Control system and method for governing turbocharged internal combustion engines

Claim 1

A method for governing an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger, comprising the steps of; monitoring the speed of said engine; limiting exhaust gas flow through the turbocharger in response to an engine speed above a pre-programmed first predetermined engine RPM limit; and restricting fuel flow into the engine in response to an engine speed above a pre-programmed second predetermined engine RPM limit until the engine reaches a pre-programmed third predetermined engine RPM limit, wherein said second predetermined RPM limit is higher than said first predetermined RPM limit.

Claim 2

A method for governing an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger, comprising the steps of; monitoring the speed of said engine; limiting exhaust gas flow through the turbocharger in response to an engine speed above a pre-programmed first predetermined engine RPM limit; and restricting fuel flow into the engine in response to an engine speed above a pre-programmed second predetermined engine RPM limit until the engine reaches a pre-programmed third predetermined engine RPM limit, wherein said second predetermined RPM limit is higher than said first predetermined RPM limit.

Claim 10

An apparatus for governing an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, said apparatus comprising; engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of the engine, said engine speed monitoring means further for producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine; an exhaust bypass conduit with a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the exhaust inlet of the turbocharger and said second end connected to the exhaust outlet of the turbocharger; flow control means situated within said exhaust bypass conduit for regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit, said flow control means regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit in response to signals supplied at a control input of said flow control means; fuel control means having a control input, for regulating fuel flow to the engine, said fuel control means regulating fuel flow to the engine in response to signals supplied at said control input of said fuel control means; circuit means responsive to said engine speed signal, said circuit means further for supplying a first control signal to said input of said flow control means to cause said flow control means to increase flow through said exhaust bypass conduit when said engine speed signal is above a pre-programmed first predetermined RPM limit; said circuit means further for supplying a second control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to reduce fuel to the engine when said engine speed signal is above a pre-programmed second predetermined RPM limit, wherein said second predetermined RPM limit is higher than said first predetermined RPM limit; and said circuit means further for supplying a third control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to substantially reduce fuel flow to the engine when said engine speed signal is above a pre-programmed third predetermined RPM limit, wherein said third predetermined RPM limit is higher than said second predetermined RPM limit.

Claim 11

An apparatus for governing an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, said apparatus comprising; engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of the engine, said engine speed monitoring means further for producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine; an exhaust bypass conduit with a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the exhaust inlet of the turbocharger and said second end connected to the exhaust outlet of the turbocharger; flow control means situated within said exhaust bypass conduit for regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit, said flow control means regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit in response to signals supplied at a control input of said flow control means; fuel control means having a control input, for regulating fuel flow to the engine, said fuel control means regulating fuel flow to the engine in response to signals supplied at said control input of said fuel control means; circuit means responsive to said engine speed signal, said circuit means further for supplying a first control signal to said input of said flow control means to cause said flow control means to increase flow through said exhaust bypass conduit when said engine speed signal is above a pre-programmed first predetermined RPM limit; said circuit means further for supplying a second control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to reduce fuel to the engine when said engine speed signal is above a pre-programmed second predetermined RPM limit, wherein said second predetermined RPM limit is higher than said first predetermined RPM limit; and said circuit means further for supplying a third control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to substantially reduce fuel flow to the engine when said engine speed signal is above a pre-programmed third predetermined RPM limit, wherein said third predetermined RPM limit is higher than said second predetermined RPM limit.

Claim 17

An apparatus for governing an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, a battery and a corresponding charging system, said apparatus comprising; engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of the engine, said engine speed monitoring means further for producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine; exhaust bypass conduit with a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the exhaust inlet of the turbocharger and said second end connected to the exhaust outlet of the turbocharger; flow control means situated within said exhaust bypass conduit for regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit, said flow control means regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit in response to signals supplied at a control input of said flow control means; a fuel control means having a control input for controlling fuel flow to the engine in response to signals supplied at said input of said fuel control means; and electronic control means for controlling system functions, said electronic control means responsive to said engine speed signal, and wherein, said electronic control means operates in a first mode of operation by supplying a first control signal to said input of said flow control means to cause said flow control means to increase exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit when said engine signal is above a pre-programmed first predetermined RPM limit, said electronic control means operates in a second mode of operation by supplying a second control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to reduce fuel supplied to the engine when said engine signal is above a pre-programmed second predetermined RPM limit, wherein said second predetermined RPM limit is higher than said first predetermined RPM limit, and said electronic control means operates in a third mode of operation by supplying a third control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to substantially reduce fuel flow to the engine when said engine signal is above a pre-programmed third predetermined RPM limit, wherein said third predetermined RPM limit is higher than said second predetermined RPM limit.

Claim 18

An apparatus for governing an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, a battery and a corresponding charging system, said apparatus comprising; engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of the engine, said engine speed monitoring means further for producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine; exhaust bypass conduit with a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the exhaust inlet of the turbocharger and said second end connected to the exhaust outlet of the turbocharger; flow control means situated within said exhaust bypass conduit for regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit, said flow control means regulating exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit in response to signals supplied at a control input of said flow control means; a fuel control means having a control input for controlling fuel flow to the engine in response to signals supplied at said input of said fuel control means; and electronic control means for controlling system functions, said electronic control means responsive to said engine speed signal, and wherein, said electronic control means operates in a first mode of operation by supplying a first control signal to said input of said flow control means to cause said flow control means to increase exhaust gas flow through said exhaust bypass conduit when said engine signal is above a pre-programmed first predetermined RPM limit, said electronic control means operates in a second mode of operation by supplying a second control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to reduce fuel supplied to the engine when said engine signal is above a pre-programmed second predetermined RPM limit, wherein said second predetermined RPM limit is higher than said first predetermined RPM limit, and said electronic control means operates in a third mode of operation by supplying a third control signal to said input of said fuel control means to cause said fuel control means to substantially reduce fuel flow to the engine when said engine signal is above a pre-programmed third predetermined RPM limit, wherein said third predetermined RPM limit is higher than said second predetermined RPM limit.