US5848582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal combustion engine with barometic pressure related start of air compensation for a fuel injector
Assignee: Woodward Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-29
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2017-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A control system for a fuel injector system for an internal combustion engine is provided with a method by which the magnitude of the start of air point for the injector system is modified according to the barometric pressure measured in a region surrounding the engine. This offset, or modification, of the start of air point adjusts the timing of the fuel injector system to suit different altitudes at which the engine may be operating.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey C. Ehlers
- 👤 Blake R. Suhre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:31
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D7/00; F02D7/02; F02D41/00; F02D41/0002; F02D41/02; F02D41/04; F02M; F02M67/00; F02M67/02; F02M67/10; F02M67/12; F02D2200/00; F02D2200/02; F02D2200/04; F02D2200/0402; F02D2200/0414; F02D2200/70; F02D2200/703; F02D41/30; F02D41/3011; F02D41/3017; F02D41/3023; F02D41/3029; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for controlling a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine having at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, comprising: measuring the speed of said engine; measuring barometric pressure; measuring the absolute pressure within a manifold of said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; determining the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; altering said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for controlling a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine having at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, comprising: measuring the speed of said engine; measuring barometric pressure; measuring the absolute pressure within a manifold of said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; determining the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; altering said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring an air charge temperature of said engine; determining a volumetric efficiency term as a function of said engine speed and a ratio of said absolute pressure within said manifold to said barometric pressure; and determining a mass air flow into a combustion chamber of said engine as a function of said temperature, said absolute pressure within said manifold and said barometric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining said piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system and said piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system as a function of a desired engine speed and a fuel flow rate empirically determined for said engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said engine is a two cycle engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said engine is disposed within an outboard motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said controlling method is performed by an engine control unit comprising a microprocessor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: a first look-up table stored in memory is used to determine the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder and to determine the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: a second look-up table stored in memory is used to alter said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for controlling a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine having at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, comprising: measuring the speed of said engine; measuring barometric pressure; measuring the absolute pressure within a manifold of said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; determining the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; measuring an air charge temperature of said engine; determining a volumetric efficiency term as a function of said engine speed and a ratio of said absolute pressure within said manifold to said barometric pressure; determining a mass air flow into a combustion chamber of said engine as a function of said temperature, said absolute pressure within said manifold and said barometric pressure; and altering said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for controlling a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine having at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, comprising: measuring the speed of said engine; measuring barometric pressure; measuring the absolute pressure within a manifold of said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; determining the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; measuring an air charge temperature of said engine; determining a volumetric efficiency term as a function of said engine speed and a ratio of said absolute pressure within said manifold to said barometric pressure; determining a mass air flow into a combustion chamber of said engine as a function of said temperature, said absolute pressure within said manifold and said barometric pressure; and altering said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining said piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system and said piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system as a function of a desired engine speed and a fuel flow rate empirically determined for said engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein: said engine is a two cycle engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11, wherein: said engine is disposed within an outboard motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein: said controlling method is performed by an engine control unit comprising a microprocessor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 13, wherein: a first look-up table stored in memory is used to determine the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder and to determine the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: a second look-up table stored in memory is used to alter said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
244 words
A method for controlling a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine having at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, comprising: measuring the speed of said engine; measuring barometric pressure; measuring the absolute pressure within a manifold of said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system, said steps of determining said piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system and said piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system is performed as a function of a desired engine speed and a fuel flow rate empirically determined for said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; determining the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; measuring an air charge temperature of said engine; determining a volumetric efficiency term as a function of said engine speed and a ratio of said absolute pressure within said manifold to said barometric pressure; determining a mass air flow into a combustion chamber of said engine as a function of said temperature, said absolute pressure within said manifold and said barometric pressure; and altering said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
244 words
A method for controlling a fuel injector system of an internal combustion engine having at least one piston disposed within a cylinder, comprising: measuring the speed of said engine; measuring barometric pressure; measuring the absolute pressure within a manifold of said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system; determining the piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system, said steps of determining said piston position at which to begin fuel flow into said fuel injector system and said piston position at which to end fuel flow into said fuel injector system is performed as a function of a desired engine speed and a fuel flow rate empirically determined for said engine; determining the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; determining the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; measuring an air charge temperature of said engine; determining a volumetric efficiency term as a function of said engine speed and a ratio of said absolute pressure within said manifold to said barometric pressure; determining a mass air flow into a combustion chamber of said engine as a function of said temperature, said absolute pressure within said manifold and said barometric pressure; and altering said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein: said engine is a two cycle engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said engine is disposed within an outboard motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, wherein: said controlling method is performed by an engine control unit comprising a microprocessor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 19, wherein: a first look-up table stored in memory is used to determine the piston position at which to begin air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder and to determine the piston position at which to end air flow from said fuel injector system and into said cylinder; and a second look-up table stored in memory is used to alter said piston position at which to begin said air flow as a function of said barometric pressure.
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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) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |