Patent US5146882A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5146882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for cold starting a spark ignited internal combustion engine fueled with an alcohol-based fuel mixture
Assignee: Delco Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1991-08-27
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Granted: 1992-09-15
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Expires: 2011-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for enhancing the cold starting performance of a spark ignition, internal combustion engine fueled with an alcohol-based fuel mixture is described. The quantity of fuel mixture delivered to the engine is regulated to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder during cranking, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in the each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount. In addition, each cylinder spark plug is provided with an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to achieve voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel. Preferably, the quantity of fuel delivered to the engine during cranking is reduced at a substantially exponential rate as a function of the cumulative number of revolutions the engine is rotated during cranking. An ignition coil having a secondary to primary winding turns ratio in the order of 65:1, with its secondary winding wrapped onto a plurality of partitions in a segmented dielectric bobbin, is employed to provide the required ignition current for firing the engine spark plugs when the predetermined amount of unvaporized fuel accumulates in the engine cylinders.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman D. Brinkman
- 👤 Cameron J. Dasch
- 👤 Lynn A. Rockwell
- 👤 Daniel H. Hopper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:15
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P3/00; F02P3/02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/04; F02D41/06; F02D41/062; F02P15/00; F02P15/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel delivered to the engine during cranking to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel delivered to the engine during cranking to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the peak ignition current provided to each cylinder spark plug is greater than 60 mA.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the peak ignition current provided to each cylinder spark plug is greater than 100 mA.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as described in claim 1, wherein the quantity of alcohol-based fuel delivered to the engine is reduced during cranking to effectuate a delivered fuel-air ratio that decreases at a substantially exponential rate as a function of the cumulative number revolutions that the engine is rotated during cranking.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: deriving an indication of engine temperature as the engine is cranked for starting; regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking, to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder at the indicated engine temperature, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and providing each cylinder spark plug with an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each sprak plug arc gap, when each spark plug arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: deriving an indication of engine temperature as the engine is cranked for starting; regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking, to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder at the indicated engine temperature, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and providing each cylinder spark plug with an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each sprak plug arc gap, when each spark plug arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-gasoline fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: deriving an indication of the engine temperature; deriving an indication of the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture; deriving an indication of the cumulative number of engine revolutions during cranking; delivering a scheduled quantity of fuel to the engine, as the engine is cranked for starting, where the scheduled quantity of fuel is determined as a function of the derived indications for the engine temperature, the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture, and the cumulative number of cranking engine revolutions, so that a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture is established in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to a predetermined amount; and providing for each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-gasoline fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: deriving an indication of the engine temperature; deriving an indication of the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture; deriving an indication of the cumulative number of engine revolutions during cranking; delivering a scheduled quantity of fuel to the engine, as the engine is cranked for starting, where the scheduled quantity of fuel is determined as a function of the derived indications for the engine temperature, the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture, and the cumulative number of cranking engine revolutions, so that a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture is established in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to a predetermined amount; and providing for each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method as described in claim 6, wherein the quantity of fuel initially delivered to the engine at the initiation of cranking is determined as a function of the derived indications for the engine temperature and the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture, and thereafter, the quantity of delivered fuel is reduced during cranking to effectuate a delivered fuel-air ratio that decreases at a substantially exponential rate as a function of the cumulative number of revolutions that the engine is rotated during cranking.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as described in claim 7, wherein the delivered fuel-air ratio is decreased at the exponential rate of approximately 20% for every two cranking revolutions of the engine.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for cold-starting an internal combustion engine operating on an methanol-gasoline fuel mixture at ambient temperatures below -20° C., the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: regulating the quantity of the methanol-gasoline fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking, to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for cold-starting an internal combustion engine operating on an methanol-gasoline fuel mixture at ambient temperatures below -20° C., the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the steps of the method comprising: regulating the quantity of the methanol-gasoline fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking, to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel delivered to the engine during cranking to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel delivered to the engine during cranking to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the magnitude of the peak ignition current provided to each cylinder spark plug is greater than 60 mA.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the magnitude of the peak ignition current provided to each cylinder spark plug is greater than 100 mA.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the quantity of alcohol-based fuel mixture delivered to the engine is reduced during cranking to effectuate a delivered fuel-air ratio that decreases at a substantially exponential rate as a function of the the cumulative number of cranking revolutions of the engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the means for providing each cylinder spark plug with an ignition current comprises an ignition system including inductive and capacitive discharge portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the means for providing each cylinder spark plug with an ignition current further includes at least one ignition coil having a secondary to primary winding turns ratio in the order of 65:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the the secondary winding of the ignition coil is wrapped onto a segmented dielectric bobbin having a plurality of partitions for separating adjacent portions of the secondary winding to reduce its electrical inter-winding capacitance.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for deriving an indication of engine temperature as the engine is cranked for starting; means for regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking, to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder at the indicated engine temperature, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing each cylinder spark plug with an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each spark plug arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-based fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for deriving an indication of engine temperature as the engine is cranked for starting; means for regulating the quantity of alcohol-based fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking, to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder at the indicated engine temperature, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing each cylinder spark plug with an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each spark plug arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-gasoline fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for deriving an indication of the engine temperature; means for deriving an indication of the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture; means for deriving an indication of the cumulative number of engine revolutions during cranking; means for delivering a scheduled quantity of fuel mixture to the engine, as the engine is cranked for starting, where the scheduled quantity of fuel is determined as a function of the derived indications for the engine temperature, the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture, and the cumulative number of cranking engine revolutions, such that a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture is established in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized liquid fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing for each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when the arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for enhancing the cold-starting capability of an internal combustion engine operating on an alcohol-gasoline fuel mixture, the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for deriving an indication of the engine temperature; means for deriving an indication of the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture; means for deriving an indication of the cumulative number of engine revolutions during cranking; means for delivering a scheduled quantity of fuel mixture to the engine, as the engine is cranked for starting, where the scheduled quantity of fuel is determined as a function of the derived indications for the engine temperature, the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture, and the cumulative number of cranking engine revolutions, such that a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture is established in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized liquid fuel in each engine cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing for each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when the arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the quantity of fuel initially delivered to the engine at the initiation of cranking is determined as a function of the derived indications for the engine temperature and the relative proportion of alcohol to gasoline in the fuel mixture, and thereafter, the quantity of delivered fuel is reduced during cranking to effectuate a delivered fuel-air ratio that decreases at a substantially exponential rate as a function of the cumulative number of cranking revolutions of the engine.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the delivered fuel-air ratio is decreased at the exponential rate of approximately 20% for every additional two cranking revolutions of the engine.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for cold-starting an internal combustion engine operating on an methanol-gasoline fuel mixture at ambient temperatures below -20° C., the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for regulating the quantity of methanol-gasoline fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for cold-starting an internal combustion engine operating on an methanol-gasoline fuel mixture at ambient temperatures below -20° C., the engine including a cranking means for rotating the engine during starting, a means for delivering the fuel mixture to each engine cylinder, and a spark plug with an arc gap positioned in each engine cylinder for igniting the delivered fuel mixture, the apparatus comprising: means for regulating the quantity of methanol-gasoline fuel mixture delivered to the engine during cranking to establish a combustible fuel vapor-air mixture in each engine cylinder, while restricting the accumulation of unvaporized fuel in each cylinder so as not to exceed a predetermined amount; and means for providing to each cylinder spark plug an ignition current having a peak magnitude sufficient to effectuate voltage break down across each spark plug arc gap, when each arc gap is resistively loaded due to wetting in accordance with the predetermined amount of accumulated unvaporized fuel.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |