GB2112180A - Automatic control of a fuel supply system for multi-cylinder engine - Google Patents
Automatic control of a fuel supply system for multi-cylinder engine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2112180A GB2112180A GB08235494A GB8235494A GB2112180A GB 2112180 A GB2112180 A GB 2112180A GB 08235494 A GB08235494 A GB 08235494A GB 8235494 A GB8235494 A GB 8235494A GB 2112180 A GB2112180 A GB 2112180A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- engine
- fuel
- valves
- pumps
- circuit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
- F02D41/30—Controlling fuel injection
- F02D41/32—Controlling fuel injection of the low pressure type
- F02D41/36—Controlling fuel injection of the low pressure type with means for controlling distribution
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
- F02D41/30—Controlling fuel injection
- F02D41/38—Controlling fuel injection of the high pressure type
- F02D41/40—Controlling fuel injection of the high pressure type with means for controlling injection timing or duration
- F02D41/406—Electrically controlling a diesel injection pump
- F02D41/407—Electrically controlling a diesel injection pump of the in-line type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B3/00—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition
- F02B3/06—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition with compression ignition
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
- Y02T10/40—Engine management systems
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Electrical Control Of Air Or Fuel Supplied To Internal-Combustion Engine (AREA)
Abstract
A fuel supply system for a multi- cylinder engine comprises a plurality of engine operated pumps supplying fuel to the injection nozzles respectively of an engine. Each pump has an electromagnetic valve which must be closed to cause delivery of fuel by the respective pumps. The supply of power to the windings 20 of the valves is effected by a power module 21 controlled by a distributor circuit 22 which receives sequence signals to ensure that the valves are closed at the correct time and a fuel level signal to ensure that the valve is closed for the correct length of time. In order to ensure that the amount of fuel delivered through each nozzle is the same a sensor 26 provides a pulse signal at each working stroke of the engine. The period between each signal is determined by a timer circuit and the average of a number of periods is obtained from an averaging circuit. The average period is compared at 32 with the actual value and any error is used in a compensating circuit 29 to adjust the time the respective valve is closed. The circuits 30, 31, 32 may be provided by a microprocessor. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Fuel system for multi-cylinder engine
This invention relates to a fuel system for a
multi-cylinder engine of the kind comprising a plurality of fuel injection pumps equal to the number of engine cylinders, and which in use are driven by a cam shaft driven by the engine, said pumps in use delivering fuel to respective injection nozzles of the engine in turn, a plurality of electrically operated valves associated with the pumps respectively, said valves being operable to ensure the supply of fuel to the associated injection nozzles and control circuit means for controlling the operation of said valves whereby the operating periods of said valves and hence the amount of fuel delivered by the pumps can be controlled in accordance with desired and actual engine operating parameters.
Such a fuel system is described in British published Specification 2041 577A. In this system the duration of fuel delivery and hence the quantity of fuel delivered, by the pumps is determined on the basis of various actual and desired engine operating parameters and signals applied to the valves at the same time in the valve operating cycles. The assumption is made that the valves, pumps and nozzles function in an identical manner so that the quantity of fuel delivered to each engine combustion space is the same.
Manufacturing tolerances result in the various items having different operating characteristics with the result there can be differences in the fuel quantities delivered through each injection nozzle.
These differences result in irregular operation of
the associated engine in particular, at low engine speeds and can also result in excessive emission of noxious substances in the engine exhaust and also excessive engine noise.
The object of the invention is to provide a fuel system of the kind specified in a simple and convenient form.
According to the invention a fuel system of the kind specified comprises transducer means for providing a pulse signal at each working stroke of the engine, means for measuring the period between successive signals, means for averaging a plurality of said periods, means for comparing each period with said average to produce error signals and means responsive to said error signals to adjust the operating periods of said valves.
An example of a fuel system in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the fuel system of one cylinder of an engine and
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electronic components which control the operation of a valve shown in Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings the system comprises a reciprocating plunger pump which is generally indicated at 10 and which comprises a cylinder 11 in which is mounted a reciprocable plunger 12.The plunger 12 is conveniently loaded in the outward direction by means of a spring not shown, into contact with a cam 13 which is mounted upon the cam shaft driven in timed relationship with the engine. The cylinder 11 has an outlet 14 which communicates with a fuel injection nozzle 1 5 by way of a spring loaded delivery valve indicated at 1 6.
Formed in the wall of the cylinder 11 is a filling port 1 7 which is uncovered by the plunger 12 when the latter moves outwardly. The port 1 7 communicates with a source of fuel 1 8. Also communicating with the cylinder 11 is a spill valve 1 9 which is controlled by an electromagnetic device the winding of which is indicated at 20.
The valve is so arranged that the winding 20 must be energised to close the valve.
In use, during inward movement of the plunger 12 as soon as the port 1 7 is covered by the plunger, the fuel contained in the cylinder 11 is pressurised and if the valve 1 9 is closed, the fuel will be delivered through the outlet 14 to the injection nozzle 1 5 by way of the delivery valve 16.If during the inward movement of the plunger, the valve 1 9 is opened then insufficient pressure will be generated in the cylinder to open the delivery valve or the valve member in the nozzle and the fuel displaced by the plunger 1 2 will flow to a drain by way of the spill valve 1 9. During outward movement of the plunger fuel will flow into the cylinder 11 as soon as the port 1 7 is opened although if desired, the port 17 can be omitted and the filling of the cylinder can take place by way of the valve 19 which in this instance, is connected to the source 18 of fuel under pressure.
The portion of the system described with reference to Figure 1 represents what is necessary to supply fuel to one injection nozzle of the engine and for a multi-cylinder engine there are as many components as shown in Figure 1, as there are engine cylinder although it will be appreciated that only a single source of fuel is required.
Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, the windings 20 of the valves 1 9 are connected to the outputs respectively of a so-called power module 21. The module 21 contains solid state power circuits which can be operated to cause flow of electric current in the windings 20 in response to signals provided by a so-called distributor 22. The distributor is provided with two main input signals one of which is provided by a so-called fuel circuit 23 and the other of which is provided by a sequence circuit 24. The sequence circuit provides a speed input signal to a control circuit 25 and the latter provides an input to the fuel circuit 23. The input to the sequence circuit is obtained from a sensor 26 which is positioned to provide a pulse signal each time a mark 27 provided on a wheel 28 passes the sensor.The wheel 28 is driven at half the engine speed and there are as many marks 27 as there are engine cylinders. The control 25 has an input from a transducer which is associated with the throttle control of the vehicle of which the engine forms part and considering the operation of the system so far described, the signals applied to the distributor 22 from the sequence circuit 24 determine the instant of delivery of fuel and which injection nozzle receives fuel. The duration of closure of the valves 1 9 is determined by the signal provided by the fuel circuit 23. The control circuit 25 and the fuel circuit 23 constitute a governor whereby the speed of the associated engine is controlled.
As mentioned earlier in the specification the construction of the various components shown in
Figure 1 is such that even though the power module supplies electric current to the windings 20 at the same time during the respective working cycles, the amount of fuel delivered to the injection nozzles 1 5 will vary. If for example one nozzle delivers appreciably more fuel than the other nozzles, the speed of the engine will momentarily increase during the working cycle of the cylinder associated with that nozzle since more power will be produced. Similarly if a nozzle supplies less fuel the engine will slow down.
In order to provide for substantially equal
deliveries of fuel, the distributor 22 has further
inputs from a so-called compensator circuit 29.
The signals provided by the sensor 26 are supplied
to a timer circuit 30 which provides signals
indicative of the intervals between the pulses.
These signals are supplied to a circuit 31 which on
the basis of a plurality of time interval signals,
produces an average signal which is supplied to a
comparator 32. In addition, the comparator
receives from the timing circuit the actual signal
representative of the time between two pulses
and the output of the comparator is the difference
between the average and the actual signals. The
output of the comparator is applied to the
compensator circuit 29 the effect of which is to
reduce in terms of time, the period during which
the winding 20 of a valve is energised if it is
decided that the nozzle which is associated with
that winding is delivering more fuel to the engine
than should be the case.If on the other hand it is
decided that less fuel is being delivered by a
nozzle than should be the case the winding 20
associated with that nozzle is energised for a
slightly longer period. The compensator circuit
also receives an input signal from the sequence
circuit 24 so as to ensure that the correction
signals are applied at the appropriate time.
The adjustment as described above is particularly beneficial at low engine speeds. As the engine speed increases the micro-processor which constitutes the circuits 30,31,32 may not have a sufficiently fast operating speed to make the necessary calculation. In this case the compensation which has been determined for the lower engine speeds is utilized taking into account the fact that the at higher engine speeds the intervals between the pulses provided by the sensor 26 will be smaller. It will be appreciated that if the amount of fuel required to be supplied to the engine varies this will be taken account of in the compensator circuit 29.
Claims (3)
1. A fuel system for a multi-cylinder engine of the kind comprising a plurality of injection pumps equal to the number of engine cylinders, and which in use, are driven by a cam shaft driven by the engine, said pumps in use, delivering fuel to respective injection nozzles of the engine in turn, a plurality of electrically operated valves associated with the pumps respectively, said valves being operable to ensure the supply of fuel to the associated injection nozzles, control circuit means for controlling the operation of said valves whereby the operating periods of said valves and hence the amount of fuel delivered by the pumps can be controlled in accordance with desired and actual engine operating parameters, transducer means for providing a pulse signal at each working stroke of the engine, means for measuring the period between successive pulse signals, means for averaging a plurality of said periods, means for comparing each period with the average to produce error signals and means responsive to said error signals to adjust the operating periods of said valves.
2. A fuel system according to claim 1 in which said transducer means comprises a sensor responsive to marks on a rotary member driven by the engine.
3. A fuel system for a multi-cylinder engine comprising the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08235494A GB2112180B (en) | 1981-12-24 | 1982-12-13 | Automatic control of a fuel supply system for multi-cylinder engine |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8138931 | 1981-12-24 | ||
GB08235494A GB2112180B (en) | 1981-12-24 | 1982-12-13 | Automatic control of a fuel supply system for multi-cylinder engine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2112180A true GB2112180A (en) | 1983-07-13 |
GB2112180B GB2112180B (en) | 1985-07-24 |
Family
ID=26281626
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08235494A Expired GB2112180B (en) | 1981-12-24 | 1982-12-13 | Automatic control of a fuel supply system for multi-cylinder engine |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2112180B (en) |
-
1982
- 1982-12-13 GB GB08235494A patent/GB2112180B/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2112180B (en) | 1985-07-24 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Effective date: 20021212 |