US4546732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel injection apparatus for controlling the amount of alcohol and gasoline supplied to a mixed fuel engine
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1983-12-05
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Granted: 1985-10-15
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Expires: 2003-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling the amount of alcohol and gasoline injected into an engine which uses a mixed fuel, where alcohol is the main fuel and gasoline is the auxiliary fuel. The fuel injection rates vary depending in part upon the temperature of the engine coolant, the position of a transmission's shifting device, engine RPM, engine air intake rate and oxygen sensor readings.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisao Mae
- 👤 Kazuo Miyauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:37
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/04; F02D41/06; F02D41/068; F02D19/00; F02D19/06; F02D19/0602; F02D19/0607; F02D19/061; F02D19/0626; F02D19/0628; F02D19/0631; F02D19/0639; F02D19/0649; F02D19/0652; F02D19/0655; F02D19/0663; F02D19/0686; F02D19/0692; F02D19/08; F02D19/081; F02D41/0025; F02D41/062; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of alcohol and gasoline supplied to a combustion chamber of a mixed fuel engine, comprising: a main fuel injection valve for injecting alcohol fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber of an engine; an auxiliary fuel injection valve for injecting gasoline fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber of an engine; a first detecting means for detecting temperature of a coolant in the engine; a second detecting means for detecting whether the engine is idling; a memory means for storing: (1) a prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining by the first detecting means that the engine coolant temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the second detecting means determines that the engine is not idling; (2) a basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining by the first detecting means that the engine coolant temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature; (3) a compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining by the first detecting means that the engine coolant is less that a predetermined temperature and the second detecting means determining that the engine is idling; a central processing unit connected for accepting data from the detecting means and the memory means, and therefrom calculating and transmitting injection signals to the main and auxiliary fuel injection valves for injecting calculated amounts of fuel dependent upon the detected parameters and the fuel rate ratios stored in the memory means; and an actuating means for operating the main and auxiliary fuel injection valves in accordance with the signals from the central processing unit, whereby starting of the engine is improved by increasing the ratio of gasoline is alcohol in the combustion chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
315 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of alcohol and gasoline supplied to a combustion chamber of a mixed fuel engine, comprising: a main fuel injection valve for injecting alcohol fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber of an engine; an auxiliary fuel injection valve for injecting gasoline fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber of an engine; a first detecting means for detecting temperature of a coolant in the engine; a second detecting means for detecting whether the engine is idling; a memory means for storing: (1) a prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining by the first detecting means that the engine coolant temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the second detecting means determines that the engine is not idling; (2) a basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining by the first detecting means that the engine coolant temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature; (3) a compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining by the first detecting means that the engine coolant is less that a predetermined temperature and the second detecting means determining that the engine is idling; a central processing unit connected for accepting data from the detecting means and the memory means, and therefrom calculating and transmitting injection signals to the main and auxiliary fuel injection valves for injecting calculated amounts of fuel dependent upon the detected parameters and the fuel rate ratios stored in the memory means; and an actuating means for operating the main and auxiliary fuel injection valves in accordance with the signals from the central processing unit, whereby starting of the engine is improved by increasing the ratio of gasoline is alcohol in the combustion chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second detecting means comprises a neutral switch provided on a gear shift lever of a transmission.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the neutral switch is OFF whenever the transmission is engaged in either forward or reverse gears.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detecting means comprises a temperature sensor that produces output voltages which vary according to the detected temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the engine is determined to be warming up if the temperature of the coolant of the engine is not in excess of 10° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third detecting means for determining oxygen content of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third detecting means comprises an oxygen sensor that produces output voltages which vary according to the oxygen content of the exhaust gases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the output voltage is compared to a predetermined voltage to determine whether the fuel mixture is rich or lean.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the fuel mixture is determined to be lean, an increased amount of fuel is injected and conversely, if the fuel mixture is determined to be rich, a decreased amount of fuel is injected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline decreases as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline decreases as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline decreases as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for determining an amount of alcohol and gasoline fuel to be injected into a combustion chamber of a mixed fuel engine, comprising: detecting temperature of coolant in the engine; detecting whether the engine is idling; storing a prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine; storing a basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine; storing a compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine comparing the detected value of engine coolant temperature and idling condition, with the stored fuel rate ratios and generating a comparator output signal indicative of the result ofthe comparison; using the output of the comparator to activate an alcohol fuel injection valve to inject alcohol which is to be injection into the combustion chamber of the engine; and using the output of the comparator to actuate a gasoline fuel injection valve to inject gasoline which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for determining an amount of alcohol and gasoline fuel to be injected into a combustion chamber of a mixed fuel engine, comprising: detecting temperature of coolant in the engine; detecting whether the engine is idling; storing a prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine; storing a basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine; storing a compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine comparing the detected value of engine coolant temperature and idling condition, with the stored fuel rate ratios and generating a comparator output signal indicative of the result ofthe comparison; using the output of the comparator to activate an alcohol fuel injection valve to inject alcohol which is to be injection into the combustion chamber of the engine; and using the output of the comparator to actuate a gasoline fuel injection valve to inject gasoline which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the engine is determined to be idling by examining the position of a gear shift lever of a transmission.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 14, wherein the engine is determined to be idling if the gear shift lever is not engaged in a forward or reverse gear.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the presecibed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline is selected when the temperature of the engine coolant is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the engine is not idling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline is selected when the temperature of the engine coolant is greater than the predetermined temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the compensated fuel ratio ratio of alcohol to gasoline is selected when the temperature of the engine coolant is less than the predetermined temperature and the engine is idling.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the engine is determined to be warming up if the temperature of the coolant is not in excess of 10° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 13, further comprising detecting oxygen content of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the oxygen content of the exhaust gases is determined by an oxygen sensor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the oxygen sensor produces an output voltage that is compared to a predetermined voltage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 13, wherein alcohol is injected by a main fuel injection valve.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 13, wherein gasoline is injected by an auxiliary fuel injection valve.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 9, wherein the prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline decreases as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 9, wherein the basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline decreases as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 9, wherein the compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline decreases as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
231 words
A process for determining an amount of alcohol and gasoline fuel to be injected into a combustion chamber of a mixed fuel engine, comprising: detecting temperature of coolant in the engine; detecting whether the engine is idling; storing a prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining that the engine coolant temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the engine is not idling; storing a basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining that the engine coolant temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature; storing a compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining that the engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and the engine is idling; comparing the detected value of engine coolant temperature and idling condition with the stored fuel rate ratios and generating a comparator output signal indicative of the result of the comparison; using the output of the comparator to activate an alcohol fuel injection valve to inject alcohol which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the engine; and using the output of the comparator to actuate a gasoline fuel injection valve to inject gasoline which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
231 words
A process for determining an amount of alcohol and gasoline fuel to be injected into a combustion chamber of a mixed fuel engine, comprising: detecting temperature of coolant in the engine; detecting whether the engine is idling; storing a prescribed fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining that the engine coolant temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the engine is not idling; storing a basic fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining that the engine coolant temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature; storing a compensated fuel rate ratio of alcohol to gasoline, which is to be injected into the engine upon determining that the engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and the engine is idling; comparing the detected value of engine coolant temperature and idling condition with the stored fuel rate ratios and generating a comparator output signal indicative of the result of the comparison; using the output of the comparator to activate an alcohol fuel injection valve to inject alcohol which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the engine; and using the output of the comparator to actuate a gasoline fuel injection valve to inject gasoline which is to be injected into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 28, further comprising detecting oxygen content of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2478746A1
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JPS57131839A
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JPS57181949A
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US4391244A
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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) | 1988-10-14 | 1989-04-15 | 1989-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-14 | 1993-04-15 | 1993-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-14 | 1997-04-15 | 1997-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |