Intake manifold pressure compensation for the closed-loop pressure regulation of a fuel pump

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply system comprising a variable output pressure electric pump that pumps liquid fuel through a fuel discharge device into an air passage to form a combustible air-fuel mixture that is combusted in combustion chamber space of the engine to power the engine, and wherein the output pressure of the pump is controlled by a pressure sensor that is disposed to sense the pressure of the fuel being pumped by said pump and that acts via an electronic feedback control loop containing control electronics to cause the pump output pressure to be closed-loop regulated to a commanded pressure, the improvement which comprises said pressure sensor comprising a housing divided by a movable wall into a fuel pressure sensing chamber space and an intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, means communicating said fuel pressure sensing chamber space to sense the pressure of the fuel being pumped by said pump, means communicating said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space to an intake manifold of the engine to sense intake manifold pressure, means to cause said movable wall to be selectively positioned within said housing in accordance with the pressure differential between said fuel pressure sensing chamber space and said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, signal generating means for generating a signal indicative of the position to which said movable wall is selectively positioned, and means for relaying said signal to said control electronics, and wherein said control electronics comprises means acting upon said signal in furtherance of the closed-loop regulation of the commanded pump pressure, said signal generating means comprising transmitter means that is carried by said movable wall to transmit the selective position assumed by said movable wall in response to the pressure differential between said fuel pressure sensing chamber space and said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, and receiver means for generating said signal disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space so as to be exposed to the pressure in said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for receiving from said transmitter means the selective position assumed by said movable wall, said receiver means generating said signal, and wherein said receiver means is mounted on an electronic circuit board assembly that is disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space so as to be exposed to the pressure in said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, said receiving means comprising a receiver mounted on said electronic circuit board assembly and electronic circuitry mounted on said electronic circuit board assembly separate from, but in electrical association with, said receiver for co-action with said receiver to provide said signal, and electrical connector means extending from said electronic circuit board assembly in sealed relation through said housing to provide for the delivery for said signal to said control electronics.

Claim 3

The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said transmitter means is disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space in non-contacting relation to said receiver means.

Claim 4

The improvement set forth in claim 2 in which said transmitter means comprises a permanent magnet.

Claim 5

The improvement set forth in claim 3 in which said receiver comprises a Hall-effect sensor.

Claim 6

For use in an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply system comprising a variable output pressure electric pump that pumps liquid fuel through a fuel discharge device into an air passage to form a combustible air-fuel mixture that is combusted in combustion chamber space of the engine to power the engine, and wherein the output pressure of the pump is controlled by a pressure sensor that is disposed to sense the pressure of the fuel being pumped by the pump and that acts via an electronic feedback control loop containing control electronics to cause the pump output pressure to be closed-loop regulated to a commanded pressure, wherein said control electronics comprises means acting upon said signal in furtherance of the closed-loop regulation of the commanded pump pressure, an improved form of said pressure sensor which comprises a housing divided by a movable wall into a fuel pressure sensing chamber space and an intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, means providing for the communicating of said fuel pressure sensing chamber space for sensing the pressure of the fuel being pumped by the pump, means providing for the communicating of said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for sensing intake manifold pressure, means to cause said movable wall to be selectively positioned within said housing in accordance with the pressure differential between said fuel pressure sensing chamber space and said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, signal generating means for generating a signal indicative of the position to which said movable wall is selectively positioned, and means providing for the relaying of said signal to the control electronics, said signal generating means comprising transmitter means that is carried by said movable wall to transmit the selective position assumed by said movable wall in response to the pressure differential between said fuel pressure sensing chamber space and said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, and receiver means for generating said signal disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for exposure to the pressure in said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space and for receiving from said transmitter means the selective position assumed by said movable wall, said receiver means generating said signal, and wherein said receiver means is mounted on an electronic circuit board assembly that is disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for exposure to the pressure in said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, said receiving means comprising a receiver mounted on said electronic circuit board assembly and electronic circuitry mounted on said electronic circuit board assembly separate from, but in electrical association with, said receiver for co-action with said receiver to provide said signal, and electrical connector means extending from said electronic circuit board assembly in sealed relation through said housing to provide for the delivery for said signal to the control electronics.

Claim 7

For use in an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply system comprising a variable output pressure electric pump that pumps liquid fuel through a fuel discharge device into an air passage to form a combustible air-fuel mixture that is combusted in combustion chamber space of the engine to power the engine, and wherein the output pressure of the pump is controlled by a pressure sensor that is disposed to sense the pressure of the fuel being pumped by the pump and that acts via an electronic feedback control loop containing control electronics to cause the pump output pressure to be closed-loop regulated to a commanded pressure, wherein said control electronics comprises means acting upon said signal in furtherance of the closed-loop regulation of the commanded pump pressure, an improved form of said pressure sensor which comprises a housing divided by a movable wall into a fuel pressure sensing chamber space and an intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, means providing for the communicating of said fuel pressure sensing chamber space for sensing the pressure of the fuel being pumped by the pump, means providing for the communicating of said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for sensing intake manifold pressure, means to cause said movable wall to be selectively positioned within said housing in accordance with the pressure differential between said fuel pressure sensing chamber space and said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, signal generating means for generating a signal indicative of the position to which said movable wall is selectively positioned, and means providing for the relaying of said signal to the control electronics, said signal generating means comprising transmitter means that is carried by said movable wall to transmit the selective position assumed by said movable wall in response to the pressure differential between said fuel pressure sensing chamber space and said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, and receiver means for generating said signal disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for exposure to the pressure in said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space and for receiving from said transmitter means the selective position assumed by said movable wall, said receiver means generating said signal, and wherein said receiver means is mounted on an electronic circuit board assembly that is disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space for exposure to the pressure in said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space, said receiving means comprising a receiver mounted on said electronic circuit board assembly and electronic circuitry mounted on said electronic circuit board assembly separate from, but in electrical association with, said receiver for co-action with said receiver to provide said signal, and electrical connector means extending from said electronic circuit board assembly in sealed relation through said housing to provide for the delivery for said signal to the control electronics.

Claim 8

The improved form of pressure sensor as set forth in claim 5 in which said transmitter means is disposed within said intake manifold pressure sensing chamber space in non-contacting relation to said receiver means.

Claim 9

The improved form of pressure sensor as set forth in claim 6 in which said transmitter means comprises a permanent magnet.

Claim 10

The improved form of pressure sensor as set forth in claim 7 in which said receiver comprises a Hall-effect sensor.