Patent US4671240A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4671240A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1986-01-30
•
Granted: 1987-06-09
•
Expires: 2006-01-30
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A fuel injection type internal combustion engine provided with a pressure regulator for controlling a constant difference between a pressure of fuel supplied to the injector and a pressure of the intake system at the position where the injector is mounted. A tank is arranged for storing a positive pressure obtained while the engine is operated. A switching valve is arranged for connecting the tank with the pressure regulator when the engine is started when hot. Due to the operation of the regulator for maintaining the constant pressure difference, the pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel injector is increased, making it difficult for the fuel to vaporize. Thus, preventing a so-called vapor lock.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenzi Tanaka
  • 👤 Koichi Gomi
  • 👤 Tamotsu Fukuda
  • 👤 Masataka Hayashi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 19:39
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M37/00; F02M37/20; F02M69/00; F02M69/46; F02M69/462; F02M69/54; F02D; F02D2250/00; F02D2250/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 223 words
A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having an intake line in which a throttle valve is arranged, said system comprising: a fuel injector arranged in said intake line downstream of said throttle valve for injecting an amount of fuel to the engine; a fuel pump for generating a forced flow of fuel; a fuel conduit for supplying fuel from said fuel pump to said fuel injector, said fuel injector being connected to said fuel conduit; regulator means for controlling a pressure of fuel supplied from said fuel pump to said fuel injector, so that a constant difference is maintained between a pressure of fuel from said fuel pump and a pressure of said intake line adjacent to said fuel injector; a positive pressure source connected to the engine; storing means for storing a positive pressure obtained at said positive pressure source during operation of the engine; switching means for switching connection of said regulator means between said intake line downstream of said throttle valve and said storing means; and, means for detecting a condition of the engine wherein the engine has just been started when hot, so that said switching means is switched from a normal condition wherein said regulator means is connected to said intake line to a condition wherein said regulator means is connected to said storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 223 words
A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having an intake line in which a throttle valve is arranged, said system comprising: a fuel injector arranged in said intake line downstream of said throttle valve for injecting an amount of fuel to the engine; a fuel pump for generating a forced flow of fuel; a fuel conduit for supplying fuel from said fuel pump to said fuel injector, said fuel injector being connected to said fuel conduit; regulator means for controlling a pressure of fuel supplied from said fuel pump to said fuel injector, so that a constant difference is maintained between a pressure of fuel from said fuel pump and a pressure of said intake line adjacent to said fuel injector; a positive pressure source connected to the engine; storing means for storing a positive pressure obtained at said positive pressure source during operation of the engine; switching means for switching connection of said regulator means between said intake line downstream of said throttle valve and said storing means; and, means for detecting a condition of the engine wherein the engine has just been started when hot, so that said switching means is switched from a normal condition wherein said regulator means is connected to said intake line to a condition wherein said regulator means is connected to said storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 95 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said regulator means comprise a diaphragm, a first chamber formed on one side of said diaphragm, said first chamber being in communication with said fuel conduit upstream of said fuel pump, a second chamber formed on an other side of said diaphragm, said second chamber being in communication with said intake line via said switching means, spring biased valve means responsive to a pressure difference between said first and said second chambers for controlling connection of said first chamber to said fuel conduit downstream of said fuel pump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 75 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said valve means comprise a valve member connected to said diaphragm, a fuel pressure inlet, one end of which is in face-to-face contact with said valve member, and another end of which is connected to said fuel conduit between said fuel pump and said fuel injector, and a spring arranged in said second chamber for urging said diaphragm so that said valve member closes said fuel pressure inlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said storing means comprise a tank in which a positive pressure is stored, means for allowing one way transmission of a positive pressure in the positive pressure source when the engine is operated, and a conduit for connecting said tank with said switching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 50 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein said one way transmission means comprise a positive pressure inlet connected to said positive pressure source, and a spring biased valve member for urging said positive pressure inlet closed, said valve member being opened by a positive pressure from said positive pressure source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprise a sensor for detecting a high temperature of fuel supplied to said fuel injector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 60 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprise a sensor for detecting a high temperature of the engine cooling water, a timer means for detecting a predetermined short period from the start of the engine, and a gate means for changing a state thereof when said engine cooling water temperature is high during start of the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said engine is provided with a supercharger, said positive pressure source being the intake line downstream of the supercharger.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3487820A Cited
JPS55106359A Cited
JPS55116876A Cited
US4404944A Cited
JPS57193965A Cited
US4481926A Cited
JPS5867964A Cited
JPS58131356A Cited
US4539960A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-06-08 1990-12-08 1991-06-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-08 1994-12-08 1995-06-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-08 1998-12-08 1999-06-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag