US5477828A — Method for controlling a hydraulically-actuated f…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A method for electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector (25) injects into an engine (55), the method comprising the steps of: determining a desired time duration indicative of a desired time period that fuel is to be injected, and producing a first time duration signal (t 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of the desired time duration; determining a maximum allowable time duration that fuel is to be injected that limits at least one characteristic produced by the engine, and producing a maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ,t s ) indicative of the magnitude of the maximum allowable time duration; and comparing the first time duration signal (t 1 ) to the maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ,t s ), selecting a lesser value of the first time duration signal (t 1 ) and the maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ,t s ), and delivering an actual time duration signal (t d ) to the injector (25) to electronically control the fuel quantity.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 173 words

A method for electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector (25) injects into an engine (55), the method comprising the steps of: determining a desired time duration indicative of a desired time period that fuel is to be injected, and producing a first time duration signal (t 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of the desired time duration; determining a maximum allowable time duration that fuel is to be injected that limits at least one characteristic produced by the engine, and producing a maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ,t s ) indicative of the magnitude of the maximum allowable time duration; and comparing the first time duration signal (t 1 ) to the maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ,t s ), selecting a lesser value of the first time duration signal (t 1 ) and the maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ,t s ), and delivering an actual time duration signal (t d ) to the injector (25) to electronically control the fuel quantity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 126 words

A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the steps of: sensing a desired engine speed and producing a desired engine speed signal (s d ) indicative of the sensed desired engine speed; sensing an actual engine speed and producing a actual engine speed signal (s f ) indicative of the sensed engine speed; comparing the desired with the actual engine speed signal and producing an engine speed error signal (s e ) in response to the difference in magnitude between the compared signals; and receiving the engine speed error signal (s e ) and determining the first time duration signal (t 1 ) to adjust the actual engine speed to cause the engine speed error signal (s e ) to approach a zero magnitude.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 102 words

A method, as set forth in claim 2, including the steps of: determining a maximum allowable time duration in which fuel is to be injected that limits engine torque, and producing a maximum allowable time duration signal (t t ) indicative of the magnitude of the maximum allowable time duration; and comparing the first time duration signal (t 1 ) with the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (t t ), selecting a lesser value of the compared signals (t 1 ,t t ), and delivering a second time duration signal (t 2 ) indicative of the magnitude of the selected lesser value.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method, as set forth in claim 3, including the steps of: determining another maximum allowable time duration in which fuel is to be injected that limits engine emissions, and producing another maximum allowable time duration signal (t s ) indicative of the magnitude of the another maximum allowable time duration; and comparing the second time duration signal (t 2 ) with the another maximum allowable time duration signal (t s ), selecting another lesser value of the compared signal (t 2 ,t s ), and producing the actual time duration signal (t d ).

Claim 6

Independent Claim 169 words

A method for electronically controlling the actuating fluid pressure supplied to a hydraulically-actuated injector (25) that injects fuel into an engine (55), comprising the steps of: determining a desired time duration indicative of a desired time period that fuel is to be injected, and producing a target duration signal (t tar ) indicative of the magnitude of the desired time duration; sensing an actual time duration over which the injector (25) is injecting fuel, and producing an actual time duration signal (t d ) indicative of the magnitude of the actual time duration; comparing the target duration signal (t tar ) with the actual time duration signal (t d ), and determining a desired actuating fluid pressure signal (P d ) indicative of the magnitude of the desired actuating fluid pressure based on the difference between the compared signals (t tar ,t d ); and receiving the desired actuating fluid pressure signal (P d ), and producing a desired electrical current signal (I) to control the fuel injection rate.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 169 words

A method for electronically controlling the actuating fluid pressure supplied to a hydraulically-actuated injector (25) that injects fuel into an engine (55), comprising the steps of: determining a desired time duration indicative of a desired time period that fuel is to be injected, and producing a target duration signal (t tar ) indicative of the magnitude of the desired time duration; sensing an actual time duration over which the injector (25) is injecting fuel, and producing an actual time duration signal (t d ) indicative of the magnitude of the actual time duration; comparing the target duration signal (t tar ) with the actual time duration signal (t d ), and determining a desired actuating fluid pressure signal (P d ) indicative of the magnitude of the desired actuating fluid pressure based on the difference between the compared signals (t tar ,t d ); and receiving the desired actuating fluid pressure signal (P d ), and producing a desired electrical current signal (I) to control the fuel injection rate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 122 words

A method, as set forth in claim 5, including the steps of: sensing an actual actuating fluid pressure and producing an actual actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of the sensed actuating fluid pressure; comparing the desired actuating fluid pressure signal (P d ) with the actual actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and producing an actuating fluid pressure error signal (P e ) in response to a difference between the compared actuating fluid pressure signals (P d ,P f ); and receiving the actuating fluid pressure error signal (P e ), determining a desired electrical current based on the actuating fluid pressure error signal (P e ), and producing a desired electrical current signal (I).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 91 words

A method, as set forth in claim 6, including the steps of: sensing an actual engine speed and producing an actual engine speed signal (s f ) indicative of the sensed engine speed; sensing an actual engine temperature and producing an actual engine temperature signal (T c ) indicative of the sensed engine temperature; and receiving the actual engine speed and temperature signals (s f ,T c ), and determining the target duration signal (t tar ) based on the actual engine speed and temperature signals (s f ,T c ).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method, as set forth in claim 7, including the steps of: receiving and converting the time duration error signal (t e ) into the desired actuating fluid pressure signal (P d ) in response to integrating the time duration error signal (t e ); and receiving and filtering the desired actuating fluid pressure signal in order to slow the system response.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-12-25	1999-06-26	1999-12-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-12-25	2003-06-26	2003-12-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-12-25	2007-06-26	2007-12-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for controlling a hydraulically-actuated fuel injection system

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