Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – With fuel pump
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-30
2001-07-03
Moulis, Thomas N. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
With fuel pump
C417S417000, C123S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253737
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for delivering fuel for combustion in an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for utilizing a fuel pump driven by a linear electric motor to provide fuel to a plurality of fuel delivery assemblies for delivery to a plurality of cylinders within an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an internal combustion engine ignites a mixture of air and combustible fuel within one or more combustion chambers to provide rotational motive force, or torque, to do work. Along with many other factors, optimal performance of an internal combustion engine is dependent upon an adequate supply of fuel for combustion. Two measures of engine performance are illustrative of this dependency: engine torque and engine speed (in revolutions per minute). Generally, the torque produced is proportional to the volume of fuel combusted during a given combustion cycle. That is, under proper conditions, the greater the volume of fuel combusted the greater the force produced from the combustion.
For most applications an engine must be able to provide torque at various speeds as well. For engine speed to increase the flow rate of fuel to the combustion chambers must also increase. Increasing the speed of the engine, however, shortens the time for each combustion cycle. Thus, a fuel delivery system must provide fuel for each combustion cycle at increasingly faster rates as the engine speed is increased. Engine torque and speed can both be limited by the inability of the fuel delivery system to provide fuel at these increasingly faster rates. Engine torque can be limited by an inability to supply the engine with a sufficient volume of fuel for the combustion cycle. Engine speed can be limited by the inability to supply the required volumes of fuel at the needed rate.
In addition to combustible fuel, oxygen is also necessary for combustion. There are various methods of providing fuel and oxygen for combustion to a combustion chamber. The surrounding air, typically, acts as the source of oxygen. An air intake draws in the surrounding air, which is mixed with the fuel. Some delivery systems mix air and fuel before the two substances are delivered to the combustion chamber. Alternatively, the fuel and air can be delivered separately and mixed within the combustion chamber. Some systems use carburetors to draw fuel vapor into an air stream that is then fed into the combustion chamber, while other systems use fuel injection to produce fuel vapor from a liquid fuel spray.
There are many current systems and methods of fuel injection. Typically, a programmable logic device controls the operation of the fuel injection system. One or more pumps are used to produce a source of pressurized fuel. A fluid actuator, sometimes a solenoid operated valve, initiates a flow of pressurized fuel to an injection nozzle. In other applications the fluid actuators include a pump that produces a surge in fuel pressure. The surge in fuel pressure causes an injection nozzle to open, allowing pressurized fuel to flow through the injection nozzle. The shape of the outlet of the injection nozzle contributes to the atomization of the fuel as it exits the injection nozzle. Still other fuel injection systems use an integrated pump and injection nozzle assembly.
One method of fuel injection is direct fuel injection. In direct fuel injection liquid fuel under pressure is injected by a fuel injector directly into a cylinder before combustion is initiated in the cylinder by a spark plug. The fuel injection system converts the liquid fuel into an atomized fuel spray. The atomization of the liquid fuel effectively produces fuel vapor, aiding in the ignition of the vapor during combustion in the cylinder. Increasing the pressure of the fuel also increases the atomization of the fuel when injected into a cylinder.
Typically, the fuel delivery system is sized to provide adequate fuel volumes and flow rates for the normal expected range of engine torque and power needs. However, the fuel delivery system may be unable to supply the fuel volumes and rates at engine speeds, torque and power levels above the normal expected range. Thus, it may arise that engine torque, speed and power are limited by the ability of the fuel delivery system to supply fuel for combustion. This is particularly the case when fuel delivery systems for one type of engine are applied to higher performance engines, with correspondingly higher fuel volume and flow rate requirements dictated by higher torque, speed and power capabilities.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved technique for supplying combustible fuel in internal combustion engines which can be readily adapted to various engine configurations and performance capabilities. There is a particular need for a technique for fuel injection systems that can supply the higher volumetric (i.e. volume per cycle) and flow rate requirements of high performance engines, while permitting manufactures and designers to draw upon certain existing injection system designs and components.
The present invention relates generally to a fuel injection system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel injection system using a fluid pump driven by a linear electric motor to provide fuel to a plurality of combustion chambers or cylinders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion chambers. The fuel delivery system includes a source of fuel, a fuel pump driven by a linear electric motor, a plurality of fluid actuators and a plurality of fuel delivery assemblies. The fuel pump pumps fuel from the source of fuel to the plurality of fluid actuators. Each fluid actuator directs the fuel to a respective fuel delivery assembly. The fuel delivery system also includes a control system that controls the operation of the fuel delivery system to provide desired volumes of fuel at desired flow rates to the combustion chambers.
According to another aspect of the invention, an internal combustion engine is featured that includes a source of fuel, a common fuel supply line, and a fuel pump driven by a linear electric motor. The fuel pump driven by a linear electric motor draws in fuel from the source of fuel and pumps the fuel to the common fuel supply line. The system also includes a plurality of fluid actuators, a plurality of fuel delivery assemblies, and a plurality of combustion chambers. A fluid actuators is coupled to the common fuel supply line and directs the fuel from the common supply line to a respective fuel delivery assembly. The fuel delivery assembly delivers the fuel to a respective combustion chamber. The system also includes a control system that controls the operation of the fuel delivery system to provide fuel to the plurality of combustion chambers.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is featured for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of operating a linear electric motor to drive a fuel pump to pump fuel from a source of fuel to a common fuel supply line. The method also includes operating fluid actuators to provide desired fuel flow rates or fuel volumes from the supply line to combustion chambers for combustion. The method preferably utilizes a respective fuel delivery assembly to deliver the fuel provided by each of the fluid actuators to a respective combustion chamber.
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Bombardier Motor
Fletcher Yoder & Van Someren
Moulis Thomas N.
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