Patent US6561157B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6561157B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiple operating mode engine and method of operation
Assignee: Cummins Inc
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Filing: 2001-05-08
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Granted: 2003-05-13
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Expires: 2021-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A multi-mode internal combustion engine and method of operating the engine is provided which is capable of operating in a variety of modes based on engine operating conditions to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The multi-mode engine include a fuel delivery system and control system for permitting the engine to operate in a diesel mode, a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, a spark ignition or liquid spark ignition mode and/or a premixed charge compression ignition mode. The control system and method permits the engine operation to transfer between the various modes in an effective and efficient manner by controlling one or more fuel delivery devices or other engine components so as to move along a continuous transfer path while maintaining engine torque at a substantially constant level.
Inventors
- 👤 Axel O zur Loye
- 👤 Larry J Brackney
- 👤 Cariappa M Chenanda
- 👤 Robert M Hurst
- 👤 Lester L Peters
- 👤 Patrick M Pierz
- 👤 John F Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:26
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; F02D13/0203; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B1/12; F02B17/00; F02B17/005; F02B23/00; F02B23/02; F02B23/06; F02B23/0672; F02B37/00; F02B37/12; F02B37/18; F02B37/22; F02B69/00; F02D13/0215; F02D13/0223; F02D13/0234; F02D13/0269; F02D15/00; F02D15/04; F02D19/00; F02D19/06; F02D19/0602; F02D19/0607; F02D19/061; F02D19/0626; F02D19/0628; F02D19/0631; F02D19/0639; F02D19/0642; F02D19/0647; F02D19/0663; F02D19/0686; F02D19/0689; F02D19/0692; F02D19/08; F02D19/081; F02D19/10; F02D19/105; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/023; F02D35/025; F02D35/028; F02D41/00; F02D41/0025; F02D41/0027; F02D41/30; F02D41/3011; F02D41/3017; F02D41/3035; F02D41/3064; F02D41/3094; F02D41/38; F02D41/40; F02D41/401; F02D41/402; F02D41/403; F02D41/405; F02D9/00; F02D9/04; F02M; F02M43/00; F02M45/00; F02M45/02; F02M69/00; F02M69/04; F02M69/042; F02M69/044; F02M69/045; F02M69/046; F02N; F02N11/00; F02N11/04; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/24; F01N3/28; F02B75/00; F02B75/12; F02B2075/125; F02B29/00; F02B29/04; F02B29/0406; F02B29/0418; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02D2041/389; F02D2250/00; F02D2250/18; F02D35/022; F02M26/00; F02M26/01; F02M26/02; F02M26/04; F02M26/05; F02M26/09; F02M26/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/30; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A multi-mode internal combustion engine capable of operating in a plurality of modes for engine operation, comprising: an engine body; a combustion chamber formed in the engine body; an intake air system for delivering intake air to said combustion chamber; a fuel delivery system mounted on said engine body to deliver a first fuel into said combustion chamber while the engine operates in a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, and to deliver a second fuel into at least one of said intake air system and said combustion chamber when the engine operates in a premixed charge compression ignition mode and in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode; and a control system adapted to transfer engine operation between said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode and said premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A multi-mode internal combustion engine capable of operating in a plurality of modes for engine operation, comprising: an engine body; a combustion chamber formed in the engine body; an intake air system for delivering intake air to said combustion chamber; a fuel delivery system mounted on said engine body to deliver a first fuel into said combustion chamber while the engine operates in a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, and to deliver a second fuel into at least one of said intake air system and said combustion chamber when the engine operates in a premixed charge compression ignition mode and in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode; and a control system adapted to transfer engine operation between said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode and said premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The engine of claim 1 , wherein said fuel delivery system is adapted to deliver said first fuel into said combustion chamber while the engine operates in a diesel mode and said control system is adapted to transfer engine operation between said diesel mode and said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
The engine of claim 2 , wherein said control system is adapted to: i) cause said fuel delivery system to deliver a primary quantity of said first fuel into said combustion chamber when in said diesel mode; and ii) when transferring engine operation to said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, cause said fuel delivery system to deliver a quantity of said second fuel into at least one of said intake air system and said combustion chamber while decreasing said primary quantity of said first fuel to maintain engine torque at a substantially constant level and to place the engine in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The engine of claim 3 , wherein said control system is further adapted to cause said fuel delivery system to decrease said primary quantity of said first fuel while increasing the quantity of said second fuel so that the quantity of said second fuel comprises a substantial portion of the total delivered fuel energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The engine of claim 4 , wherein said control system is further adapted to control a start of combustion in said combustion chamber and adjust said start of combustion to occur prior to delivery of said primary quantity of said first fuel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The engine of claim 4 , wherein said control system is further adapted to cause said fuel delivery system to deliver an early pilot quantity of said first fuel prior to a start of combustion in said combustion chamber when in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The engine of claim 6 , wherein said control system is further adapted to cause said fuel delivery system to increase said early diesel pilot quantity of said first fuel sufficiently to cause the start of combustion to occur prior to the delivery of said primary quantity of said first fuel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The engine of claim 2 , wherein said control system is further adapted to cause said fuel delivery system to deliver a post-ignition injection of said first fuel into said combustion chamber after a start of combustion of a premixed charge of said second fuel and air in said combustion chamber when in said premixed charge compression ignition mode to operate the engine in a post premixed ignition injection mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The engine of claim 2 , wherein said control system is further adapted to cause said fuel delivery system to deliver an early pilot quantity of said first fuel prior to a start of combustion of a premixed charge of said second fuel and air in said combustion chamber when in said premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The engine of claim 2 , wherein said first fuel is one of diesel fuel, kerosene and gasoline and said second fuel is one of natural gas and propane.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of operating an internal combustion engine in a plurality of modes for engine operation and transferring operation between the plurality of modes, comprising the steps of: operating the engine in a premixed charge compression mode; and operating the engine in a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode; transferring engine operation between said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode and premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of operating an internal combustion engine in a plurality of modes for engine operation and transferring operation between the plurality of modes, comprising the steps of: operating the engine in a premixed charge compression mode; and operating the engine in a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode; transferring engine operation between said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode and premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 11 , further including the steps of operating the engine in a diesel mode and operating the engine in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode when transferring engine operation between said diesel mode and said premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the engine uses only a single fuel for all modes of operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said single fuel is diesel fuel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 14 , further including the steps operating the engine in a post premixed ignition injection mode, starting the engine in said diesel mode, transferring engine operation to said premixed charge compression ignition mode during a first engine load range, operating the engine in one of said premixed charge compression ignition mode and said post premixed ignition injection mode during a second engine load range, and transferring engine operation from one of said premixed charge compression ignition mode and said post ignition injection mode to said diesel mode for operation during a third engine load range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 , further including the steps of providing said single fuel to a plurality of engine combustion chambers and adjusting an amount of said single fuel to each of said plurality of combustion chambers to adjust a timing of a start of combustion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 15 , further including the steps of providing an intake valve for each of a plurality of combustion chambers of the engine and controlling a timing of an opening of each intake valve to control an effective compression ratio for the respective combustion chamber to control a start of combustion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 15 , further including the step of directing an exhaust gas into at least one of a plurality of combustion chambers to control a start of combustion for the combustion chambers receiving the exhaust gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12 , further including the step of sensing a combustion characteristic, generating a combustion characteristic signal and controlling a start of combustion based on said combustion characteristic signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 12 , further including the steps of i) delivering a primary quantity of a first fuel into said combustion chamber when in said diesel mode; and ii) when transferring engine operation to said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, delivering a quantity of a second fuel into at least one of an intake air system and a combustion chamber while decreasing said primary quantity of said first fuel to maintain engine torque at a substantially constant level and to place the engine in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 20 , further including the step of decreasing said primary quantity of said first fuel while increasing the quantity of said second fuel so that the quantity of said second fuel comprises a substantial portion of the total delivered fuel energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 21 , further including the step of delivering an early pilot quantity of said first fuel prior to a start of combustion when in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 22 , further including the step of increasing said early diesel pilot quantity of said first fuel sufficiently to cause the start of combustion to occur prior to the delivery of said primary quantity of said first fuel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 12 , further including the step of delivering a post-ignition injection of a first fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine after a start of combustion of a premixed charge of a second fuel and air in the combustion chamber when in said premixed charge compression ignition mode to operate the engine in a post premixed ignition injection mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 12 , further including the step of delivering an early pilot quantity of a first fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine prior to a start of combustion of a premixed charge of a second fuel and air in said combustion chamber when in said premixed charge compression ignition mode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 12 , further including the steps of operating the engine in a spark ignition mode and operating the engine in said homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode when transferring engine operation between said premixed charge compression ignition mode and said spark ignition mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein said spark ignition mode includes a liquid spark comprising a pilot quantity of fuel for igniting a premixed charge of fuel and air.
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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) | 2006-05-12 | 2006-11-11 | 2007-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-12 | 2010-11-11 | 2011-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-12 | 2014-11-11 | 2015-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |