Diverse Fuel Supply Patents (Class 123/575)
  • Patent number: 7954479
    Abstract: A fuel supply device for a gas engine is provided that includes a vaporizer, a primary regulator, a fuel changeover valve, a second inlet passage to which is introduced a second fuel fed out from a second fuel source, and a common outlet passage and can selectively connect the first and second inlet passages to the outlet passage, a common secondary regulator that regulates the pressure of the first fuel or second fuel so that it is at substantially atmospheric pressure and supplies it to a mixer, and a cutoff valve that opens/closes a fuel passage between the fuel changeover valve and the secondary regulator in response to operation/stopping of a gas engine, the vaporizer, the primary regulator, the fuel changeover valve, the cutoff valve, and the secondary regulator being integrally connected to each other to form a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kojima, Masanori Fujinuma, Yasuhiro Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20110120416
    Abstract: A diesel internal combustion engine that is operated advantageously at least predominantly according to the diesel principle, with a multi-fuel adaptation unit that reacts to various fuels of different mixtures and adapts an operating mode of the internal combustion engine to these fuels, wherein the multi-fuel adaptation unit comprises at least the following elements: a fuel characterization, a combustion-chamber filling that can be adapted as a function of a characteristic fuel, external ignition that can be allocated to each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, at least one control device that implements a first control strategy in which, in a lower load range, external ignition is performed, and a second control strategy in which automatic ignition is performed in a load range that is higher relative to the lower load range, a combustion-point control that can be adapted automatically to the characterized fuel, and a conversion-rate control that can be adapted automatically to the characterized
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FEV MOTORENTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Lamping, Andreas Kolbeck
  • Publication number: 20110120434
    Abstract: An injection plate assembly for an internal combustion engine that includes a manifold and carburetor or throttle body is provided for injection of a primary fuel and an accelerant into throttle bore(s) of the manifold. The injection plate assembly is adapted to be installed between the manifold and the carburetor. In order to equalize injection of both the primary fuel and the accelerant, the lower plate includes at least two fuel inlet ports that provide fuel at opposing sides of the lower plate. The upper plate includes at least two accelerant or additive inlet ports that provide accelerant to opposite sides of the upper plate, with the accelerant inlet ports being located on different sides of the injection plate assembly from the fuel inlet ports on the lower plate. To further improve flow of the accelerant to the injection gates in the upper plate, the runners in the upper plate define paths that have internal corners having a radius of 0.10 inches or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Steve Wilson
  • Patent number: 7946280
    Abstract: The invention deals with a method for the operation of an internal combustion engine with at least two cylinders, which can be operated with a fuel of variable quality stored in a tank and/or with fuel blends stored in the tank from a first and at least a second fuel in variable mixing ratios, and wherein variable fuel qualities and/or fuel blends of different compositions require variable air/fuel ratios for the achievement of a stable combustion and/or have a variable vaporization behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Wolber, Ruediger Weiss, Emilie Hincker-Piocelle, Karsten Kroepke, Pierre-Yves Crepin
  • Patent number: 7946273
    Abstract: An engine system and corresponding control method are described. As one example, the control method includes transferring one type of fuel from one fuel tank to a second fuel tank holding another type of fuel and adjusting an engine operating parameter based on the blended fuel mixture by selective operation of a first and second fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Donald J. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110114058
    Abstract: A bi-fuel spark ignition engine is disclosed. The engine can operate on either gasoline, natural gas or a combination of the two. The amount of each fuel that is used by the engine is based on the engine's operating parameters, such as RPM and torque. In some embodiments, the operator can provide input, such as the availability of natural gas, which affects the operation of the engine. In some embodiments, an anti-knock agent is used to prevent knock at higher values of torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ETHANOL BOOSTING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Patent number: 7925418
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for operating an engine in a vehicle in response to fuel having varying amounts of alcohol. One example method comprises delivering fuel to the engine, limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a maximum permitted engine speed, the maximum permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Phil Andrew Fabien
  • Patent number: 7921831
    Abstract: A hydrogen-oxygen fuel supplying system includes a water hydrolyzing apparatus, a heat dissipation apparatus connected to the water hydrolyzing apparatus, a filter connected to the water hydrolyzing apparatus, a supercharger connected to the filter, a hydrogen-oxygen container connected to the filter, and a pressure adjusting means connected to the hydrogen-oxygen container. The water hydrolyzing apparatus is used to hydrolyze water thereby producing a mixture gas of hydrogen, oxygen, and water vapor. The heat dissipation apparatus is used to dissipate heat generated in the water hydrolyzing apparatus. The filter is used to filter water vapor in the mixture gas. The supercharger is used to compress the hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen-oxygen container is used to store the hydrogen and oxygen. The pressure adjusting means is used to regulate an output of the hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen-oxygen fuel supplying system can reduce pollution of air and environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Kuo-Fong Huang
  • Publication number: 20110073057
    Abstract: An engine system and corresponding control method are described. As one example, the control method includes: combusting fuel from a first fuel tank during a first engine operating condition; combusting fuel from a second fuel tank during a second engine operating condition; transferring fuel from the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank when a fuel level of the second fuel tank falls below a predetermined level; delivering air to the engine from an air compressor; and adjusting the compressor based on a combustion characteristic of fuel from the second tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7913673
    Abstract: A method of transitioning between operating modes in a multimode engine including a diesel-only mode and a diesel pilot, gas mode includes first terminating or initiating the supply of a gaseous fuel, depending on whether the system is transitioning to or from the pilot mode, and thereafter decreasing or increasing the diesel fuel supply quantity. Liquid fuel supply quantity is preferably altered in steps rather than discretely in order to avoid exceeding the lean limit of gas lambda. The number of steps and the percentage decrease or increase in each step preferably varies based at least in part on prevailing speed and load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Clean Air Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Vanderslice, Greg Wiedemeier
  • Patent number: 7913664
    Abstract: A fuel control system for controlling the use of primary fuel and alternate fuel in an internal combustion engine without cross-contamination of fuel types. Cross-contamination of fuel types may eliminate the ability to receive certain benefits or financial incentives associated with use of alternate fuel, including but not limited to RINs, credits, and subsidies. In one embodiment, primary and/or alternate fuel are controllably delivered from sources to a flow cell. If blending is desired, both primary and alternate fuels are delivered to the flow cell. The engine is fed with the resulting primary fuel, alternate fuel, or blended mixture of fuel from the flow cell. The flow cell contains a bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel not consumed by the engine in lieu of the excess fuel being returned to the primary and/or alternate fuel sources. In this manner, cross-contamination of the fuel sources can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Rodger K. Williams, Edward A. Payne
  • Publication number: 20110056466
    Abstract: A combustion chamber to which a reactant and a working gas whose specific heat ratio is higher than that of air are supplied and in which the working gas can expand following a reaction of the reactant, a circulation path capable of re-supplying the working gas into the combustion chamber by causing the working gas to circulate from an exhaust side to a suction side of the combustion chamber, supplying means that supplies the reactant, a concentration detection means capable of detecting a concentration of the reactant in the circulation path, and a supply control means that sets at least a first supply rate of the reactant by the supplying means in a time for starting based on the concentration of the reactant detected by the concentration detection means before a start of supplying of the reactant by the supplying means are included and so proper starting can be assured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Daisaku Sawada, Akira Kato
  • Publication number: 20110048392
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a rotating connector engaged rotatably in the rotatable receptacle. The rotating connector includes two rotational axles, two radial arms extending from the rotational axles, and an off-center middle axle connected to the two radial arms, and the two rotational axles share a common axis and are parallel to the off-center middle axle. The upper end is rotatably connected to the off-center middle axle of the rotating connector and the lower end is rotatably connected to the crankshaft. The internal combustion engine goes through an engine cycle comprising an intake phase, a compression phase, a expansion phase, and a exhaust phase. During the intake and compression phases the piston travels between a top dead center and a first bottom dead center. During the compression and exhaust phases the piston travels between a second bottom dead center to the top dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Byung Hahn HAH
  • Patent number: 7877189
    Abstract: A method is described for an engine having a delivery system configured to deliver fuel and a fluid to an engine cylinder, said fluid containing at least some water. In one example, an engine operating parameter may be varied based on an amount of water in said fluid, where said amount is determined based on an operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Publication number: 20110011381
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the four- stroke combustion engine type is disclosed, comprising an engine block provided with at least one cylinder (2) having a piston movable reciprocally therein for the purpose of bounding a combustion chamber, feed means for air (3) debouching in the combustion chamber, feed means for fuel (4) debouching in the combustion chamber, discharge means for combustion gases (5) connected to the combustion chamber and an ignition mechanism, wherein at least two inlet valves (6,7) and at least one outlet valve (8) are arranged per cylinder, wherein the feed means for air (3) are connected to the one inlet valve (7), the air inlet valve, the feed means for a first fuel (4) are connected to the other inlet valve (6), the fuel inlet valve, and that it is arranged in order to allow mixing of first fuel and air only inside the combustion chamber during operation. Also an adaptation method is disclosed for an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicants: HYDROGEN ENGINE NV, HYTECHNICS BVBA
    Inventor: Erwin Erik Paul Georges Vandenberghe
  • Publication number: 20110011382
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine and a method of operating the fuel delivery system is described. As one example, the method includes delivering a first fuel blend from a first fuel tank to the engine; delivering a second fuel blend from a second fuel tank to the engine, the proportion of said second fuel blend delivered to the engine to said first fuel blend delivered to the engine being related to the desired engine output; transferring said first fuel blend from said first fuel tank to said second fuel tank to prevent an amount of said first fuel blend and said second fuel blend in said second fuel tank from falling below a predetermined level; and boosting air delivered to the engine, the amount of boosting being related to latent heat of vaporization of said second fuel blend delivered to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7861696
    Abstract: An improved multi-fuel supply and co-injection system and method for powering internal combustion and turbine engines, whereby various combinations of fuels, both liquid and gaseous, may be mixed together and fed into the system, under the real-time control of a microprocessor responding to a variety of sensors and acting on a variety of control devices, all working together in a manner designed to enhance the utilization of the thermal content of the various fuels, and in particular to enhance the combustion efficiency and increase the power output while decreasing the consumption of fuel, calculated both by quantity and by cost and whereby the liquid fuel lubricates the moving parts of the injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Exen Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Morten A. Lund
  • Publication number: 20100326410
    Abstract: The invention provides enriched fuels and methods that expand the operating envelope of an advanced combustion engine during operation in an advanced combustion mode (e.g. HCCI mode). Enriched fuels and methods of the invention facilitate efficient combustion over a wide range of engine loads, and the need for EGR, VVT, NVO, rebreathing, or multiple fuel injection is either reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Lisa I. Yeh, Jeffrey H. Farenback-Brateman, Charles H. Schleyer, Mike T. Noorman
  • Publication number: 20100326379
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of boxer design that is capable of running on different types of fuel, including but not limited to gasoline, diesel fuel or ethanol, with the fuel being provided to the engine by an interchangeable cylinder cover is disclosed, and with cylinders that are arranged so as to make the engine narrow-profile and thus smaller and more light-weight than other internal combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Dana Beall, Joe Young
  • Patent number: 7856966
    Abstract: When an estimated alcohol concentration is higher than a specified concentration, an operation time of an engine is cumulated to obtain an alcohol cumulative operating time (ACOT). When the ACOT exceeds a specified time and a feedback correction quantity of a fuel injection quantity exceeds a specified quantity, a computer estimates that a deposit quantity exceeds a permissible value to notify the driver to refuel a fuel tank with gasoline. After fueling with gasoline, a cleaning agent contained in the gasoline removes the deposit accumulated on a fuel injector. As a result, a variation in fuel injection quantity due to deposit on the fuel injector can be avoided, and a deterioration in exhaust gas emission and drivability can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7853397
    Abstract: A method relates to operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle. Otto engine fuel (i.e., carburetor fuel, spark ignition engine fuel), such as gasoline or ethanol (E85), are directly injected into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine with at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). During operation of the internal combustion engine with gas only, the engine is automatically switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel for a predetermined period, or the engine is switched to the operation with spark ignition engine fuel in addition to the operation with gas, in such a manner that a predetermined quantity of the carburetor fuel flows through the at least one fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ekkehard Pott, Jörg Theobald
  • Patent number: 7853396
    Abstract: A multifuel internal combustion engine includes: fuel characteristics determining unit that determines ignitability and anti-knocking performance of the fuel introduced into the combustion chamber CC; combustion mode setting unit that sets a compression hypergolic diffusion combustion mode when ignitability of the fuel is excellent, sets a premixed spark-ignition flame propagation combustion mode when the ignitability of the fuel is poor and anti-knocking performance is excellent, and sets a spark assist compression hypergolic diffusion combustion mode when both the ignitability and anti-knocking performance of the fuel are poor; and combustion control execution unit that makes the engine to drive in a combustion mode which is set by the combustion mode setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Ito, Shiro Tanno
  • Patent number: 7849842
    Abstract: A method for an engine with first and second injectors in a cylinder provides different fuel injection compensation upon reaching minimum pulsewidths of the first and second injectors. When the first injector reaches its minimum pulsewidth, the first injector is disabled. However, when the second injector reaches its minimum pulsewidth, the second injector is maintained active and injection from the first injector is decreased. In this way, sufficient injection from the second injector is maintained in either situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell
  • Publication number: 20100312458
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine can be operated by a fuel mixture consisting of a base fuel and an alternative fuel. Concentration values (ETH_PERC) of the alternative fuel are determined in at least two different ways for operating the internal combustion engine. A reliable concentration value of the alternative fuel is determined depending on the various determined concentration values (ETH_PERC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Hacker, Gerhard Haft
  • Patent number: 7845334
    Abstract: An engine system and corresponding control method are described. As one example, the control method includes transferring one type of fuel from one fuel tank to a second fuel tank holding another type of fuel and adjusting an engine operating parameter based on the blended fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Lippa, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7841325
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Patent number: 7841317
    Abstract: A fuel control system for controlling the use of primary fuel and alternate fuel in an internal combustion engine without cross-contamination of fuel types. Cross-contamination of fuel types may eliminate the ability to receive certain benefits or financial incentives associated with use of alternate fuel, including but not limited to RINs, credits, and subsidies. In one embodiment, primary and/or alternate fuel are controllably delivered from sources to a flow cell. If blending is desired, both primary and alternate fuels are delivered to the flow cell. The engine is fed with the resulting primary fuel, alternate fuel, or blended mixture of fuel from the flow cell. The flow cell contains a bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel not consumed by the engine in lieu of the excess fuel being returned to the primary and/or alternate fuel sources. In this manner, cross-contamination of the fuel sources can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventors: Rodger K. Williams, Edward A. Payne
  • Publication number: 20100294250
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine arrangement and to an internal combustion engine arrangement, which includes, but is not limited to an internal combustion engine, which can be operated with gaseous fuel, a pressure reducer for reducing the gas pressure of the gaseous fuel, which is fed to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Andreas Jauss
  • Publication number: 20100288249
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shizuo SASAKI, Jayant SARLASHKAR
  • Patent number: 7823562
    Abstract: A fuel control system is provided. The fuel control system includes an electronic control system coupled to a pair of control valves for blending pipeline fuel with waste fuel at a blend ratio for controlling fuel flow to an internal combustion engine. The fuel control system can estimate energy content of the fuel mixture to compensate the blend ratio. The fuel control system can use engine operational parameters to compensate the blend ratio. Typically, the system will use the operational parameter of output power or exhaust emissions to compensate the blend ratio. Further, the fuel control system can prioritize variation from the blend ratio or variation from a desired power output when the blend ratio cannot generate the desired power output. The fuel control system can also be equipped with engine speed/load controls, misfire, ignition timing and knock detection capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: John Duineveld, Erik T. Splint, Geoffrey V. Hemsley, Tim Holdeman
  • Patent number: 7826957
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for operating an engine in a vehicle in response to fuel having varying amounts of alcohol. One example method comprises delivering fuel to the engine, limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a maximum permitted engine speed, the maximum permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Phil Andrew Fabien
  • Publication number: 20100263625
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Publication number: 20100252004
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated with different types of liquid fuel, which includes a device that can determine the current type of liquid fuel used. The invention further relates to a method for operating such an internal combustion engine. According to the invention, at least two different paths are provided, by which the liquid fuel can reach the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine comprises a control and regulation device, controlling or regulating the use of the different paths as a function of the type of the liquid fuel that was determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Oliver Miersch-Wiemers
  • Patent number: 7805238
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle and method of operation are provided. As one example, the system comprises an engine including at least one combustion chamber, a motor configured to selectively propel the vehicle via the drive wheel, a fuel system configured to deliver a first substance and a second substance to the combustion chamber in varying relative amounts, wherein the first substance includes a fuel and the second substance includes a greater concentration of a knock suppressing substance than the first substance; and a control system configured to operate the fuel system to vary the relative amounts of the first substance and the second substance delivered to the combustion chamber in response to an operating condition while operating the motor to propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Andri
  • Publication number: 20100235073
    Abstract: A logical sensor method is provided for internal combustion engines (Compression Ignited or Spark Ignited) based on a software algorithm (SBS). This algorithm identifies the mixture diesel/bio-diesel present in a vehicle's fuel tank and adapts the engine control strategy as a function of the fraction of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) vegetal-based oil or oil produced from organic waste blended into a crude oil based diesel fuel (average chemical formula C12H23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Magneti Marelli Sistemas Automotivos Industria e Comercio Ltda.
    Inventors: Michael PONTOPPIDAN, Gino MONTANARI
  • Publication number: 20100224141
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine operable with a mixed fuel composed of alcohol and gasoline and excellent in fuel efficiency and durability. A separator separates the mixed fuel, which is composed of gasoline and ethanol, into high-concentration ethanol and high-concentration gasoline. A reforming fuel supply device supplies the high-concentration ethanol, as a reforming fuel, into an exhaust gas removed through a branch pipe. A fuel reforming catalyst supported in a reforming chamber within a heat exchanger works to cause a reforming reaction between the high-concentration ethanol and exhaust gas and generate a reformed gas that contains H2 and CO. The reformed gas is supplied into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine via a reformed gas conduit pipe. The separated high-concentration ethanol and high-concentration gasoline are remixed by a mixer and supplied from a fuel injection device to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100224167
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Publication number: 20100217503
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel supplied to an engine of a vehicle is provided. The method may improve engine starting during cold operating conditions. In one example, the type of fuel injected to the engine is changed in response to operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Patent number: 7778761
    Abstract: Presented is a device for controlling an internal combustion engine operable with at least on of liquid and gaseous fuel. The device includes a rotational speed controller that outputs a control signal, which is dependent on the actual rotational speed of the engine and which influences the power output of the engine. The control signal includes a dimension for the total power to be output by the engine. The device further includes a dividing device configured for receiving the dimension, dividing the dimension for the total power according to a predetermined ratio into a contribution of the liquid fuel and a contribution of the gaseous fuel, and generating and outputting a second and a third control signal. The second control signal influences the liquid fuel quantity injected into the engine per unit time and the third control signal influences the gas fuel quantity injected into the engine per unit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: MAN Diesel SE
    Inventors: Nicolaus Böckhoff, Fabian Huslik, Harald Müller, Christoph Pientschik
  • Publication number: 20100199946
    Abstract: Fuel management system for enhanced operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder. It is preferred that the direct injection occur after the inlet valve is closed. It is also preferred that stoichiometric operation with a three way catalyst be used to minimize emissions. In addition, it is also preferred that the anti-knock agents have a heat of vaporization per unit of combustion energy that is at least three times that of gasoline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Publication number: 20100198486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine, which can be operated with fuels and fuel mixtures of said fuels, said fuels differing from each other in the air quantity they require for a stoichiometric combustion. A fuel quantity to be supplied to the internal combustion engine is corrected via a mixture adaptation and a fuel adaptation, the mixture adaptation and the fuel adaptation being based on a lambda control and a fuel quantity contained in the fuel reservoir of the internal combustion engine prior to refueling and a fuel quantity supplied to the reservoir being determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Streib, Georg Mallebrein, Federico Buganza, Kai Jakobs, Juergen Pfeiffer, Emilie Hincker-Piocelle, Pierre-Yves Crepin
  • Publication number: 20100192905
    Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle includes methanol and water injection to abate engine knock. The injection is provided directly into the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, John D. Russell
  • Publication number: 20100198481
    Abstract: Fuel tank system for a direct ethanol injection octane boosted gasoline engine. The system includes a gasoline engine and a main fuel tank that contains a mix of gasoline and gasoline E85. A smaller secondary tank is provided to contain ethanol or E85. An injector directly injects in a separately controlled fashion ethanol or E85 into a cylinder of the engine to boost octane. A control module controls the relative amounts of gasoline and ethanol used and structure is provided for fueling the main and secondary fuel tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ETHANOL BOOSTING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Paul N. Blumberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John Heywood
  • Patent number: 7769527
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (100) comprises a fuel injection valve (21, 22) which supplies a first fuel having a higher self-ignitability than gasoline and a second fuel having a higher combustion speed than gasoline such that an air-fuel mixture containing the first fuel and the second fuel is formed in a combustion chamber (14), a spark plug (25) which ignites the air-fuel mixture, and a programmable controller (41) programmed to control supply proportions of the first fuel and the second fuel such that the ignited air-fuel mixture undergoes flame propagation combustion and then undergoes self-ignition combustion. Thus, a reduction in emissions can be achieved, and high thermal efficiency can be realized through the self-ignition combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Noda, Atsushi Teraji, Takashi Araki, Akihiko Kakuho, Isamu Hotta, Koichi Ashida, Masaharu Kassai
  • Publication number: 20100186702
    Abstract: A system for storage and delivery of a fuel additive on-board a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle having a purely electric mode of operation and a hybrid mode of operation and having a fuel tank configured to store a fuel includes a reservoir configured to store the fuel additive, a pump that delivers the fuel additive to the fuel tank, a first and second conduit, a controller that actuates the pump to deliver the fuel additive from the reservoir, an electric motor, a battery, and an internal combustion engine configured to consume the fuel during the hybrid mode of operation. A method of storing and delivering the fuel additive on-board the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes storing the fuel additive within the reservoir and actuating the pump via the controller to deliver the fuel additive from the reservoir to the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip A. Yaccarino
  • Publication number: 20100191439
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for operating an engine in a vehicle in response to fuel having varying amounts of alcohol. One example method comprises delivering fuel to the engine, limiting engine speed during vehicle operation to a maximum permitted engine speed, the maximum permitted engine speed responsive to the amount of alcohol in the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Phil Andrew Fabien
  • Patent number: 7762233
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Patent number: 7762243
    Abstract: Engine management system for operation of a direct injection spark ignition gasoline engine. The system includes a gasoline engine, a source of gasoline and a source of an anti-knock agent. Gasoline and anti-knock agent are introduced into a proportioning valve that delivers a selected mixture of gasoline/anti-knock agent to a high pressure pump. At least one injector receives the selected mixture from the high pressure pump and delivers the mixture into a cylinder of the engine. The engine management system provides a rapidly variable mixture of directly injected anti-knock agent and gasoline which prevents knock as the engine torque increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Paul Blumberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John Heywood
  • Publication number: 20100170470
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an engine and a method of its operation are described. The fuel delivery system includes a first fuel injector for delivering a first fuel to a cylinder of the engine; a second fuel injector for delivering a second fuel to the cylinder; an electrical relay system disposed between a first electrical potential and each of the first and second fuel injectors; an electronic driver disposed between a second electrical potential and each of the first and second fuel injectors; and a control module. The control module is configured to switch the electrical relay system between first and second positions to select one of the first and second fuels, respectively. The electronic driver is closed by the control module to deliver the selected one of the first or second fuel to the first cylinder via a respective one of the first or second fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Ford Flobal Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Publication number: 20100161200
    Abstract: A fuel control system for controlling the purging of alternate fuel in an internal combustion engine at shutdown includes: at least one valve device configured to deliver a fuel supply to the engine; a first fuel source configured to provide a primary fuel to the valve device; a second fuel source configured to provide an alternate fuel to the valve device; and a controller connected to the valve device and adapted to be connected to an ignition system. The controller is configured to control the valve device responsive to a status of one of the engine and the ignition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Edward A. Payne, Rodger Karl Williams