ENGINE FUEL PUMP AND METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20150027416A1
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Solferino, Vince Paul, Zeng, Paul, Brostrom, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,284,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/495
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3845 by controlling the flow into the common rail, e.g. the amount of fuel pumped
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/09 Fuel-injection apparatus having means for reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/20 Varying fuel delivery in quantity or timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/368 Pump inlet valves being closed when actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/462 Delivery valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/464 Inlet valves of the check valve type

Abstract

A method of pressuring fuel for a direct injection fuel system via a fuel pump in an engine is provided. The method includes, during a first mode, adjusting a magnetic solenoid valve (MSV) to control pump outlet pressure and during a second mode, deactivating the MSV and controlling pump outlet pressure via a noise-reducing valve assembly on an inlet side of the fuel pump.

Claims

1. A method of pressuring fuel for a direct injection fuel system via a fuel pump in an engine, comprising:

during a first mode, adjusting a magnetic solenoid valve (MSV) to control pump outlet pressure; and

during a second mode, deactivating the MSV and controlling pump outlet pressure via a noise-reducing valve assembly on an inlet side of the fuel pump.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first mode includes an operating condition when the engine is over a threshold speed and the second mode includes an operating condition when the engine is below the threshold speed.

3. The method of claim 1, where controlling pump outlet pressure includes selectively permitting an inhibiting fuel flow into a pump chamber in the fuel pump, and wherein the noise-reducing valve assembly includes a check valve and is only mechanically actuated.

4. The method of claim 3, where the fuel is selectively permitted and inhibited to flow into the pump chamber during at least one of a delivery stroke and an intake stroke of the fuel pump.

5. The method of claim 1, where the first mode includes an operating condition when the fuel pump is performing a delivery stroke.

6. The method of claim 1, where the second mode includes an operating condition when the fuel pump is performing an intake stroke, and wherein during the second mode, the MSV valve is not electrically adjusted.

7. The method of claim 1, where during the second mode the deactivated MSV is deactivated in an open position.

8. The method of claim 1, where controlling pump outlet pressure via the noise reducing valve includes passively, mechanically, controlling the noise-reducing valve via hydraulic pressure in the fuel pump.

9. A fuel pump comprising:

a magnetic solenoid valve (MSV) positioned on an inlet side of the fuel pump controlling a pump outlet pressure during a first mode; and

a noise-reducing valve assembly positioned on an inlet side of the fuel pump selectively controlling a pump outlet pressure during a second mode.

10. The fuel pump of claim 9, where the MSV is positioned downstream of the noise-reducing valve.

11. The fuel pump of claim 9, where the MSV is positioned upstream of the noise-reducing valve.

12. The fuel pump of claim 9, where the noise-reducing valve includes a rotating spool valve.

13. The fuel pump of claim 9, where the noise-reducing valve includes a spool valve and a reed valve.

14. The fuel pump of claim 13, where the spool valve includes a first port in fluidic communication with a reed valve and a second port in parallel fluidic communication with the first port.

15. The fuel pump of claim 13, further comprising a one way discharge valve in fluidic communication with a pump chamber and a downstream fuel rail.

16. The fuel pump of claim 13, where the noise-reducing valve is a hydraulic valve.

17. The fuel pump of claim 13, where MSV is in series fluidic communication with the noise-reducing valve.

18. A method of pressuring fuel for a direct injection fuel system via a fuel pump in an engine, comprising

when the engine is above a threshold speed, adjusting a magnetic solenoid valve (MSV) to control pump outlet pressure;

and

when the engine is below the threshold speed, deactivating the MSV and controlling an inflow and outflow of a pump chamber via a noise-reducing valve assembly on an inlet side of the fuel pump.

19. The method of claim 18, where controlling the inflow and outflow of the pump chamber via the noise-reducing valve includes configuring the noise-reducing valve to enable fuel to flow therethrough during an intake stroke of the fuel pump and substantially inhibit fuel to flow therethrough during a delivery stroke.

20. The method of claim 18, when the engine is below the threshold speed, the deactivated MSV is deactivated in an open position during an intake stroke of the fuel pump.