Fuel oil injection engine

Claim 2

In a dual-fuel engine having at least one combustion chamber and a fuel oil injection supply system and being adapted to run on fuel oil alone in a single-fuel mode and in a dual-fuel mode on fuel oil and gas, the combination comprising: (a) a reference supply line located in the fuel oil injection supply system of the engine for carrying the fuel oil, (b) means responsive to the fuel oil pressure developed in the reference supply line for automatically controlling the flow of fuel oil and gas to said combustion chamber.

Claim 3

A dual-fuel engine as defined in claim 1 wherein the fuel oil injection supply system includes a bypass line to control the injection of pilot shots of fuel oil to said combustion chamber.

Claim 4

A dual-fuel engine as defined in claim 1 wherein during the dual-fuel mode of operation of the engine, the responsive means controls both the flow of fuel oil and gas to the combustion chamber.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said existing fuel oil injection supply system modifying step includes sensing the pressure developed in the fuel oil injection supply system and changing the amount of main fuel supplied to said combustion chamber in response to the change of pressure developed in said fuel oil injection supply system.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said existing fuel oil injection supply system is modified by providing a by-pass supply line.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 7 wherein a flow restrictor is provided in at least one of said reference supply and said by-pass supply lines.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the flow restrictor is a variable flow restrictor.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the reference supply line and by-pass supply line shar a common branch.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the engine includes an existing control system used in the dual-fuel mode and the control system comprises an existing governor control which is run from a moving part of the engine.

Claim 15

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the engine includes an existing control system having an existing throttle control used in the dual-fuel mode.

Claim 16

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the engine includes an existing control system which is used in the dual-fuel mode and comprises an existing fuel oil metering device.

Claim 17

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the engine includes an existing control system which is used in the dual-fuel mode and comprises an existing solenoid valve device.

Claim 18

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the engine is a "Cumins" fuel injection engine.

Claim 19

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the engine is permanently adapted to a dual-fuel system.

Claim 20

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein a selection control is effective to switch the engine from a single-fuel mode to a dual-fuel mode at will.

Claim 21

A dual-fuel fuel oil injection engine comprising: (a) a fuel oil injection supply line to at least one combustion chamber of the engine, (b) the fuel oil injection supply line being connected into a fuel oil circulatory system having a fuel oil throttle control of the engine and a fuel oil reference supply line connected downstream of the throttle control, (c) the reference supply line including a flow restrictor, (d) sensor means responsive to pressure in the reference supply line, (e) a gaseous fuel supply system including gaseous fuel supply regulator means, (f) means for injecting pilot shots of fuel oil into said combustion chamber in synchronized manner from said injection supply line, and (g) means for sensing the pressure in the reference supply line between the throttle control and flow restrictor as said pressure varies according to engine speed and throttle control setting, to control the setting of said regulator means and thereby vary the amount of gaseous fuel supplied to said combustion chamber for ignition by the pilot shots of fuel oil.

Claim 22

A dual-fuel fuel oil injection engine comprising: (a) a fuel oil injection supply line to at least one combustion chamber of the engine, (b) the fuel oil injection supply line being connected into a fuel oil circulatory system having a fuel oil throttle control of the engine and a fuel oil reference supply line connected downstream of the throttle control, (c) the reference supply line including a flow restrictor, (d) sensor means responsive to pressure in the reference supply line, (e) a gaseous fuel supply system including gaseous fuel supply regulator means, (f) means for injecting pilot shots of fuel oil into said combustion chamber in synchronized manner from said injection supply line, and (g) means for sensing the pressure in the reference supply line between the throttle control and flow restrictor as said pressure varies according to engine speed and throttle control setting, to control the setting of said regulator means and thereby vary the amount of gaseous fuel supplied to said combustion chamber for ignition by the pilot shots of fuel oil.

Claim 23

An engine as defined in claim 18 wherein the flow restrictor is a variable flow restrictor.

Claim 24

An engine as defined in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the fuel oil injection supply line includes a second flow restrictor.

Claim 25

An engine as defined in claim 20 wherein the second flow restrictor is a variable restrictor.

Claim 26

An engine as defined in claim 21 wherein the flow restrictors comprise pulsed solenoid valves.

Claim 27

An engine as defined in claim 18 wherein the engine includes a selection control adapted to run the engine both in a dual-fuel mode and in a single-fuel mode.

Claim 28

A dual-fuel fuel oil injection engine adapted for selective running on the fuel oil as a sole fuel in a single-fuel mode or on fuel oil and on gas in a dual-fuel mode, said engine comprising: (a) circulatory fuel oil supply system, (b) pump means to circulate the fuel oil around the supply system, (c) an engine driven governor control connected in said fuel oil supply system upstream of a throttle control which is in turn upstream of a first flow control valve which is in turn upstream of a metering device for metering the amount of fuel oil injected into one or more combustion chambers of the engine, (d) when said first flow control valve is open, in use fuel oil is supplied to the metering device under pressure which is a function of the governor control speed and of the throttle control setting, (e) means for controlling the amount of fuel oil injected into said combustion chamber or chambers in response to said pressure and upon engine speed during the single-fuel mode of the engine, (f) the circulatory fuel oil supply system including a by-pass supply line having a second flow control valve, (g) said by-pass supply line by-passes the first flow control valve to allow fuel to flow through to said metering device when said first flow control valve is closed and when the second flow control valve is opened for running the engine in its dual-fuel mode, (h) the circulatory fuel oil supply system further including a reference supply line connected from a point downstream of the throttle control to a point downstream of the metering device, (i) said reference supply line including a third flow control valve and metering device mimic means operative in the dual-fuel mode such that said mimic means is effective to mimic or simulate in the reference supply line the pressure conditions set up downstream of the first flow control valve by the metering device when operating in the single-fuel mode, and (j) sensor means responsive to the pressure in the reference supply line and arranged to control in accordance with said pressure the amount of gas supplied to said combustion chamber or chambers, during the dual-fuel mode, for ignition by pilot fuel oil shots injected by the by-pass line and through the metering device.

Claim 29

A dual-fuel fuel oil injection engine adapted for selective running on the fuel oil as a sole fuel in a single-fuel mode or on fuel oil and on gas in a dual-fuel mode, said engine comprising: (a) circulatory fuel oil supply system, (b) pump means to circulate the fuel oil around the supply system, (c) an engine driven governor control connected in said fuel oil supply system upstream of a throttle control which is in turn upstream of a first flow control valve which is in turn upstream of a metering device for metering the amount of fuel oil injected into one or more combustion chambers of the engine, (d) when said first flow control valve is open, in use fuel oil is supplied to the metering device under pressure which is a function of the governor control speed and of the throttle control setting, (e) means for controlling the amount of fuel oil injected into said combustion chamber or chambers in response to said pressure and upon engine speed during the single-fuel mode of the engine, (f) the circulatory fuel oil supply system including a by-pass supply line having a second flow control valve, (g) said by-pass supply line by-passes the first flow control valve to allow fuel to flow through to said metering device when said first flow control valve is closed and when the second flow control valve is opened for running the engine in its dual-fuel mode, (h) the circulatory fuel oil supply system further including a reference supply line connected from a point downstream of the throttle control to a point downstream of the metering device, (i) said reference supply line including a third flow control valve and metering device mimic means operative in the dual-fuel mode such that said mimic means is effective to mimic or simulate in the reference supply line the pressure conditions set up downstream of the first flow control valve by the metering device when operating in the single-fuel mode, and (j) sensor means responsive to the pressure in the reference supply line and arranged to control in accordance with said pressure the amount of gas supplied to said combustion chamber or chambers, during the dual-fuel mode, for ignition by pilot fuel oil shots injected by the by-pass line and through the metering device.

Claim 32

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the engine is permanently adapted to a dual-fuel system.

Claim 33

A method as defined in claim 26 wherein the first valve means is disconnected from its position in the circulatory supply system before adaptation and used as one of the second and third valve means.

Claim 34

A method as defined in claim 26 wherein the adaptation includes a selection control so that the diesel engine is adapted to be switched from a single-fuel mode to a dual-fuel mode at will.

Claim 35

A method as defined in claim 28 wherein the engine includes a weep-line for the fuel oil which is operative during tick-over or idling in the single-fuel mode, the weep-line being rendered inoperative during speed above tick-over.

Claim 36

A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the weep-line is between the first valve means and the governor control.

Claim 39

A dual-fuel fuel oil injection engine comprising: (a) a fuel oil injection supply line to one or more combustion chambers of the engine, (b) the fuel oil injection supply line being connected into a fuel oil circulatory system downstream of a fuel oil throttle control of the engine, (c) a fuel oil reference supply line connected downstream of the throttle control and a part of the circulatory system, (d) a flow restrictor connected in the reference supply line, (e) means for injecting pilot shots of fuel oil into said one or more combustion chambers in synchronized manner by pump means wherein the pressure in the reference supply line varies according to engine speed and throttle control setting, and (f) means for sensing the varying pressure in the reference supply line between the throttle control and restrictor to vary the amount of gas supplied to said combustion chamber or chambers for ignition by the pilot shots of fuel oil.

Claim 40

A dual-fuel fuel oil injection engine comprising: (a) a fuel oil injection supply line to one or more combustion chambers of the engine, (b) the fuel oil injection supply line being connected into a fuel oil circulatory system downstream of a fuel oil throttle control of the engine, (c) a fuel oil reference supply line connected downstream of the throttle control and a part of the circulatory system, (d) a flow restrictor connected in the reference supply line, (e) means for injecting pilot shots of fuel oil into said one or more combustion chambers in synchronized manner by pump means wherein the pressure in the reference supply line varies according to engine speed and throttle control setting, and (f) means for sensing the varying pressure in the reference supply line between the throttle control and restrictor to vary the amount of gas supplied to said combustion chamber or chambers for ignition by the pilot shots of fuel oil.

Claim 41

An engine as defined in claim 32 wherein the flow restrictor is a variable restrictor.

Claim 42

An engine as defined in claim 32 or claim 33 wherein a second flow restrictor is located in the injection supply line.

Claim 43

An engine as defined in claim 34 wherein the second flow restrictor is variable.

Claim 44

A dual-fuel oil injection engine adapted for selective running on the fuel oil as the sole fuel in a single-fuel mode or on fuel oil and on gas simultaneously in a dual-fuel mode, said engine comprising: (a) a circulatory fuel oil supply system, (b) pump means to circulate the fuel oil around the supply system, (c) a governor control drivable from a moving part of the engine and connected in said fuel oil supply system upstream of a throttle control which is in turn upstream of a first solenoid valve which is in turn upstream of a metering device for metering the amount of fuel oil injected into one or more combustion chambers of the engine, (d) said first solenoid valve being effective to supply fuel oil to the metering device under pressure which is a function of the governor control speed and of the throttle control setting, (e) means for injecting an amount of fuel oil into said combustion chamber or chambers dependent upon said pressure and upon engine speed during the single-fuel mode of the engine, (f) the circulatory fuel oil supply system including a by-pass line havine a second solenoid valve and being connected downstream of the throttle control but upstream of the first solenoid valve, and downstream of the first solenoid valve and upstream of the metering device, to allow fuel to flow through the by-pass line by-passing the first solenoid valve when said first solenoid valve is shut-off and when the second solenoid valve in the by-pass line is operative while running the engine in its dual-fuel mode, (g) a reference supply line having a third solenoid valve and being connected downstream of the throttle control and downstream of the metering device, (h) said second and third solenoid valves providing variable flow restrictors and being electrically pulsable in cooperative manner, (i) the third solenoid valve providing metering device mimic means which in use in the dual-fuel mode is effective to produce mimicking of the pressure conditions set up by the metering device in the single-fuel mode, (j) the reference supply line being connected to sensor means responsive to the pressure in the reference supply line to thereby control the amount of gas supplied to said combustion chamber or chambers, when said third solenoid valve is operative during the dual-fuel mode, for ignition by fuel oil injected by the by-pass line when the second solenoid valve is operative and through the metering device, (k) when the engine is in the single-fuel mode, the first solenoid valve is operative with the second and third solenoid valves shut off, and during the dual-fuel mode, the engine operates with the first solenoid valve shut off and the second and third solenoid valves operative, (l) the second solenoid valve being pulsable to allow a variable amount of fuel oil to be injected into said combustion chamber or chambers to vary the ratio of gas supplied to the chamber or chambers to fuel oil, and (m) the third solenoid valve being pulsable in co-operation therewith to maintain said mimicking.

Claim 45

A dual-fuel oil injection engine adapted for selective running on the fuel oil as the sole fuel in a single-fuel mode or on fuel oil and on gas simultaneously in a dual-fuel mode, said engine comprising: (a) a circulatory fuel oil supply system, (b) pump means to circulate the fuel oil around the supply system, (c) a governor control drivable from a moving part of the engine and connected in said fuel oil supply system upstream of a throttle control which is in turn upstream of a first solenoid valve which is in turn upstream of a metering device for metering the amount of fuel oil injected into one or more combustion chambers of the engine, (d) said first solenoid valve being effective to supply fuel oil to the metering device under pressure which is a function of the governor control speed and of the throttle control setting, (e) means for injecting an amount of fuel oil into said combustion chamber or chambers dependent upon said pressure and upon engine speed during the single-fuel mode of the engine, (f) the circulatory fuel oil supply system including a by-pass line havine a second solenoid valve and being connected downstream of the throttle control but upstream of the first solenoid valve, and downstream of the first solenoid valve and upstream of the metering device, to allow fuel to flow through the by-pass line by-passing the first solenoid valve when said first solenoid valve is shut-off and when the second solenoid valve in the by-pass line is operative while running the engine in its dual-fuel mode, (g) a reference supply line having a third solenoid valve and being connected downstream of the throttle control and downstream of the metering device, (h) said second and third solenoid valves providing variable flow restrictors and being electrically pulsable in cooperative manner, (i) the third solenoid valve providing metering device mimic means which in use in the dual-fuel mode is effective to produce mimicking of the pressure conditions set up by the metering device in the single-fuel mode, (j) the reference supply line being connected to sensor means responsive to the pressure in the reference supply line to thereby control the amount of gas supplied to said combustion chamber or chambers, when said third solenoid valve is operative during the dual-fuel mode, for ignition by fuel oil injected by the by-pass line when the second solenoid valve is operative and through the metering device, (k) when the engine is in the single-fuel mode, the first solenoid valve is operative with the second and third solenoid valves shut off, and during the dual-fuel mode, the engine operates with the first solenoid valve shut off and the second and third solenoid valves operative, (l) the second solenoid valve being pulsable to allow a variable amount of fuel oil to be injected into said combustion chamber or chambers to vary the ratio of gas supplied to the chamber or chambers to fuel oil, and (m) the third solenoid valve being pulsable in co-operation therewith to maintain said mimicking.

Claim 48

A method as defined in claim 37 wherein the diesel engine is permanently adapted to a dual-fuel system.

Claim 49

A method as defined in claim 38 wherein the first valve means is disconnected from its position in the circulatory supply system before adaptation and used as one of the second and third valve means.

Claim 50

A method as defined in claim 37 wherein the engine includes a selection control for switching the diesel engine from a single-fuel mode to a dual-fuel mode at will.

Claim 53

A method as defined in claim 41 wherein the engine is arranged selectively to run in the dual-fuel mode and single-fuel mode.