Excess Fuel Returned To Tank Patents (Class 123/514)
  • Patent number: 7438057
    Abstract: A common rail fuel injection system having a low-pressure region from which a high-pressure fuel pump acts on fuel with high pressure and delivers it to a high-pressure fuel accumulator from which fuel is supplied to injectors that inject the highly pressurized fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine in which the high-pressure pump, the high-pressure fuel accumulator, and the injectors are associated with a high-pump, pressure region. In order to avoid undesirable delays in the starting of the internal combustion engine, a check valve device is connected between the low-pressure region and the high-pressure region so that when a negative pressure is generated in the high-pressure region, fuel flows from the low-pressure region into the high-pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Scheurer, Timo Steinbach
  • Publication number: 20080245346
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus particularly for the outboard motor is capable of decreasing the need to change the layout, etc., according to the specification of an engine to reduce the cost of production by preventing vapor from being discharged into an intake pipe. A low pressure fuel pump has its discharge flow rate adjusted to be greater than that of a high pressure fuel pump, and surplus fuel accumulating in a volumetric chamber is caused to circulate through the volumetric chamber, a first return passage, fuel piping, and an inflow passage under the action of the low pressure fuel pump, a check valve and a relief valve, whereby fuel remaining in the volumetric chamber is prevented from being locally warmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Onishi, Satoshi Kusumoto, Shinya Nose
  • Patent number: 7431019
    Abstract: In a fuel supply device 1 in which high-pressure fuel in the inside of a common rail 2 which accumulates the high-pressure fuel supplied from a fuel pump 6 under pressure is supplied to an internal combustion engine by fuel injection valves, and the fuel pump 6 includes a plurality of high-pressure plungers 61 to 64 whose high-pressure-fuel injection timings are shifted from each other, a portion or all of high-pressure pipes 11 to 14 which connect fuel outlet ports 6P1 to 6P4 of high-pressure plungers 61 to 64 with the common rail 2 are connected with each other by connection pipes 30 to 33 thus establishing a state in which the high-pressure fuel from substantially one high-pressure plunger is supplied using the plurality of high-pressure pipes whereby the elevation of fuel pressures in the inside of the high-pressure pipes can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Kubota
  • Patent number: 7431020
    Abstract: A returnless fuel system has a fuel pump whose speed is varied by varying the voltage across the fuel pump. Controlling the fuel pump speed entails sensing the back pressure with a pressure sensor that may lie between the jet pump supply orifice and the pressure regulator in the pressure regulator case. A trigger circuit determines the absolute value of the difference between the sensed back pressure and an average, or predetermined target, pressure and compares it to a predetermined pressure value. If the absolute value is greater than the predetermined value, then a control circuit is invoked that compares the sensed pressure to a high threshold pressure and a low threshold pressure, and based upon such comparisons, the speed of the fuel pump is varied or maintained such that the mean pressure of the fuel system is targeted under all engine consumption conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dhyana Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20080236685
    Abstract: Device for avoiding fluid delivery errors, comprising a primary coil (6), placed in a container (1) in the vicinity of a fluid delivery orifice (2) of the container, a control and measurement electric circuit (7) supplying power to the primary coil (6) to generate electromagnetic waves in the fluid delivery orifice (2), detector means (7, 8) sensitive to the waveform of the currents or voltages that appear in the primary coil (6) and that distinguish the presence and the type of fluid delivery nozzle (4) as a function of said waveform of the currents or voltages in the primary coil (6). Comparator means (11) determine if the measured oscillation frequency (fm) is different from a reference oscillation frequency (fr). If necessary, the user is warned, by alarm means (12), that he is about to fill his container (1) with the wrong type of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: G. Cartier Technologies
    Inventors: Amir Nourdine, Jean-Luc Breheret
  • Publication number: 20080236550
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel supply device including a saddle-shaped fuel tank comprised of a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber. A reservoir is disposed within the main chamber. A main pump is provided within the reservoir. A sub-pump is detachably provided within the reservoir. The fuel in the reservoir is drawn up by an operation of the main pump to supply fuel to an engine. A portion of the drawn-up fuel is utilized to generate a negative pressure, the negative pressure is utilized to transfer the fuel in the auxiliary chamber to the reservoir, and the negative pressure is utilized to introduce the fuel in the main chamber into the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Takeaki Nakajima, Shoichi Hokazono, Shinya Murabayashi, Hideharu Yamazaki, Kenji Hirose, Takeshi Kumakura, Shukoh Terata
  • Publication number: 20080202478
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure control valve (8) for a hydraulic device, particularly a fuel supply system of a motor vehicle, comprising a valve seat (10) that is disposed between a valve member (13) and a spring element (16) for biasing the valve member (13) counter to the valve seat (10). The valve member (13) and the spring element (16) are interconnected via a traction element (14) such that the valve member (13) is reliably guided towards the valve seat (10) without using any additional guiding elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Möhring, Rene Schmid, Alexander Sonntag, Hans-Dieter Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 7410022
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and assemblies for providing improved fuel management to fuel injected engine systems of off-road vehicles, such as snowmobiles, personal watercraft, motorcycles, utility vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles. The fuel-injected engine systems can return fuel after passing through a pressure regulator located either upstream or downstream of the engine. Fuel may be returned to the fuel pump through various routes, rather than simply returning the fuel into the fuel of the fuel tank. Fuel may be returned directly to the fuel pump upstream of all fuel pickups or upstream of some fuel pickups and downstream from other fuel pickups. Some embodiments include a vapor separator located downstream of the pressure regulator but somewhere upstream of the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Berg, Douglas M. Corneliusen, Scott E. McKinster
  • Patent number: 7404388
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system which can automatically switch passages of a fuel supply line and a fuel return line when the pressure in a fuel return line becomes higher than a predetermined pressure. Even when the fuel supply and return lines are incorrectly connected, the present system can prevent the problem of damage to a fuel supply system and fuel leakage which may be caused by an increased fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sung-Hoon Bang
  • Publication number: 20080173280
    Abstract: A fuel injection system operates under a predetermined substantially constant pump speed and creates multi-pressure levels by diverting the fuel flow. Fuel pressure can be switched from one steady pressure level to another level on-demand instantly. This superimposes and overlaps typical fuel injection events in the linear operating ranges under different pressure levels, significantly increasing the fuel injection dynamic range. The dynamic range is further increased when another predetermined constant pump speed is assigned. Thus, the system saves fuel and reduces exhaust emission in city driving when gas pedal is released including idle. The same system can instantly deliver additional fuel on-demand for extra power beyond engine rating producing a sport-car-like performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Shou L. Hou
  • Patent number: 7387111
    Abstract: An in-tank fuel supply unit is provided for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to an engine. The fuel supply unit generally comprises a fuel delivery module and a jet pump assembly selectively attachable to the fuel delivery module. The fuel delivery module has a housing defining a reservoir and includes a fuel pump for pressurizing fuel in the reservoir. The jet pump assembly has a suction tube defining a suction chamber and a nozzle situated inside the suction chamber. The nozzle receives pressurized fuel from the fuel pump and sprays the fuel from a nozzle tip at high velocity to draw additional fuel into the suction chamber through an inlet formed in the suction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: DeQuan Yu, David Zultowski, Vipin F. Patel, Jason Nicholas Schultz, Matthew Edward Wiethoff
  • Patent number: 7383822
    Abstract: A fuel pump module has a fuel pump with an outlet located within a fuel reservoir, a fuel filter casing within which a fuel filter receives fuel from the fuel pump fuel outlet. A fuel discharge housing attaches to the fuel filter casing such that fuel passing from the filter and into the discharge casing then discharges from either a casing fuel outlet or a bleed orifice. The casing fuel outlet leads to the engine while the bleed orifice discharges fuel into a sump formed into the reservoir's bottom wall under the bleed orifice. The sump retains a quantity of fuel so that during low fuel levels within the reservoir, when the engine is off, the fuel filter maintains its prime condition from fuel in the sump to lessen the filter prime time during engine starting. Selective placement of fuel valves also decreases fuel system prime times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Dhyana Ramamurthy, Kingo Okada, Hideto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7383823
    Abstract: A fuel injection system having a high-pressure side which includes at least one high-pressure reservoir, in which fuel is stored at injection pressure, and at least one injector communicating with the high-pressure reservoir for fuel injection at a cylinder of the engine. The fuel injection system moreover has a low-pressure side which communicates at least indirectly with a fuel tank. The high-pressure side has a communication with the low-pressure side, which communication is controlled as a function of the fuel temperature in the high-pressure side and at a high fuel temperature is at least substantially closed, so that the high-pressure side is disconnected from the low-pressure side, and that is open at a low fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Becker
  • Patent number: 7380541
    Abstract: The injection system comprises a high-pressure pump with variable flowrate, having at least one pumping element provided with an intake valve in communication with an intake pipe and a delivery valve in communication with a delivery pipe. A pressure regulator is set on the intake pipe downstream of a metering solenoid valve designed to meter the flowrate of the pump according to the operating conditions of the engine. The pressure regulator is designed to discharge the excess fuel into a compartment of a crankcase for lubricating the usual actuation mechanism of the pumping element. Set between an inlet of the solenoid valve and an inlet of the pressure regulator is a control volume designed to contain an amount of fuel such as to guarantee an adequate flow of fuel in an area corresponding to the inlet of the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Raffaele Ricco, Sergio Stucchi, Onofrio De Michele, Antonio Gravina, Domenico Lepore
  • Patent number: 7370640
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel feed unit (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a volume flow reducing valve (13, 14) that is mounted in a pump fluid line (11, 12) leading to a suction jet pump (5, 6). Said volume flow reducing valve (13, 14) reduces the fuel volume flow supplied to the suction jet pump (5, 6) when the feed pressure of the fuel pump (4) increases, thereby avoiding unnecessary feed of fuel to the suction jet pump (5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Lothar Dickenscheid
  • Patent number: 7367352
    Abstract: The valve device consists, according to the invention, of (at least) two part valves which are symmetrical in circuit terms with respect to the existing connections and which are designed, in particular, as four-way, two position valves of any desired type of construction, but preferably are provided as slide valves. There is preferably a double slide valve with two cooperating slide valves. The valve device features internal seals and sealing surfaces which minimize wear and damage to the seals as they move across flow ports. The valve device is particularly adapted for use as a fuel control valve for an internal combustion powered motor vehicle having two separate fuel tanks. The valve device permits control over which tank supplies fuel to the engine, and allows controlled mixing of the fuels from each tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Voss Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Hagen, Markus Hasberg, Andreas Suhr
  • Patent number: 7363918
    Abstract: A common rail fuel injection system has a fuel pump, a common rail, and an injector. The injector injects high-pressure fuel supplied from the common rail into an engine and leaks part of the high-pressure fuel. An electronic control unit (ECU) restricts a heat amount of the leak fuel of the injector based on a remaining amount of the fuel in a fuel tank. At that time, a target value of the fuel pressure in the common rail is changed to a lower value and the restriction of the fuel pressure is performed with the changed target value. Thus, decrease in generation torque of the engine against intension of a driver can be inhibited while protecting components such as the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Majima
  • Patent number: 7353798
    Abstract: A low-pressure delivery pipe provided with intake manifold injectors, a fuel pressure regulator, a high-pressure fuel pump, a high-pressure delivery pipe provided with in-cylinder injectors, and an electromagnetic relief valve are connected in series at the downstream of a low-pressure fuel pump that discharges a fuel within a fuel tank at a prescribed pressure. Since the low-pressure delivery pipe is arranged downstream of the low-pressure fuel pump, the fuel pressure within the low-pressure delivery pipe is lowered upon stop of vehicle operation, in response to stop of the low-pressure fuel pump. The fuel pressure within the high-pressure delivery pipe is also lowered in response to stop of the low-pressure fuel pump, by opening the electromagnetic relief valve upon stop of vehicle operation. Thus, oil tightness of the injectors during the stop of vehicle operation is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tokuda, Naoki Kurata, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi, Toshio Inoue, Naoto Suzuki, Mamoru Tomatsuri, Keiko Hasegawa, Keita Fukui
  • Patent number: 7350510
    Abstract: The engine ECU executes a program including the step of determining whether there is a possibility of occurrence of air bubbles within the high-pressure delivery pipe when there is an engine start request, the step of transmitting an open-instruction signal to the electromagnetic relief valve when there is a possibility of occurrence of air bubbles, the step of transmitting a drive-instruction signal to the feed pump, the step of transmitting a close-instruction signal to the electromagnetic relief valve after the feed pump is driven for a predetermined period of time, the step of transmitting a drive-instruction signal to the starter, and the step of transmitting an injection-instruction signal to the EDU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Tomatsuri, Yukio Kobayashi, Keita Fukui
  • Publication number: 20080053414
    Abstract: The way the R.C. Regulator works is that it lets fuel back into the fuel tank that is not needed. The pressure on the injectors will drop to the minimal. The vehicle may not start on the first start attempt, but will on the second. The R.C. Regulator does not rob the automobile of its power, which will cause it to keep its maximum performance. The automobile will have a gain of miles per. The R.C. Regulator is made of H/C PEX Tube. The R.C. Regulator has a punctured hole on the side for ventilation and sending excessive fuel back into the fuel tank for future use. The R.C. Regulator will go in between the line to the fuel injectors and the fuel pump. There are clamps used to hold the R.C. Regulator in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Roy Allen Carr
  • Patent number: 7331330
    Abstract: A device to suction fuel from a fuel injector and a device to attach a fuel return line to a fuel injector with a C-shaped main body partially encircling the fuel injector having two retaining arms which abut the fuel injector and grip it from the back at least to a small degree, with a connector coacting with a drain passage of the fuel injector and at least one connecting fitting for the fuel return line. The connecting fitting and the connector are fluidically connected. The free ends of the retaining arms have a first section in which they are angled towards each other and towards the base of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Cooper Standard Automotive, Inc
    Inventors: Sylvain Houy, Daniel Saxer, Thomas Vierneisel, Yan Kornatz, Valeri Arendt, André Häckel, Detlef Stuhldreier
  • Patent number: 7320313
    Abstract: A differential pressure regulator includes a housing having a first and second chamber, a fuel pump inlet, a passage, and a return orifice. The fuel pump inlet is in fluid communication with the passage and the first chamber while the return orifice is in fluid communication with the passage and the second chamber. A movable diaphragm separates the first chamber from the second chamber with a first and a second needle valve connected to opposing sides of the diaphragm. The first needle valve is reciprocally disposed in the fuel pump inlet while the second needle valve is reciprocally disposed in the return orifice. The differential pressure regulator also includes a fuel injection supply opening that is located in the first chamber and the return opening that is located in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Akram R. Zahdeh
  • Patent number: 7318423
    Abstract: In the DME fuel supply device for a diesel engine, the time necessary to retrieve DME fuel remaining in the injection system after stopping the diesel engine into the fuel tank can be reduced. In a non-injection state, a three-way valve (71) is controlled to be OFF to form a communication passage in the direction indicated by the arrow B and a two-way valve (72) is controlled to be ON. DME fuel delivered from a feed pump (5) is delivered to an aspirator (7), passed from an inlet (7a) to the outlet (7b) thereof and returned to a fuel tank (4). That is, the DME fuel circulates via the aspirator. A vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe switching solenoid valve (75) is controlled to be ON and opened so that flow can pass through a vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe (73) connecting the vapor-phase (4a) in the fuel tank (4) and the inlet of the fuel gallery (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nozaki, Toshifumi Noda, Daijo Ushiyama, Teruaki Ishikawa, Yukihiro Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 7318846
    Abstract: A mixture formation means for the reformer of a fuel cell system or for a heater. The fuel feed includes a pressure impulse injection means and the mixture formation area is a swirl chamber having a discharge nozzle connected to the pressure impulse injection device. Also included is a fuel heater for preheating the fuel before injection in order to achieve complete vaporization of the fuel, such as diesel fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Enerday GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Boltze, Christian Wunderlich, Matthias Jahn
  • Patent number: 7318414
    Abstract: A fuel injection system operates under a substantially constant pump speed and creates multi-pressure levels by diverting the fuel flow. Fuel pressure can be switched from one steady pressure level to another level on-demand instantly. This superimposes and overlaps typical fuel injection events in the linear operating ranges under different pressure levels, significantly increasing the fuel injection dynamic range. Lower fuel injection when idle or during city driving reduces fuel consumption per mile traveled and reduces exhaust emission that causes smog in metropolitan areas. The system delivers additional power to the engine instantly at peak load on-demand, reduces idle speed with the engine running smoothly, does not change fuel tank temperature, and may enhance the life of the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: TMC Company
    Inventor: Shou L. Hou
  • Patent number: 7318417
    Abstract: An injection unit has an injector arrangement connected to a pressure reservoir by a pressure line arrangement The injector arrangement has at least one servo injection valve and a control valve for the release of fuel from a control chamber into a fuel return line leading to the fuel tank The Valve may be operated by a piezoelectric actuator to cause a displacement of a nozzle body in the direction of an injection passage opening for initiating an injection process by pressure reduction in the control chamber. The fuel return line has a controllable valve, which restricts the fuel flow in the fuel return line in the actuated state. It is, thus, possible to reduce the effects of a change of length of the piezoelectric actuator, which exceeds the so-called tolerance gap in the servo injection valve, which are detrimental to the operation of the injection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Lang, Gerald Plank
  • Patent number: 7306715
    Abstract: A pump module includes a fuel pump, a fuel filter having a filter casing and a filter element, a fuel outlet, and a pressure regulator. The filter casing covers at least a part of the outer circumference of the fuel pump, and accommodates the filter element. The fuel outlet is disposed outside the outer circumference of the filter casing, and includes an outflow passage for flowing the fuel from a discharge opening disposed on a sidewall of the outer circumference of the filter casing. The outflow passage includes a retrieve passage extending from the discharge opening to the sidewall of the outer circumference of the filter casing. The pressure regulator is disposed outside the outer circumference of the filter casing, and includes a regulator inlet for introducing the fuel, the regulator inlet being opened to the retrieve passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kato, Kouji Izutani, Katsuhisa Yamada, Masaaki Konishi
  • Patent number: 7302938
    Abstract: A mechanical returnless fuel system comprises a fuel pump having an output for supplying fuel to fuel injectors of an automotive engine. The fuel system includes a pressure regulating valve that returns a portion of the pump output in excess of engine fuel usage to the fuel supply. The pressure regulating valve results in a fuel pressure that varies as a function of engine fuel demand. During operation, a controller determines a projected engine fuel demand, then determines an estimated fuel pressure based upon the projected engine fuel demand. The controller utilizes the estimated fuel pressure to provide a more accurate calculation of the opening time for the fuel injectors and thereby improve engine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: DeQuan Yu, Stephen T. Kempfer
  • Patent number: 7299821
    Abstract: A reservoir 10 is provided for mounting to a bottom of a fuel tank of a vehicle. The reservoir includes wall structure 13 coupled with a bottom to define an interior space 17. The bottom has an internal surface 27 within the interior space, an external surface 15, and an opening 12 in the bottom. A check valve 11 is associated with the opening. Valve protection structure 16 extends from the external surface and is provided continuously about the entire perimeter of the bottom to define a plurality of tortuous paths P for fuel flow from the tank to the opening. Feet structure 26 extend from the external surface to contact the bottom of the tank. A plurality of pockets 30 are provided in the internal surface 27 of the bottom for collecting foreign particles that may enter the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Briggs, Jeffery J. Milton
  • Patent number: 7293551
    Abstract: Since an aspirator 7 is disposed at a position lower than a fuel gallery 11 and an overflow fuel pipe 81, DME fuel remaining in the fuel gallery 11 and the overflow fuel pipe 81 can be more efficiently retrieved to a fuel tank 4 by a combined force of gravity and suction force produced in a suction port 7c of the aspirator 7. Since the vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe opening/closing solenoid valve 74 is disposed at a position higher than the fuel gallery 11, DME fuel in a liquid state remaining in the fuel gallery 11 and the overflow fuel pipe 81 is forcedly delivered under pressure to the suction port 7c of the aspirator 7 by a combined force of gravity and the pressure of a vapor phase 4b in the fuel tank 4. Accordingly, time taken to retrieve the DME fuel in an injection system to the fuel tank after the stop of a diesel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nozaki, Toshifumi Noda, Daijo Ushiyama, Teruaki Ishikawa, Yukihiro Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 7287517
    Abstract: In the DME fuel supply device for a diesel engine, the time necessary to retrieve DME fuel remaining in the injection system after stopping the diesel engine into the fuel tank can be reduced. In a non-injection state, a three-way valve (71) is controlled to be OFF to form a communication passage in the direction indicated by the arrow B and a two-way valve (72) is controlled to be ON. DME fuel delivered from a feed pump (5) is delivered to an aspirator (7), passed from an inlet (7a) to the outlet (7b) thereof and returned to a fuel tank (4). That is, the DME fuel circulates via the aspirator. A vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe switching solenoid valve (75) is controlled to be ON and opened so that flow can pass through a vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe (73) connecting the vapor-phase (4a) in the fuel tank (4) and the inlet of the fuel gallery (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nozaki, Toshifumi Noda, Daijo Ushiyama, Teruaki Ishikawa, Yukihiro Hayasaka
  • Publication number: 20070246022
    Abstract: A fuel supply system is disclosed that includes an electric fuel pump, a controller for controlling operations of the fuel pump, and a cooling plate that is disposed in the fuel tank and cools the controller by contacting the controller. Moreover, the system includes a fuel outlet device that allows for a flow of the fuel onto the cooling plate for heat exchange between the fuel and the cooling plate. A fuel supply system is also disclosed that includes a sub tank disposed in the fuel tank and a fuel pump that is disposed in the sub tank, increases a pressure of the fuel, and moves the fuel. Furthermore, the system includes a controller for controlling operations of the fuel pump and a cooling plate that is disposed in the sub tank and cools the controller by contacting the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Hazama
  • Patent number: 7281523
    Abstract: High pressure post injection using only one valve is accomplished by fluidly connecting the control valve (76) in a fuel injection pump system (50) to the upper nozzle chamber (70) of a fuel injector (60), and connecting the upper nozzle to a reservoir (80) by way of a restriction. The restriction creates enough residual pressure in the fuel circuit to enable high pressure post injection by closing the control valve (76) a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sree Menon, Brent Brower
  • Patent number: 7281524
    Abstract: A fuel delivery device in which a preliminary filter and a throttle are provided in a drive line of a suction jet pump. The throttle is integrally formed with or connected to a preliminary filter to thereby reduce the manufacturing costs and simplify installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Braun
  • Patent number: 7278404
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for supplying an internal combustion engine with fuel comprises an electric fuel pump arranged with a fuel tank. A fuel line leading to the internal combustion engine is connected with the fuel pump. A return line returning fuel toward the fuel pump is connected with the fuel line. Further, a shunt is connected with the fuel line via which a sucking jet pump arranged in the fuel tank is operated. The fuel supply system comprises a pressure control system that opens or closes the connection of the shunt to the fuel line at a first pressure and opens or closes the connection of the return line with the fuel line at a second pressure. When the pressure increases, the shunt and the return line are opened by the pressure control system, and when the pressure drops, they are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: TI Automotive (Neuss) GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Wolters, Gerd Rosemann
  • Patent number: 7278405
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for automotive diesel engine is provided which is equipped with a fuel pressure sensor working to measure the pressure of fuel in an accumulator and a pressure-reducing valve working to drain the fuel from the accumulator. The system is designed to ensure enhanced reliability of diagnosis of the pressure-reducing valve. The system works to make a temporal diagnosis of the pressure-reducing valve based on the behavior of the pressure in the accumulator upon opening of the pressure-reducing valve after an ignition switch is turned off. After elapse of a given period of time, when it is determined that a value of the pressure in the accumulator, as measured by the fuel pressure sensor, lies near the atmospheric pressure, the system determines that the fuel pressure sensor is operating properly and fixes the temporal diagnosis of the pressure-reducing valve ultimately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20070227511
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system, a fuel pump supplies fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel supply piping and to a back pressure introducing passage. A pressure regulator has a fuel pressure regulating chamber communicated to the fuel supply piping, and a back pressure chamber communicated to the back pressure introducing passage. When a fuel pressure in the fuel pressure regulating chamber is larger than a relief pressure that bulges the diaphragm toward the back pressure chamber, a relief valve opens a relief port to return the fuel from the fuel pressure regulating chamber to the fuel tank. The relief pressure is adjusted by controlling a fuel pressure in the back pressure chamber of the pressure regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Hazama, Toshihiko Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7275524
    Abstract: A return-flow-free fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine having at least one fuel pump for pumping fuel from a first region of a fuel reservoir into a pressure region communicating with a fuel distributor, at least one suction jet pump, through which fuel pumped through a suction jet pump line by means of the fuel pump flows and through which fuel can be pumped from a second region of the fuel reservoir into the first region, at least one means that regulate and/or control the pressure in the pressure region, and at least one check valve, by which at least a portion of the pressure region can be blocked off from the fuel pump. The means that regulate and/or control the pressure in the pressure region include at least one electrically actuatable magnet valve(40,44), which is disposed downstream of the check valve in the suction jet pump line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schelhas, Andreas Herforth
  • Patent number: 7273041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combination valve (15) for pressure control and venting in a fuel system for delivering fuel to an internal combustion engine. The valve comprises a primary valve cone (25), which is supported so that it is displaceable between two limit positions in a cylinder bore (24) in a valve housing (23), against the action of a first spring element (26). The displacement of the valve cone from an inoperative limit position into an operative limit position leads to the opening of a connection between an inlet duct (32) and an outlet duct (33) in the valve housing. The valve cone (25) is provided with an inner passage (27), which is designed to accommodate a secondary valve cone (28). This is displaceable between a support surface (29) and a valve seat (30) against the action of a second spring element (31) having a lower spring constant than the first spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo LastVagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Larsson, Lars Teglund, Peter Davidsson
  • Patent number: 7270088
    Abstract: A system for storage and delivery of a fuel additive to a fuel tank includes a reservoir in fluidic communication with a volumetric pump, through a tubular member such as a steel-braided hose. The pump is in further fluidic communication with the fuel return line of a vehicle, via another tubular member, such as a steel-braided hose. Valves disposed along the fluidic pathway prevent backflow of additive. The pump is electrically connected to and actuated by a timer, the timer calibrated to a rate of the pump to provide a predetermined amount of fuel additive necessary to treat an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank of the vehicle. A user interface with user-selectable, volumetric settings and control switches is electrically connected to the timer. A related method of adding a fuel additive to the fuel tank of a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: William Trace Whitehall
  • Patent number: 7270114
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for internal combustion engines having a plurality of fuel injectors, in which the fuel injectors each have one high-pressure connection and one low-pressure connection, and the low-pressure connections discharge into at least one manifold line. The system has a means, located between the manifold line and a pressureless fuel return, for maintaining the fuel pressure; at least one throttle is located between the low-pressure connection of each fuel injector and the means for maintaining the fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Mattes, Hans Brekle
  • Patent number: 7261090
    Abstract: The injector is provided with an electromagnetic opening/closing valve device composed such that a command piston device is provided at an end side of the poppet valve opposite to the solenoid device. The command piston device has a command piston capable of being contacted with the end face of the end side of the poppet valve opposite to the solenoid device so that the poppet valve moves in conjunction with the move of the command piston to increase valve seat passage area for spilling the high pressure fuel in the plunger room when the solenoid device is deexcited to allow said poppet valve to be opened for spilling the high pressure fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisao Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7258110
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus suppresses bubble generation of fuel in a delivery pipe and fuel leakage while suppressing power consumption. The fuel supply apparatus includes a fuel supply controller which is provided with a state determining unit that determines at least one of bubble generation of fuel in the delivery pipe and fuel leakage from a fuel injection valve to which fuel is supplied via the delivery pipe, and a fuel pressure controlling unit that activates a fuel feeding unit when the bubble generation is expected and activates a fuel pressure decreasing unit when the fuel leakage is expected. The fuel supply controller intermittently activates during the suspension of the operation of internal combustion engine using a timer, to adjust fuel pressure in the delivery pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Kojima
  • Publication number: 20070181102
    Abstract: A fuel feed apparatus connects with an injector and a reservoir tank. The reservoir tank is in upstream of the injector for accumulating fuel for the injector. A fuel pump press-feeds fuel in a fuel tank toward the reservoir tank in accordance with pressure in the reservoir tank. A press-feed pipe defines a fuel passage from the fuel pump to the reservoir tank. A branch pipe is provided to the press-feed pipe. The branch pipe defines a return passage that branches from the fuel passage. Fuel discharged from the fuel pump returns into the fuel tank through the return passage. A throttle unit is provided to the branch pipe for reducing a sectional area of the return passage. A relief valve is provided to the branch pipe for communicating the return passage when pressure in the return passage becomes equal to or greater than relief pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Hazama
  • Patent number: 7252075
    Abstract: The invention concerns a motor vehicle fuel tank (1) comprising a fuel reserve chamber (4) further comprising a suction device supplied with fuel coming directly from a fuel filter and adapted to suck up fuel in at least a low suction point outside the chamber (4), and in delivering it into the chamber (4) at least in a high delivery point, located above the desired minimum level of fuel in the tank (4) and higher than the low suction point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Eric Firtion, Patrice Baudoux
  • Patent number: 7246606
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fuel return device whereby the residual amounts of fuel in a plurality of fuel tanks can be made approximately equal. According to one preferred mode of the present invention, the fuel return device comprises: residual amount detecting means for detecting the residual amount of fuel in respective fuel tanks; and fuel return distribution adjusting means for adjusting the distribution of the fuel returning to the respective fuel tanks, in accordance with the values detected by the residual amount detecting means, in such a manner that the residual amounts of fuel inside each of the fuel tanks are approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokumaru, Takeshi Seto
  • Patent number: 7243640
    Abstract: To make a length in a horizontal direction of a vapor return joint small, thereby improving an assembling property of a fuel flow path module to a fuel tank, a vapor inflow hole, a fuel outflow hole and a regulator fuel inflow hole are provided in a fuel tube portion of a fuel flow path module, a vapor return joint is provided uprightly in an upper side of the vapor inflow hole, the vapor return joint comprises by a first straight pipe portion, and a second straight pipe portion connected to an upper end of the first straight pipe portion at a narrow angle A downward, an intersection between the first straight pipe portion and the second straight pipe portion is arranged above an upper opening end of the second straight pipe portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Kondo
  • Patent number: 7234451
    Abstract: A dual fuel pump fuel extraction system for saddle fuel tanks. A primary modular reservoir assembly (MRA) includes an electric primary fuel pump located in the primary sump of a saddle fuel tank and a secondary MRA including an electric secondary fuel pump located in the secondary sump of the saddle fuel tank, wherein both the primary and secondary fuel pumps extract fuel from the primary sump and simultaneously transfer fuel between the primary and secondary sumps so as to thereby ensure both the primary and secondary fuel pumps have fuel, without starving one before the other, until fuel becomes depleted from the saddle fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard G. Betz, II, Robert Halsall, Richard H. Krentz, Vincent J. Marsala, Philip A. Yaccarino
  • Patent number: 7222611
    Abstract: When an engine operation is stopped, a bypass passage returning fuel in a fuel supply passage into a fuel tank is opened to return a part of the fuel in the fuel supply passage, and a fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage is lowered to a predetermined fuel pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, to be regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Sekiya, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7219659
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, having a fuel injector supplied with fuel from a high-pressure fuel source and including an injection valve member for opening or closing injection openings and a low-pressure circuit with a prefeed pump which pumps fuel from a fuel tank. Partial return fuel quantities, depressurized to the prefeed pressure of the prefeed pump, are delivered to the low-pressure circuit by pressure boosters or by fuel injectors inside an infeed portion via returns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Christoph Magel, Gerhard Geyer