Fuel Injector Patents (Class 73/114.45)
  • Publication number: 20130333455
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring the state of a piezoelectric injector of the fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, the piezoelectric injector having a piezoelectric actuator and a nozzle needle that can be moved by said piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric injector can be operated in a partial-stroke mode and a full-stroke mode. In the partial-stroke mode, the curve of an electrical parameter over time is recorded, the maximum value of the curve is determined, a constant parameter value that arises after the presence of the maximum value is determined, the duration between the presence of the maximum value and the reaching of the constant parameter value is determined, the difference between the maximum value and the constant parameter value is determined, and conclusions about the state of the piezoelectric injector are drawn on the basis of the determined duration and the determined difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Michael Katzenberger, Nicolas Nozeran
  • Publication number: 20130327132
    Abstract: An injection valve includes a valve needle preventing a fluid flow out of an injection nozzle in a closing position and enabling the fluid flow of the injection nozzle apart from the closing position. Furthermore the injection valve includes an electro-magnetic actuator unit being designed to actuate the valve needle. The actuator unit is activated according to a predetermined activation signal with a given activation period for effecting a fluid flow out of the injection nozzle. An actuator unit voltage characteristic is captured at least over a period of time during which the valve needle could reach the closing position. A noise part of the actuator unit voltage characteristic is determined and a closing time representing a time when the valve needle reaches the closing position is determined depending on the noise part of the captured actuator voltage characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Omeri
  • Patent number: 8601863
    Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine equipped with a duel-injection system that has two fuel systems for injecting and supplying fuel to each of cylinders, which determines whether there is an abnormal variation in air-fuel ratio among the cylinders, includes: an abnormal variation determining unit that determines whether there is an abnormal variation in a period during which fuel is separately injected by both the two fuel systems; and an abnormality estimating unit that estimates which one of the fuel systems has an abnormality on the basis of a fuel injection distribution ratio of both the fuel systems in the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishigaki, Keisuke Nagakura, Yusuke Fujitsu
  • Publication number: 20130317721
    Abstract: A method of calibration of at least one fuel injector for a fuel burner in an exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The method is adapted for an exhaust gas system having the fuel burner mounted upstream of a diesel particle filter (DPF). The method of calibration is performed during an idle speed of the combustion engine, this to assure a constant temperature of the burner during the calibration. Hence, the method is started when a first steady tempera tore is registered in the fuel burner, wherein the at least one fuel injector, is operated with a first pulse width. A first temperature of an exhaust gas is registered directly downstream of the fuel burner. After this first temperature is registered, the pulse width, of the fuel injector changed into a second pulse width, which is different from the first pulse width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventor: Mats Moren
  • Patent number: 8584515
    Abstract: In a method for operating an injection valve, in particular a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, one component of the injection valve, particularly a valve needle, is disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to other components of the injection valve, and preferably is able to be driven at least partially by an actuator. A structure-borne-noise signal is detected by a structure-borne-noise sensor, and the structure-borne-noise signal is evaluated in order to infer an operating state of the movably disposed component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fischer, Silke Seuling, Christian Grosse, Helerson Kemmer, Werner Haeming
  • Publication number: 20130283897
    Abstract: A piston fuel injector detecting device, comprising a base (1), a perspective platform (2), an observation cover (3), a sliding groove (4), an adjusting handle (5), a conducting wire column (6), a supporting plate (7), a tact switch (8), a limit plate (9), an infrared-ray emitting tube (10), an illuminating device (11) and a positioning pin (12), wherein the base (1) is connected with the perspective platform (2) and the positioning pin (12); the perspective platform (2) is connected with the observation cover (3) which is provided with the sliding groove (4); the adjusting handle (5) is connected with the observation cover (3); the conducting wire column (6) is vertically connected with the base (1) and is connected with the supporting plate (7) which is provided with the tact switch (8); the conducting wire column (6) is connected with the limit plate (9) which is connected with the infrared-ray emitting tube (10) and the illuminating device (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: DALIAN DEXIN M & E TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Zhao Xun, Yuejin Huang
  • Patent number: 8548718
    Abstract: In an abnormality detection apparatus and an abnormality detection method for a construction in which each of cylinders is provided with a plurality of fuel injection valves, if it is discerned that a cause of the inter-cylinder variation abnormality exists in one of the fuel injection valves, an air/fuel ratio fluctuation parameter as an index value that represents the degree of the abnormality is calculated by normalizing the air/fuel ratio fluctuation parameter regarding that fuel injection valve on the basis of the injection proportion used when the parameter is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kato, Isao Nakajima, Yoshihisa Oda, Takefumi Uchida
  • Publication number: 20130226472
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a piezoinjector of a fuel injection system is disclosed. The fuel injection is carried out in injection cycles, each of which comprises a filling phase, a holding phase, and an emptying phase. The discharge resistance is ascertained during the holding phase of the piezoinjector. Conclusions about the working order of the piezoinjector are drawn using the ascertained discharge resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20130174655
    Abstract: A test station for testing a fluid pump and/or a fluid injector has a fluid-pump receiving device for accommodating a fluid pump, a fluid-injector receiving device for accommodating a fluid injector, a fluid line which hydraulically connects the fluid-pump receiving device to the fluid-injector receiving device and which enables a fluid flow from the fluid pump to the fluid injector during operation, a sealed cooling circuit through which coolant is circulating during operation, and a first heat exchanger, which is developed and disposed in the fluid line so as to have the fluid flow and the coolant flow pass through it during operation such that a heat transfer takes place between the fluid flow and the coolant flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Dirk Schoenfeld, Karl Kastner, Kurt Blank
  • Publication number: 20130139579
    Abstract: A device and a method for testing fuel injectors, in particular, of the piezo type. The device includes at least one, in particular, bidirectional interface for connecting an operator control unit, at least one outlet for connecting at least one fuel injector, at least one integrated circuit, as well as a microcontroller for controlling the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit and the microcontroller cooperating in a way that allows the fuel injector to be tested as a function of the type and/or subtype thereof, including at least the piezo type having the subtypes active high and active low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Jochen Friedmann, Joachim Goeser, Karl-Martin Kutteruf, Markus Vogel
  • Patent number: 8444069
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus includes a body, a nozzle, a pressure control unit, a physical quantity measurement unit, a first terminal, a second terminal, a positioning member, and a resin connector main body portion. The pressure control unit controls opening and closing of the nozzle The physical quantity measurement unit outputs an electric signal in accordance with a physical quantity of high pressure fuel. The first terminal is connected to the pressure control unit. The second terminal connected to the physical quantity measurement unit. The positioning member integrally holds the first terminal and the second terminal and locates the first terminal and the second terminal at predetermined positions. The connector main body portion receives therein the positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Fujino, Jun Kondo, Shu Kagami, Yutaka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20130118243
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders, a cylinder to be checked is diagnosed for an injection quantity error. During a normal operation, a first air/fuel ratio is predefined for the multiple cylinders, and a first uneven running is ascertained. During an adjustment operation, a second air/fuel ratio for the cylinder to be checked is predefined during a number of working cycles. During the adjustment operation, a second uneven running is ascertained. The injection quantity error is ascertained for the cylinder to be checked as a function of the first uneven running and the second uneven running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Bosch GmbH
  • Patent number: 8439018
    Abstract: A heated fuel injector system and controller that includes a temperature sensing means to provide closed-loop control of a heating element heating fuel dispensed by a heated fuel injector. Closed-loop control provides more accurate temperature control of the heating element so that fuel heating is provided as quickly as possible while also protecting the fuel from being boiled and protecting the heated fuel injector from being damaged by excessive temperature. By monitoring how the signal from the temperature sensing means varies over time, fault conditions such as a lack of fuel flow, and fuel ethanol percentage may be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Francis Kabasin, Orlando Volpato, Brian Keith Allston, Charles Anthony Iannone
  • Publication number: 20130054123
    Abstract: This invention relates to a deposit remove amount estimation device for estimating inlet and outlet deposit remove amounts by calculating an inlet deposit remove amount which is an amount of a removed combustion product among the combustion product accumulating on an injection hole inlet area and an outlet deposit remove amount which is an amount of a removed combustion product among the combustion product accumulating on an injection hole outlet area. In this invention, the inlet deposit remove amount is calculated on the basis of the inlet deposit accumulation amount which is an amount of the combustion product accumulating on the injection hole inlet area and the outlet deposit remove amount is calculated on the basis of the outlet deposit accumulation amount which is an amount of the combustion product accumulating on the injection hole outlet area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 8375795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the non-destructive ultrasound inspection of a high-pressure line as a testing piece by means of the pulse-echo method, where the high-pressure line is conveyed to a near-field range of at least one ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic pulse is emitted with a perpendicular sound incidence on the high-pressure line in such a way that the high-pressure line is completely captured in its cross section by the near-field sound emission caused by the ultrasonic transducer, and the reflected ultrasonic pulse(s) is/are received by the ultrasonic transducer and/or, optionally, further ultrasonic transducers, the associated echo delay times are recorded and, optionally, evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Lingenberg, Reinhard Prause
  • Publication number: 20130019670
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a malfunction in an electronically regulated fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, by which effective limitation of the cause of the fault in a fuel injection system can take place. For example, it can be determined whether the cause of the fault lies in the low pressure system or in the high pressure system of the fuel injection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Matthias Stampfer
  • Patent number: 8356512
    Abstract: An ECU is used in a motorcycle including an engine E, which combusts in a combustion chamber a blended fuel in which gasoline and ethanol are blended, and a fuel injection device for injecting a fuel with a predetermined fuel injection amount such that an air excess ratio in the combustion chamber is a first predetermined value when an ethanol concentration of the blended fuel is zero. The ECU executes O2 feedback control based on an O2 concentration derived from an output of an O2 sensor. Further, the ECU calculates an actual fuel compensation ratio by dividing a fuel injection amount after the O2 feedback control by a predetermined fuel injection amount, and estimates the concentration of the alternative fuel based on this actual fuel compensation ratio and a first predetermined value stored in the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Sou Kurosaka, Yoshinobu Mori, Shinichi Kuratani
  • Publication number: 20120318053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deposit amount estimation device for estimating a deposit amount by calculating an amount of a deposit on an injection hole wall face of a fuel injector (22). An increment judgment of whether an actual fuel injection amount is larger than the required fuel injection amount corresponding thereto when a fuel injection command value corresponding to a required fuel injection amount smaller than a predetermined amount is given to the fuel injector, is performed, and when it is judged that the actual fuel injection amount is larger than the required fuel injection amount corresponding thereto by the increment judgment, the deposit amount is estimated on the basis of the difference between the actual fuel injection amount and the required fuel injection amount corresponding thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20120318054
    Abstract: A value of ignition delay and a value of a flame spread rate are measured with respect to fuel which is an object to be determined. When the measured value of the ignition delay falls within a range which is smaller than a reference line and constitutes a first range or falls within a range which is larger than a reference line and constitutes the first range, goodness or badness of quality of fuel is determined based on goodness or badness of quality of fuel which is decided in accordance with the first range. When the measured value of ignition delay falls within a range between the reference line and a reference line which constitutes a second range, goodness or badness of quality of fuel is determined based on whether or not a measured value of a flame spread rate falls within a good product range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventors: Eiji Tomita, Hiroshi Morinaka
  • Patent number: 8333109
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an injection valve (5), in an overrun fuel cut-off phase the fuel supply to the fuel rail (4) is closed, and after the fuel supply has been closed off a first fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, and after the first measurement of the fuel pressure an injection valve (5) is actuated for a test injection. After the test injection a second fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, a differential pressure value (?P) is formed from the first and second measured fuel pressures and a difference of an operating parameter from a reference parameter is determined from the differential pressure value (?P), and when a previously defined maximum difference is exceeded the injection valve (5) is detected as being defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carlos Eduardo Migueis, Michael Stahl, Matthias Wiese
  • Publication number: 20120312087
    Abstract: In a reforming driving mode, while the EGR valve is opened to recirculate a part of exhaust gas into the intake pipe, a reforming-fuel injector injects a reforming-fuel into an exhaust gas flowing through an EGR pipe. The injected reforming-fuel is vaporized and flows into the fuel-reforming catalyst. The fuel-reforming catalyst reforms the fuel in the exhaust gas into the fuel having high combustibility. In the reforming driving mode, the computer determines whether an air-fuel ratio within the normal range. Based on this result, the computer determines whether the reforming-fuel injector has a malfunction. When the reforming-fuel injector has a malfunction, a fail-safe processing is conducted to prohibit the reforming-fuel injector from injecting the reforming-fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki INUZUKA, Makoto MIWA
  • Patent number: 8296044
    Abstract: In a method for localizing a fault location within a fuel injection system, when a critical fault is detected by the diagnostic function, a pulse or a series of pulses to the injectors is triggered by a control unit. By observing the voltage value and/or charge value at the injector, it is possible to localize the fault location within the fuel injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Hartmut Wolpert
  • Publication number: 20120240669
    Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine equipped with a duel-injection system that has two fuel systems for injecting and supplying fuel to each of cylinders, which determines whether there is an abnormal variation in air-fuel ratio among the cylinders, includes: an abnormal variation determining unit that determines whether there is an abnormal variation in a period during which fuel is separately injected by both the two fuel systems; and an abnormality estimating unit that estimates which one of the fuel systems has an abnormality on the basis of a fuel injection distribution ratio of both the fuel systems in the period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro NISHIGAKI, Keisuke NAGAKURA, Yusuke FUJITSU
  • Patent number: 8272257
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing an engine control experimenting apparatus which enables to easily carry out a confirmation test of an operation in all operation states with regard to the performance of various engine control parts constituting an engine system. In this engine control experimenting apparatus, various engine control parts, which are actually mounted on an engine and are required for engine control, are constructed in a state where electrical transmission and fuel supply are enabled in a manner similar to a case where the engine control parts are mounted on a real engine, and a model-based control is performed on the same conditions as those of the actual engine, on the basis of experimental data of the real engine written in an electronic control unit constituting each of the engine control parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Umerujan Sawut, Shinya Yamaguchi, Buso Takigawa
  • Publication number: 20120234298
    Abstract: A classification method for an injector may include: actuating the injector by means of a predefinable test control signal, detecting a quantity of liquid dispensed by the injector on the basis of the test control signal, classifying the injector as a function of the detected dispensed quantity of liquid, and determining a required control signal on the basis of the classification of the injector considering a reduced injector stroke. A calibration method for a characteristic map of an injector, and a test bench device for performing the injector classification method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Uwe Jung
  • Patent number: 8260526
    Abstract: A method and a device, a computer program and a computer program product for implementing a method for calibrating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine, including the following: a) Specifying a first relationship between an injection quantity and an actuating variable of the fuel injector for implementing the injection quantity, b) Specifying a setpoint injection quantity, c) Specifying at least one setpoint value for the actuating variable of the fuel injector according to the first relationship, or implementing the setpoint injection quantity, d) Determining an indicated work resulting from the implementation of the at least one setpoint value for the actuating variable, e) Comparing a variable as a function of the determined resulting indicated work to an expected value, f) Correcting the at least one setpoint value for the actuating variable of the fuel injector as a function of the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Loeffler, Wolfgang Fischer, Roland Karrelmeyer, Gerald Graf
  • Publication number: 20120180756
    Abstract: A multi-sensing fuel injection system for internal combustion engines. The system includes a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the internal combustion chamber. The fuel injector is electrically insulated from an engine body of the internal combustion engine by way of a first electrically insulated member. A second electrically insulated member is provided for fixedly disposing the fuel injector within the combustion chamber. The electrical insulation of the fuel injector, in conjunction with the integration of an ion sensing circuit including a resistor and a power source for supplying voltage to the fuel injector, allows for a full measurement of the ionization current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Fadi Adly Anis Estefanous
  • Patent number: 8215161
    Abstract: A fuel state sensing device is applied to an injector injecting fuel, which is supplied from a fuel pump, though an injection hole. The fuel state sensing device has a fuel pressure sensor (bulk modulus sensing section) for sensing a bulk modulus of the fuel existing in a fuel passage extending from a discharge port of the fuel pump to the injection hole. The fuel state sensing device has a fuel temperature sensor (fuel temperature sensing section) for sensing fuel temperature. The fuel state sensing device has an air mixing state calculating section for calculating a quantity or a ratio of air mixing in the fuel as an air mixing quantity or an air mixing ratio based on the sensed bulk modulus and the sensed fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120125089
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, the diagnostic can determine if that amount of fuel injected or the timing of start of injection is degraded. Thus, the fuel injector diagnostic method can distinguish between different types of injector degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • Patent number: 8166807
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for testing a multi-hole fuel injector nozzle. The apparatus comprises mounting means for the multi-hole nozzle and fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the multi-hole nozzle. The multi-hole nozzle is mounted outside a measurement chamber for capturing the fuel spray from an individual spray hole outlet of the multi-hole nozzle. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a spray target plate, located within the measurement chamber, at which the fuel spray is directed. The spray target plate (28) is connected to a remote pressure sensor, which is used to determine the spray force of the fuel spray acting on the spray target plate. The apparatus is further arranged to determine the mass flow rate of the fuel spray. A new parameter, referred to as ‘momentum efficiency’ is defined, and calculated using the determined values of spray force and mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventor: Godfrey Greeves
  • Patent number: 8166806
    Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring a fuel injection system are described. A manipulated variable is modified by a certain amount. A first value of a measured variable is detected prior to the modification and at least a second value is detected after the modification. An error is detected when the first value and/or the at least second value deviate from an expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kappelmann, Dietrich Beckenbauer, Joachim Palmer, Rene Zieher
  • Publication number: 20120085324
    Abstract: A sensor structure capable of achieving both resistance to pollution and measurement performance such as humidity responsiveness is disclosed as is a multifunction sensor capable of facilitating integration of detecting devices for various physical quantities. The sensor structure includes a housing including a connector that mediates an input/output exchange with an outside and a terminal of the connector; and an electronic circuit board that is mounted inside of the housing and includes a humidity sensing element, the terminal of the connector and the electronic circuit board being electrically connected to each other, the sensor structure being inserted to be attached to an airflow tube through which a main air flows, via a seal material provided in the housing. The housing includes a plurality of bypass channels that each communicate an inside of the housing with an inside of the airflow tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki SAITO, Chihiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120073361
    Abstract: A fuel injection feedback system comprises a light source disposed inside a fuel injector, an optical sensor disposed inside the fuel injector, and a computing device electronically connected to the optical sensor. The light source is a device configured to emit light capable of being reflected by cavitation. The light source could be disposed on or within the needle or nozzle of the fuel injector, or at a variety of other locations inside the fuel injector. The optical sensor is configured to detect an intensity of light caused by receiving light reflected from cavitation occurring inside the fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Omar Cueto
  • Patent number: 8109137
    Abstract: A device detects the cam top position in an in-line type high pressure pump with a decreased amount of time required to detect the rotation position of the cam top position in an engine starting operation, thereby decreasing the time for starting an engine. A cam for driving a plunger has a plurality of cam lobes, and a plurality of cam top position pointers are attached to the outer periphery of the camshaft or to the outer periphery of a flywheel connected to the camshaft such that each of the pointers corresponds to each of the cam lobes of the cam in number and angle phase, respectively. A cam top position detector is located to face the pointers when the camshaft rotates so that the pointers are detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kensho Kato
  • Patent number: 8091538
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an internal combustion engine having first and second fuel injectors, if a misfire is detected, the following steps are performed in sequence: a first fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the first fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of a first fuel quantity in the first step; a second fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the second fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of the second fuel quantity in the third step; and an engine error is diagnosed if a misfire was detected in the second or in the fourth step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hartmann, Winfried Langer, Armin Huber
  • Patent number: 8061188
    Abstract: A check is made to determine whether the capacitance value measured at a specific point in time corresponds to a capacitance value of a calculated further capacitance profile or the measured capacitance value is within two tolerance ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Hartmut Wolpert
  • Publication number: 20110239751
    Abstract: Disclosed is both an apparatus and method for quantifying an injection event of a fuel injector, including both multiple pulse and single pulse injection events. Typically, the fuel injector is a common rail injector. The apparatus includes a pressure chamber for isolating a portion of the injection pressure for reducing pressure waves and reflections which can create “noise” in the detection of an injection pressure. The invention further includes determining the precise start and end times of injection using cavitation created by the injection event by determining the intensity of light within a spray chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Omar Cueto
  • Publication number: 20110239750
    Abstract: An ECU is used in a motorcycle including an engine E, which combusts in a combustion chamber a blended fuel in which gasoline and ethanol are blended, and a fuel injection device for injecting a fuel with a predetermined fuel injection amount such that an air excess ratio in the combustion chamber is a first predetermined value when an ethanol concentration of the blended fuel is zero. The ECU executes O2 feedback control based on an O2 concentration derived from an output of an O2 sensor. Further, the ECU calculates an actual fuel compensation ratio by dividing a fuel injection amount after the O2 feedback control by a predetermined fuel injection amount, and estimates the concentration of the alternative fuel based on this actual fuel compensation ratio and a first predetermined value stored in the ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Sou Kurosaka, Yoshinobu Mori, Shinichi Kuratani
  • Publication number: 20110219860
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing nozzle includes a removable valve subassembly that controls the flow of fluid and the recovery of fluid vapor through the body of the nozzle. The subassembly may be pre-assembled and installed within a nozzle body as a single unit. The nozzle may include a vacuum-driven automatic shut-off system which prevents fluid from flowing through the nozzle when the downstream end of the nozzle spout is submerged. The shutoff system may also be magnetically actuated to allow for dry testing in which the automatic shut-off functionality is testing without dispensation of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: FRANKLIN FUELING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Vadim Tumarkin
  • Patent number: 8011232
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a condition of a system for supplying fuel to a fuel injected controlled-ignition internal combustion engine, of a type including an electric control device that makes use of an oxygen probe for closed-loop regulation of a value of air/fuel ratio admitted to combustion chambers of the engine, and according to which a signal delivered by an oxygen probe is analyzed, the method a) deducing from the signal, a change in a effective injection time making it possible to regulate richness of exhaust gases leaving the engine; b) calculating CRITERION=?(CRITERION 1+CRITERION2+CRITERION3); c) comparing CRITERION against predetermined minimum and maximum threshold values THRESHOLD_MIN and THRESHOLD_MAX; d) diagnosing a defective condition when CRITERION is outside of a window included between THRESHOLD_MIN and THRESHOLD_MAX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Nicolas Protin, Michel Leporcq
  • Patent number: 8011231
    Abstract: The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine includes: a unit for detecting the change in the alcohol concentration of a fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders; a unit for detecting an air-fuel ratio variation between the plurality of cylinders; a unit for making the failure diagnosis when the air-fuel ratio variation between the plurality of cylinders exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and a unit for inhibiting the failure diagnosis executed based on the air-fuel ratio variation between the plurality of cylinders when the change in the alcohol concentration is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Maeda, Hideki Takubo
  • Publication number: 20110185798
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, the diagnostic can determine if that amount of fuel injected or the timing of start of injection is degraded. Thus, the fuel injector diagnostic method can distinguish between different types of injector degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • Patent number: 7966871
    Abstract: A method of identifying an individual short circuit fuel injector, within an injector bank of an engine comprising a plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector has a piezoelectric actuator and an associated injector select switch forming part of an injector drive circuit. The method comprises: (i) charging all of the piezoelectric actuators of the plurality of fuel injectors within the injector bank during a charge phase; (ii) at the end of the charge phase waiting for a delay period; and (iii) subsequently closing an injector select switch of a fuel injector to select said fuel injector. The method further comprises: (iv) determining a stack voltage present on terminals of the piezoelectric actuator of the selected fuel injector and storing the stack voltage in a data store. The stack voltage is indicative of an amount of charge present on the selected injector at the end of the delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventors: Louisa J. Perryman, Daniel Jeremy Hopley
  • Patent number: 7963155
    Abstract: A fuel pressure sensor/sensor mount assembly in which a fuel pressure sensor is so mounted as to exposed to a high-pressure fuel path through which fuel is supplied to a fuel injector, a fuel injection apparatus equipped with a built-in fuel pressure sensor, and a pressure sensing apparatus working to measure the pressure of fuel in a fuel injector are provided. The fuel pressure sensor/sensor mount assembly is disposed between the high-pressure fuel path and the fuel injector, thus permitting the size of the fuel injector to be minimized without sacrificing the accuracy in measuring the pressure of the fuel. The fuel injection apparatus and the a pressure sensing apparatus are designed to ensure desired accuracy in measuring the pressure of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Tooru Taguchi, Hideo Naruse, Akitoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7950269
    Abstract: The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine includes: a unit for detecting the change in the alcohol concentration of a fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders; a unit for detecting an air-fuel ratio variation between the plurality of cylinders; a unit for making the failure diagnosis when the air-fuel ratio variation between the plurality of cylinders exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and a unit for inhibiting the failure diagnosis executed based on the air-fuel ratio variation between the plurality of cylinders when the change in the alcohol concentration is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Maeda, Hideki Takubo
  • Patent number: 7938101
    Abstract: An adaptive fuel delivery control system includes a pressure monitoring module and a flow rate determination module. The pressure monitoring module determines an actual pressure drop after a fuel injection event on an injector. The flow rate determination module determines an adjusted flow rate based on a reference flow rate and the pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Patent number: 7937988
    Abstract: In a method and a device for testing for leakage in a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine, a temperature quantity is determined that characterizes the temperature of at least a part of the fuel injection valve. On the basis of this temperature quantity, the presence of a leak is inferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Traugott Degler, Lars Empacher, Andreas Hempel, Wolfgang Beuer, Hans-Martin Jaeger, Myriam Howey
  • Patent number: 7933712
    Abstract: A pressure sensor is located in a fuel passage, which extends from a pressure-accumulation vessel to a nozzle hole of a fuel injection valve. The pressure sensor is located closer to a nozzle hole than the pressure-accumulation vessel for detecting pressure fluctuated by injection of fuel through the nozzle hole. An instruction signal output unit outputs an injection instruction signal so as to instruct an injection mode of fuel to the fuel injection valve. A defective injection determination unit determines whether a detected pressure of the fuel pressure sensor is fluctuated in a fluctuation mode in a range assumed from the injection instruction signal. The defective injection determination unit determines that a defective injection occurs when determining that the detected pressure is out of the fluctuation mode in the assumed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ishizuka, Kenichiro Nakata
  • Publication number: 20110088461
    Abstract: A degrader and a diagnostic kit for an electronically-controlled fuel-injected internal combustion engine includes means adapted to interrupt a control signal from an engine management computer or powertrain control module (PCM) (15) to a fuel injector (11). It comprises a current sensor (17), adapted to measure the duration of a pulsed supply of fuel to the injector, a switching block (18) to interrupt the supply if required, and a microprocessor (22) to actuate the switching block and to produce a signal which may be used to control injection of fuel into the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Vincent Howarth, Edward Christopher Zyla
  • Publication number: 20110079199
    Abstract: A method provides for detecting deviations of injection quantities for injections into internal combustion engines, as carried out for example by common-rail systems. At least one deviation of at least one injection quantity is detected by determining at least one deviation, from a predefined value in each case, of at least one value of at least one variable controlling an actuator of the injector and/or indicating at least one state of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Gabriel Marzahn, Janos Radeczky