Fuel control system

• US 20030217721A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Griffith, Robert C. Jr., Chevalier, Douglas M., He, Bin, Adams, Robert E., Fischer, Jeffery T., Laugel, Diane M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.16
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/061 the corrections being time dependent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/406 Electrically controlling a diesel injection pump F02D41/401 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method of controlling an engine by determining the state of an ignition command device and the speed of an engine and operating a fuel pump during a predetermined period in response to the ignition command device being in a predetermined state and the speed being substantially zero.

Claims

1. An engine having a moveable component, comprising:

an ignition command device being operable to deliver an ignition signal representative of a state of the ignition command device;

a speed signal indicative of a speed of the moveable component;

a controller operable to receive the ignition and speed signals and

provide a control signal in response to the speed being substantially zero and

the ignition command device being in at least one predetermined state; and

a fuel pump responsive to the control signal.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the controller provides the control signal during a predetermined time and the pump has a state being at least one of off, on, or on for a predetermined period.

3. The engine of claim 2, wherein the predetermined state is at least one of a run state and a start state.

4. The engine of claim 3, wherein the engine has a control system including a speed sensor operable to provide the speed signal and a conversion device operable to receive the control signal and responsively provide power to operate the pump.

5. The engine of claim 4, wherein the conversion device is at least one of a relay or a solenoid activated valve and including at least one of a data link interface and a service tool interface for providing to a person at least one of the state of the ignition command device, the speed, and the state of the pump.

6. A control system, comprising:

a fuel pump being operated during a predetermined period in response to

a speed of a moveable component being substantially zero and

an ignition command device being in a predetermined state.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined state is at least one of a run state and a start state.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the pump has a state being at least one of off, on, or on during a predetermined period and including at least one of a data link interface and a service tool interface for providing to a person at least one of the state of the ignition command device, the speed, and the state of the pump.

9. A method of controlling an engine, comprising:

determining a state of an ignition command device;

determining a speed of a moveable component; and

operating a fuel pump during a predetermined period in response to the ignition command device being

in at least one predetermined state and

the speed being substantially zero.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined state is at least one of a run state and a start state.

11. The method of claim 10, including providing to a person at least one of the state of the ignition command device, the speed, and a state of the pump.