US3851628A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Lumenition Ltd
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Filing: 1969-11-06
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1989-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A device for generating a voltage pulse for use with a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine utilizing infra-red radiation source and detector for obtaining a voltage pulse to operate the solenoids of the appropriate fuel injectors in cyclic order, which voltage pulse is timed from shutter means mechanically driven and interposed between the source and detector, the relative angular duration of the voltage pulse determined by the length of unmasking by the shutter, being controlled by the speed of and load on the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 E Ford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:02
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/009; F02P; F02P7/00; F02P7/06; F02P7/073; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for fast switching the solenoid of a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine, including a phototransistor sensitive to infra-red radiaTion which will switch on or conduct when exposed to the radiation and switch off when the radiation is cut off; a gallium arsenide lamp emitting infra-red radiation; an element which is opaque to infra-red radiation positioned between the gallium arsenide lamp and the phototransistor, said opaque element having at least one aperture therein; means for moving the opaque element in timed relation to the engine revolutions; an amplifier having first and second transistors connected in cascade to the output of the phototransistor and arranged to switch in inverse relation to one another so that at any one time a transistor is always conducting; and a power transistor connected to the output of the amplifier to be switched in inverse relation to the second transistor and connected in circuit relationship with the solenoid such that every time a beam of radiation falls onto and is cut off from the photo-transistor, said transistorized amplifier circuit and power transistor cause the fast switching of the solenoid to inject the desired quantity of fuel into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the period during which thephoto-transistor is exposed to infra-red radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for fast switching the solenoid of a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine, including a phototransistor sensitive to infra-red radiaTion which will switch on or conduct when exposed to the radiation and switch off when the radiation is cut off; a gallium arsenide lamp emitting infra-red radiation; an element which is opaque to infra-red radiation positioned between the gallium arsenide lamp and the phototransistor, said opaque element having at least one aperture therein; means for moving the opaque element in timed relation to the engine revolutions; an amplifier having first and second transistors connected in cascade to the output of the phototransistor and arranged to switch in inverse relation to one another so that at any one time a transistor is always conducting; and a power transistor connected to the output of the amplifier to be switched in inverse relation to the second transistor and connected in circuit relationship with the solenoid such that every time a beam of radiation falls onto and is cut off from the photo-transistor, said transistorized amplifier circuit and power transistor cause the fast switching of the solenoid to inject the desired quantity of fuel into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the period during which thephoto-transistor is exposed to infra-red radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
140 words
A device according to claim 1, including a stator member having an annular groove; a cup shaped rotor member constituting the opaque element and rotatable within said annular groove in synchronism with the engine, the photo-transistor and gallium arsenide lamp being mounted on the stator member on opposite sides of the annular groove; at least one open-ended slot provided in the cylindrical wall of the rotor member, said slot having a peripheral width which varies in a linear manner from a small peripheral width at the open end to a greater peripheral width at the closed end; and means for axially displacing the rotor with respect to the stator member in accordance with engine speed, the peripheral width of the radiation window as defined by the slot being used to control the air to fuel ratio injected into the engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A device according to claim 2, including a diaphragm to which the stator member is mechanically coupled, said diaphragm being open to the atmosphere on one side; and an inlet manifold of the engine, the other side of the diaphragm being in communication with the pressure prevailing in the manifold, so that the diaphragm is subjected to a difference in pressure, whereby the stator member is longitudinally moved in relation to the rotor member according to the load on the engine, the peripheral width of the slot being used to control the air to fuel ratio injected into the engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device according to claim 1, including as many fuel injectors as there are cylinders in the engine, every fuel injector being associated with a different cylinder; and as many transistorized circuits as there are fuel injectors, these circuits being arranged in parallel to energize the individual solenoids of the fuel injectors, the injectors being operated in cyclic manner according to the cylinder firing sequence of the engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device according to claim 2, including n fuel injectors for an internal combustion engine having m cylinders, the cylinders being arranged in groups, there being at least two cylinders in each group; n gallium arsenide lamps and n photo-transistors, the components of each pair being arranged opposite each other across the annular groove of the stator member, each pair being in equi-spaced relation therearound, so that the injectors operate in a given repeatable sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device according to claim 2, including n fuel injectors for an internal combustion engine having 3n cylinders; n gallium arsenide lamps and n photo-transistors, the components of each pair being opposite each other across the annular groove of the stator member, each pair being arranged so that all the pairs are equi-spaced from their neighbors around the stator, the cylinders being arranged in groups of three such that the injectoRs operate in a given repeatable sequence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the photo-transistor has its base electrode left unconnected, the emitter electrode of the photo-transistor being connected to the base electrode of the first transistor, the collector electrode of the first transistor being connected to the base electrode of the second transistor, the collector electrode of the second transistor being connected to the base electrode of the power transistor, the emitter electrodes of the transistors being commoned and connected to one side of a battery, the collector electrodes being connected to the other side of the battery each through a resistor, and the base electrodes being connected to the commoned emitter electrodes each through further resistors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein a resistor is connected in series and a zener diode is connected in parallel with the gallium arsenide lamp.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |