Fuel Pressure Regulator For A Motor Vehicle

• US 20120048238A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: DeLeon, Marcos J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/458
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/003 Controlling the feeding of liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus control of electrical fuel pumps F02D41/3082, controlling fuel flow to a common rail F02D41/3845; Failure or leakage prevention; Diagnosis or detection of failure; Arrangement of sensors in the fuel system; Electric wiring; Electrostatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0023 Valves in the fuel supply and return system
• 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 45/086 Having more than one injection-valve controlling discharge orifices
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/54 Arrangement of fuel pressure regulators

Abstract

A fuel pressure regulation system for a motor vehicle includes a fuel pressure regulator in communication with an electronic control device (ECU). The regulated pressure of the fuel pressure regulator can be varied by applying electrical signals from the ECU. According to one embodiment, a length of a spring is adjusted to vary the regulated fuel pressure. According to another embodiment, a viscosity of a fluid is adjusted to vary the pressure.

Claims

1. A fuel pressure regulation system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fuel pressure regulator including a first fluid port for receiving pressurized fuel, a second fluid port in fluid communication with a fuel rail and a third fluid port for returning fuel to a fuel tank;

a spring including a first end portion and a second end portion;

a sealing member mounted to the first end portion of the spring, the sealing member having a closed position that prevents fluid communication between the first fluid port and the third fluid port and the sealing member having an open position that allows fluid communication between the first fluid port and the third fluid port, the position of the sealing member being determined by the pressure inside the fuel pressure regulator and a length of the spring;

an electrical actuating device configured to adjust the length of the spring; and

an electronic control unit configured to send electrical signals to the electrical actuating device, the electronic control unit adjusting a regulated pressure of the fuel pressure regulator by sending electrical signals to the electrical actuating device to adjust the length of the spring.

2. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical actuating device is configured to adjust the position of the second end portion of the spring.

3. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid port is in fluid communication with a fuel pump.

4. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member separates an internal cavity of the fuel pressure regulator into a first interior chamber and a second interior chamber and wherein the first fluid port and the second fluid port are in fluid communication with the second interior chamber at all times.

5. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 4, wherein the third fluid port is in fluid communication with the second interior chamber when the sealing member is in the open position and wherein the third fluid port is in fluid communication with the first interior chamber when the sealing member is in the closed position.

6. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pressure regulator is disposed within a fuel tank of the motor vehicle.

7. A fuel pressure regulation system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fuel pressure regulator including a first fluid port for receiving pressurized fuel, a second fluid port in fluid communication with a fuel rail and a third fluid port for returning fuel to a fuel tank;

a fluid filled member being filled with a fluid having an adjustable viscosity, the fluid filled member including a set of electrodes and being capable of deforming;

a sealing member mounted to an end portion of the fluid filled member, the sealing member having a closed position that prevents fluid communication between the first fluid port and the third fluid port and the sealing member having an open position that allows fluid communication between the first fluid port and the third fluid port, the position of the sealing member being determined by the pressure inside the fuel pressure regulator and a viscosity of the fluid; and

an electronic control unit configured to send electrical signals to the electrodes, the electronic control unit adjusting a regulated pressure of the fuel pressure regulator by sending electrical signals to the electrodes in order to adjust the viscosity of the fluid .

8. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 7, wherein the fluid is an electrorheological fluid.

9. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 7, wherein the fluid is a magnetorheological fluid.

10. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 7, wherein the fluid filled member comprises a deformable outer membrane that encloses the fluid.

11. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical signal is an electric current.

12. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 7, wherein the regulated fuel pressure is increased as the viscosity of the fluid is increased.

13. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 12, wherein the viscosity of the fluid is increased as the electric current is increased.

14. A fuel pressure regulation system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fuel pressure regulator;

an electronic control unit in communication with the fuel pressure regulator, the electronic control unit adjusting a regulated pressure of the fuel pressure regulator using electrical signals.

15. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 14, wherein the fuel pressure regulator is disposed inside a fuel tank of the motor vehicle.

16. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 14, wherein the electronic control unit is in communication with a fuel pump and at least one fuel injector.

17. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 14, wherein the fuel pressure regulator comprises a pressure relief valve.

18. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 17, wherein the operation of the pressure relief valve can be modified using the electrical signals.

19. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 17, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises a sealing member connected to a spring and an electrical actuating device to control a length of the spring.

20. The fuel pressure regulation system according to claim 17, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises a sealing member connected to a fluid filled member and electrodes for applying a current to the fluid filled member and wherein the fluid filled member is filled with a fluid having an adjustable viscosity.