Fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine providing timed cranking enrichment

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for operation from a deactuated condition to an actuated condition to crank the engine, the starter means defining a cranking period while in the actuated condition and defining a resting period while in the deactuated condition, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; timing pulse generating means connected with the engine for producing timing pulses in synchronization with the rotation of the engine; cranking pulse generating means for producing cranking pulses when energized; cranking timer means including a timing circuit connected with the starter means for developing a control voltage which varies in a first sense at a first rate when the starter means is in the actuated condition and which varies in a second sense at a second rate when the starter means is in the deactuated condition, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected between the timing circuit and the cranking pulse generating means for energizing the cranking pulse generating means during an enrichment interval extending from the time when the starter means is actuated until the earlier of the time when the starter means is deactuated and the time when the control voltage reaches a reference level, the enrichment interval thereby exhibiting a minimum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the present cranking period and exhibiting a maximum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and as an inverse function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; control pulse generating means connected with the timing pulse generating means and with the cranking pulse generating means for producing control pulses in response to the occurrence of the timing pulses and the cranking pulses, the control pulse generating means including transducer means connected with the engine for determining the duration of the control pulses as a function of at least one engine operating parameter; and means including fuel injection means connected between the control pulse generating means and the engine for injecting fuel into the engine at a substantially constant rate for the duration of each of the control pulses thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 3

In an internal combustion engine system including an intake manifold, the combination comprising: starter meaNs connected with the engine for operation from a deactuated condition to an actuated condition to crank the engine, the starter means defining a cranking period while in the actuated condition and defining a resting period while in the deactuated condition, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; timing pulse generating means connected with the engine for producing timing pulses in synchronization with the rotation of the engine; cranking pulse generating means for producing cranking pulses when energized, the cranking pulse generating means including heat sensor means connected with the engine for determining the frequency of the cranking pulses as an inverse function of the temperature of the engine; cranking timer means including a timing circuit connected with the starter means for developing a control voltage which varies in a first sense at a first rate when the starter means is in the actuated condition and which varies in a second sense at a second rate when the starter means is in the deactuated condition, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected between the timing circuit and the cranking pulse generating means for energizing the cranking pulse generating means during an enrichment interval extending from the time when the starter means is actuated until the earlier of the time when the starter means is deactuated and the time when the control voltage reaches a reference level, the enrichment interval thereby exhibiting a minimum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the present cranking period and exhibiting a maximum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and as an inverse function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; control pulse generating means connected with the timing pulse generating means and with the cranking pulse generating means for producing control pulses in response to the occurrence of the timing pulses and the cranking pulses, the control pulse generating means including transducer means connected with the engine for determining the duration of the control pulses as a function of at least one engine-operating parameter; and means including fuel injection means connected between the control pulse generating means and the intake manifold of the engine for injecting fuel into the intake manifold of the engine at a substantially constant rate for the duration of each of the control pulses thereby to facilitate engine starting by compensating for fuel condensation within the intake manifold.

Claim 4

In an internal combustion engine system including an intake manifold, the combination comprising: starter meaNs connected with the engine for operation from a deactuated condition to an actuated condition to crank the engine, the starter means defining a cranking period while in the actuated condition and defining a resting period while in the deactuated condition, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; timing pulse generating means connected with the engine for producing timing pulses in synchronization with the rotation of the engine; cranking pulse generating means for producing cranking pulses when energized, the cranking pulse generating means including heat sensor means connected with the engine for determining the frequency of the cranking pulses as an inverse function of the temperature of the engine; cranking timer means including a timing circuit connected with the starter means for developing a control voltage which varies in a first sense at a first rate when the starter means is in the actuated condition and which varies in a second sense at a second rate when the starter means is in the deactuated condition, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected between the timing circuit and the cranking pulse generating means for energizing the cranking pulse generating means during an enrichment interval extending from the time when the starter means is actuated until the earlier of the time when the starter means is deactuated and the time when the control voltage reaches a reference level, the enrichment interval thereby exhibiting a minimum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the present cranking period and exhibiting a maximum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and as an inverse function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; control pulse generating means connected with the timing pulse generating means and with the cranking pulse generating means for producing control pulses in response to the occurrence of the timing pulses and the cranking pulses, the control pulse generating means including transducer means connected with the engine for determining the duration of the control pulses as a function of at least one engine-operating parameter; and means including fuel injection means connected between the control pulse generating means and the intake manifold of the engine for injecting fuel into the intake manifold of the engine at a substantially constant rate for the duration of each of the control pulses thereby to facilitate engine starting by compensating for fuel condensation within the intake manifold.

Claim 5

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period while actuated and defining a resting period while deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means connected with the starter means for defining an enrichment interval beginning when the starter means is actuated and having a maximum duration directly related to the duration of the previous resting period; in the starting sequence and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 6

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period while actuated and defining a resting period while deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means connected with the starter means for defining an enrichment interval beginning when the starter means is actuated and having a maximum duration directly related to the duration of the previous resting period; in the starting sequence and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 7

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period when actuated and defining a resting period when deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means connected with the starter means for dEfining an enrichment interval having a minimum duration directly related to the duration of the present cranking period and having a maximum duration directly related to the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and inversely related to the duration of the previous cranking period; in the starting sequence and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 8

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period when actuated and defining a resting period when deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means connected with the starter means for dEfining an enrichment interval having a minimum duration directly related to the duration of the present cranking period and having a maximum duration directly related to the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and inversely related to the duration of the previous cranking period; in the starting sequence and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 9

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for operation from a deactuated condition to an actuated condition to crank the engine, the starter means defining a cranking period while in the actuated condition and defining a resting period while in the deactuated condition, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means connected with the starter means for switching between set and reset states, the cranking timer means switching from the reset state to the set state in response to the expiration of a set interval following actuation of the starter means and switching from the set state to the reset state in response to the expiration of a reset interval following deactuation of the starter means, the duration of the set interval determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous reset interval and the duration of the reset interval determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous set interval; and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the set interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 10

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for operation from a deactuated condition to an actuated condition to crank the engine, the starter means defining a cranking period while in the actuated condition and defining a resting period while in the deactuated condition, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means connected with the starter means for switching between set and reset states, the cranking timer means switching from the reset state to the set state in response to the expiration of a set interval following actuation of the starter means and switching from the set state to the reset state in response to the expiration of a reset interval following deactuation of the starter means, the duration of the set interval determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous reset interval and the duration of the reset interval determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous set interval; and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the set interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 11

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when manually actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when manually deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period while actuated and defining a resting period while deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means including an integrating circuit connected with the starter means for developing a control voltage, the control voltage varying in a first sense at a first rate when the starter means is actuated and varying in a second sense at a second rate when the starter means is deactuated, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected with the integrating circuit for operation between first and second states, the switching circuit operating from the first state to the second state when the control voltage reaches a reference level during the cranking period and operating from the second state to the first state when the control voltage reaches the reference level during the resting period, the switching circuit thereby residing in the first state during an enrichment interval having a maximum duration directly related to the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and inversely related to the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 12

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when manually actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when manually deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period while actuated and defining a resting period while deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means including an integrating circuit connected with the starter means for developing a control voltage, the control voltage varying in a first sense at a first rate when the starter means is actuated and varying in a second sense at a second rate when the starter means is deactuated, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected with the integrating circuit for operation between first and second states, the switching circuit operating from the first state to the second state when the control voltage reaches a reference level during the cranking period and operating from the second state to the first state when the control voltage reaches the reference level during the resting period, the switching circuit thereby residing in the first state during an enrichment interval having a maximum duration directly related to the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and inversely related to the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 13

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when manually actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when manually deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period when actuated and defining a resting period when deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means including a capacitor for developing a control voltage thereacross, a charging circuit connected with the capacitor for charging the capacitor to increase the control voltage at a charge rate when the starter means is actuated, a discharging circuit connected with the capacitor for discharging the capacitor to decrease the control voltage at a discharge rate when the starter means is deactuated, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected with the capacitor for defining an enrichment interval extending from the time when the starter means is actuated until the earlier of the time when the starter means is deactuated and the time when the control voltage reaches a reference level, the enrichment interval thereby exhibiting a minimum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the present cranking period and exhibiting a maximum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and as an inverse function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.

Claim 14

In an internal combustion engine system, the combination comprising: starter means connected with the engine for initiating cranking of the engine when manually actuated and for terminating cranking of the engine when manually deactuated, the starter means defining a cranking period when actuated and defining a resting period when deactuated, successive cranking periods and resting periods forming a starting sequence; cranking timer means including a capacitor for developing a control voltage thereacross, a charging circuit connected with the capacitor for charging the capacitor to increase the control voltage at a charge rate when the starter means is actuated, a discharging circuit connected with the capacitor for discharging the capacitor to decrease the control voltage at a discharge rate when the starter means is deactuated, the cranking timer means further including a switching circuit connected with the capacitor for defining an enrichment interval extending from the time when the starter means is actuated until the earlier of the time when the starter means is deactuated and the time when the control voltage reaches a reference level, the enrichment interval thereby exhibiting a minimum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the present cranking period and exhibiting a maximum duration determined as a direct function of the duration of the previous resting period in the starting sequence and as an inverse function of the duration of the previous cranking period in the starting sequence in excess of the previous enrichment interval; and means including fuel injection means connected between the cranking timer means and the engine for applying extra fuel to the engine only during the enrichment interval thereby to facilitate engine starting.