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US5339784A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Control apparatus for a marine engine

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1992-04-20
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Granted: 1994-08-23
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Expires: 2012-04-20
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Abstract

Abstract A control apparatus for a marine engine capable of effectively suppressing a great variation in the rotational speed of the engine due to a great variation in an intake air pressure particularly when the engine is trolling. In one form, an air/fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine is made constant to maintain engine output power at a constant level. In another form, the intake air pressure, based on which the engine is controlled, is averaged in such a manner as to reduce a variation in the engine rotational speed by using a greater averaging coefficient during trolling than at other times. In a further form, if a variation in the intake air pressure is less than a predetermined value, the intake air pressure is used for controlling the engine, whereas if otherwise, another engine operating parameter such as an opening degree of a throttle valve is used instead of the intake air pressure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wataru Fukui

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 14:46
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D31/00; F02D31/001; F02D31/007; B; B63; B63H; B63H20/00; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1439; F02D41/144; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 173 words
A control apparatus for an engine comprising: a first sensor for sensing an intake air pressure in an intake manifold of the engine and generating a corresponding first output signal; a second sensor for sensing an engine operating condition indicative of an engine load other than the intake air pressure and generating a corresponding second output signal; actuator means for controlling engine control parameters to control said engine; and a controller for controlling said actuator means in accordance with the intake air pressure as indicated by said first output signal when said controller determines, based on said first output signal, that a variation in the intake air pressure is less than a predetermined value irrespective of how much lower than the predetermined value said variation is, and for controlling said actuator means in accordance with the engine operating condition as indicated by said second output signal when said controller determines, based on said second output signal, that the intake air pressure variation is one of equal to and greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 173 words
A control apparatus for an engine comprising: a first sensor for sensing an intake air pressure in an intake manifold of the engine and generating a corresponding first output signal; a second sensor for sensing an engine operating condition indicative of an engine load other than the intake air pressure and generating a corresponding second output signal; actuator means for controlling engine control parameters to control said engine; and a controller for controlling said actuator means in accordance with the intake air pressure as indicated by said first output signal when said controller determines, based on said first output signal, that a variation in the intake air pressure is less than a predetermined value irrespective of how much lower than the predetermined value said variation is, and for controlling said actuator means in accordance with the engine operating condition as indicated by said second output signal when said controller determines, based on said second output signal, that the intake air pressure variation is one of equal to and greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor comprises a throttle sensor for sensing an opening degree of a throttle valve of the engine and generating said second signal in accordance therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 54 words
A control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller controls said actuator means in accordance with said first output signal when said controller determines, based on said first output signal and irrespective of an opening condition of the throttle valve, that said variation in the intake pressure is less than said predetermined value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4413602A Cited
US4438294A Cited
JPS62271963A Cited
US4726798A Cited
US4955831A Cited
DE4112192A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-08-22 1998-02-21 1998-08-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-08-22 2002-02-21 2002-08-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-08-22 2006-02-21 2006-08-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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