pumping chamber to vary cyclically the volume of the pumping chamber itself; and an actuator device that impresses a reciprocating motion on the piston and has an electromagnetic actuator for actuating the piston during an intake phase and a spring for actuating the piston during a delivery phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Mattioli, Paolo Pasquali, Luca Mancini
  • Patent number: 7798872
    Abstract: A water jet propulsion boat includes a fuel pump driven by an electric control unit and arranged to deliver fuel from a fuel tank to an engine via a fuel pipe, and a fuel pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure of the fuel delivered to the engine by the fuel pump. When a magnitude of the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is less than a predetermined magnitude, the fuel pump is activated. On the other hand, when the magnitude of the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is equal to or greater than the predetermined magnitude, the fuel pump is deactivated. Also, when the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor becomes equal to or less than an abnormal threshold value, either one or both of the fuel pump and the engine are deactivated. The water jet propulsion boat lowers power consumption, reduces battery size, extends battery life, and lowers costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujino, Shigeyuki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7798128
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for controlling an internal combustion engine (C) having an electronic fuel regulation system that provides fuel control for small engines (C) used in garden equipment (B) and small vehicles. An electronic control unit (1) accepts a plurality of signals generated by a plurality of sensors that detect certain environmental characteristics and certain engine operating characteristics. The electronic control unit (1) uses a set of firmware having a number of electronic maps to analyze the plurality of signals to manage operation of a fuel valve (3) and a fuel pump (2) to control the timing and amount of fuel delivered to the cylinder of small internal combustion engine (C) having at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: PC/RC Products, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James T. Bellistri, Mazen A. Hajji
  • Publication number: 20100229835
    Abstract: Present invention relates to an electric fuel pump for an internal combustion engine in which a single-phase brushless dc motor is rotatably coupled with a roller vane or other pump mechanism so that any type of fuel or combination of fuels can be transferred from the inlet (2) to the outlet (35) of the unit which houses all above mentioned elements providing lubrication and cooling to the above mentioned elements. The fuel flow path is so designed as to provide better cooling to the commutation circuit (10) by placing the commutation circuit (10) as the first element to come into contact with fresh fuel, directing the fuel flow towards the heat sinks of the commutation circuit (10) and placing the stator coils (36) downstream of the fuel flow so that the heat generated by the stator coils (36) is taken away from the commutation circuit (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Superpar Otomotiv Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
    Inventor: Mehmet Feyyaz Tarancioglu
  • Publication number: 20100218747
    Abstract: A fuel pump for delivering fuel from a reservoir to an internal combustion engine. The pump includes a casing, at least one impeller arranged in the casing. The impeller including at least one ring of interspaced vanes. The pump further includes an electric motor that drives the impeller via a shaft and that is configured as an axial field motor and that has a rotor and a stator. The rotor of said electric motor has permanent magnets and the coil formers carrying windings that are opposite the permanent magnets are stationarily arranged in the stator at a distance to the rotor axis and at even angular distances. The coil formers are arranged in parallel to the shaft of the electric motor with respect to their longitudinal orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Johannes Deichmann
  • Patent number: 7784446
    Abstract: A conveying device (1) has a fuel pump (5) for supplying an internal combustion engine (2) of a motor vehicle with fuel. The conveying device further has a monitoring apparatus (10) for determining the wear condition or the degree of soiling of the fuel pump (5). To this end, the monitoring apparatus (10) compares the power consumption to the hydraulic power of the fuel pump (5). A diagnostic display (11) is activated when a predefined value for the power consumption is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Rumpf
  • Patent number: 7753657
    Abstract: A method of displacing a pumping assembly. In a first step, a first current is applied in a first direction through a coil assembly to displace a drive assembly from an initial position to cause a first pumping motion. Then, the drive assembly is returned to the initial position to cause a second pumping motion. At some point nearing the end of the second pumping motion, a second current is applied in the first direction through the coil assembly to decelerate the drive assembly before it reaches the initial position. A third current may be applied in a second direction through the coil assembly to cause or assist a return of the drive assembly to the initial position. An apparatus capable of carrying out the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastian Strauss, Michael French, Evelyn Breznik, Jeffrey Gillen, Dave Soderman
  • Publication number: 20100154752
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided for a combustion engine having an exhaust treatment device. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel supply, an injector configured to pressurize fuel and inject the pressurized fuel into the combustion engine, and a transfer pump configured to direct fuel from the fuel supply to the injector. The fuel delivery system also includes an electric pump configured to selectively direct fuel from the fuel supply to the injector during a priming event, and to selectively direct fuel from the fuel supply to the exhaust treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph Shane Burkitt, Ye Tian, Drew Christopher Donnelli
  • Publication number: 20100154751
    Abstract: In a fuel delivery device (1) for supplying an internal combustion engine (3) of a motor vehicle with fuel from a fuel tank (2), a pressure sensor (14) is arranged within the fuel tank (2) and is connected to a section, which is guided within the fuel tank (2), of a feed line (6). In this way, the pressure sensor (14) is remote from the internal combustion engine (3) and is therefore subjected to only very low thermal and mechanical loads. The fuel delivery line (1) is therefore of particularly cost-effective design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Sabine Reichelt
  • Publication number: 20100126468
    Abstract: A high vapor pressure liquid fuel (e.g. LPG) injection system is provided that keeps the fuel liquid at all expected operating temperatures by use of a high pressures pump capable of at least 2.5 MPa pressures. The fuel can be injected directly into the cylinder or into the inlet manifold of an engine via axial or bottom feed injectors and also could be mixed with a low vapor pressure fuel (e.g. diesel) to be injected similarly. The fuel, mixed or unmixed, can be stored in an accumulator under high pressure assisting in keeping the engine running during fuel changeovers and injection after a period of time as in re-starting the engine. The same injectors can be used to inject any of the fuels or mixtures of them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: INTERLOCKING BUILDINGS PTY LTD
    Inventor: John T. MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20100095935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for pressurization of a fuel line of an engine. In one embodiment, a fuel charging system for an engine is provided. The fuel charging system includes a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank to generate a first fluid pressure within a first fuel line. The fuel charging system also includes a second fluid pump having a reciprocating piston including a low pressure end and a high pressure end. The low pressure end is in fluid communication with the first fuel pump through the first fuel line and the high pressure end is in fluid communication with an engine fuel rail through a second fuel line. The reciprocating piston is driven by the first fluid pressure to generate a second fluid pressure within the second fuel line, wherein the second fluid pressure is greater than the first fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Craig D. Marriott, Kenneth J. Buslepp, Jeff L. Swain
  • Patent number: 7677224
    Abstract: A fuel supply system comprises an engine control unit (ECU), a fuel pump with a built-in pump motor which is PWM controlled based on a control signal from the ECU, a pump controller for controlling supply of electric power to the pump motor, and sensors for detecting an operating state of the engine. A control section of the pump controller controls to change a frequency to be lower as a duty ratio of a PWM control signal to operate a power transistor of an output circuit is higher and inversely to change the frequency to be higher as the duty ratio is lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100031930
    Abstract: A fuel system for providing fuel to an engine and to a regeneration system associated with the engine, including a fuel source, and a pump associated with the fuel source, the pump operable in a first state to pump fuel from the fuel source to the engine, and the pump operable in a second state to pump fuel from the fuel source to the regeneration system, wherein the first state corresponds to a first rotational direction of the pump and the second state corresponds to a second rotational direction of the pump. In one embodiment, the pump is an electric fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Steven Y. Tian
  • Patent number: 7658180
    Abstract: In a fuel pump in the form of a side-channel pump for a motor vehicle two partially annular ducts (21, 22) concentrically enclosing one another are connected to one another via a connecting duct (29). Connections (33, 34) of the connecting duct (29) to the partially annular ducts (21, 22) are laid so that at a rated speed of the fuel pump the same pressure prevails in each of them. If the speed falls below the rated speed, fuel passes from the radially outer, partially annular duct (22) into the radially inner, partially annular duct (21). A sufficient delivery capacity through the radially inner, partially annular duct (21) is thereby ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eberhard Geiβel
  • Publication number: 20100012096
    Abstract: The fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine comprises a feed pump which has an electric drive, by which feed pump fuel is fed from a fuel storage tank into a low-pressure region to the suction side of at least one high-pressure pump. The high-pressure pump pumps fuel into a high-pressure region in which at least one injector is provided to inject the fuel into the internal combustion engine. The fuel injection is controlled by an electric control device. Arranged in the low-pressure region is a pressure sensor which is connected to the control device. The electric drive of the feed pump is activated by the control device in order to set a feed quantity of the feed pump which is variable as a function of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine and/or of the high-pressure pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Kieferle, Dorothee Sommer, Oliver Becker, Bjoern Noack
  • Publication number: 20100006071
    Abstract: A pump unit for pumping fuel from a fuel reservoir to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a fuel pump disposed in a swirl pot and has a housing made of metal, and a fuel filter, which is disposed downstream of the fuel pump. The housing of the fuel filter is connected to the housing of the fuel pump in an electrically conductive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Walter Froehlich, Günter Rauchhaus, Thomas Sippel
  • Patent number: 7640916
    Abstract: An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, the lift pump is operated at efficient operating conditions and then stopped until additional fuel is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20090283074
    Abstract: An ECU reduces a fuel flow rate discharged from an electric pump to the filter when a fuel temperature and a fuel pressure in the filter detected by a sensor portion drop. Since a mechanical pump continues to be driven without respect to the fuel quantity discharged from the electric pumps when the fuel flow rate discharged from the electric pump is decreased, a suction pressure is generated at an inlet of the filter. The fuel in a recirculation passage is introduced into the filter through a branch passage. As the result, relatively high temperature fuel is introduced into the filter to melt a solidified fuel causing a clogging of the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Narisako, Yukihiro Shinohara, Takashi Kikutani, Toshiyuki Yonemoto
  • Publication number: 20090211558
    Abstract: A turbine engine fuel supply system includes a priority flow line, a plurality of secondary fuel loads, an electric fuel metering pump, and a mechanically-driven fuel pump. The priority flow line is used to supply fuel to one or more gas turbine engine fuel manifolds. The electric fuel metering pump has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and is adapted to be selectively energized and, upon being energized, to draw fuel into its fuel inlet and discharge the fuel from its fuel outlet for supply to the priority flow line. The mechanically-driven fuel pump has a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet that is in fluid communication with the electric fuel metering pump fuel inlet and the plurality of secondary fuel loads. As such, fuel may be supplied to the secondary fuel loads independent of the electric fuel metering pump, which advantageously reduces the electrical power consumption of the electric fuel metering pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Anson, Jay Sims, Jack Carpenter, William Nolan
  • Publication number: 20090199823
    Abstract: A fuel supply system includes a fuel metering pump and a servo-flow pump that are used to supply fuel to one or more fuel manifolds and one or more fluid-operated actuators, respectively. The fuel metering pump and the servo-flow pump are driven by the same electric motor(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Mahoney, Larry A. Portolese
  • Patent number: 7568469
    Abstract: A high pressure fuel supply system includes: a high pressure fuel pump having a normally closed electromagnetic valve; and a controller for calculating a valve open signal and a valve close signal for the electromagnetic valve in accordance with a state amount of an engine, and supplying a drive current to the electromagnetic valve, wherein the controller applies and the valve close signal having a time duration shorter than a valve close response time during a valve open period of the electromagnetic valve, the valve close response time being a time taken to close the electromagnetic valve after the valve close signal is applied. The controller applies alternately and periodically the valve close signal and valve open signal during the valve open period of the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Tokuo, Hiroyuki Yamada, Satoshi Usui
  • Publication number: 20090188472
    Abstract: An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, the lift pump is operated at efficient operating conditions and then stopped until additional fuel is requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20090187326
    Abstract: An electric motor for a fuel pump is provided with a shutdown switch positioned intermediate an inverter, and its control coil. In this location, the shutdown function can be achieved without heavy components. In another feature, when the fuel pump is shut down, a signal is sent upstream to a voltage regulator associated with a generator, such that the voltage supplied downstream by the generator can be reduced to eliminate any potential voltage spike due to the shutdown of the electric motor. The electric motor with shutdown switch enables low weight fault tolerant flux regulated machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras
  • Publication number: 20090183715
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel supply device that can suppress the excessive heating of a fuel supplied from a fuel pump into an internal combustion engine even if a control module is cooled. The fuel supply device (1) comprises a set plate (10) attached to a mounting hole (34a) of a fuel tank (34), an electric fuel pump (30) attached to an inner surface of the set plate (10), a control module (14) attached to an outer surface of the set plate (10), the control module driving the fuel pump (30) using electric power supplied from the exterior, and a heat radiating member (32) for radiating heat generated in the control module. One end of the heat radiating member (32) is thermally connected to the control module (14), and the other end of the heat radiating member (32) protrudes downward from the inner surface of the set plate (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Yamamoto, Tetsuji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7559313
    Abstract: A controlling apparatus of a variable capacity type fuel pump, for preventing noises caused due to drive of the fuel pump and noises caused due to drive of injectors from overlapping or duplicating each other in the timing thereof, wherein signals for driving the pump are reduced, or the timing thereof is shifted forward/backward, within a specific timing where the overlapping can be expected, or a specific timing where they are determined to overlap or duplicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Tokuo, Satoshi Usui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7559310
    Abstract: An engine control fuel pump apparatus is provided with a low load fuel pump control section, a high load fuel pump control section and a subordinate pump drive section. The low load fuel pump control section controls a main fuel pump for supplying fuel to an engine when an engine operating condition indicates that the engine is operating with a low load. The high load fuel pump control section controls the main fuel pump and a subordinate fuel pump for supplying fuel to the engine when an engine operating condition indicates that the engine is operating with a high load. The subordinate pump drive section drives the subordinate fuel pump for a prescribed period of time when a rotational speed of the engine is equal to or higher than a prescribed rotational speed while the engine is operating in an low load operating region in which the low load fuel pump control section controls the main fuel pump for supplying fuel to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanobu Yahata
  • Patent number: 7560881
    Abstract: An electric drive fuel control system and method for controlling a total drive torque supplied to a fuel metering pump includes a first main drive motor, a second main drive motor, and a backup drive motor, all coupled to the fuel metering pump. The operability of a main motor control to control electric current supply to the first main drive motor or the second main drive motor is determined. If the main motor control is operable, the total drive torque to the fuel pump is supplied from the backup motor and either the first main drive motor or the second main drive motor. If the main motor control is inoperable, the total drive torque to the fuel pump is supplied from only the backup drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Anson
  • Publication number: 20090151702
    Abstract: A device for transferring fluid for use with diesel engines includes a manifold system having at least one inlet valve, at least one outlet valve, a plurality of conduits formed therein, and an electric pump. At least one check valve is disposed between an inlet valve and an outlet valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Gary L. Howard
  • Patent number: 7533655
    Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides an internal combustion engine (10) comprising a variable volume combustion chamber (13); an air intake system (18,20,21) for delivering charge air to the combustion chamber (13); an exhaust system (17) for relaying combusted gas from the combustion chamber (13) to atmosphere; and a fuel injection system (19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) for delivering fuel into the charge air for combustion therewith in the combustion chamber (13). The fuel injection system (19,21,22,23,24,25,26) comprises a fuel injector (19) which functions as a positive displacement pump and dispenses an amount of fuel which is fixed for each and every operation of the injector (19); and a controller (23) which controls the operation of the fuel injector (19). In response to an increasing engine speed and/or load the controller (23) increases in amount the fuel delivered per engine cycle by increasing in number the occasions the fuel injector (19) is operated per engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Scion-Sprays Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allen
  • Publication number: 20090107470
    Abstract: A fuel pump for deployment in a fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprises a 3-phase brushless direct current motor, a sling vane impeller with blade-shaped sling vanes, sensorless electronic motor drive and an electronic controller. The controller is adapted to receive analog or pulse-width modulation inputs to control pump speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Fluid Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Scharfenberg
  • Publication number: 20090111338
    Abstract: A water jet propulsion boat includes a fuel pump driven by an electric control unit and arranged to deliver fuel from a fuel tank to an engine via a fuel pipe, and a fuel pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure of the fuel delivered to the engine by the fuel pump. When a magnitude of the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is less than a predetermined magnitude, the fuel pump is activated. On the other hand, when the magnitude of the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is equal to or greater than the predetermined magnitude, the fuel pump is deactivated. Also, when the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor becomes equal to or less than an abnormal threshold value, either one or both of the fuel pump and the engine are deactivated. The water jet propulsion boat lowers power consumption, reduces battery size, extends battery life, and lowers costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA MARINE KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi FUJINO, Shigeyuki OZAWA
  • Publication number: 20090107442
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing pressurized fuel for an engine includes an electric motor operative to crank said engine, a fuel pump, and a gear reduction device. This gear reduction device includes a worm and worm wheel and operates to receive a high speed input from said electric motor and to deliver a low speed output to said fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Hsu-Chiang Miao
  • Publication number: 20090101116
    Abstract: A fuel pump has a pump stage (2) driven by an electric motor (1). Brushes (17) for contacting a commutator (16) are radially arranged next to a rotor (6). To this end, a stator (4) encircling the rotor (6) has pockets for accommodating these brushes (17). Connecting contacts (20) electrically connected to the brushes (17) are radially arranged next to the commutator (16). The fuel pump has a particularly small overall height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Eberhard Geissel
  • Publication number: 20090095259
    Abstract: A method for operating 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 coupled between the first and second pump for returning fuel to a fuel tank, the pumps connected in series, is provided. The method includes before actuating fuel injectors during an engine start, operating the first pump, where fuel is driven through the bypass circuit that generates a fuel pressure that is delivered to the injectors that is greater than the fuel pressure delivered to the injectors during the moderate pressure mode of operation when the bypass regulator is maintaining a constant fuel line pressure. The method also includes during actuation of the fuel injectors after an engine start, operating the first and second pumps, where fuel pressure is regulated at a specified regulator pressure via bypass flow in the bypass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Dequan Yu
  • Publication number: 20090090331
    Abstract: As one example, a method of operating a fuel delivery system of a directly injected internal combustion engine including a plurality of in-cylinder direct fuel injectors, a higher pressure fuel pump and a lower pressure fuel pump is provided. The method comprises operating the lower pressure fuel pump and the higher pressure fuel pump to maintain a prescribed fuel pressure at the fuel injectors; and varying an amount of pump work that is provided by the lower pressure fuel pump relative to the higher pressure fuel pump responsive to an indication of the efficiency of the higher pressure pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7509945
    Abstract: A fuel pump controller includes a detecting device for detecting environmental vibrational energy and converting the environmental vibrational energy into an electrical signal. A motor controller is coupled to a fuel pump motor wherein the electrical signal is used by the controller to command the fuel pump motor to operate at one of a plurality of speeds wherein the commanded speed is at least in part a function of the environmental vibrational energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Teets, Trevor L. Enge, Lavern M. Bremmer, Jon R. Donegan, Greg Schoenberg
  • Patent number: 7503313
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel supplying device. Said fuel supplying device comprises a low-pressure circuit provided with a low-pressure pump and a high-pressure pump that is coupled to the low-pressure circuit on the input side and transports fuel into a fuel accumulator. A fuel transporting flow of the low-pressure pump is corrected according to an actual and a previously pre-determined nominal value of the fuel pressure in the fuel accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Martin Cwielong, Gerhard Eser