FUEL PUMP WITH QUIET VOLUME CONTROL OPERATED SUCTION VALVE

• US 20130213361A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zeng, Paul, Solferino, Vince Paul, Basmaji, Joseph, Brostrom, Patrick, Shiah, Kyi
• Application Number:
  US13/399,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20130213361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/446
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/09 Fuel-injection apparatus having means for reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/361 Valves being actuated mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0038 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0265 Pumps feeding common rails

Abstract

A fuel system including a high pressure fuel pump with a quite fuel metering valve is disclosed. In one example, the quite fuel metering valve may include a fuel volume control plate. The fuel system may reduce engine noise and may provide improved fuel pressure control.

Claims

1. A fuel system, comprising:

a cam driven fuel pump including an inlet and an outlet;

a fuel injector in fluidic communication with the outlet; and

a metering valve comprising a plurality of fuel flow passages that control fuel flow into the cam driven fuel pump.

2. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising a motor, and where the motor is coupled to the metering valve.

3. The fuel system of claim 2, where the metering valve is positioned at an inlet of the cam driven fuel pump.

4. The fuel system of claim 1, where the metering valve includes a circular volume control plate.

5. The fuel system of claim 4, where the circular volume control plate includes the plurality of fuel flow passages.

6. The fuel system of claim 5, further comprising where the cam driven fuel pump includes a housing, and where the volume control plate is positioned on either side of the housing.

7. The fuel system of claim 6, further comprising where the housing includes an inlet, and where at least one of the plurality of fuel control passages align with the inlet when the metering valve is in a first position.

8. The fuel system of claim 7, where none of the plurality of fuel control passages align with the inlet when the metering valve is in a second position.

9. A method for operating a fuel pump, comprising:

rotating a motor to selectively allow fuel to into a cam driven fuel pump; and

pumping fuel from the cam driven fuel pump to an engine.

10. The method of claim 9, where the motor is rotated in synchronism with a position of the engine.

11. The method of claim 9, where a position of the motor is adjusted in response to an engine load.

12. The method of claim 9, where the motor is mechanically coupled to a metering valve.

13. The method of claim 12, where the motor is a stepper motor and where the stepper motor opens and closes the metering valve at least twice during a pumping phase of the cam driven fuel pump.

14. The method of claim 12, where the metering valve is comprised of a fuel volume control plate.

15. The method of claim 14, where the motor rotates the fuel volume control plate.

16. A method for operating a fuel pump, comprising:

adjusting a position of a motor coupled to a metering valve in response to a position of an engine and a fuel pressure;

flowing fuel through the metering valve to a cam driven fuel pump; and

pumping fuel from the cam driven fuel pump to the engine.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting an opening time of the metering valve to a time when a cam operating a plunger of the cam driven fuel pump is substantially at a maximum lift amount.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting a closing time of the metering valve to a time during a pumping phase of the cam driven pump.

19. The method of claim 18, where the closing time is varied with engine load.

20. The method of claim 19, where the motor is operated synchronously with engine speed.