US5709196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel control system for an internal combustion engine using a low cetane quality fuel
Assignee: Talisman Capital Talon Fund Ltd
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Filing: 1996-12-06
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Granted: 1998-01-20
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Expires: 2016-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for the control of the fuel injection timing in an internal combustion engine using a low cetane quality fuel such as an aqueous fuel emulsion is provided. The disclosed system includes a compression ignition engine adapted to receive a prescribed supply of an aqueous fuel emulsion. The prescribed supply of fuel is preferably determined by an fuel system control unit as a function of one or more engine operating parameters. The disclosed system also includes an exhaust sensor located proximate the engine exhaust so as to detect the presence and level of selected exhaust products, such as carbon monoxide, in the engine exhaust. The level of carbon monoxide or other such exhaust product, as measured by the sensor, is input to the engine control unit where it is processed together with various other engine operating parameters to produce a prescribed fuel injection timing signal which operatively controls the fuel injection timing.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald N. Coleman
- 👤 James E. Sibley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:14
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1444; F02D41/1452; F02D41/1453; F02B; F02B47/00; F02B47/02; F02D19/00; F02D19/12; F02D41/30; F02D41/38; F02D41/3809; F02D41/3827; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/022; F02M25/0227; F02M25/0228; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02D2250/00; F02D2250/32; F02D41/0025; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A fuel control system for a compression ignition engine that utilizes a low cetane quality fuel, the fuel control system comprising: one or more fuel injectors adapted to inject said fuel into engine cylinders for combustion; a control unit operatively associated with said fuel injectors for generating a fuel delivery control signal operatively controlling the quantity of fuel introduced into said engine cylinders and the timimg of fuel injection by said fuel injectors; an exhaust gas sensor disposed in operative association with an exhaust stream from said engine and adapted for determining a level of selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream; and said exhaust gas sensor further coupled to said control unit and wherein said control of the timimg of fuel injection is a function of the level of said selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A fuel control system for a compression ignition engine that utilizes a low cetane quality fuel, the fuel control system comprising: one or more fuel injectors adapted to inject said fuel into engine cylinders for combustion; a control unit operatively associated with said fuel injectors for generating a fuel delivery control signal operatively controlling the quantity of fuel introduced into said engine cylinders and the timimg of fuel injection by said fuel injectors; an exhaust gas sensor disposed in operative association with an exhaust stream from said engine and adapted for determining a level of selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream; and said exhaust gas sensor further coupled to said control unit and wherein said control of the timimg of fuel injection is a function of the level of said selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fuel control system of claim 1 wherein said low cetane quality fuel is an aqueous fuel emulsion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel control system of claim 1 wherein said selected exhaust products determined by said exhaust gas sensor include carbon monoxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel control system of claim 3 wherein said exhaust gas sensor is a carbon monoxide detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel control system of claim 3 wherein the fuel injection timing is retarded if the level of carbon monoxide present in said exhaust stream is below a prescribed minimum threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel control system of claim 3 wherein the fuel injection timing is advanced if the level of carbon monoxide present in said exhaust stream is above a prescribed maximum threshold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
160 words
A fuel control system for a flex fuel engine, the fuel control system comprising: one or more fuel storage systems adapted for supplying multiple fuels to said flex-fuel engine; one or more fuel injectors adapted to inject said fuels into the engine cylinders for combustion; a control unit operatively associated with said fuel storage systems for selecting the fuel to be injected by said fuel injectors based on selected engine operating parameters; said control unit further adapted for operatively controlling the quantity of said fuel injected by said fuel injectors and the timing of fuel injection by said fuel injectors; an exhaust gas sensor disposed proximate an exhaust stream from said engine and adapted for determining a level of selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream; and said exhaust gas sensor further coupled to said control unit such that the timing of fuel injection is responsive to the level of said selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
A fuel control system for a flex fuel engine, the fuel control system comprising: one or more fuel storage systems adapted for supplying multiple fuels to said flex-fuel engine; one or more fuel injectors adapted to inject said fuels into the engine cylinders for combustion; a control unit operatively associated with said fuel storage systems for selecting the fuel to be injected by said fuel injectors based on selected engine operating parameters; said control unit further adapted for operatively controlling the quantity of said fuel injected by said fuel injectors and the timing of fuel injection by said fuel injectors; an exhaust gas sensor disposed proximate an exhaust stream from said engine and adapted for determining a level of selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream; and said exhaust gas sensor further coupled to said control unit such that the timing of fuel injection is responsive to the level of said selected exhaust products present in said exhaust stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fuel control system of claim 7 wherein one of said fuels is a low cetane quality fuel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel control system of claim 8 wherein one of said fuels is an aqueous fuel emulsion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel control system of claim 7 wherein said selected exhaust products determined by said exhaust gas sensor include carbon monoxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel control system of claim 10 wherein said exhaust gas sensor is a carbon monoxide detector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel control system of claim 10 wherein the fuel injection timing is retarded if the level of carbon monoxide present in said exhaust stream is below a prescribed minimum threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel control system of claim 10 wherein the fuel injection timing is advanced if the level of carbon monoxide present in said exhaust stream is above a prescribed maximum threshold.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of controlling the fuel injection timing in an engine including one or more electronically controlled fuel injectors, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a fuel injection control signal for the control of said fuel injectors, said fuel injection control signal being a function of a desired fuel mass to be injected, said fuel being a low cetane quality fuel; (b) determining a desired range of carbon monoxide emissions in an exhaust stream of said engine; (c) ascertaining an actual level of carbon monoxide emissions present in said exhaust stream of said engine; (d) adjusting the timing of the fuel injection control signal if said actual level of carbon monoxide emissions is outside said desired range of carbon monoxide levels; and (e) forwarding said adjusted fuel injection control signal to said fuel injectors, said adjusted fuel injection control signal being a function of the carbon monoxide levels in said exhaust stream.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of controlling the fuel injection timing in an engine including one or more electronically controlled fuel injectors, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a fuel injection control signal for the control of said fuel injectors, said fuel injection control signal being a function of a desired fuel mass to be injected, said fuel being a low cetane quality fuel; (b) determining a desired range of carbon monoxide emissions in an exhaust stream of said engine; (c) ascertaining an actual level of carbon monoxide emissions present in said exhaust stream of said engine; (d) adjusting the timing of the fuel injection control signal if said actual level of carbon monoxide emissions is outside said desired range of carbon monoxide levels; and (e) forwarding said adjusted fuel injection control signal to said fuel injectors, said adjusted fuel injection control signal being a function of the carbon monoxide levels in said exhaust stream.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adjusting the timing of said fuel injection control signal further includes the steps of: (d1) advancing the fuel injection timing of said fuel injection control signal if said actual level of carbon monoxide emissions exceeds said desired range of carbon monoxide levels; and (d2) retarding the fuel injection timing of said fuel injection control signal if said actual level of carbon monoxide emissions falls below said desired range of carbon monoxide levels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of ascertaining an actual level of carbon monoxide emissions present in said exhaust stream of said engine further includes the step of measuring the levels of carbon monoxide in said exhaust stream of said engine using a carbon monoxide detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said low cetane quality fuel is an aqueous fuel emulsion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said engine is a flex fuel engine and said adjusted fuel injection control signal is a function of the type and quantity of fuel to be injected as well as the carbon monoxide level present in said exhaust stream.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-19 | 2001-07-21 | 2002-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-19 | 2005-07-21 | 2006-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-19 | 2009-07-21 | 2010-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |