US4606322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual fuel control and supply system for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-07-25
•
Granted: 1986-08-19
•
Expires: 2004-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An electrically controllable dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine (such as, but not necessarily confined to, a diesel engine) having a liquid fuel injection system incorporating an injector pump for delivering prescribed quantities of a principal liquid fuel (e.g. diesel oil) under pressure to individual injectors for the engine cylinders comprising an electronic control unit, an electrically controllable variable flow regulator arranged to receive a combustible alternative fuel (e.g. a gas such as CNG or LPG) under pressure and deliver controlled quantities of the alternative fuel to the engine as determined by signals received by and transmitted from said electronic control unit, by-pass bleed means for bleeding fuel from the principal fuel injection system at the output side of the injector pump and before the injectors and by-passing the bled fuel to a by-pass control system which includes pressure or flow actuated means for measuring the quantity of fuel bled from the injection system and supplying a corresponding signal to the control unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Harvey M. Reid
- 👤 Neil R. Poletti
- 👤 Jonathon B. Rainey
- 👤 George L. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:10
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/30; F02D41/38; F02D41/40; F02D41/406; F02D41/407; F02D19/00; F02D19/06; F02D19/0663; F02D19/0673; F02D19/0678; F02D19/0684; F02D19/08; F02D19/10; F02D19/105; F02D41/3809; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02D19/0681; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
An electronically controllable dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine having a liquid fuel injection system incorporating an injector pump for delivering prescribed quantities of a principal liquid fuel under pressure to individual injectors for the cylinders of the engine, comprising: an electronic control unit, an electrically controllable first variable flow regulator arranged to receive a combustible alternative fuel under pressure and deliver controlled quantities of said alternative fuel to the engine as determined by electrical signals received by and transmitted form said electronic controlled unit, a by-pass control system, including: by-pass bleed means for bleeding liquid fuel from the principal liquid fuel injection system at the output side of the injector pump and before the injectors and by-passing the bleed fuel through the by-pass control system, a second electrically controllable variable control regulator to control the quantity of principal liquid fuel capable of being bled and by-passed from the output side of the injector pump, and a by-pass flow meter arranged to measure the quantity of principal liquid fuel bled from the output side of the injection system and supply a corresponding electrical signal to said electronic control unit, said electronic control unit determining the energy value of the proportion of principal liquid fuel normally intended to be supplied to the engine to meet the engine's demands at that time but bled from the injection system and controlling the prescribed amount of electric power to said variable flow regulator to enable delivery to the engine of the prescribed quantities of alternative fuel proportional in energy value to that necessary to maintin the required power rating and/or speed of the engine for normal efficient operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
An electronically controllable dual fuel system for an internal combustion engine having a liquid fuel injection system incorporating an injector pump for delivering prescribed quantities of a principal liquid fuel under pressure to individual injectors for the cylinders of the engine, comprising: an electronic control unit, an electrically controllable first variable flow regulator arranged to receive a combustible alternative fuel under pressure and deliver controlled quantities of said alternative fuel to the engine as determined by electrical signals received by and transmitted form said electronic controlled unit, a by-pass control system, including: by-pass bleed means for bleeding liquid fuel from the principal liquid fuel injection system at the output side of the injector pump and before the injectors and by-passing the bleed fuel through the by-pass control system, a second electrically controllable variable control regulator to control the quantity of principal liquid fuel capable of being bled and by-passed from the output side of the injector pump, and a by-pass flow meter arranged to measure the quantity of principal liquid fuel bled from the output side of the injection system and supply a corresponding electrical signal to said electronic control unit, said electronic control unit determining the energy value of the proportion of principal liquid fuel normally intended to be supplied to the engine to meet the engine's demands at that time but bled from the injection system and controlling the prescribed amount of electric power to said variable flow regulator to enable delivery to the engine of the prescribed quantities of alternative fuel proportional in energy value to that necessary to maintin the required power rating and/or speed of the engine for normal efficient operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the by-pass control system includes a manifold to which the principal liquid fuel bled from individual injector delivery lines at the output side of the injector pump is directed, and said second variable flow regulator is located downstream of said manifold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said by-pass bleed means is provided with non return valve means restricting said bled principal liquid fuel against return to the injector pump and/or injectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein an input flowmeter is provided between a source of supply of the principal liquid fuel and the input side of the injector pump, and said input flowmeter is arranged to measure the input quantity of principal liquid fuel and transmit a corresponding electric signal to said control unit for comparison with the signal from the by-pass flowmeter to the control unit for determining the relative proportions of principal fuel fed to and bled from the injector delivery system, and calculation and control of the required quantity of alternative fuel to be supplied to the engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the by-pass control system incorporates a pressure transducer arranged to sense the pressure of principal liquid fuel bled into the by-pass control system and to transmit a corresponding electric signal to said control unit to enable said control unit to control alternative fuel supply according to said pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control and supply of principal liquid fuel and alternative fuel is engine speed related and determined by means of an engine speed transducer arranged to transmit an engine speed electric signal to said control unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alternative fuel is arranged to be delivered to an air intake or induction system of the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alternative fuel is arranged to be delivered directly to individual cylinders of the engine by means of an individual electronically controlled valve for each cylinder of the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the alternative fuel inlet or delivery points for the cylinders of the engine are all at equal distances from the respective cylinder inlets for the intake air and delivery of the alternative fuel to the cylinders is timed to take place part way through the intake stroke of the piston of each cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the operational timing of the individual electronically controlled valves is further regulated by a signal from the control unit based on information received thereby from engine speed and/or load and/or principal liquid fuel pressure/pulse transducer means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alternative fuel supply line and the principal liquid fuel by-pass control system are each provided with an electric solenoid lock-off unit actuable on a signal from the control unit to prevent or allow fuel flow through the respective line, and whereby the alternative fuel supply is immediately cut-off on exhaustion of such supply and/or on failure of the electrical system of or for the control unit and the fuel control system reverts to single principal liquid fuel operation of the engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first electrically controllable variable flow regulator comprises an electro-magnetic solenoid valve unit including a housing defining a main chamber having inlet and outlet connections communicating with the main chamber for the passage of alternative fuel therethrough, at least one electric solenoid unit mounted within said chamber with a shaft of the solenoid unit near the inlet connection being coupled to a valve member associated with a valve seat of the inlet connection so that the valve member is movable by said solenoid unit between fully closed and open positions, or vice versa, and/or to any selected intermediate position in controlling the flow of alternative fuel through said regulator, said valve member being normally movable towards or away from said valve seat and being shaped and arranged for variable opening relative to the valve seat and variable fuel flow control.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said chamber of said electro-magnetic solenoid valve unit houses two solenoid units co-axially aligned in back to back relationship and the first solenoid unit nearest the inlet connection is the unit having its shaft connected to said valve member, the other of said solenoid units having a shaft normally biassed by a compression spring towards said first solenoid unit and its shaft to provide an arrangement whereby said spring biases and maintains said valve member in a fully closed position in the absence of electric power supply to the solenoid units, and on supply of electric power to the solenoid units the shaft of said other solenoid unit is moved against the closing bias of said compression spring to enable operation of the first solenoid unit for variable control of the valve member opening and closing for fuel flow through the regulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the by-pass control system includes a manifold to which the principal fuel bled from individual injector delivery lines at the output side of the pump is directed, a second electrically controllable variable flow regulator for control of the principal fuel capable of being bled and by-passed and located downstream of said manifold, a pressure transducer for sensing the by-passed fuel pressure in said manifold and transmitting a corresponding electric signal to said control unit, and a pressure control servo system including a servo amplifier, the electric signal from said pressure transducer being arranged to control said servo amplifier for controlling operation of said second variable flow regulator to maintain a prescribed pressure in said manifold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
217 words
A duel fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the by-pass control system includes a manifold to which principal fuel bled from individual injector delivery lines at the output side of the injector pump is directed, a second electrically controlled variable flow regulator for control of the principal fuel capable of being bled and by-passed and located downstream of said manifold, the by-pass flowmeter for measuring the quantity of principal liquid fuel bled and by-passed being located downstream of said second variable flow regulator, and a pressure control system including a servo amplifier for controlling said second variable control regulator; there being further an input flowmeter located between a source of supply of the principal liquid fuel and the input side of the injector pump to measure the input quantity of principal liquid fuel and transmit a corresponding electric signal to the control unit for comparison with the signal from the by-pass flowmeter for determining the relative proportions of principal fuel fed to and bled from the injector delivery system, said electric signals from the input and by-pass flowmeters indicating the differences in flow rates of the principal liquid fuel being arranged to control the servo amplifier which in turn controls operation of said second variable flow regulator to maintain a prescribed pressure in said manifold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation of the first variable flow regulator for the alternative fuel is controlled by way of a servo amplifier which in turn is controlled according to an electric signal from an alternative fuel pressure transducer in association with signals from the by-pass control system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
A duel fuel system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second electrically controllable variable flow regulator comprises an electro-magnetic solenoid valve unit including a housing defining a main chamber having inlet and outlet connections communicating with the main chamber for the passage of alternative fuel therethrough, at least one electric solenoid unit mounted within said chamber with a shaft of the solenoid unit near the inlet connection being coupled to a valve member associated with a valve seat of the inlet connection so that the valve member is movable by said solenoid unit between fully closed and open positions, or vice versa, and/or to any selected intermediate position in controlling the flow of alternative fuel through said regulator, said valve member being normally movable towards or away from said valve seat and being shaped and arranged for variable opening relative to the valve seat and variable fuel flow control.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
152 words
A dual fuel system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said chamber of said electro-magnetic solenoid valve unit houses two solenoid units co-axially aligned in back to back relationship and the first solenoid unit nearest the inlet connection is the unit having its shaft connected to said valve member, the other of said solenoid units having a shaft normally biased by a compression spring toward said first solenoid unit and its shaft to provide an arrangement whereby said spring biases and maintains said valve member in a fully closed position in the absence of electric power supply to the solenoid units, and on supply of electric power to the solenoid units the shaft of said other solenoid unit is moved against the closing bias of said compression spring to enable operation of the first solenoid unit for variable control of the valve member opening and closing for fuel flow through the regulator.
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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) | 1989-08-18 | 1990-02-17 | 1990-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-18 | 1994-02-17 | 1994-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-18 | 1998-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |