Device for controlling fuel pressure of engine and method thereof

• US 20010023683A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kitayama, Toru, Nakamura, Masaki, Nakamura, Yoshitatsu
• Granted Patent: US 6,382,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/457
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/02 Fuel evaporation in fuel rails, e.g. in common rails
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/31 Control of the fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/006 depending on engine operating conditions, e.g. start, stop or ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3845 by controlling the flow into the common rail, e.g. the amount of fuel pumped
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2037/087 Controlling fuel pressure valve
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0058 Returnless fuel systems, i.e. the fuel return lines are not entering the fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/08 electrically driven

Abstract

In a fuel pressure control system of a non-return system which feedback controls the fuel pressure supplied to a fuel injection valve to meet the fuel supply amount, a fuel pressure in a fuel supply passage is feedback controlled t become a pressure corresponding to the engine environmental temperature condition of during the engine operation stop.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the fuel pressure of an engine comprising:

fuel pressure detecting means for detecting the fuel pressure supplied from a fuel pump to a fuel injection valve through a fuel supply passage equipped with a check valve;

fuel pressure feedback control means for feedback controlling the drive of the fuel pump so that the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage will become a target fuel pressure;

operation stop detecting means for detecting an engine operation stop;

engine environmental temperature detecting means for detecting an engine environmental temperature condition; and

operation stop time fuel pressure adjusting means for adjusting the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage, during the engine operation stop, to become a pressure that meets the engine environmental temperature condition of during the engine operation stop, by said fuel pressure feedback control means.

2. A device for controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 1

, wherein said operation stop time fuel pressure adjusting means adjusts the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage, during the engine operation stop, to become a target fuel pressure of during the idling operation when the engine environmental temperature during the engine operation stop is equal to or lower than a set temperature, and to become a heat-resisting target fuel pressure set to be higher than the fuel pressure of during the operation of the engine when the engine environmental temperature during the engine operation stop exceeds the set temperature, by said fuel pressure feedback control means.

3. A device for controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 1

, wherein said operation stop time fuel pressure adjusting means comprises a by-path provided with a relief valve connected to the fuel supply passage by-passing said check valve, and adjusts the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage, during the engine operation stop, to become a target pressure set to be lower than the fuel pressure of during the operation of the engine after opening the relief valve to once drain the fuel in the fuel supply passage, when the engine environmental temperature of during the engine operation stop is equal to or lower than a set temperature, and to become a heat-resisting target fuel pressure set to be higher than the fuel pressure of during the operation of the engine, when the engine environmental temperature during the engine operation stop exceeds the set temperature, by said fuel pressure feedback control means.

4. A device for controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 1

, wherein said engine environmental temperature detecting means detects an engine environmental temperature condition by a detection value of the engine cooling water temperature or by a value obtained by adding a detection value of the intake air temperature or an on/off detection value of an air conditioner to the detection value of the engine cooling water temperature.

5. A device for controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 1

, wherein said engine environmental temperature detecting means detects an engine environmental temperature condition by a detection value of the fuel temperature.

6. A method of controlling the fuel pressure of an engine, comprising the steps of:

detecting a fuel pressure supplied from a fuel pump to a fuel injection valve through a fuel supply passage equipped with a check valve;

feedback controlling the drive of the fuel pump so that the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage becomes a target fuel pressure;

detecting an engine operation stop;

detecting an engine environmental temperature condition when the engine operation stop is detected; and

adjusting the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage to meet the engine environmental temperature condition of during the engine operation stop by feedback controlling the drive of the fuel pump.

7. A method of controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 6

, wherein during said engine operation stop, the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage is adjusted, by feedback controlling the fuel pressure, to become a target fuel pressure of during the idling operation when the engine environmental temperature during the engine operation stop is equal to or lower than a set temperature, and to become a heat-resisting target fuel pressure set to be higher than the fuel pressure of during the operation of the engine when the engine environmental temperature during the engine operation stop exceeds the set temperature.

8. A method of controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 6

, wherein, during said engine operation stop, the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage is adjusted, by feedback controlling the fuel pressure, to become a target pressure set to be lower than the fuel pressure of during the operation of the engine after opening a relief valve connected to the fuel supply passage by-passing said check valve to once drain the fuel in the fuel supply passage, when the engine environmental temperature of during the engine operation stop is equal to or lower than a set temperature, and to become a heat-resisting target fuel pressure set to be higher than the fuel pressure of during the operation of the engine, when the engine environmental temperature during the engine operation stop exceeds the set temperature.

9. A method of controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 6

, wherein the engine environmental temperature condition is detected by a detection value of the engine cooling water temperature or by a value obtained by adding a detection value of the intake air temperature or an on/off detection value of an air conditioner to the detection value of the engine cooling water temperature.

10. A method of controlling the fuel pressure of an engine according to

claim 6

, wherein the engine environmental temperature condition is detected by detecting the fuel temperature.