FUEL PUMP CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20120095667A1
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hase, Takamitsu
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0225 in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/447 means specially adapted to limit fuel delivery or to supply excess of fuel temporarily, e.g. for starting of the engine combined with fuel pump regulating devices F02D

Abstract

An engine fuel pump control apparatus is provided. The engine fuel pump control apparatus is connected to an engine and a transmission. A fuel pump is interposed in a fuel conduit between a fuel tank and the engine and the fuel pump has a selectively variable fuel delivery rate. A fuel pump controller is configured to adjust a fuel delivery rate from the fuel pump to the engine in which the fuel pump controller is configured to increase the fuel delivery rate as a rotational speed of the engine increases. The fuel pump controller is further configured to adjust the fuel delivery rate as a detected vehicle speed characteristic varies.

Claims

1. An engine fuel pump control apparatus comprising:

an engine connected to a transmission;

a fuel pump interposed in a fuel conduit between a fuel tank and the engine, the fuel pump having a selectively variable fuel delivery rate; and

a fuel pump controller configured to adjust a fuel delivery rate from the fuel pump to the engine,

wherein the fuel pump controller is configured to increase the fuel delivery rate as a rotational speed of the engine increases, and

wherein the fuel pump controller is configured to adjust the fuel delivery rate as a detected vehicle speed characteristic varies.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel pump controller is configured to:

adjust the fuel delivery rate in a stepwise manner when the rotational speed of the engine exceeds at least one engine speed threshold value; and

adjust the at least one engine speed threshold value based on the detected vehicle speed characteristic.

3. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the detected vehicle speed characteristic comprises a current transmission speed ratio, and

the fuel pump controller is configured to increase the fuel delivery rate when the detected current transmission speed ratio is lower than a predetermined value.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the detected vehicle speed characteristic comprises a current vehicle speed; and

the fuel pump controller is configured to increase the fuel delivery rate when the detected current vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.

5. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the fuel pump is configured to vary the fuel delivery rate in response to an applied voltage; and

the fuel pump controller is configured to vary the voltage applied to the fuel pump.

6. The control apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

an electric motor of the fuel pump is selectively connected to both a vehicle battery and an alternator that is driven by the engine; and

the fuel pump controller is configured to vary the voltage applied to the electric motor of the fuel pump by selectively connecting the electric motor to one of the alternator and the battery.

7. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel pump controller is further configured to:

detect an operation state of the engine; and

control the fuel delivery rate irrespective of the detected vehicle speed characteristic when the detected operation state of the engine is at a predetermined operation state.

8. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the fuel pump controller is further configured to predict a rapid increase in engine speed when the detected vehicle speed characteristic is below a prescribed value.

9. A method to control an engine fuel pump comprising:

controlling a fuel delivery rate of a fuel pump based on an engine speed such that the fuel delivery rate becomes higher as the engine speed increases;

detecting a vehicle speed characteristic; and

adjusting the fuel delivery rate based on the detected vehicle speed characteristic.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fuel delivery rate is adjusted in a stepwise manner when the current engine speed exceeds at least one engine speed threshold value, the method further comprising:

adjusting the at least one engine speed threshold value based on the detected vehicle speed characteristic.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle speed characteristic comprises a current transmission speed ratio, the method further comprising:

adjusting the fuel delivery rate when the detected transmission speed ratio is lower than a predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle speed characteristic comprises a current vehicle speed, the method further comprising:

adjusting the fuel delivery rate when the detected vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying a voltage to the fuel pump;

varying the fuel delivery rate in response to the applied voltage; and

variably changing the voltage applied to the fuel pump.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selectively connecting a vehicle battery and an alternator that is driven by a vehicle engine to the fuel pump,

wherein the applied voltage is applied from the connected vehicle battery or the connected alternator.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an operation state of an engine; and

controlling the fuel delivery rate irrespective of a detected engine speed when the operation state is in a predetermined operation state.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

predicting a rapid increase in engine speed when the detected vehicle speed characteristic is below a predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining one or more vehicle speed characteristic threshold values; and

adjusting the fuel delivery rate when the detected vehicle speed characteristic crosses the one or more vehicle speed characteristic threshold values.

18. A control apparatus for an engine fuel pump, comprising:

an engine connected to a transmission;

a fuel tank;

a means for pumping fuel interposed in a fuel conduit between the fuel tank and the engine;

a means for selectively varying a fuel delivery rate;

a means for controlling the fuel delivery rate based on an engine speed such that the fuel delivery rate becomes higher as the engine speed increases;

a means for detecting a vehicle speed characteristic; and

a means for adjusting the fuel delivery rate such that the delivery rate will be larger when the detected vehicle speed characteristic is at a lower vehicle speed characteristic value.