Electric Fuel Pump Patents (Class 123/497)
  • Publication number: 20020088437
    Abstract: The common rail supplies a number of injectors of the cylinders of the engine, and is supplied by a constant-displacement high-pressure pump in turn supplied by a low-pressure, variable-delivery, variable-pressure, motor-driven pump. The control device has an electronic control unit for receiving signals indicating operating conditions of the engine; the suction side of the high-pressure pump has a choke; and the control unit controls the motor-driven pump to vary the fuel pressure upstream from the choke between a predetermined maximum value and a predetermined minimum value, so as to regulate the fuel intake of the high-pressure pump within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Stefano Maria Borrione
  • Publication number: 20020083923
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an outboard motor regulates the fuel pressure to a vapor separator in a fuel injection system by using a pressure relief valve that returns excess fuel to the intake of the fuel pump. In order to permit excess fuel flow without substantial excess at low speeds, the fuel pump speed is regulated depending upon engine speed, fuel temperature, and fuel pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Masaru Suzuki, Hitoshi Watanabe, Yoshibumi Iwata
  • Publication number: 20020083928
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector includes a body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a neck portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. An adjusting tube is disposed within the neck portion of the body. A spring is disposed within the neck portion of the body, the spring having an upstream end proximate to the adjusting tube and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. A filter and an O-ring retainer assembly are disposed proximate the upstream end. An armature having a lower portion is disposed within the neck portion of the body and displaceable along the axis relative to the body. The downstream end of the spring is disposed proximate to the armature, the spring applying a biasing force to the armature. A valve seal is substantially rigidly connected to the lower portion of the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020073972
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel drawing-off device for a motor vehicle tank, the device comprising a drawing-off pump and a fine filter placed upstream from the pump, wherein the drawing-off pump is a pilot operated pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Pascal Orsini, Frederico Vilela
  • Patent number: 6394774
    Abstract: A fuel feeding aggregate for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel feeding aggregate has a housing having a suction-side end and a pressure-side end, a check valve integrated in the pressure-side aid and provided for fuel supply to injection valves, and an additional check valve integrated in the suction-side end in the housing and maintaining a system pressure in the fuel feeding aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kuehn, Dieter Schreckenberger
  • Patent number: 6382184
    Abstract: In a fuel pressure control system of a non-return system which feedback controls the fuel pressure supplied to a fuel injection valve to meet the fuel supply amount, a fuel pressure in a fuel supply passage is feedback controlled to become a pressure corresponding to the engine environmental temperature condition of during the engine operation stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitatsu Nakamura, Masaki Nakamura, Toru Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20020043253
    Abstract: An electronic returnless fuel system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump to pump fuel from a fuel tank. The electronic returnless fuel system also includes a fuel rail fluidly connected to the fuel pump to distribute the fuel to an engine of the vehicle and a pressure transducer to sense pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail. The electronic returnless fuel system includes a controller electrically connected to the pressure transducer and the fuel pump to control the pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail at a set operating pressure. The electronic returnless fuel system further includes a pressure relief valve interconnecting the fuel pump and the fuel rail set a predetermined amount above the set operating pressure and at least one jet pump disposed in the fuel tank and fluidly connected to the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Chris Clarence Begley, Michael D. Lutton, Michael Joseph Niemiec, Charles Wilson Braun
  • Patent number: 6371736
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for first filling a fuel system in a motor vehicle equipped with at least two operating elements as well as a fuel pump delivering the fuel is provided. For simplifying the first filling, the method and apparatus operates the fuel pump for filling the fuel system when a simultaneous actuation of the at least two operating elements provided in the vehicle occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Froeschl, Ulrich Schlachetzki
  • Patent number: 6367455
    Abstract: A pump control means controls a fuel pump so that fuel pressure supplied into the internal combustion engine becomes lower than a predetermined fuel pressure regulated by a fuel pressure regulator when the operating state of the internal combustion engine is within a predetermined operating state. Thus, the fuel pressure has already been controlled low while the engine state is within the predetermined operating state, so that the fuel leak from the injector during an engine stop is suppressed, thereby reducing an exhaust of deleterious gas when the engine starts again. Further, since the fuel pressure is decreased while the engine works, electric power is not wasted for decreasing the fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Hirata, Hidehiko Asama
  • Patent number: 6367454
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, which is provided with a fuel pump which can deliver fuel into a pressure reservoir. A control device is provided, which is connected to the fuel pump. The delivery quantity of the fuel pump can be changed and the fuel quantity supplied to the pressure reservoir can be adjusted to a required fuel quantity by influencing the delivery quantity of the fuel pump. The control device can control the delivery quantity of the fuel pump by a program map as a function of a number of input variables during the startup of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Rembold, Hansjoerg Bochum
  • Patent number: 6357423
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an engine includes an improved construction to inhibit heating of the fuel. A fuel reservoir is arranged to store the fuel therein. A fuel pump is provided for delivering the fuel in the reservoir to a fuel injector which sprays fuel toward a combustion chamber of the engine. The fuel pump is driven by an electric motor that is intermittently powered. In one embodiment, a control device is provided for controlling the duration for which the electric motor is powered. A duty ratio of the duration is preferably determined in response to an amount of the fuel that is required to be sprayed by the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kanno
  • Publication number: 20020020397
    Abstract: An electronic returnless fuel system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump to pump fuel from a fuel tank. The electronic returnless fuel system also includes a fuel rail fluidly connected to the fuel pump to distribute the fuel to an engine of the vehicle and a pressure transducer to sense pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail. The electronic returnless fuel system includes a controller electrically connected to the pressure transducer and the fuel pump to control the pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail at a set operating pressure. The electronic returnless fuel system further includes a pressure relief valve interconnecting the fuel pump and the fuel rail set a predetermined amount below the set operating pressure to leak fuel back into the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Chris Clarence Begley, Michael D. Lutton, Michael Joseph Niemiec, Charles Wilson Braun
  • Patent number: 6318344
    Abstract: A dead-headed or returnless fuel delivery system uses a single electric fuel pump to deliver fuel to a two-stroke fuel injected engine. The fuel pump draws fuel from a fuel tank via a fuel supply network or a fuel supply line, transfers the fuel through a fuel connector and a fuel filter, and delivers the fuel to a vapor separator. Fuel is then distributed to the fuel injectors without returning any fuel to the fuel delivery system. An engine control unit (ECU), connected to a pressure sensor, supplies a fuel supply signal to the fuel pump to maintain the supplied pressure P at a reference pressure Po.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
    Inventors: Peter E. Lucier, Richard P. Kolb
  • Patent number: 6314947
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system which selectively controls two pressure sources to deliver fuel from a tank to the engine for consumption by the engine. The fuel system has a pair of fuel supply passages through which fuel is discharged from the fuel tank to a main fuel supply line for delivery to the engine. One fuel passage communicates with an outlet of an electric fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank. The second fuel passage permits fuel to flow out of the fuel tank into the main fuel supply line independently of the fuel pump within the tank. Preferably, a valve is disposed in the second fuel passage to selectively permit fuel flow through the second fuel passage. The fuel system also has a controller which selectively provides electric power to the fuel pump so that the fuel pump in the fuel tank operates only when it is needed to discharge fuel from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald H. Roche
  • Publication number: 20010032622
    Abstract: A method and a device are described for diagnosing a fuel system having a plurality of electric fuel delivery units, which are submerged on the inlet side in a fuel supply contained in a fuel tank, and which, on the outlet side, deliver fuel in a fuel line to an internal combustion engine. The currents of the electric fuel delivery units are measured directly or indirectly in an analysis unit, compared to one another, and a diagnostic signal in digitized form is generated as a function of the result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Mathias Rollwage, Karsten Kroepke, Jens Wolber, Thomas Frenz, Manfred Kirschner, Klaus-Dieter Hufnagel, Ingo Richter, Markus Amler
  • Publication number: 20010027779
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus comprising a housing 10a made of a molded polymer material and containing therein a filter element 8 of a fuel filter 10 for filtering the fuel from the fuel pump 4.b and a supply passage 12 for introducing the filtered fuel from the fuel filter 10 to an engine. A pressure regulator 9 is provided for opening a valve 13 when the fuel pressure within the supply passage 12 is equal to or more than a predetermined pressure to return an excess amount of the fuel to the fuel tank 1 for regulating the fuel pressure within the supply passage 12. A a check valve 13 is also integrally incorporated in the supply passage 12 for preventing the reverse flow of the fuel from the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: SHINGO IWAI, SEIJI TSUTSUI
  • Patent number: 6298831
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, is equipped with a pressure accumulator and a high-pressure pump with which fuel can be delivered to the pressure accumulator. Also provided is a control device with which at least the pressure in the pressure accumulator can be controlled. When the internal combustion engine is in coastdown (overrun) mode, the pump output of the high-pressure pump can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Rembold, Ferdinand Grob, Hartmut Bauer, Uwe Maienberg, Klaus Scherrbacher
  • Patent number: 6293757
    Abstract: An amount of pressurized fluid is pumped by a high-pressure fluid pump to a common rail in an engine by using a multi-functional control circuit (ECU) that improves the controllability of fluid pumped to the common rail such that a target pressure in the common rail is achieved notwithstanding the loss of fuel injected from the common rail into the engine's cylinders nor the variety of pressure losses or deviations occurring throughout the system. The ECU sets a base fluid pumping amount based on a target value of pressure in the common rail and an amount of fluid ejected from the common rail. The ECU also calculates a fluid pumping amount required to cause the actual pressure of the common rail to follow a change of a target pressure of the common rail according to the amount of change of the target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomihisa Oda, Takao Fukuma, Yasuo Harada
  • Publication number: 20010022172
    Abstract: When a pump operates, a check valve body leaves a check valve seat due to a pump side fuel pressure for opening a fluid passage inside a pressure adjusting valve body. When the pump does not operate, the check valve body contacts the check valve seat due to an engine side fuel pressure for closing the fluid passage. Thus, the engine side fuel is prevented from flowing-back to the pump. When the pump stops operating and the engine side fuel pressure exceeds a pressure corresponding to an urging force of a coil spring, the pressure adjusting valve body leaves the pressure adjusting valve seat with the check valve body, so that a gap is provided between the pressure adjusting valve body and the pressure adjusting valve seat for releasing the engine side fuel having excess pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Kiyonori Moroto, Motoya Ito
  • Publication number: 20010018907
    Abstract: To feed stably fuel through a fuel injection valve for a long period of time and to stabilize pressure controlling characteristics of a fuel pressure controlling valve for a long period of time, a fuel case is partitioned into and formed by a fuel introduction chamber, a pump receiving chamber and a fuel discharge chamber. A fuel pump is received in the pump receiving chamber, an intake passage thereof communicates to the fuel introduction chamber and a discharge passage is directly opened to a filter received in fuel discharge chamber. The fuel discharged from the fuel pump is fed into the filter from the discharge passage and the fuel from which foreign matter has been removed through the filter is fed into the fuel discharge chamber. The clean fuel within the fuel discharge chamber is fed from a fuel discharge passage to a fuel distribution pipe and fed from a fuel introduction passage to the fuel chamber of the pressure controlling valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Yasushi Kondou, Toshinobu Ueoka, Hiroshi Yamazoe
  • Publication number: 20010018908
    Abstract: A fuel supply device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle has a supply container, a feeding aggregate which is electric-motor driven and feeds fuel from the supply container to an injection device of the internal combustion engine, a pressure sensor which determines a fuel pressure downstream of the feeding aggregate, a control device connected with the pressure sensor and controlling an operation of the feeding aggregate so that a fuel pressure is at least approximately below a nominal pressure, a throttled discharge arranged downstream of the feeding aggregate, a valve device operative for controlling the discharge depending on a fuel pressure and opening the discharge when a fuel pressure located under the nominal pressure is exceeded, and a check valve integrated in the feeding aggregate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Thomas Frenz, Markus Amler, Hansjoerg Bochum
  • Publication number: 20010017128
    Abstract: A fuel feed module for a motor vehicle has a storage container adapted to be arranged in a fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle, a feed aggregate arranged in the storage container and having a drive formed as an electric motor for driving fuel from the storage container to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, means forming at least approximately hollow cylindrical receptacle arranged on the storage container, formed so that the feed aggregate is insertable into the receptacle in direction of its longitudinal axis, at least one mounting element fixed in the feed aggregate in direction of its longitudinal axis, the mounting element being formed as a cover part arranged on the feed aggregate and being at least partially electrically conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Braun, Dieter Schreckenberger
  • Patent number: 6279544
    Abstract: In a pressure-maintaining device for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine (1) of a motor vehicle, a pressure reservoir (5) is arranged in a supply line (7) leading to the internal combustion engine (1). The pressure reservior (5) has a pressure chamber (13), which is bounded by a movable wall (14) that is pretensioned by a compression spring (15). The position of the movable wall (14) is registered by a displacement transducer (18) and forwarded to a regulating device (12). The regulating device (12) regulates the rotational speed of a fuel pump (3) as a function of the position of the movable wall (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Bernd Rumpf
  • Patent number: 6279541
    Abstract: A no-return system for supplying fuel from a tank to a fuel injected internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle in response to the fuel demand of the engine. The pump supplies more fuel than that required by the operating engine and the excess fuel is diverted from the engine by a bypass fuel pressure regulator and returned to the tank through a fluid-activatable switch movable to electrically open and closed states in response to the rate of flow of excess fuel through the switch. An electric control circuit is responsive to the state of the switch to change the magnitude of the power applied to the electric motor to change its operating speed and thereby modulate the output fuel flow rate of the pump in response to the fuel demand of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk D. Doane, Bryan J. Gettel, Ronald B. Kuenzli, Peter P. Kuperus, Edwyn R. Maschke, Edward J. Talaski
  • Patent number: 6279532
    Abstract: A fuel pressure control apparatus for cylinder injection engine having a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a cylinder of an engine, a pipe for conducting the fuel to the fuel injection valve, a fuel pump for supplying the fuel from a fuel supply system to the pipe, a fuel pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure within the pipe by discharging the fuel from the pipe to the fuel supply system, and a control unit for making feed-back control on the fuel pressure within the pipe by applying a control signal determined on the basis of an engine operation parameter to the fuel pressure regulator, wherein the fuel pressure regulator is controlled in a feed-forward manner by a predetermined control value so as to make better fuel pressure control at the time of start and when the fuel pressure transiently changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Takano, Koji Matsufuji, Tohru Ishikawa, Takao Teranishi
  • Publication number: 20010011537
    Abstract: An operating device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with a starter having an electric motor, the operating device has a fuel pump; and a connection of said fuel pump with the electric motor so that the electric motor can be used additionally at least indirectly for driving of said fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Thomas Frenz, Markus Amler, Hansjoerg Bochum
  • Publication number: 20010009149
    Abstract: A pump control means controls a fuel pump so that fuel pressure supplied into the internal combustion engine becomes lower than a predetermined fuel pressure regulated by a fuel pressure regulator when the operating state of the internal combustion engine is within a predetermined operating state. Thus, the fuel pressure has already been controlled low while the engine state is within the predetermined operating state, so that the fuel leak from the injector during an engine stop is suppressed, thereby reducing an exhaust of deleterious gas when the engine starts again. Further, since the fuel pressure is decreased while the engine works, electric power is not wasted for decreasing the fuel pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Yasuo Hirata, Hidehiko Asama
  • Patent number: 6260540
    Abstract: A fuel supply system is provided with a static discharge circuit (30) placed on the surface of a cover (3) fitted in the opening (2a) of a fuel tank (2) and used to discharge the static electricity generated because of the intense friction between fuel and the filter element (5a) of a fuel filter (5) when the fuel passes through the filter element (5a). The static discharge circuit (30) is fitted with output terminals (38c) so arranged as to externally output an operation confirming signal for an operation confirming display lamp (37) by making use of a pulse signal at the time of charging-discharging. Therefore, the static electricity can surely be discharged and a decrease in the amount of fuel supply to and engine can also be recognized beforehand by detecting the fact that the filter element (5a) is clogged with foreign matter and/or the malfunctioning of a fuel pump (4) occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Hiraiwa, Hisashi Kuwada
  • Patent number: 6253742
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a fuel system of an outboard motor uses a lift pump to transfer fuel from a remote tank to a vapor separator tank. Only one level sensor is provided in the vapor separator tank and an engine control unit monitors the total fuel usage subsequent to the most recent filling of the tank. When the fuel usage indicates that the fuel level in the vapor separator tank has reached a predefined lower level, a lift pump is activated to draw fuel from a remote tank and provide that fuel to the vapor separator tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Wickman, Douglas E. Trombley, Erivn H. Voss, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6253739
    Abstract: A dual function fuel delivery system is provided including a mechanical gear-driven pump and an electric pump. The electric pump is selectively energized to deliver fuel to the mechanical gear-driven pump. The electric pump is energized when an RPM level in the engine is less than a first threshold value or when a fuel rail pressure in a fuel rail of the system is less than a second threshold value. The electric pump is de-energized when the RPM level is greater than or equal to the first threshold value and the fuel rail pressure is greater than or equal to the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J Golomb, Richard H Bienick, James A Walendzik
  • Patent number: 6250287
    Abstract: A fuel pump is housed within the structure of a portable fuel tank. The inlet of the pump is located in the lower portion of the tank and an outlet of the pump is connectable in fluid communication with a flexible conduit. An opposite end of the flexible conduit is connectable in fluid communication with the fuel system of an outboard motor. A water sensor and a fuel level sensor can be provided in conjunction with the pump and attached to the pump in certain embodiments. A fuel pressure regulator is connected in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and also located within the structure of the portable fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Wickman, Robert Kleeman, Ervin H. Voss, Jr., David C. Entringer
  • Patent number: 6240902
    Abstract: A drive unit for driving a fuel pump for a small-sized vehicle, which is capable of reducing the current consumption of the fuel pump. A drive unit includes an ECU for controlling the fuel injection amount of a fuel injector. The ECU drives the fuel pump on the basis of control data for controlling the fuel injection amount of the fuel injector and of a power supply voltage of the fuel pump. For example, the fuel pump is driven under pulse-width modulation (PWM) in such a manner that a pulse-width of a PWM signal is made larger with an increase in the fuel injection amount of the fuel injector and is made smaller with a decrease in the fuel injection amount of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Takeshi Konno
  • Patent number: 6223731
    Abstract: A fuel transfer model of a fuel supply system is used to set and control the fuel pump of a return less fuel injection system. The model simulates characteristics of the fuel pump, fuel pressure transfer delay of fuel supply conduits and fuel pressure variation characteristics such as caused by expansion and compression of the fuel supply conduit volume due to an elastic coefficient and the like. The fuel pump model simulates a torque applied to the fuel pump motor, inertia, and the relationships between pump rotational speed, fuel pressure and fuel pump discharge amounts. A compensation control arithmetic calculation model may be derived from inverse calculation based on this fuel transfer model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshiume, Shigenori Isomura
  • Patent number: 6216671
    Abstract: A modular fuel reservoir (MFR) including a cup-shaped plastic reservoir and a fuel pressure regulator supported on the reservoir. A fuel pump is supported in a tubular chamber of a retainer on top of the plastic reservoir and includes an exposed metal shell bearing against a wall of the tubular chamber and an electric motor turned on and off through a positive contact terminal and a negative contact terminal on a plastic end housing of the fuel pump. The retainer is made of an electrically conductive polymer and includes a resilient fin bearing against a metal housing of the pressure regulator. Ions stripped from the fuel and collected on the metal housing of the pressure regulator are conducted to the negative terminal on the end housing of the fuel pump through the electrically conductive retainer, the metal shell of the fuel pump, and an internal conductor in the fuel pump between the metal shell and the negative terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulf Sawert, Sharon Elizabeth Beyer, Dennis Paul McGrath, Dale Richard Jones
  • Patent number: 6206035
    Abstract: A safety system for use in a motor vehicle fuel system in which fuel flow components generate electrostatic charges. The system includes a fuel pump that has a housing that is electrically connected to ground potential and an electrically conductive safety device that connects each fuel flow component to the fuel pump housing for discharging static electricity to ground through the fuel pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Holger Wehner, Jürgen Ehinger
  • Patent number: 6189513
    Abstract: A fuel transfer and conditioning unit for an automotive vehicle includes a reservoir with a generally cylindrical filter element and a pump module contained within the reservoir and extending within the filter element. A combination valve prevents forward flow of fuel through the pump module unless the filter element is installed within the reservoir and also prevents reverse flow of fuel from the engine in the event the filter element is removed for maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Allen Brown, Carlos Armesto
  • Patent number: 6170470
    Abstract: A fuel system provides first and second conduits that draw fuel from first and second positions, or locations, within a fuel reservoir. If water exists in the fuel reservoir, the second position is selected to be lowered in the fuel reservoir than the first position so that accumulated water will be drawn through the second conduit under certain conditions, such as when the engine is operating at a speed above the minimum threshold. The fuel reservoir can be a fuel tank or auxiliary fuel tank of a vehicle or watercraft or, alternatively, it can be the housing of a fuel/water separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Clarkson, Chad W. Martin
  • Patent number: 6155237
    Abstract: A fuel-supply system for supplying fuel for an internal combustion engine, having a fuel pump which delivers fuel from a fuel tank. The fuel-supply system assures proper operation of the internal combustion engine, even when the fuel tank is nearly empty and in curves. The fuel-supply system includes a fuel pump connected to a fuel reservoir and to a control device which controls the fuel pump in such a way that the fuel pump delivers a cornering reserve into the fuel reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Frank
  • Patent number: 6148809
    Abstract: A continuous flow fuel system includes an oxygen sensor for analyzing the exhaust gases of an engine. The output from the oxygen sensor, representing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases, is transmitted to an electronic control module, which in turn controls the output of a fuel pump. The output of the fuel pump provides fuel to maintain a desired fuel/air ratio. The desired fuel/air ratio may be selected by a user of the engine or it may be predetermined and factory-set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Vincent J. Cinquegrani
  • Patent number: 6067963
    Abstract: When differential pressure between fuel flowing into a fuel control valve and fuel flowing out of the valve reaches a predetermined value, the biasing force of a compressed coil spring is countered and a shaft in the valve moves to the fuel upstream side so that a valve member is seated to terminate communication between the fuel inlet passage and the fuel outlet passage. This maintains fuel pressure at the fuel inlet passage and at the fuel outlet passage at different levels so that the fuel supply system maintains a high fuel pressure in the fuel rail to suppress fuel vapor generation during engine stoppage while also yet still providing an appropriate fuel injection pressure during rapid deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Oi, Kazuji Minagawa, Motoya Ito
  • Patent number: 6055957
    Abstract: A method for carrying out fuel injection using a variable nozzle hole type fuel injection nozzle and a jerk type fuel injection pump. The variable nozzle hole type fuel injection nozzle has in its tip a well formed by an enclosing wall in which are provided a number of nozzle holes (35). A rotary valve (7) rotatable by an actuator (9) is disposed in the well and has fuel passages (73) so provided in the same number as the nozzle holes (35) that the fuel passages (73) can be connected with the nozzle holes (35) to a degree which varies with the angle of the rotary valve (7). A non-injection period in the rotation of the jerk type fuel injection pump B is detected using an encoder pulse and when the jerk type fuel injection pump B is rotating at high speed the angle of the rotary valve (7) is changed in steps until the rotary valve (7) reaches a target angle (.theta.D) corresponding to a required nozzle hole area by the actuator (9) being driven a required number of times only in the non-injection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Takao Iwasaki, Shoichi Kido
  • Patent number: 6047684
    Abstract: A gear pump has a pair of gears a seal member for sealing up teeth of the gross engaging with each other in a sealed-up gear case, which seal member is provided at a place occupied by plurality of teeth in the vicinity of a working area of the teeth in a low pressure side of the gear case and is not connected to the gear case, the seal member having a low pressure fuel the flow of hole for flowing a low pressure fuel, wherein a tooth sealing angle for the plurality of teeth is set substantially to a value within a range of 35.degree..+-.5.degree. for gears having of 14 to 18 teeth, and a high pressure fuel flowing passage for the flow of a high pressure fuel, formed in a space other than the working area of the teeth and the area of and the sealing member, in the gear case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Yuzo Kadomukai, Yukio Takahashi, Kenji Okuna, Yasuo Kita
  • Patent number: 6039030
    Abstract: A fuel or air system component for a motor vehicle, constructed with shape memory alloys, to control fuel flow as a function of temperature or electrical means. The shape memory alloy changes shape at a defined temperature, or in a particular temperature range, thereby affecting a control feature internal to a component in the fuel system, and as a result, changing the fuel flow and/or pressure characteristic. The component may be a biasing spring. The shape memory alloy is an intermetallic compound or alloy which exhibits a shape transformation when heated or cooled through its transformation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Barry S. Robinson, Jason T. Kilgore
  • Patent number: 6024072
    Abstract: In a fuel pump control apparatus provided by the present invention, if a target fuel pressure is changed, processing is carried out to determine whether the target fuel pressure has been increased or decreased so that proper transient state control can be executed. If the target fuel pressure has been increased, a fuel pump is driven by a maximum driving signal till the pressure of fuel reaches 90% of a new higher target fuel pressure. If the target fuel pressure has been decreased, on the other hand, the fuel pump is driven by a minimum driving signal till the pressure of fuel reaches 110% of a new lower target fuel pressure. In either case, transition state control is executed thereafter to drive the fuel pump at a duty ratio determined on the basis of an injection flow rate and the target fuel pressure till a predetermined delay time lapses. After the transition state control is finished, a steady state control is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mikio Hamada
  • Patent number: 6016791
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the fuel pressure in a common rail fuel injection system which electronically controls a variable output high pressure pump based upon engine speed, torque and actual common rail pressure inputs, as well as the present system voltage, thereby providing simple yet stable control of the fuel pressure in the accumulator of the common rail system which is relatively insensitive to supply voltage fluctuations from the power source providing the electrical power to the solenoid-controlled valve which controls the high pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Eric D. Thomas, S. Miller Weisman, II
  • Patent number: 6014961
    Abstract: A pressure sensing system for an internal combustion engine including an intake manifold (20) and an exhaust manifold (24), with an EGR valve assembly (30) mounted thereto. A sensor housing (60) includes three absolute sensors (80, 82, 84) for measuring absolute EGR pressure, manifold absolute pressure, and fuel rail pressure. The passages (28, 68) for the EGR flow and for measuring the EGR and MAP are internal to the EGR assembly and manifolds, thus eliminating separate hoses. The orifice (76) within the EGR passages (28, 68) is located downstream of the EGR valve to allow for pressure downstream of the orifice to be MAP pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Freeman Carter Gates
  • Patent number: 5988149
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a pressure sensing system. A first (80) and a second (82) absolute pressure sensor are located in a main sensor housing (60) mounted near an intake manifold (20). The first pressure sensor (80) measures the pressure in an EGR passage (68) between an EGR valve (30) and an orifice (76), and the second pressure sensor 82 measures the pressure in the intake manifold (20) downstream of the throttle valve (46). A fuel sensor housing (54) is mounted to the fuel rail (50) and includes a third absolute pressure sensor (84) that measures the pressure in the fuel rail (50). The signals from three sensors are then used by a powertrain control module (42) to control the exhaust gas recirculation and returnless fuel systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Freeman Carter Gates
  • Patent number: 5937829
    Abstract: A fuel pump drive apparatus for a fuel injection equipment for an internal combustion engine capable of satisfactorily driving a fuel pump for a fuel injection equipment without being affected by a variation in a voltage across a battery. A magneto driven by the internal combustion engine is provided with a battery charging coil and a pump drive coil. An output of the pump drive coil is fed to a pump drive motor through a pump drive circuit including a voltage regulator. A diode is connected between a positive output terminal of a battery charging circuit and a positive output terminal of a pump drive circuit, so that a current is fed from the battery through the diode to the pump drive motor only when a voltage across the battery is higher than an output voltage of the pump drive circuit. The voltage regulator of the pump drive circuit has an adjustment value set to be higher than a maximum value of the voltage across the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuneaki Endou
  • Patent number: 5927253
    Abstract: A fuel system priming method for an internal combustion engine having a returnless fuel system and electronic fuel injection includes sensing fuel pressure rate of rise during priming. The fuel pump is first activated to pressurize the system and then the injectors are controlled for a short interval in response to the sensed rate of pressure rise to vent trapped air in the fuel system. The fuel pump is then activated again to pressurize the fully primed fuel system for quick engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory Oyafuso, Robert Timothy Trzeciak, William Eugene Nixon
  • Patent number: 5915363
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for an engine powering an outboard motor is disclosed. The fuel supply system includes a pump for supplying fuel from a tank to a vapor separator. Another pump delivers fuel from the vapor separator to at least one charge former for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber(s) of the engine. The fuel supply system includes a mechanism for reducing the transmission of vapor to the pump which delivers fuel to the charge former(s). In one embodiment, this mechanism is a vapor relief line extending to a point outside of a cowling of the motor in which the engine is positioned. In another embodiment, the mechanism is a pump control, and in yet another, the mechanism is a vapor separator cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshibumi Iwata, Noriyoshi Hiraoka