ENGINE WITH GASEOUS AND/OR LIQUID FUEL INJECTOR

• US 20110017174A1
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ulrey, Joseph Norman, Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/456
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/16 Indirect injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/061 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0628 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0689 for in-cylinder direct injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0692 Arrangement of multiple injectors per combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0694 operating with a plurality of fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0697 Arrangement of fuel supply systems on engines or vehicle bodies; Components of the fuel supply system being combined with another device
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3064 with special control during transition between modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3094 the fuel injection being effected by at least two different injectors, e.g. one in the intake manifold and one in the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

In one example, a system for a vehicle travelling on a surface is described. The system includes an engine with a cylinder. The cylinder includes a fuel injector that is supplied with gaseous fuel and liquid fuel by a fuel delivery system. The fuel injector is mounted in the vehicle such that the fuel injector inlet faces at least partially toward the road surface. The orientation of the fuel injector enables a quick transition from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel because the gaseous fuel can rise to the injectors and be preferentially injected. Further, various approaches are described from transitioning operation between gaseous and liquid fuel injection.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle travelling on a surface, comprising:

an engine having a cylinder, the cylinder having a fuel injector, the fuel injector supplied with gaseous fuel and liquid fuel by a fuel delivery system, the fuel injector mounted in the vehicle such that the fuel injector inlet faces at least partially toward the road surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel delivery system includes a fuel rail selectively delivering liquid fuel and gaseous fuel to the fuel injector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel delivery system includes a liquid fuel rail and a gaseous fuel rail, the liquid fuel rail delivering liquid fuel, and the gaseous fuel rail delivering gaseous fuel to the fuel injector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel delivery system further comprises a liquid fuel supply system, a gaseous fuel supply system, and a rail system;

the rail system including a fuel rail, connected to the gaseous fuel system and to the liquid fuel system;

the gaseous fuel supply system including a valve and a gaseous fuel source, the valve connected to the fuel rail and to an output of the gaseous fuel source, the gaseous fuel supply system selectively delivering gaseous fuel at high pressure;

the liquid fuel supply system including a liquid fuel source, a check valve, a pressure relief valve, and a float valve, the liquid fuel supply system selectively delivering liquid fuel at pressure less than the gaseous fuel pressure,

the liquid fuel source connected to the check valve and the pressure relief valve,

the check valve connected to the float valve and the pressure relief valve and oriented such that liquid fuel through the check valve may flow from the liquid fuel source to the float valve,

the pressure relief valve connected to the float valve and the check valve and oriented such that liquid fuel through the pressure relief valve may flow from the float valve to the liquid fuel source when pressure in the rail system is greater than the pressure generated by the liquid fuel source and less than the pressure generated by the gaseous fuel source,

the float valve connected to the rail system.

5. A method of controlling an engine having a cylinder, the cylinder having a first, direct, fuel injector and a second fuel injector, the second fuel injector selectively supplied with one or more of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel by a fuel delivery system, the first, direct, fuel injector supplied with liquid fuel, the method comprising:

delivering liquid fuel to the first, direct, injector of the cylinder;

selectively delivering liquid fuel to the second injector of the cylinder during a first condition;

selectively delivering gaseous fuel to the second injector of the cylinder during a second condition, the second condition different than the first condition; and

adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel and when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first condition includes when an operator requests liquid fuel, when gaseous fuel pressure is below a threshold, or when there is heavy engine loading;

and wherein, the second condition includes when the operator requests gaseous fuel or when liquid fuel storage level is below a threshold.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel includes increasing injection of the first injector when ceasing injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel includes decreasing injection of the first injector when resuming injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel includes increasing injection of the first injector when ceasing injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel includes decreasing injection of the first injector when resuming injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

adjusting injection of the first injector and the second injector in response to knock.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector includes increasing injection of the first injector and the adjusting injection of the second injector includes decreasing injection of the second injector when liquid fuel is delivered to the first and second injectors.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transitioning from delivering liquid fuel to delivering gaseous fuel to the second injector when injection of the first injector is above a threshold and when knocking conditions are present.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein transitioning from delivering liquid fuel to delivering gaseous fuel to the second injector includes ceasing injection of the second injector;

stopping delivery of liquid fuel by the fuel delivery system;

starting delivery of gaseous fuel by the fuel delivery system;

purging the second injector of gaseous fuel; and

resuming injection of the second injector.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising disabling a liquid fuel pump associated with the fuel delivery system to stop delivery of the liquid fuel by the fuel delivery system.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising opening a gaseous fuel valve associated with the fuel delivery system to start delivery of the gaseous fuel by the fuel delivery system.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein transitioning from delivering gaseous fuel to delivering liquid fuel to the second injector includes:

ceasing injection of the second injector;

stopping delivery of gaseous fuel by the fuel delivery system;

starting delivery of liquid fuel by the fuel delivery system;

purging the second injector of liquid fuel; and

resuming injection of the second injector.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing a gaseous fuel valve associated with the fuel delivery system to stop delivery of the gaseous fuel by the fuel delivery system.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising starting a liquid fuel pump associated with the fuel delivery system to start delivery of the liquid fuel by the fuel delivery system.

20. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring fuel rail pressure to determine when gaseous fuel has been purged from the fuel rail, and applying high pressure gaseous fuel to purge liquid fuel from the fuel rail while delivering gaseous fuel to the fuel rail.

21. A method of controlling an engine having a cylinder, the cylinder having a first, direct, fuel injector and a second fuel injector, the second fuel injector selectively supplied with one or more of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel by a fuel delivery system, the first, direct, fuel injector supplied with liquid fuel, the method comprising:

delivering liquid fuel to the first, direct, injector of the cylinder;

selectively delivering liquid fuel to the second injector of the cylinder during a first condition;

selectively delivering gaseous fuel to the second injector of the cylinder during a second condition, the second condition different than the first condition;

increasing injection of the first injector and ceasing injection of the second injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel and when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel; and

decreasing injection of the first injector when resuming injection of the second injector.