GB2281954A - Fuel pump monitoring system - Google Patents

Fuel pump monitoring system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2281954A
GB2281954A GB9418319A GB9418319A GB2281954A GB 2281954 A GB2281954 A GB 2281954A GB 9418319 A GB9418319 A GB 9418319A GB 9418319 A GB9418319 A GB 9418319A GB 2281954 A GB2281954 A GB 2281954A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fuel
fuel supply
supply system
pump
chamber
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
Application number
GB9418319A
Other versions
GB2281954B (en
GB9418319D0 (en
Inventor
Anthony Wood
Martin Haggett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Publication of GB9418319D0 publication Critical patent/GB9418319D0/en
Publication of GB2281954A publication Critical patent/GB2281954A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2281954B publication Critical patent/GB2281954B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M63/00—Other fuel-injection apparatus having pertinent characteristics not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00; Details, component parts, or accessories of fuel-injection apparatus, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M39/00 - F02M61/00 or F02M67/00; Combination of fuel pump with other devices, e.g. lubricating oil pump
    • F02M63/02—Fuel-injection apparatus having several injectors fed by a common pumping element, or having several pumping elements feeding a common injector; Fuel-injection apparatus having provisions for cutting-out pumps, pumping elements, or injectors; Fuel-injection apparatus having provisions for variably interconnecting pumping elements and injectors alternatively
    • F02M63/0205—Fuel-injection apparatus having several injectors fed by a common pumping element, or having several pumping elements feeding a common injector; Fuel-injection apparatus having provisions for cutting-out pumps, pumping elements, or injectors; Fuel-injection apparatus having provisions for variably interconnecting pumping elements and injectors alternatively for cutting-out pumps or injectors in case of abnormal operation of the engine or the injection apparatus, e.g. over-speed, break-down of fuel pumps or injectors ; for cutting-out pumps for stopping the engine
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M69/00—Low-pressure fuel-injection apparatus ; Apparatus with both continuous and intermittent injection; Apparatus injecting different types of fuel
    • F02M69/46—Details, component parts or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus covered by groups F02M69/02 - F02M69/44
    • F02M69/462—Arrangement of fuel conduits, e.g. with valves for maintaining pressure in the pipes after the engine being shut-down
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M69/00—Low-pressure fuel-injection apparatus ; Apparatus with both continuous and intermittent injection; Apparatus injecting different types of fuel
    • F02M69/46—Details, component parts or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus covered by groups F02M69/02 - F02M69/44
    • F02M69/462—Arrangement of fuel conduits, e.g. with valves for maintaining pressure in the pipes after the engine being shut-down
    • F02M69/465—Arrangement of fuel conduits, e.g. with valves for maintaining pressure in the pipes after the engine being shut-down of fuel rails
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M69/00—Low-pressure fuel-injection apparatus ; Apparatus with both continuous and intermittent injection; Apparatus injecting different types of fuel
    • F02M69/46—Details, component parts or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus covered by groups F02M69/02 - F02M69/44
    • F02M69/54—Arrangement of fuel pressure regulators

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 comprises a fuel rail 12 feeding injectors 10, the fuel being supplied to the rail 12 from a tank 14 via a filter 18, and returned to it via a pressure regulator 20. A switch in the regulator is arranged to close if the regulator shuts off the return of fuel to the tank, which is caused by a drop of fuel pressure and probable malfunction of the fuel pump 22. The engine management control unit 46 detects the closure of the switch indicating the malfunction of the fuel pump. The control unit also checks the switch when the fuel pump is turned off to ensure that it is operating properly. <IMAGE>

Description

Fuel Pump Monitoring The present invention relates to the monitoring of the operation of a fuel pump in the fuel supply for an internal combustion engine.
It is becoming increasingly important to monitor the operation of internal combustion engines, particularly on vehicles, to check for any malfunction, such as failure or deterioration, of components which might have a measurable effect on the exhaust emissions of the vehicle. One such component is the fuel pump.
The present invention accordingly aims to provide a system for monitoring the operation of the fuel pump of an internal combustion engine which is both cheap and reliable.
Accordingly the present invention provides a fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel supply chamber for supplying fuel to at least one of the cylinders of the engine, fuel supply means for transferring fuel from a fuel tank to the supply chamber, fuel return means for returning fuel from the supply chamber to the fuel tank, pump means arranged to pump fuel from the tank to the supply chamber, pressure regulation means arranged to open the fuel return means only when the fuel pressure in the supply chamber reaches a desired level, control means, and monitoring means arranged to send a signal to the control means indicative of the condition of the pressure regulation means, wherein the control means as arranged to use said signal to check the operation of the fuel pump.
The desired level may be variable and may depend, for example, on the pressure in the intake manifold of the engine.
The use of the fuel pressure regulation means to monitor the operation of the fuel pump is cheap and simple because it only requires the minimum of additional components.
The control means is preferably arranged to produce a malfunction signal upon the occurrence of a malfunction of the fuel pump.
Whilst permanent failure of the fuel pump would soon be noticed by the driver and prevent the vehicle from operating, other forms of malfunction such as intermittent failure can seriously affect the emissions of the vehicle whilst still allowing it to operate, and therefore need to be detected.
Accordingly the control means is preferably arranged to record the occurrence of the malfunction. This enables the control means to be interrogated to determine whether such a malfunction has occurred.
Preferably the regulation means comprises a fluid chamber, an inlet connected to the fuel supply chamber, an outlet leading to the fuel tank and a shut-off member movable towards and away form the outlet to regulate the rate of flow of fluid through the regulation means.
More preferably the shut-off member is biased towards the outlet to shut off the flow of fuel through the regulator, but movable away from the outlet by the pressure of the fuel in the fluid chamber.
The monitoring means can then be arranged to monitor the position of the shut-off member.
The monitoring means preferably comprises a switch which closes when the pressure in the fuel supply chamber falls below said desired level.
The control unit is preferably arranged to check the monitoring means at a time when the fuel pump is switched off.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a fuel supply system according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a section through the fuel regulator of the system of Figure 1.
Four fuel injectors 10 all receive fuel form a fuel supply chamber or fuel rail 12, which is fed from a fuel tank 14 by a supply pipe 16 via a fuel filter 18. A pressure regulator 20 is provided at the outlet of the fuel rail, and a fuel return pipe 21 leads from the fuel regulator 20 back to the fuel tank 14. Fuel is pumped continuously to the fuel rail from the fuel tank 14 by the pump 22, and the pressure regulator 20 controls the rate at which fuel is returned from the fuel rail to the tank.
The pressure regulator 20 comprises a casing 24 divided into a fluid chamber 26 and a control chamber control chamber 28 by a diaphragm 30. The fluid chamber 26 has an inlet 32 in its side wall 34 and an outlet 36 at the end of an outlet tube 38 which projects into the fluid chamber. A shut-off member 40 is mounted on the diaphragm 30 and can move with the diaphragm so that it either covers the outlet 36 or moves away from and opens the outlet 36. A spring 37 acts between the shut-off member 40 and the end wall 42 of the control chamber 28 urging the shut-off member 40 over the outlet 36. Therefore when the fuel pressure in the fluid chamber 26 exceeds that in the control chamber 28 by a predetermined amount, the shut-off member 40 is moved away from the outlet 36 and fuel can escape from the regulator back to the fuel tank 14.The control chamber 28 is connected via a pipe 43 to the engine manifold so that the pressure in the control chamber 28 is equal to that in the inlet manifold. This ensures that the fuel pressure in the fuel rail is always a predetermined amount higher that that in the inlet manifold, so the pressure drop across the injectors 10 is constant and the flow rate through them is also constant when they are open.
A switch 44 mounted on the end wall 42 of the control chamber 28 is arranged to close just before the shut-off member 40 closes the outlet 36. The switch 44 is in a line 45 to a control unit 46. The control unit 46 is part of the engine management system and controls the fuel pump 22, the injector timing and various other parameters of engine operation. It also has a memory 48 where it can record the occurrence of various events which need to be monitored, such as the malfunction of various components of the vehicle. The control unit 46 has a diagnostics link 50 which enables the memory 48 to be interrogated, for example during servicing of the vehicle, to determine whether any malfunction of the fuel pump has occurred.
In order to check the operation of the fuel pump 22 the control unit 46 continuously monitors the line 45 from the switch 44. While the engine is running the flow of fuel through the fuel rail 12 and back to the fuel tank 14 should be continuous, and the shut-off member 40 should therefore always be held away from the outlet 36. If, while the engine is running, the shut-off member 40 moves down over the outlet 36 closing the switch 44 and producing a signal on line 45, this implies that the fuel pump has malfunctioned. Therefore if the control unit 46 detects that the engine is running and that a signal is present on line 45 it produces internally a malfunction signal and uses it to record in its memory 48 the occurrence of a malfunction.There are several ways that the control unit can determine whether the engine is running, such as by monitoring the engine speed or the control circuit for the injectors.
In order to check the operation of the switch 44, the line 45 is checked by the control unit 46 when the fuel pump is switched off. If there is no signal on line 45 the control unit determines that there must be a fault in the switch or its wiring and records the occurrence of such a fault in its memory 48. The fuel pump is controlled so that it is turned off whenever the engine speed is below a predetermined threshold, such as 300 rpm. Therefore suitable times for checking the switch are on power-up before the engine has reached the threshold speed and the fuel pump 22 is switched on, or at power-down after the engine speed has fallen below the threshold speed and the pump has been switched off.
As an alternative to the arrangement described above it would be possible, instead of recording the occurrence of the malfunctions in the control unit 46, to have a warning light or similar device connected to the control unit 46 which was activated in the event of a malfunction.

Claims (9)

1. A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel supply chamber for supplying fuel to at least one of the cylinders of the engine, fuel supply means for transferring fuel from a fuel tank to the supply chamber, fuel return means for returning fuel from the supply chamber to the fuel tank, pump means arranged to pump fuel from the tank to the supply chamber, pressure regulation means arranged to open the fuel return means only when the fuel pressure in the supply chamber reaches a desired level, control means, and monitoring means arranged to send a signal to the control means indicative of the condition of the pressure regulation mean, wherein the control means is arranged to use said signal to provide a check of the operation of the fuel pump.
2. A fuel supply system according to claim 1 wherein the control means is arranged to produce a malfunction signal if it receives a signal from the monitoring means while the engine is running.
3. A fuel supply system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the control means is arranged to record the occurrence of a malfunction of the fuel pump.
4. A fuel supply system according to any foregoing claim wherein the regulation means comprises a fluid chamber, an inlet connected to the fuel supply chamber, an outlet leading to the fuel tank and a shut-off member movable towards and away form the outlet to regulate the rate of flow of fluid through the regulator.
5. A fuel supply system according to claim 4 wherein the shut-off member is biased towards the outlet to shut off the flow of fuel through the regulator, but movable away from the outlet by the pressure of the fuel in the fluid chamber.
6. A fuel supply system according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the monitoring means is arranged to monitor the position of the shut-off member.
7. A fuel supply system according to any foregoing claim wherein the monitoring means comprises a switch which closes when the pressure in the fuel supply chamber falls below said desired level.
8. A fuel supply system according to any foregoing claim wherein the control unit is arranged to check the monitoring means at a time when the fuel pump is switched off.
9. A fuel supply system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9418319A 1993-09-17 1994-09-12 Fuel pump monitoring Expired - Fee Related GB2281954B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB939319325A GB9319325D0 (en) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Fuel pressure monitoring

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9418319D0 GB9418319D0 (en) 1994-11-02
GB2281954A true GB2281954A (en) 1995-03-22
GB2281954B GB2281954B (en) 1997-04-23

Family

ID=10742186

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB939319325A Pending GB9319325D0 (en) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Fuel pressure monitoring
GB9418319A Expired - Fee Related GB2281954B (en) 1993-09-17 1994-09-12 Fuel pump monitoring

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB939319325A Pending GB9319325D0 (en) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Fuel pressure monitoring

Country Status (1)

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GB (2) GB9319325D0 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2287103B (en) * 1994-03-03 1998-06-24 Ford Motor Co Detection of fuel pump malfunction
EP1561934A1 (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-08-10 Hitachi, Ltd. Driving control apparatus for motion mechanism and control method of driving control apparatus

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1418945A (en) * 1972-07-11 1975-12-24 Nippon Denso Co Valve including a position detecting device
US3981321A (en) * 1974-09-24 1976-09-21 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Energy Research And Development Administration Vehicle fuel system
GB1565774A (en) * 1977-02-17 1980-04-23 Facet Enterprises Valve operation indicator arrangement
EP0071877A2 (en) * 1981-08-04 1983-02-16 Pall Corporation Magnetic differential pressure valve with an indicator showing when valve has opened or closed
US4926829A (en) * 1988-11-28 1990-05-22 Walbro Corporation Pressure-responsive fuel delivery system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1418945A (en) * 1972-07-11 1975-12-24 Nippon Denso Co Valve including a position detecting device
US3981321A (en) * 1974-09-24 1976-09-21 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Energy Research And Development Administration Vehicle fuel system
GB1565774A (en) * 1977-02-17 1980-04-23 Facet Enterprises Valve operation indicator arrangement
EP0071877A2 (en) * 1981-08-04 1983-02-16 Pall Corporation Magnetic differential pressure valve with an indicator showing when valve has opened or closed
US4926829A (en) * 1988-11-28 1990-05-22 Walbro Corporation Pressure-responsive fuel delivery system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2287103B (en) * 1994-03-03 1998-06-24 Ford Motor Co Detection of fuel pump malfunction
EP1561934A1 (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-08-10 Hitachi, Ltd. Driving control apparatus for motion mechanism and control method of driving control apparatus
US7623328B2 (en) 2004-02-03 2009-11-24 Hitachi, Ltd. Driving control apparatus for motion mechanism and control method of driving control apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2281954B (en) 1997-04-23
GB9319325D0 (en) 1993-11-03
GB9418319D0 (en) 1994-11-02

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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)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040912