Engine control system for internal combustion engines
First Claim
1. An engine control system for a small internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a governor assembly mounted to and driven by the engine and responsive to engine speed;
a coupling member associated with said governor assembly, said coupling member displaceable by said governor assembly according to engine speed; and
a position sensor associated with said coupling member, said position sensor detecting the displacement of said coupling member and outputting an electrical speed signal corresponding to the displacement of said coupling member and to engine speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An engine control system for maintaining the operator-commanded speed setting of an internal combustion engine over a range of engine loads and for easy starting and improved efficiency over a range of ambient and engine operating temperatures. The engine control system includes a governor assembly driven by the engine, the governor assembly supplying an output to a sensor assembly through a mechanical coupling member operator. The sensor assembly provides an engine speed control signal which corresponds to operator commanded engine speed and actual engine speed. The engine speed control signal is provided to a throttle actuator and/or a fuel control device in a manner in which the actual engine speed is controlled to correspond with the operator-commanded engine speed regardless of loads imposed on the engine. The fuel control device may include, for example, a fuel pump driven by a variable speed electric motor or a solenoid controlled variable fuel pressure regulator. The engine control mechanism also may include an intake temperature sensor and an exhaust gas temperature sensor or intake mass airflow sensor.
24 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An engine control system for a small internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a governor assembly mounted to and driven by the engine and responsive to engine speed;
a coupling member associated with said governor assembly, said coupling member displaceable by said governor assembly according to engine speed; and
a position sensor associated with said coupling member, said position sensor detecting the displacement of said coupling member and outputting an electrical speed signal corresponding to the displacement of said coupling member and to engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A small internal combustion engine, comprising:
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an engine housing;
at least one of a throttle and a fuel control device connected to said housing;
a governor assembly connected to said housing and responsive to engine speed;
a coupling member coupled to said governor assembly and movably displaced by said governor assembly in response to engine speed; and
a position sensor mounted to said housing and adapted for detecting the position of said coupling member and outputting an electrical speed signal, said speed signal acting upon at least one of said throttle and said fuel control device to adjust the engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An engine control system for a small internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a governor assembly driven by the engine, said governor assembly including a spool capable of translating axially in response to the engine speed;
a rotary shaft associated with said spool such that said rotary shaft is rotationally displaced upon translation of said spool;
a spring coupled between the engine and said rotary shaft, said spring resisting rotational displacement of said rotary shaft; and
a rotary position sensor capable of detecting the rotational position of said rotary shaft and outputting an electrical speed signal corresponding to the rotational position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of controlling the speed of an internal combustion engine having a mechanical governor, throttle, and fuel injector, comprising the steps of:
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supplying a commanded engine speed signal;
driving the governor to produce an output proportional to engine speed;
sensing the governor output;
determining an actual engine speed from the governor output; and
controlling the throttle based on the actual engine speed signal and the commanded engine speed signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An engine control circuit for a small internal combustion engine, the circuit comprising:
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at least one of a voltage supply and a current supply;
a governor sensor having an input and an output, said governor sensor input coupled to said at least one of a voltage supply and current supply;
an operator control sensor having an input and an output, said operator control sensor input coupled to said governor sensor output; and
at least one of an intake throttle actuator and a fuel control device coupled to at least one of said operator control sensor input and said operator control sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An engine control circuit for a small internal combustion engine, the circuit comprising:
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at least one of a voltage supply and a current supply;
an operator control sensor having an input and an output, said operator control sensor input coupled with said at least one of a voltage supply and a current supply;
a governor sensor having an input and an output, said governor sensor input coupled to said operator control sensor output; and
at least one of an intake throttle actuator and a fuel control device coupled to said governor sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. An engine control system for a small internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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an operator control sensor providing a command signal proportional to the desired engine speed;
an engine speed sensor providing a speed signal proportional to the actual engine speed;
a control circuit receiving said command signal and said speed signal and providing a fuel control signal determined as a function of said command signal and said speed signal; and
a fuel control device having an actuator adapted for adjusting the fuel flow through said fuel control device, said actuator receiving said fuel control signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification