US5092302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel pump speed control by dc-dc converter
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1990-12-26
•
Granted: 1992-03-03
•
Expires: 2010-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from the motor operated fuel pump includes a dc-dc converter connected between a power source and the fuel pump. The dc-dc converter provides power for driving the fuel pump and is responsive to a voltage demand signal for setting the voltage level of the power. In one embodiment of the invention, a voltage demand signal generator, which generates the voltage demand signal, is a zener diode for generating a fixed voltage level for the power independent of the voltage level of the storage battery. In a second embodiment, the voltage demand signal generator is a portion of an engine control circuit for generating a varying voltage level for the power which is dependent on the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Mohan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:12
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/337; H02M3/3376; H02M3/3378; F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/30; F02D41/3082; F02M; F02M37/00; F02M37/04; F02M37/08; F02M2037/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an external power source defining a variable voltage level and further having an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from said fuel pump, said control apparatus comprising voltage control means connected between said external power source and said fuel pump for driving said fuel pump at a desired voltage level selectable from levels greater than, less than or substantially equal to the voltage level of said external power source dependent upon engine operating conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an external power source defining a variable voltage level and further having an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from said fuel pump, said control apparatus comprising voltage control means connected between said external power source and said fuel pump for driving said fuel pump at a desired voltage level selectable from levels greater than, less than or substantially equal to the voltage level of said external power source dependent upon engine operating conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said voltage control means comprises a dc-dc converter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said voltage demand signal generator means comprises a zener diode for generating a fixed voltage demand signal regardless of the voltage level of said external power source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said voltage demand signal generator means comprises a portion of an engine control circuit for generating a varying voltage demand signal dependent upon the operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising voltage demand signal generator means for generating a voltage demand signal, said voltage control means comprising a dc-dc converter responsive to said voltage demand signal for generating drive voltage for said fuel pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dc-dc converter means comprises: an input conditioning and gain operational amplifier responsive to said voltage demand signal for generating an internal voltage control signal; a pulse width modulator circuit connected to said operational amplifier and responsive to said internal voltage control signal for generating a pulse width modulation control signal; a transistor driver circuit connected to said pulse width modulator circuit and responsive to said pulse width modulation control signal for generating an output drive signal; and a transformer and power circuit connected to said transistor driver circuit and responsive to said output drive signal for generating an output signal for driving said fuel pump in accordance with said voltage demand signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pulse width modulator circuit comprises an integrated circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an external power source and an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from said fuel pump, said control apparatus comprising: motor means for operating said fuel pump; dc-dc converter means connected between said external power source and said motor means for providing power for driving said motor means, said dc-dc converter means being responsive to a voltage demand signal for setting the voltage level of said power at a desired voltage level greater than, less than or substantially equal to the voltage level of said external power source; and voltage demand signal generator means for generating said voltage demand signal dependent upon operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an external power source and an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from said fuel pump, said control apparatus comprising: motor means for operating said fuel pump; dc-dc converter means connected between said external power source and said motor means for providing power for driving said motor means, said dc-dc converter means being responsive to a voltage demand signal for setting the voltage level of said power at a desired voltage level greater than, less than or substantially equal to the voltage level of said external power source; and voltage demand signal generator means for generating said voltage demand signal dependent upon operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said dc-dc converter means comprises: an input conditioning and gain operational amplifier responsive to said voltage demand signal for generating an internal voltage control signal; a pulse width modulator circuit connected to said operational amplifier and responsive to said internal voltage control signal for generating a pulse width modulation control signal; a transistor driver circuit connected to said pulse width modulator circuit and responsive to said pulse width modulation control signal for generating an output drive signal; and a transformer and power circuit connected to said transistor drive circuit and responsible to said output drive signal for generating an output signal for driving said fuel pump in accordance with said voltage demand signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pulse width modulator circuit comprises an integrated circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said voltage demand signal generator means comprises a zener diode for generating a fixed voltage level for said power regardless of the voltage level of said external power source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
Control apparatus for an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said voltage demand signal generator means comprises a portion of an engine control circuit for generating a varying voltage demand signal dependent upon the operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for controlling an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an external power source and an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from said fuel pump, said method comprising the steps of: connecting a dc-dc converter between said external power source and said fuel pump; generating a voltage demand signal; and operating said dc-dc converter in response to said voltage demand signal dependent upon operating conditions of said internal combustion engine to control the drive voltage applied to said fuel pump to substantially equal a voltage level greater than, less than or substantially equal to the voltage level of said external power source.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for controlling an electric fuel pump of a motor vehicle having an external power source and an internal combustion engine which receives operating fuel from said fuel pump, said method comprising the steps of: connecting a dc-dc converter between said external power source and said fuel pump; generating a voltage demand signal; and operating said dc-dc converter in response to said voltage demand signal dependent upon operating conditions of said internal combustion engine to control the drive voltage applied to said fuel pump to substantially equal a voltage level greater than, less than or substantially equal to the voltage level of said external power source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for controlling an electric fuel pump as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step of generating a voltage demand signal comprises generating a constant voltage demand signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for controlling an electric fuel pump as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step of generating a voltage demand signal comprises generating a varying voltage demand signal corresponding to operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3675115A
Cited
US4359984A
Cited
US4513360A
Cited
JPS5728832A
Cited
US4565173A
Cited
JPS5815755A
Cited
US4617620A
Cited
US4508077A
Cited
US4576135A
Cited
US4577604A
Cited
US4791905A
Cited
US4732129A
Cited
US4800859A
Cited
US4756291A
Cited
US4811185A
Cited
US4932387A
Cited
US4919102A
Cited
US4999568A
Cited
US4980813A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-03 | 1995-09-02 | 1996-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-03 | 1999-09-02 | 2000-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-03 | 2003-09-02 | 2004-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |