Electric Fuel Pump Patents (Class 123/497)
  • Patent number: 7124745
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for two-cycle engines comprising high pressure fuel injectors adapted to be installed in a two-cycle gas engine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Steven Scott Glassburn
  • Patent number: 7117854
    Abstract: A reservoir assembly 10 is provided for a fuel tank of a vehicle. The reservoir assembly 10 is constructed and arranged to receive an electric fuel pump assembly 44 or a fuel suction unit 23 in a reservoir 12 thereof. The fuel suction unit 23 and the electric fuel pump assembly 44 are configured so as to be interchangeably received in the reservoir 12. This interchangeability advantageously saves design time and, from a supplier's point of view, provides more flexibility since two separate configurations are no longer required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Jochen Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7114490
    Abstract: A multiple pump fuel delivery system is provided, which in one preferred embodiment includes a tank. Mounted within the tank are multiple fuel pumps. The fuel pumps have intakes connected to filters. One pump may be connected to a fuel only passing filter, and another pump may be connected with a fuel-water mixture passing filter. Fuel from the outlets of the pumps is delivered past non-return check valves through a manifold. The manifold is connected with a pressure regulator valve, which is fluidly communicative with the engine of the vehicle. A relief outlet is also provided to return excess fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Millennium Industries
    Inventor: Michael J. Zdroik
  • Patent number: 7093576
    Abstract: A method for priming a fuel injected internal combustion engine with a returnless fuel system having a check valve and initiating a fuel pump with a command signal. After said initiation, adjusting said command signal as a sensed fuel pressure varies to achieve a fuel pressure and holding said command signal for a hold period after achieving said fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Scott DeRaad
  • Patent number: 7086493
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system includes a fuel control module for regulating a fuel pump within a fuel tank independent of the engine control module. The fuel control module is connected to a restraint control module for receiving a signal directly therefrom in the event of vehicle impact. The fuel control module is adapted to cease fuel pump operation in response to an impact signal without requiring a signal from the engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: James Knight
  • Patent number: 7086838
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for controlling speed of the fuel pump. The system includes a fuel pump, a controller, and a field modification module. The fuel pump is configured to receive a driving signal causing the fuel pump to pump fuel. The controller is configured to determine a desired fuel pump speed and generate a control signal based on the desired fuel pump speed. The field modification module is located proximate the fuel pump and is in communication with the controller to receive the control signal. The field modification module generates a flux in response the control signal thereby controlling speed and torque of the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: James L. Thompson, DeQuan Yu, Stephen T. Kempfer
  • Patent number: 7066126
    Abstract: To perform fuel injection under fuel pressure as high as needed in an operation range of from cranking to self-sustaining operation via full expansion. A fuel supply fuel system for a direct fuel injection type internal combustion engine is provided with a high-pressure fuel pump to directly inject fuel, which has been pressurized by the high-pressure fuel pump, from injectors into combustion chambers of the engine. An electromotor is arranged to auxilially drive the high-pressure fuel pump At the time of a start-up of the engine, driving of the high-pressure fuel pump or an assist to drive torque for the high-pressure fuel pump is performed by the auxiliary power means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tokuyasu, Toshiharu Nogi, Takashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7055511
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine in which a gas delivery pump, a fuel pump and an electric motor are included in the fuel supply system and form a pump unit, the electric motor is incorporated in the system in such a way that it can selectively drive either one or both of the pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler AG, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Glenz, Guenter Hoenig, Eberhard Holder, Martin Matt, Andreas Posselt
  • Patent number: 7040298
    Abstract: A grounding structure of a fuel tank equipped with a lid body closing an opening of the fuel tank made of resin is characterized by being equipped with a ring-shaped member made of metal fixed on the periphery of the opening, and a retainer made of metal fixing the lid body on the ring-shaped member, wherein an electrically grounded member in the vicinity of the lid body is electrically connected to at least one of the ring-shaped member and retainer, and grounding is performed through at least one of the ring-shaped member and retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignees: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakamura, Shinya Murabayashi, Hideki Matsumoto, Tadahisa Nakamura, Naomasa Kaneko, Junichi Koseki, Daisuke Sato, Toshiaki Nakai
  • Patent number: 7036488
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel delivery unit (2) that is disposed in the fuel tank (1) of a motor vehicle, the delivery unit comprising a level sensor (13) that detects when the amount of fuel in a surge chamber (3) falls below a minimum amount. When the fuel in the surge chamber (3) falls below a defined minimum, the supply of power to a delivery pump (4) that is driven by an electromotor is interrupted, thereby preventing the delivery pump (4) from delivering air when the surge chamber (3) is empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Nather, Wolfgang Sinz
  • Patent number: 7021294
    Abstract: To provide a fuel pump control device allowing a fuel pump having a small capacity to feed a sufficient amount of fuel to an internal combustion engine. During running of a vehicle at a low speed (for example, less than 2,0 km/hr), pulsed drive voltages are intermittently supplied to a fuel pump in accordance with each opening/closing of a thyristor on the basis of ignition pulses of the engine. In this way, the fuel pump repeats discharge operation at a relatively long cycle in synchronization with the pulsed drive voltages. During running of the vehicle at a high speed, a drive voltage is continuously supplied (that is, a DC voltage is supplied) from a power supply line to the fuel pump, whereby the fuel pump repeats discharge operation at a cycle with a short self-excitation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Exelixis, Inc.
    Inventors: Takao Yamamoto, Ryota Umetani, Yoshihiko Tsuchiya, Kenichi Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 6997168
    Abstract: The invention proposes a fuel supply system for internal combustion engines, having a fuel tank (1) and a fuel reservoir (5) disposed therein, having a fuel pump (11), which drives one or more jet pumps (13), each by means of a supply line (21), the jet pumps (13) in turn filling the fuel reservoir (5) with fuel from the fuel tank (1). There is also a fuel line (7), which hydraulically connects the fuel reservoir (5) to the engine. During the starting of the engine, the fuel pump (11) feeds fuel into the fuel line (7), thus improving the starting behavior of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schueler, Thomas Droege
  • Patent number: 6971373
    Abstract: A fuel control system for controlling the supply of fuel to an engine, the control system comprising: pump means for providing a flow of fuel to said engine; first and second drive means for driving said pump means; and, control means for controlling said first and second drive means; wherein, said control means is arranged to control said first and second drive means such that in the event of failure of one of said first and second drive means, said pump means is driven by the other of said first and second drive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: John Anthony Mudway, Paul Manwaring Maker
  • Patent number: 6966305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel delivery assembly for vehicle fuel tanks, that includes: a first assembly forming a mount adapted to be fixed onto a wall of a fuel tank and which carries at least one accessory, a second assembly including an electric motor fuel pump, and a third assembly comprising at least two interchangeable linking members respectively fixed on the first assembly and on the second assembly, to provide support to the second assembly from the first assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Laurent Aubrée, Remi Aubrée
  • Patent number: 6955148
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine controller includes a main processor for monitoring operating parameters of an internal combustion engine and a triggering device, working together with the main processor, for an electric fuel pump of the internal combustion engine. The triggering device works together with an electric activation device and operates so that the fuel pump is triggered essentially without time delay after actuation of the activation device. The internal combustion engine controller has an electronic switching device which operates so that, during an initialization process of the main processor, it triggers the electric fuel pump independently of the main processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Rosenzopf, Helmut Denz, Karsten Kroepke, Ruediger Weiss, Oliver Heyna, Stephan Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 6953025
    Abstract: By controlling a high pressure pump with the use of a cam angle signal so as to open it and then close it after the lapse of a prescribed period corresponding to an amount of discharge, a fuel supply control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is capable of achieving the simplification of control while ensuring controllability without requiring correction even if valve timing is changed. A crank angle sensor generates a crank angle signal SGT in synchronization with the rotation of a crankshaft so as to supply the fuel in a fuel tank to an injector installed in a combustion chamber of each engine cylinder. A cam angle sensor generates the cam angle signal SGC in synchronization with the rotation of a camshaft. A high pressure pump has a suction stroke and a discharge stroke synchronized with the rotation of the camshaft and supplies the fuel to the injector. An ECU changes an effective stroke related to an exhaust stroke of the pump based on the cam angle signal SGC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6951207
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus reduces the fuel vaporization and leakage by means that the positions of vaporization and leakage and their amount in the fuel tank and the fuel pipe is detected properly in case of using a low boiling point fuel having a vapor phase in the normal temperatures and atmospheric pressures, and the fuel state is controlled based on those detected values. By providing another container made of elastomatic material having an expandable mechanical characteristic inside the fuel storing container, the low boiling point fuel is stored in the separate container. A flow rate controlling apparatus heats and cools the fuel pipe leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine. A flow rate controlling apparatus adjusts the flow rate of the fuel in the fuel pipe for leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Yamaoka, Minoru Oosuga, Kinya Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 6951206
    Abstract: A fuel pressure detector and a pressure accumulator are disposed in a fuel distribution line, an engine control apparatus controlling activation of a fuel pump based on output from the fuel pressure detector. The fuel pump is activated at maximum capacity to fill the fuel distribution line with fuel at a controlled pressure controlled by a fuel pressure regulator, then stopped. In this state, fuel accumulated under pressure in the pressure accumulator replenishes the fuel distribution line until fuel pressure inside the fuel distribution line drops to a predetermined value due to fuel injection by fuel injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Mitusbishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 6932055
    Abstract: An engine control system for maintaining the operator-commanded speed setting of an internal combustion engine over a range of engine loads and for easy starting and improved efficiency over a range of ambient and engine operating temperatures. The engine control system includes a governor assembly driven by the engine, the governor assembly supplying an output to a sensor assembly through a mechanical coupling member operator. The sensor assembly provides an engine speed control signal which corresponds to operator commanded engine speed and actual engine speed. The engine speed control signal is provided to a throttle actuator to control actual engine speed is controlled to correspond with the operator-commanded engine speed regardless of loads imposed on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Gordon E. Rado
  • Patent number: 6925990
    Abstract: A fuel pressure control system for a fuel injected engine measures the fuel pressure at an outlet of a fuel pump and controls the operating speed of the fuel pump as a function of the difference between a desired pressure and a measured pressure. Signals are provided to the fuel pump which are pulse width modulated signals that have a pulse width determined as a function of the desired pressure at the outlet of the pump and an actual measured pressure at the outlet of the pump. The desired pressure is determined as a function of air flow into the engine, a desired air/fuel ratio which, in turn, is a function of engine speed and the load on the engine, and a desired fuel rate which is determined as a function of the air/fuel ratio and the air flow into the engine. The desired fuel rate is then used to select a pressure at the outlet of the pump which will result in the desired fuel rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Konopacki
  • Patent number: 6923159
    Abstract: A diesel engine comprises a high-pressure pump (5) driven by an engine (E) to supply fuel in a fuel tank (2) to a common rail (3), an electric priming pump (13) provided in a fuel passage (15) extending from the fuel tank (2) to the high-pressure pump (5), and a control device (10) to control the electric priming pump (13). The control device (10) drives the electric priming pump (13) when the engine is started, if a state that the engine rotating speed (Ne) is higher than a predetermined first rotating speed (N1) and the common rail pressure (Cp) is lower than a predetermined first pressure (C1) continues for a period being equal to or more than a predetermined first period (T1). The burden on the operator is mitigated since necessity for the priming operation can be automatically judged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Koji Sakumoto, Kazuyoshi Narita, Shigenobu Nagata
  • Patent number: 6910464
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a vehicle of the present invention includes a fuel pump, a fuel pressure regulator for controlling the fuel pressure in a fuel piping, and pump control means for operating the fuel pump at a given discharge amount by controlling/stopping the operation of the fuel pump by setting a DUTY drive signal supplied to the fuel pump control device to a predetermined DUTY when the output of a pressure detector for measuring the fuel pressure in the fuel piping reaches a first set pressure, and setting the DUTY drive signal according to the required amount of fuel discharge when the output of the pressure detector reaches a second set pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Ishikawa, Shiro Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 6907857
    Abstract: A fuel supply and injection system includes a fuel tank, a single electric pump unit, a plurality of fuel injection valves and a piping arrangement. The pump unit is provided in the fuel tank and includes an inlet for taking the fuel in the fuel tank and an outlet for discharging the fuel. The injection valves are secured to an engine main body. Each fuel injection valve includes a nozzle, which is disposed in a corresponding one of combustion chambers and injects the fuel supplied from the pump unit directly into the corresponding one of the combustion chambers. The piping arrangement connects between the electric pump unit and each fuel injection valve. The pump unit is the only pump for supplying the fuel to the fuel injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kimitaka Saito, Yasuhide Tani, Yukio Mori, Shinji Ueda, Yutaka Niwa
  • Patent number: 6889656
    Abstract: In fuel supply systems with two fuel pumps connected in series and fuel valves that inject directly into the combustion chamber, there have been occasional problems. The proposal is made that in order to eliminate these problems, the first fuel pump operates with increased delivery capacity, particularly during the startup process and in the event of high fuel temperature. The fuel supply system is provided for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Rembold, Kurt Frank
  • Patent number: 6877488
    Abstract: An integrated fuel management system and method for controlling the fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle. The fuel management system includes a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle, a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank, a vent actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for venting gas from the canister during a vent operation, and a purge actuator coupled to the canister for purging fuel vapor from the canister during a purge operation. A variable speed fuel pump is disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to a fuel delivery line for an engine. The fuel management system has a controller provided in a module disposed in communication with the fuel for controlling the amount of fuel pumped with the variable speed fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line and further control the purge and vent actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Nartron Corporation
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Randall L. Perrin, John E. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6868834
    Abstract: A fuel supply system includes a bracket fitted around an opening portion of a fuel tank and having a discharge pipe disposed, and a fuel pump for sucking a fuel from the fuel tank and discharging the fuel through the discharge pipe, the fuel pump being mounted on the bracket. The fuel pump includes a pump portion for sucking and discharging the fuel from the fuel tank, a motor portion for rotating a rotor accommodated within the pump portion, through which the fuel discharged from the pump portion is passed internally, a cover out portion for accommodating a discharge filter for filtering the fuel passed through the motor portion, and a debris storage case for storing the debris in the fuel that is captured by the discharge filter, the case being disposed near the discharge filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tateki Mitani, Minoru Takata, Yusaku Sakai
  • Patent number: 6840229
    Abstract: A pump (10) of high pressure direct injection fuel supply system is connected to the engine through a magnetic clutch which includes a motorizing function. The magnetic clutch comprises rotating electromagnetic coils (20) attached to and driven by the engine and rotating permanent magnets (34) attached to and driving the pump. The slippage of the clutch is controlled by the on-off cycle of electrical power which is simultaneously supplied to all of the electromagnetic coils and may be responsive to the pressure in the fuel injections rail. The clutch may be operated as an electrical motor by sequentially activating the electromagnetic coils for the purpose of providing fuel pressure even prior to rotation or cranking of the engine. An isolation barrier hermetically seals the fuel injection pump from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Stanadyne Corporation
    Inventor: Ilija Djordjevic
  • Patent number: 6823831
    Abstract: A flame arrestor for a fuel pump having housing extending intermediate an upstream end defining an inlet port and a downstream end defining an outlet port coupled in fluid communication with the outlet port along a fluid flow path. The fuel pump further has a motor operably coupled to a pumping element. The arrestor is provided as a body received within the housing intermediate the outlet port and the motor. The arrestor body, which is formed of an open-cell foam material having an average pore size and thickness selected as being both fluid permeable and adapted to prevent an ignition source from propagating therethrough, is disposed in the fluid flow path such that fuel from the pumping element tank may be pumped to the outlet port through the body with the ignition source being prevented from passing into the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Sen James Chu, David J. Sandy, Lori Ann DiLisi
  • Patent number: 6820596
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an injector that injects fuel into a cylinder. A plunger-type fuel pump pumps the fuel to the injector from a fuel tank. A control system for the fuel pump includes a unit for determining an injection start timing of the injector, and a drive unit for driving the fuel pump for a second predetermined time that starts a first predetermined time earlier than the injection start timing. This control system makes stable combustion possible even when there are pressure variations in the fuel pumped to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Namari, Tomoo Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 6817343
    Abstract: Particularly in a relatively large engine that has been inactive for a substantial period of time at a cold temperature, the pressure within a fuel system may decrease. Prior to initiation of engine start-up, fuel pumps that are operably coupled to the engine cannot pressurize and/or circulate fuel within the fuel system. Thus, the time required to supply the high pressure lines with fuel pressure sufficient to start and maintain the engine can be unreasonably delayed. In order to decrease the delay in starting the engine, the present invention includes an electronic control module that includes a priming algorithm. The priming algorithm is operable to activate an electrically powered fuel pump when a fuel system is in an unprimed state. The electronic control module is in communication with at least one sensor that is operable to sense the state of the fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Luca Greco, Amy M. Hess, Alan R. Stockner
  • Publication number: 20040211395
    Abstract: Particularly in a relatively large engine that has been inactive for a substantial period of time at a cold temperature, the pressure within a fuel system may decrease. Prior to initiation of engine start-up, fuel pumps that are operably coupled to the engine cannot pressurize and/or circulate fuel within the fuel system. Thus, the time required to supply the high pressure lines with fuel pressure sufficient to start and maintain the engine can be unreasonably delayed. In order to decrease the delay in starting the engine, the present invention includes an electronic control module that includes a priming algorithm. The priming algorithm is operable to activate an electrically powered fuel pump when a fuel system is in an unprimed state. The electronic control module is in communication with at least one sensor that is operable to sense the state of the fuel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Luca Greco, Amy M. Hess, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 6807949
    Abstract: A fuel injection and ignition system for an internal combustion engine adapted to apply a power source voltage to an injector, an ignition circuit, an electronic control unit and a fuel pump from a single voltage regulating power source circuit having as a power source a generator driven by the internal combustion engine through a power line and to control a drive current of the fuel pump in a pulse width modulating mode (PWM mode) so as to keep the power line voltage at a value higher than a reference voltage, which is set slightly higher than a voltage corresponding to one higher among the minimum operation voltages for the injector and that for the ignition circuit, in the course where the internal combustion engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Yuichi Kitagawa, Hiroyasu Sato
  • Publication number: 20040206337
    Abstract: To perform fuel injection under fuel pressure as high as needed in an operation range of from cranking to self-sustaining operation via full expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tokuyasu, Toshiharu Nogi, Takashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6805104
    Abstract: In a system for feeding LPG by injection for an internal combustion engine, sensor means are provided for measuring the electrical current absorbed by the electric motor for driving the feed pump. The operation of said electric motor is interrupted when the measured electrical current absorbed drops below a predetermined threshold value. The system thereby prevents the operation of the motor-pump assembly, which is immersed in the LPG within the LPG tank, when the level of LPG in the tank drops below a minimum admissible value. Simultaneously to the interruption of the operation of the electric motor an auxiliary petrol feed system is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis, Claudio Amorese, Onofrio De Michele
  • Publication number: 20040168673
    Abstract: Engineers have come to learn that a fuel injection system with a variety of capabilities to produce a variety of injection strategies can better perform and reduce emissions at all engine operation conditions than a fuel injection system limited in its control over injection timing, number, quantity and rate shapes. According to the present invention, in order to increase the variability of available injection strategies, a fuel injection system includes at least one fuel injector fluidly connectable to at least a first common rail and a second common rail. By fluidly connecting the fuel injector to the first common rail, fuel can be injected at a first pressure. By fluidly connecting the fuel injector to the second common rail, fuel can be injected at a second pressure that is independent of the first pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald D. Shinogle
  • Patent number: 6776141
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus is adapted to control a pump which discharges fuel from a tank to a fuel passage, thereby regulating the pressure of fuel to be supplied to an engine. The tank includes a plurality of storage chambers, in a specific one of which the pump is placed. A part of the fuel discharged to the fuel passage is returned to the specific storage chamber through a branch passage. A storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber is in communication with the branch passage through a communication passage. A jet pump is operated to transfer the fuel from the storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber to the specific storage chamber through the communication passage by the action of the fuel flowing through the branch passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Hamada, Satomi Wada
  • Publication number: 20040149270
    Abstract: In a system for feeding LPG by injection for an internal combustion engine, sensor means are provided for measuring the electrical current absorbed by the electric motor for driving the feed pump. The operation of said electric motor is interrupted when the measured electrical current absorbed drops below a predetermined threshold value. The system thereby prevents the operation of the motor-pump assembly, which is immersed in the LPG within the LPG tank, when the level of LPG in the tank drops below a minimum admissible value. Simultaneously to the interruption of the operation of the electric motor an auxiliary petrol feed system is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Luigi, Claudio Amorese, Onofrio De Michele
  • Publication number: 20040139946
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus is adapted to control a pump which discharges fuel from a tank to a fuel passage, thereby regulating the pressure of fuel to be supplied to an engine. The tank includes a plurality of storage chambers, in a specific one of which the pump is placed. A part of the fuel discharged to the fuel passage is returned to the specific storage chamber through a branch passage. A storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber is in communication with the branch passage through a communication passage. A jet pump is operated to transfer the fuel from the storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber to the specific storage chamber through the communication passage by the action of the fuel flowing through the branch passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikio Hamada, Satomi Wada
  • Publication number: 20040112340
    Abstract: The common rail fuel injection control device in accordance with the present invention computes a base duty (A) equivalent to a base target opening degree of a metering valve and a correction coefficient (B) based on the engine operation state, adds the value obtained by multiplying an oscillation duty (C) which oscillates periodically by the correction coefficient (B) to the base duty (A), and determines the final duty (D) equivalent to a final target opening degree of the metering valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Koichiro Yomogida, Futoshi Nakano, Yusuke Saigo, Yuji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6729306
    Abstract: A micro-pump for fuel injection includes a housing, a pressure regulator, a combustible liquid inlet conduit in fluid communication with the pressure regulator, and a drop ejector on the housing and in fluid communication with the pressure regulator. The drop ejector contains a nozzle capable of ejecting a combustible liquid in a drop-by-drop fashion from the drop ejector. Further, an apparatus for generating a combustible vapor for a combustible fuel device such as an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a micro-pump for ejecting a combustible liquid drop-by-drop therefrom and means, connected to the micro-pump, for channeling a stream of air through the drops ejected by the micro-pump thereby generating a combustible vapor for the combustible fuel device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John M. Koegler, III, John M. Da Cunha
  • Patent number: 6729307
    Abstract: An in-tank fuel pump for an automotive vehicle includes a pump housing having a pumping element, a low pressure inlet, and a high pressure outlet. A motor housing defining a motor cavity is mounted to the pump housing and a motor is mounted within the motor cavity in driving engagement with the pumping element. A bypass channel is adapted to allow a portion of the fuel flowing through the high pressure outlet to flow into the motor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Dong
  • Publication number: 20040074479
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, the fuel is conveyed by an electrically driven fuel pump. The intake side of this pump is connected to a fuel tank and its outlet side is connected to a pressure region. A prerun of the electrically driven fuel pump may be performed before the startup of the internal combustion engine. In order to increase the service life of the fuel pump, an actual pressure (pactual) in the pressure region may be detected by a pressure sensor and the execution of the prerun be a function of at least the signal of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Thomas Frenz, Markus Amler, Karsten Hinn
  • Patent number: 6718950
    Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated system includes a fix displacement variable delivery pump with a plurality of parallel disposed pistons that reciprocate in a pump housing the defines a high pressure portion and a low pressure area. A control device is attached to the pump housing and moveable between a first position in which the pistons displace fluid into the high pressure portion and a second position in which pistons spill fluid back to the low pressure area. The control device includes an electrically driven linear motion device, a linkage and a plurality of sleeves, one being disposed on each piston. Linear movement of the control device in turn causes linear movement of the sleeves. The position of the sleeves in turn determines the amount of output of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Haoran Hu, Bryan E. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20040065304
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrically operated fuel injection apparatus comprising a fuel inletting device(110), a fuel pumping device (112) and a fuel injecting device (113). Fuel from the said fuel inletting device (110) is pumped by the said fuel pumping device (112) and then is injected out by the said fuel injecting device, wherein the said fuel pumping device (112) includes an operating coil (13), a returning coil (12) and a driven device (114) driven by the magnetic fields of these two coils; the magnetic loop induced by the said operating coil (13) excites the said driven device 9114) so as to inject the fuel by the said fuel injecting device (113), and the magnetic loop induced by the said returning coil (12) excites the said driven device to return back to its original position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Daguang Xi, Songling Cao
  • Patent number: 6715471
    Abstract: An electric fuel pump comprising a pump casing assembly having a fuel inlet port and an outlet port and a rotary member driven by an electric motor disposed within the pump casing assembly for pumping fuel from the outlet port. A fuel discharge port supplies the fuel from the outlet port to an engine, and a pressure regulator is disposed for regulating the pressure of the fuel to be discharged from the fuel discharge port. The pressure regulator regulates the pressure of the fuel from the outlet port by returning the fuel to the vicinity of the inlet port when the pressure of the fuel from the outlet port is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Hiraiwa, Shigeki Kanamaru, Michihiro Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20040060546
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine controller (120) includes a main processor (200) for monitoring operating parameters of an internal combustion engine (100) and a triggering device (170), working together with the main processor (200), for an electric fuel pump (110) of the internal combustion engine (100). The triggering device (170) works together with an electric activation device (205) and is designed in such a way that the fuel pump (110) is triggered essentially without time delay after actuation of the activation device (205). The internal combustion engine controller (120) has an electronic switching device which is designed so that, during an initialization process of the main processor (200), it triggers the electric fuel pump (110) independently of the main processor (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Guenter Rosenzopf, Helmut Denz, Karsten Kroepke, Ruediger Weiss, Oliver Heyna, Stephan Rosenberg
  • Publication number: 20040060547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel delivery assembly for vehicle fuel tanks, that includes: a first assembly forming a mount adapted to be fixed onto a wall of a fuel tank and which carries at least one accessory, a second assembly including an electric motor fuel pump, and a third assembly comprising at least two interchangeable linking members respectively fixed on the first assembly and on the second assembly, to provide support to the second assembly from the first assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Laurent Aubree, Remi Aubree
  • Patent number: 6712037
    Abstract: A low pressure direct injection engine system for a vehicle includes an engine having a plurality of cylinders each including a piston wherein the cylinders and a top portion of the pistons define a plurality of combustion chambers. A fuel injector is mounted in fluid communication with each of the combustion chambers. Each fuel injector has a nozzle which is adapted to generate a fine fuel spray with droplet sizes of 25 micro-meters SMD and 45 micro-meters DV90 and low penetration at fuel pressure of roughly 2 MPa. A low pressure fuel delivery system is adapted to deliver fuel from a fuel tank within the vehicle to the fuel injectors, and an igniter is mounted within the combustion chamber which is adapted to ignite the fuel within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Min Xu
  • Publication number: 20040055575
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling pressure within a common rail fluid distribution system use variable gains for a PID and feed forward controller that controls a pump that pressurizes the common rail. The pressure controller implements a combined feedback/feed forward control strategy with variable gains based on engine speed and a fluid quantity. In one embodiment, the feedback control loop includes proportional, integral, and derivative terms with variable gains determined based on pumped fuel quantity and engine speed. Alternatively, the proportional, integral, and derivative gains are determined based on injected fuel quantity per engine cycle and engine speed, or based on pump output, i.e. the product of pumped fluid quantity and engine speed. A variable gain feed forward control has its gain based on pumped fuel per cycle and engine speed, or alternatively based on pump output per unit time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Dennis McDonald, James A. West, Andrew May
  • Patent number: 6708671
    Abstract: Method for varying a prepressure (p_des) generated by a low-pressure pump and applied to a high-pressure pump with the low-pressure pump (2) and the high-pressure pump (3) pumping fuel for the internal combustion engine (1). In order to keep the prepressure (p_des), on the one hand, as low as possible to take load off the low-pressure pump (2) and to, on the other hand, adjust the prepressure (p_des) so high that a vaporization of the fuel is reliably avoided, the invention suggests that: the actual temperature (T_Krst) of the fuel in the high-pressure pump (3) is determined; a prepressure (p_des) as low as possible is determined in dependence upon the fuel temperature (T_Krst) for which a vaporization of the fuel in the high-pressure pump (3) is reliably avoided; and, the low-pressure pump (2) is so driven or controlled that it generates the determined prepressure (p_des). The method is preferably carried out on the basis of physical models of the high-pressure pump (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Thomas Frenz, Hansjoerg Bochum, Markus Amler