Method and Device for Operating a Fuel Pump

• US 20160252032A1
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: GRAF, Rolf, KOERNER, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/006 depending on engine operating conditions, e.g. start, stop or ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/065 at hot start or restart F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

A fuel pump of a motor vehicle includes: a pump stage configured to induce fuel from a fuel tank; an electric motor configured to drive the pump stage; and control electronics configured to supply the electric motor with electrical current. The control electronics includes a memory storing a low temperature start program and a standard start program. The control electronics are connected to a temperature sensor and a selector configured to select the start program depending on the sensed temperature.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A fuel pump (3) of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a pump stage (5) configured to induce fuel from a fuel tank (7);

an electric motor (4) configured to drive the pump stage (5); and

control electronics (6) configured to supply the electric motor (4) with electrical current,

wherein the control electronics (6) includes a memory (9) storing a low temperature start program and a standard start program, the control electronics (6) being connected to a temperature sensor (10) and a selector configured to select the start program depending on the sensed temperature.

11. The fuel pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control electronics (6) comprises the temperature sensor (10).

12. The fuel pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein an ohmic resistance of a phase of the electric motor (4) is used to determine the temperature of the fuel pump (3).

19. The fuel pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fuel is diesel fuel.

13. A method for operating a fuel pump (3) of a motor vehicle, comprising:

supplying, by control electronics (6), an electric motor (4) with electric current;

driving, by an electric motor (4), a pump stage (5) that sucks fuel from a fuel tank (7); and

selecting, by the control electronics (6), a low temperature start program at an envisaged low temperature of the fuel and selecting a standard start program above the envisaged temperature.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a higher current level for energizing the electric motor (4) is selected in the low temperature start program than in the standard start program.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the low temperature start program has a longer time duration than the standard start program.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a temperature threshold is specified as the envisaged low temperature and in total two temperature-dependent start programs are selectable.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control electronics (6) are disposed on the electric motor (4), the method further comprising measuring the temperature of the control electronics (6).

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

detecting false starting of the fuel pump (3); and

selecting the low temperature start program regardless of the temperature of the fuel and for more than a predetermined number of false starts.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fuel is diesel fuel.