Volume Flow Amount Patents (Class 73/114.48)
  • Patent number: 11566578
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion engine performing an injection quantity correction is described. A total injection quantity per pulse of an injector is divided into a plurality of smaller equal quantity pulses. The smaller quantity pulses are implemented in ballistic injector mode. On the basis of this step, a corresponding offset correction is carried out. After the offset correction has been applied, a further correction is carried out in linear injector mode. An additional alternative for performing an injection quantity correction without additional sensor hardware is thereby provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Uwe Jung
  • Patent number: 10947944
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the injection rate of an injection valve (1) using a mathematical model which is based on measurement values comprising the stroke (x) of a piston (3) that delimits a measurement chamber (2) during the injection of a test fluid (4) into the measurement chamber (2). The injection rate is corrected on the basis of an additional measurement value. According to the invention, the pressure (pa) in an adapter volume (5), via which the injection valve (1) is connected to the measurement chamber (2), is used as an additional measurement value for correcting the injection rate. The invention further relates to a device for determining the injection rate of an injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Clemens Majer, Iris Hartung
  • Patent number: 10454525
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating a signal over a fuel line in a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include a fuel line. The fuel line can include at least one communication medium for propagating a communication signal. The system can also include at least one signal communication device configured to receive the communication signal communicated over the fuel line. The system can also include at least one vehicle component in communication with the at least one signal communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Pavlo Bobrek
  • Patent number: 10273923
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a combustion cylinder, and at least one fuel injector configured to supply a number of fuel pulse to the cylinder. A controller is programmed to issue a first fuel pulse command to actuate the fuel injector allowing fuel to pass through the fuel injector as a first fuel mass. The controller is also programmed to monitor a voltage across the fuel injector, and determine a preliminary fuel injector opening magnitude based on a rate of change of voltage. The controller is further programmed to assign the preliminary fuel injector opening magnitude as a maximum fuel injector opening magnitude in response to the first fuel mass being greater than a quantity threshold. The controller is further programmed to apply a scaling factor to adjust a second fuel pulse command to normalize the maximum fuel injector opening magnitude value to a predetermined full open value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yiran Hu, Scott E. Parrish
  • Patent number: 10077751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the mass of fluid (2) discharged by an injector (13), the device comprising a housing (1) which is impermeable to fluid and which serves for storing fluid, said housing having an injector port (11) for the connection, in particular of an inlet (12), of the injector (13) and having a fluid port (8) for the infeed of fluid (2), wherein at least one pressure sensor (3) for pressure measurement is provided in the housing (1) in order, by way of an evaluation unit (17), to determine the mass of the fluid (2) in the housing (1) in a manner dependent on the determined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Clemens Majer, Thomas Fischer, Iris Hartung
  • Patent number: 9911994
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a fuel cell is described. One embodiment of the fuel supply system includes a fuel supply vessel; a fuel spending line in fluid communication with the fuel supply vessel and the fuel cell; a piezoelectric injector in fluid communication with the fuel spending line; and a pressure sensor connected to the fuel spending line and positioned between the fuel supply vessel and the fuel cell. A method for controlling the pressure to a fuel cell is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Hobmeyr, Björn Zörner, Marcus Jung
  • Patent number: 9429120
    Abstract: A feedthrough device includes first and second opposing outer end faces. The feedthrough device includes an opening, between the first and second opposing outer end faces, that allows fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the feedthrough device. A conductor extends through the feedthrough device from the first end face, through the interior, to the second end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger M. Kifer, Steven A. DeHerrera, Gregory J. Brodsack, Timothy J. Farrow
  • Patent number: 9002621
    Abstract: In a method for individually correcting injection quantities and/or times (mf1, mf2, mf . . . ; ti1, ti2, ti . . . ) in particular for a ballistic operating range of a fuel injector (1, 2, . . . ), a quantity deviation of an actual injection quantity (mf1, mf2, mf . . . ) from a nominal injection quantity (mfnom) of the fuel injector (1, 2, . . . ) during operation of the fuel injector (1, 2, . . . ) is determined, and a typical injection characteristic (fup1, fup2, fup . . . ) of the fuel injector (1, 2, . . . ) is adapted to a nominal injection characteristic (fupnom) based on the quantity deviation. Furthermore, a controller, in particular an engine controller may implement the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Hauser
  • Publication number: 20150090230
    Abstract: A method for determining the quantity of fuel flowing through a fuel injector. The fuel injector has an electric heating device for heating the fuel and a temperature-measuring device for measuring the temperature of the heated fuel. The method includes (a) applying a predetermined electrical heating power to the electric heating device, (b) measuring an increase in the temperature of the fuel as a consequence of the heating power, and (c) determining the quantity of fuel flowing through the fuel injector on the basis of the applied electrical heating power and the measured increase in the temperature. A method for equalizing the fuel feed at at least two cylinders of an internal combustion engine utilizes the method for determining the quantity of fuel flowing through a fuel injector. An engine controller and a computer program carry out the specified methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: STEPHAN BOLZ, MARTIN GOETZENBERGER
  • Patent number: 8746050
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Omar Cueto
  • Publication number: 20140102186
    Abstract: A method for determining the quantity of fuel leaving an injector of a direct-injection diesel engine, the quantity of fuel supplying a cylinder of the engine in which a piston moves, the injection of fuel being performed by a pilot injection during which a first quantity of fuel is injected into the cylinder followed by a main injection during which a second quantity of fuel, greater than the first quantity of fuel, is injected into the cylinder, the method including the following steps: a) operating the engine at idle speed, b) determining the maximum pressure in the cylinder, and c) determining, from the maximum pressure, the quantity of fuel injected into the cylinder during the pilot injection, by way of a predefined one-to-one relationship, at idle speed, between a maximum pressure value in the cylinder and a quantity of fuel injected into the cylinder during the pilot injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Leblon
  • Patent number: 8700288
    Abstract: A method for assessing a method of functioning of a fuel injector in response to the application of a control voltage to at least one actuator of the fuel injector, including the steps of applying the control voltage to the at least one actuator of the fuel injector for a no-torque-generating injection into an engine, determining a fuel content in an exhaust tract disposed at an engine, comparing the determined fuel content with a specified comparison value, and assessing the method of functioning of the fuel injector based on the comparison result. Furthermore, also described is an evaluation device for assessing a method of functioning of a fuel injector in response to the application of a control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Huber, Thomas Breitbach, Rainer Peck, Christian Kriechbaum
  • Patent number: 8646322
    Abstract: A method for selecting a procedure for determining the injection time of individual injection operations of a fuel injector, which may be supplied with pressurized fuel via a feed line, includes activating the fuel injector using various known activation durations in the vicinity of a predefined operating point of the fuel injector; detecting the pressure curve over time in the feed line for a number of injection operations; evaluating the detected pressure curves over time using at least two different procedures for determining the injection time from the particular pressure curve; determining the correlation between the determined injection times and the particular activation period; selecting the procedure with the highest correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Henner, Bertram Rensch, Christian Boie, Gunter Freitag, Jochen Friedmann, Joerg Staib, Edgar Holl, Daniel Strack, Dirk Freundt
  • Publication number: 20140007665
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the force acting on the nozzle needle of a directly driven piezo injector, in which an electrical voltage is built on the piezo actuator which drives the nozzle needle by means of a charging process. After the charging process has ended, the voltage at the piezo actuator is measured again. A voltage gradient is determined from consecutive voltage values. Conclusions of the force acting on the nozzle needle are drawn from the voltage gradients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Katzenberger, Robert Hoffmann, Simon Ruscheinski
  • Publication number: 20130276522
    Abstract: The principal object of the invention is a method for managing the operation of a metering unit of a turbomachine fuel injection system, characterised in that a channel of the metering unit is selected according to the reliability of the injection system's flowmeter, determined by reliability conditions of the flowmeter providing information as to whether or not there is confidence in the flowmeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventor: Sebastien CHALAUD
  • Patent number: 8511152
    Abstract: The method of the invention includes the injection of fuel in a first constant-volume measuring chamber (3) in which the pressure (P) and the temperature (T) are measured, and the partial draining of said first chamber into a second variable-volume measuring chamber (8) based on the movement of a piston (11), said movement being measured, wherein the partial draining of the first chamber into the second chamber after an injection is carried out until the pressure (Po) existing in the first chamber before the injection is recovered. The draining of the first chamber into the second after each injection is carried out several times consecutively, and the second chamber itself is drained each time. The volumetric measures made by moving the piston (11) for each filling/draining of the second chamber are added in order to obtain a total volume. The method is useful for high injection rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: EFS SA
    Inventor: Francois Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8459105
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • Patent number: 8408054
    Abstract: A method and system for adapting the operation of emission-relevant control devices of a vehicle in a predetermined driving mode having a shorter expected duration that a duration of a preferred test cycle may include several steps. A first step may include determining whether the vehicle has reached the predetermined driving mode. A second step may include diagnosing at least one parameter associated with operation of at least one of the emission-relevant control devices. A third step may include comparing the at least one parameter with a setpoint range or a setpoint value. A fourth step may include carrying out at least a first section of an adaptation for the operation of the at least one emission-relevant control devices. The first section of the adaptation may include optimizing at least one of a plurality of operating points of the at least one emission-relevant control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carl-Eike Hofmeister, Michael Käsbauer
  • Patent number: 8387441
    Abstract: A method for determining the amount of fuel flow from a high pressure gas tank to the anode side of a fuel cell stack through pulsed injector. The anode sub-system pressure is measured just before the injector pulse and just after injector pulse and a difference between the pressures is determined. The difference between the pressures, the volume of the anode sub-system, the ideal gas constant, the anode sub-system temperature, the fuel consumed from the reaction in the fuel cell stack during the injection event and the fuel cross-over through membranes in the fuel cells of the fuel cell stack are used to determine the amount of hydrogen gas injected by the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Falta, Steven G. Goebel, Daniel C. Di Fiore, Ralf Senner
  • Publication number: 20130025354
    Abstract: A method for selecting a procedure for determining the injection time of individual injection operations of a fuel injector, which may be supplied with pressurized fuel via a feed line, includes activating the fuel injector using various known activation durations in the vicinity of a predefined operating point of the fuel injector; detecting the pressure curve over time in the feed line for a number of injection operations; evaluating the detected pressure curves over time using at least two different procedures for determining the injection time from the particular pressure curve; determining the correlation between the determined injection times and the particular activation period; selecting the procedure with the highest correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Wolfgang Henner, Bertram Rensch, Christian Boie, Gunter Freitag, Jochen Friedmann, Joerg Staib, Edgar Holl, Daniel Strack, Dirk Freundt
  • Publication number: 20120323467
    Abstract: A fuel injection amount calculation method calculates a fuel injection amount to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The method can include calculating a relative intake pressure which is a difference between an intake pressure peak of intake air upon intake starting of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and an intake pressure bottom of the intake air upon intake ending. The method can also include calculating the fuel injection amount based on the relative intake pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru OKOSHI, Kenichi MACHIDA, Takahiro KITAMURA
  • Patent number: 8333110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device that includes: a first chamber (3) for measuring a constant volume, and in which the fuel is injected; pressure (5a, 5b) and temperature (6) sensors associated with said first chamber (3); and a second measuring chamber (8) located downstream from the first, into which the fuel drained from the first chamber is sent. The volume of the second chamber (8) varies according to the movement of a piston (11), the movement of which is measured by means of a sensor (13). One or more additional measuring chambers (8a, 8b, . . . 8n) of variable volumes are connected in parallel with the second chamber (8) and also receive the fuel drained from the first chamber (3), the volumes received in said different chambers being added up to obtain the total volume supplied for a single injection step. The device can be used for high injection rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: EFS SA
    Inventor: Francois Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8296039
    Abstract: In a method for estimating at least one control parameter of an injection system in an internal combustion engine for a target injection quantity, the estimation of the control parameter is based on linear regression, which is determined between predefined grid points and calculated test points in an operating range of the injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Böhnig, Michael Hardt
  • Patent number: 8290687
    Abstract: A method for determining a fuel mass of a single injection that has been injected into at least one combustion chamber of a combustion engine with at least one injection under high pressure. The method includes determining a correction variable for the single injection with the aid of a comparison of a measure for the actual amount of the injected fuel of at least one test injection, which takes place due to a measure for a default nominal amount of a desired single injection, and a measure for the nominal amount of the test injection. The method additionally includes executing a plurality of timely directly successive test injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Olbrich, Wolfgang Beuer, Andreas Sommerer, Steffen Meyer-Salfeld
  • Publication number: 20120239272
    Abstract: In a common rail system having two electrically controlled actuating elements, e.g., a metering unit at the input side of a high-pressure pump and a pressure regulating valve on the common rail, different fuel delivery quantities are able to be set in the common rail system while the vehicle is stationary, independent of the current engine load, by controlling operating points via one of the actuating elements and subsequently regulating the other actuating element. Control currents of the actuating elements correspond to the operating points. These control currents, or differences of control currents, are compared to target values to enable an evaluation of the common rail system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Michael HACKNER, Stefan Hoerenberg
  • 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: 8104334
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a model pressure determination module and a sensor diagnostic module. The model pressure determination module determines a modeled fuel rail pressure based on an injection duration of a fuel injector and a desired fuel mass injected by the fuel injector. The sensor diagnostic module generates a status of a fuel rail pressure sensor based on a comparison of the modeled fuel rail pressure and a sensed fuel rail pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Michael J. Lucido, Vincent A. White, Ian J. Mac Ewen, Jon C. Miller
  • Patent number: 8047062
    Abstract: A testing device (10) for high-pressure injectors (50) of a common rail injection system of an engine unit, with the high-pressure injectors (50) each having a fuel return connection (52) for a fuel return line (54) is characterized by a throughflow quantity measuring/display unit (12) which can be detachably connected between the fuel return connection (52) and fuel return line (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Friedrich Lehnert
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20110185799
    Abstract: The method of the invention includes the injection of fuel in a first constant-volume measuring chamber (3) in which the pressure (P) and the temperature (T) are measured, and the partial draining of said first chamber into a second variable-volume measuring chamber (8) based on the movement of a piston (11), said movement being measured, wherein the partial draining of the first chamber into the second chamber after an injection is carried out until the pressure (Po) existing in the first chamber before the injection is recovered. The draining of the first chamber into the second after each injection is carried out several times consecutively, and the second chamber itself is drained each time. The volumetric measures made by moving the piston (11) for each filling/draining of the second chamber are added in order to obtain a total volume. The method is useful for high injection rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: EFS SA
    Inventor: Francois Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7980120
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic system includes a fuel pump control module, a pressure sensor, and a diagnostic module. The fuel pump control module disables delivery of fuel to a fuel rail of an engine. The pressure sensor measures a first pressure of the fuel rail before an injection event and a second pressure of the fuel rail after the injection event on at least one of a plurality of injectors when the engine is running. The diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the at least one of the injectors based on the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Byungho Lee, Donovan L. Dibble, Michael J. Lucido, Mark D. Carr
  • Patent number: 7975535
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Omar Cueto
  • Patent number: 7930930
    Abstract: The instantaneous flow of an injector for gaseous fuels is calculated by measuring the pressure and temperature of a test gas injected inside a measuring chamber connected to the external environment in a continuous manner through a given outlet section and using a calculation formula, in which the instantaneous flow of the injector is a function of on the measured pressure, of a first factor as a function of a volume of the measuring chamber and the measured temperature, and of a second factor as a function of the measured temperature and the outlet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: AEA S.r.l.
    Inventors: Carmine Ungaro, Tommaso Buono
  • Patent number: 7921707
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation distribution variation sensing device has a torque sensing section that senses instantaneous torque caused with combustion of fuel injected from an injector for each cylinder, an injection quantity sensing section that senses an actual injection quantity of the injected fuel for each cylinder, and an exhaust gas recirculation distribution variation calculating section that calculates an exhaust gas recirculation distribution variation as a distribution variation of recirculated exhaust gas to respective cylinders based on a variation in the torque sensing value of the torque sensing section among the cylinders (i.e., a torque variation) and a variation in the injection quantity sensing value of the injection quantity sensing section among the cylinders (i.e., an injection quantity variation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ishizuka, Kenichiro Nakata
  • Publication number: 20110056265
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for identifying whether a difference between measured lambda and computed lambda, based on mass air flow and mass fuel flow, is due to a drift in fuel metering or a drift in air metering. The determination is based on also measuring exhaust gas NOx using a NOx sensor. By comparing the measured NOx to modeled NOx, drift can be attributed appropriately to the air flow measurement and/or the fuel flow measurement. Appropriate correction in the calibration can be undertaken to overcome sensor drift and/or drift in the fuel injector/fuel system flow characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 7878051
    Abstract: A liquid measurement apparatus is configured to measure an amount of liquid flowing from a measured object. The apparatus includes a passage member having a measurement passage being connected to the measured object at one end. The measurement passage is filled with liquid. The apparatus further includes a closed vessel, which is connected to an other end of the measurement passage and filled with saturated vapor of the liquid. The apparatus further includes an analyzer. The liquid filled in the measurement passage contains a bubble, which is movable in accordance with change in amount of the liquid in the measurement passage. The analyzer is configured to calculate a travel distance of the bubble and configured to measure the amount of the liquid flowing from the measured object based on the calculated travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Tani, Makoto Yamaguchi, Shinichi Kaibuki, Tetsuji Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7878050
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Omar Cueto
  • Patent number: 7845216
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel injector 3 supplies gaseous fuel from a compressed gas cylinder 1 into a measuring portion thin tube 5 and pressure change in the tube is measured by a pressure measuring device 4 through a small hole provided in the thin tube 5. An extension thin tube 6 for removing the influence of reflected waves is provided on the downstream side of the measuring portion thin tube 5. There is provided at the downstream side end of the extension thin tube a back pressure valve 13 for uniformly increasing the pressure in the tube and for bringing the pressure close to the actual environment in the engine cylinder. Also, a tapered-shape nozzle is arranged in the measuring portion thin tube 5. Pressure measured by the pressure measuring device 4 is transduced into mass flow rate in the thin tube according to a predetermined calculation formula. Accordingly, it is possible to measure instantaneous mass flow rate of gaseous fuel injected from the gaseous fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: National University Corporation Gunma University
    Inventors: Mikiya Araki, Seiichi Shiga, Tsuneaki Ishima, Tomio Obokata, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Hisao Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7832260
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an abnormality diagnosis unit, an other fuel contamination determination unit, and a misdiagnosis prohibition unit. The abnormality diagnosis unit determines whether there is an abnormality in a fuel system based on an output from an exhaust gas sensor mounted on an exhaust duct of the internal combustion engine. The other fuel contamination determination unit determines whether an other fuel contaminates a supply fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine. The misdiagnosis prohibition unit conducts one of (a) changing an abnormality determination condition for the abnormality diagnosis in the fuel system and (b) prohibiting the abnormality diagnosis in the fuel system, when the other fuel contamination determination unit determines that the other fuel contaminates the supply fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7806106
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine includes a control module that includes a fuel rail pressure module and a comparison module. The fuel rail pressure module determines a first fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail after a first event and a second fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail after a second event. The first event includes N conditions, a first of the N conditions comprises deactivation of a fuel pump of the engine, and N is an integer. The second event includes M conditions, a first of the M conditions comprises activation of a fuel injector, and M is an integer. The comparison module adjusts a fuel injector constant of the fuel injector based on the first fuel rail pressure, the second fuel rail pressure, and an injector activation period corresponding to the second event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Publication number: 20100126261
    Abstract: The instantaneous flow of an injector for gaseous fuels is calculated by measuring the pressure and temperature of a test gas injected inside a measuring chamber connected to the external environment in a continuous manner through a given outlet section and using a calculation formula, in which the instantaneous flow of the injector is a function of on the measured pressure, of a first factor as a function of a volume of the measuring chamber and the measured temperature, and of a second factor as a function of the measured temperature and the outlet section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: AEA S.r.I.
    Inventors: Carmine Ungaro, Tommaso Buono
  • Publication number: 20090277258
    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: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Omar Cueto
  • Patent number: 7600504
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which fuel is injected using an injection device into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, a fuel quantity to be injected being ascertained as a function of individual properties of the injection device, and in which functional monitoring is performed, in which an actual torque is ascertained on the basis of performance quantities of the internal combustion engine and monitored for a deviation from a permissible torque. The individual properties of the injection device are taken into consideration when ascertaining the actual torque, where the functional monitoring is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Gangi, Gerit Von Schwertfuehrer
  • Patent number: 7596992
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided. A controller directs a fuel injector to spray a learning injection quantity of fuel and determines a resulting increase in speed of the engine. The controller determines the quantity of the fuel actually sprayed from the fuel injector based on the increase in speed of the engine and calculates a correction factor which compensates for a difference between the learning injection quantity and the actual injection quantity. The controller also determines a variation in load acting on a driving member of a torque transmission mechanism. When such a variation is great undesirably, the controller stops spraying the learning injection quantity. The controller may determine the increase in speed of the engine based on the degree of the variation in load. This ensures the accuracy in calculating the correction factor regardless of the variation in load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Asano, Eiji Takemoto, Yuuki Tarusawa
  • Publication number: 20090192696
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes, but is not limited to acquiring the crankshaft speed signal while one fuel injector is energized for a determined period of time (ET) in which all the other fuel injectors are de-energized, processing the acquired crankshaft speed signal so as to obtain signals or data (A) representative of the amplitude of a predetermined harmonic component of the crankshaft speed signal, and calculating the power (RMS/MS) of said harmonic component, and assuming the calculated power value (C) as an estimation of the quantity of fuel actually injected by the energized injector in said predetermined period of time (ET).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Tommaso DE FAZIO, Michele BASTIANELLI, Giovanni ROVATTI
  • Publication number: 20090107227
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation distribution variation sensing device has a torque sensing section that senses instantaneous torque caused with combustion of fuel injected from an injector for each cylinder, an injection quantity sensing section that senses an actual injection quantity of the injected fuel for each cylinder and an exhaust gas recirculation distribution variation calculating section that calculates an exhaust gas recirculation distribution variation as a distribution variation of recirculated exhaust gas to respective cylinders based on a variation in the torque sensing value of the torque sensing section among the cylinders (i.e., a torque variation) and a variation in the injection quantity sensing value of the injection quantity sensing section among the cylinders (i.e., an injection quantity variation).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Ishizuka, Kenichiro Nakata
  • Patent number: 7523723
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining an ethanol content of a fuel that is part of a fuel and air mixture combusted within an internal combustion engine. A pressure characteristic of a fuel rail is monitored during operation of the engine. At least one of an effective bulk modulus of the fuel and a pressure perturbation signature is determined based on the pressure characteristic. The ethanol content is determined based on the at least one of the effective bulk modulus and the pressure perturbation signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig D. Marriott, Matthew A. Wiles
  • Patent number: 7526374
    Abstract: An engine control module determining an alcohol compensated fuel consumption value includes an alcohol percent module that determines an alcohol percent in fuel and a fuel mass module that determines a mass of the fuel. The engine control module also includes a fuel volume module that calculates a volume of the fuel based on the mass of the fuel, a density of the fuel, and the alcohol percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Carr, Louis A. Avallone, Michael J. Svestka, Kevin J. Storch
  • Publication number: 20090020630
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus with a deterioration detection device that includes a volume changing chamber, the volume of which is determined by fuel pressure inside the injector. After injector nozzle opens, the time for the volume changing chamber to change from an initial volume to a target volume is measured and used for calculating changes in nozzle orifice size. The value of orifice size change can be used for both diagnosing injector deterioration and compensating fuel flow rate in a feedback control. In addition to detecting injector deterioration and failures, the volume changing device also dampens effects of noise in fuel pressure to fuel flow rate control and decreases chances of after-injection and second injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Mi Yan