LIFT PUMP SYSTEM FOR A DIRECT INJECTION FUEL SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A system for delivering fuel directly to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- a fuel lift pump supplying fuel to an injection pump;
an accumulator located between the output of said lift pump and the input of said injection pump; and
a controller that adjusts energy supplied to said lift pump such that a pressure at the inlet of said injection pump is above a first predetermined amount and wherein said controller stops energy supplied to said first fuel pump when said pressure at the inlet of said injection pump is greater than a second predetermined amount.
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Abstract
An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, the lift pump is operated at efficient operating conditions and then stopped until additional fuel is requested.
27 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for delivering fuel directly to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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a fuel lift pump supplying fuel to an injection pump; an accumulator located between the output of said lift pump and the input of said injection pump; and a controller that adjusts energy supplied to said lift pump such that a pressure at the inlet of said injection pump is above a first predetermined amount and wherein said controller stops energy supplied to said first fuel pump when said pressure at the inlet of said injection pump is greater than a second predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for delivering fuel directly to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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a first electrically driven fuel pump supplying fuel to a second mechanically driven fuel pump; an accumulator located between the output of said first fuel pump and the input of said second mechanically driven fuel pump; and a controller that supplies current to said first fuel pump to when the efficiency of said second mechanically driven fuel pump is less than a predetermined amount and wherein said controller stops current flow to said first fuel pump when the efficiency of said second mechanically driven fuel pump is greater than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method to deliver fuel to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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combusting fuel in at least a cylinder of said internal combustion engine; operating a electrically driven fuel pump in a first mode to deliver said fuel from a fuel source to an accumulator and a mechanically driven fuel pump while said engine is combusting said fuel, said electrically driven fuel pump being activated in said first mode when fuel pressure at the inlet of said mechanically driven fuel pump is below a predetermined level, said electrically driven fuel pump being deactivated in said first mode when fuel pressure at the inlet of said mechanically driven fuel pump is above a predetermined level; operating a mechanically driven fuel pump to deliver fuel from said mechanically driven fuel pump to at least a fuel injector; and injecting fuel from said at least a fuel injector directly into said cylinder of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method to deliver fuel to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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combusting fuel in at least a cylinder of said internal combustion engine; operating a first fuel pump in a first mode when the amount of fuel being delivered to said internal combustion engine is less than a first amount, said first mode comprising delivering said fuel from a fuel source to a second fuel pump during said combustion, said first fuel pump being activated in said first mode when fuel pressure supplied to the inlet of said second fuel pump is below a predetermined level, said first fuel pump being deactivated in said first mode when fuel pressure supplied to the inlet of said second fuel pump is above a predetermined level; and operating said first fuel pump in a second mode when the amount of fuel being delivered to said internal combustion engine is greater than said first amount, said second mode comprising delivering said fuel from said fuel source to said second fuel pump while there is combustion occurring during a cycle of said at least a cylinder, said first fuel pump being supplied a varying voltage without the speed of said fuel pump going to zero. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification