ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

• US 3,702,601 A
• Filed: 06/11/1971
• Issued: 11/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colin C. Gordon, John P. Mcgavic
• Original Assignee: Colin C. Gordon, John P. Mcgavic
• Inventors: Gordon, Colin C., McGavic, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodridge, Laurence M.
• Application Number:
  US05/152,088
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 123/32,32EA,32AE,134E,119R
• US Class Current: 123/490
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/36 with means for controlling distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes a group of eight fuel injectors for applying fuel to the engine. A set of four timing signals developed in synchronization with engine operation collectively contain eight magnitude permutations per engine cycle. The occurrence of each of the magnitude permutations defines the start of injection for a corresponding one of the fuel injectors. The set of timing signals is combined to form a pair of timing signals which are combined to form a single timing signal containing all of the magnitude permutations. A single pulse train developed in synchronization with the single timing signal contain eight control pulses per engine cycle. The length of each of the control pulses defines the period of injection for a corresponding one of the fuel injectors in time compressed nonoverlapping relationship. The single pulse train is separated by the single timing signal to form a pair of pulse trains which are separated by the pair of timing signals to form a set of four pulse trains collectively containing all of the control pulses. The length of the control pulses in the set of pulse trains is extended to define the period of injection for the fuel injectors in time expanded overlapping relationship. Lastly, the set of pulse trains is separated by the set of timing signals to form a series of eight pulse trains each containing control pulses which are applied to energize a corresponding one of the group of eight fuel injectors.

Claims

1. In an internal combustion engine system including a group of eight fuel injection units for applying fuel to the engine when energized in a given injection order during each engine cycle, the combination comprising:

means responsive to the operation of the engine for generating a set of four timing signals each having periodic amplitude transitions successively spaced at intervals of one-half of an engine cycle within each of the timing signals and successively displaced at intervals of oneeighth of an engine cycle between each of the timing signals;

means for combining the set of timing signals to provide a pair of timing signals each having periodic amplitude transitions successively spaced at intervals of one-quarter of an engine cycle within each of the timing signals and successively displaced at intervals of one-eighth of an engine cycle between each of the timing signals;

means for combining the pair of timing signals to provide a single timing signal having periodic amplitude transitions successively spaced at intervals of oneeighth of an engine cycle within the timing signal;

means responsive to the single timing signal for generating a single pulse train having control pulses successively initiated at intervals of one-eighth of an engine cycle, the means connected with the engine for defining the duration of each of the control pulses in the single pulse train as a function of at least one engine operating parameter up to a maximum duration of approximately one-eighth of an engine cycle;

means responsive to the single timing signal for separating the single pulse train to provide a pair of pulse trains each having control pulses successively initiated at intervals of one-quarter of an engine cycle within each of the pulse trains and successively displaced at intervals of one-eighth of an engine cycle between each of the pulse trains;

means responsive to the pair of timing signals for separating the pair of pulse trains to provide a set of four pulse trains each having control pulses successively initiated at intervals of one-half of an engine cycle within each of the pulse trains and successively displaced at intervals of one-eighth of an engine cycle between each of the pulse trains;

means responsive to the set of pulse trains for extending the duration of the control pulses within the set of pulse trains by a maximum factor of four so that each of the control pulses has a maximum duration of approximately one-half of an engine cycle;

means responsive to the set of timing signals for separating the set of pulse trains to provide a series of eight pulse trains each having control pulses successively initiated at intervals of one engine cycle within each of the pulse trains and successively displaced at intervals of one-eighth of an engine cycle between each of the pulse trains; and

means for individually applying the series of pulse trains to corresponding ones of the group of fuel injection units in the injection order to energize the fuel injection units for the duration of the control pulses in the pulse trains.

2. In an internal combustion engine system including a group of eight fuel injection units for applying fuel to the engine when energized in a given injection order during each engine cycle, the combination comprising:

means responsive to the operation of the operation for generating a set of four bilevel timing signals each containing two alternate level transitions per engine cycle;

means responsive to the set of bilevel timing signals for generating a pair of bilevel timing signals equal to the respective OR functions of the respective AND functions of alternate ones of the set of timing signals and the respective AND functions of alternate ones of the inverse of the set of timing signals so that the pair of bilevel timing signals each contain four alternate level transitions per engine cycle;

means responsive to the pair of bilevel timing signals for generating a single bilevel timing signal equal to the OR function of the AND function of the pair of timing signals and the AND function of the inverse of the pair of timing signals so that the single bilevel timing signal contains eight alternate level transitions per engine cycle;

means responsive to the single bilevel timing signal for generating a single bilevel pulse train containing eight control pulses per engine cycle each initiated in response to a different one of the eight alternate level transitions per engine cycle in the single pulse train, the means connected with the engine for defining the duration of each of the control pulses in the single pulse trains as a function of at least one engine operating parameter;

means responsive to the single bilevel timing signal and the single bilevel pulse train for generating a pair of bilevel pulse trains equal to the respective AND functions of the single pulse train with the single timing signal and the inverse of the single timing signal so that the pair of bilevel pulse trains each contain four control pulses per engine cycle;

means responsive to the pair of bilevel timing signals and the pair of bilevel pulse trains for generating a set of four bilevel pulse trains equal to the respective AND functions of the pair of pulse trains with the pair of timing signals and the inverse of the pair of timing signals so that the set of bilevel pulse trains each contain two control pulses per engine cycle;

means responsive to the set of bilevel pulse trains for extending the duration of each of the control pulses so that the control pulses in each of the pulse trains overlap the control pulses in at least one other of the pulse trains;

means responsive to the set of bilevel timing signals and the set of bilevel pulse trains for generating a series of eight bilevel pulse trains equal to the respective AND functions of the set of pulse trains with the set of timing signals and with the inverse of the set of timing signals so that the series of bilevel pulse trains each contain one control pulse per engine cycle; and

means for applying the first through eighth of the series of pulse trains to the first through eighth of the group of fuel injection units according to the injection order to energize the fuel injection units for the duration of the control pulses in the pulse trains.

3. In an internal combustion engine system including a group of eight fuel injection units for applying fuel to the engine when energizeD in a given injection order per engine cycle, the combination comprising:

means responsive to the operation of the engine to provide a set of four timing signals each containing two injection start permutations per engine cycle for a different corresponding two of the fuel injection units;

means responsive to the set of timing signals to provide a pair of timing signals each containing injection start permutations in response to the injection start permutations in alternate ones of the set of timing signals so that each of the pair of timing signals contains four injection start permutations per engine cycle for a different corresponding four of the fuel injection units;

means responsive to the pair of timing signals to provide a single timing signal containing injection start permutations in response to the injection start permutations in each of the pair of timing signals so that the single timing signal contains eight injection start permutations per engine cycle for the corresponding eight fuel injection units;

means responsive to the single timing signal to provide a single pulse train containing injection period pulses in response to the injection start permutations in the single timing signal so that the single pulse train contains eight injection period pulses per engine cycle for the corresponding eight fuel injection units, the means connected to the engine for defining the duration of each of the injection period pulses in the single pulse train as a function of at least one engine operating parameter;

means responsive to the single timing signal and to the single pulse train to provide a pair of pulse trains each containing injection period pulses from the single pulse train which are initiated in coincidence with alternate ones of the injection start permutations in the single timing signal so that each of the pair of pulse trains contains four injection period pulses per engine cycle for a different corresponding four of the fuel injection units;

means responsive to the pair of timing signals and to the pair of pulse trains to provide a set of four pulse trains each containing injection period pulses from successive ones of the pair of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate ones of the injection start permutations in successive ones of the pair of timing signals so that each of the set of pulse trains contains two injection period pulses per engine cycle for a different corresponding two of the fuel injection units;

means responsive to the set of pulse trains to extend the duration of the injection period pulses in the set of pulse trains by a predetermined factor;

means responsive to the set of timing signals and to the set of pulse trains to provide a series of eight pulse trains each containing injection period pulses from successive ones of the set of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate ones of the injection start permutations in successive ones of the set timing signals so that each of the series of pulse trains contains one injection period pulse per engine cycle for a different corresponding one of the fuel injection units; and

means for applying the series of pulse trains to corresponding ones of the group of fuel injection units to energize the fuel injection units for the duration of the injection period pulses in the pulse trains.

4. In an internal combustion engine system including a group of eight fuel injection units for applying fuel to the engine when energized in a given injection order during each engine cycle of 360*, the combination comprising:

means responsive to operation of the engine for generating a set of four bilevel timing signals each having alternate level transitions spaced at intervals of 180* within each of the timing signals and displaced at intervals of 45* between each of the timing signals;

means responsive to the set of bilevel timing signals for generating a pair of bilevel timing signals each having alternate level transitions spaced at Intervals of 90* within each of the timing signals and displaced at intervals of 45* between each of the timing signals, the first of the pair of timing signals equal to the OR function of the AND function of the first and third of the set of timing signals and the AND function of the inverse of the first and third of the set of timing signals, and the second of the pair of timing signals equal to the OR function of the AND function of the second and fourth of the set of timing signals and the AND function of the inverse of the second and fourth of the set of timing signals;

means responsive to the pair of bilevel timing signals for generating a single bilevel timing signal having alternate level transitions spaced at intervals of 45* within the timing signal, the single timing signal equal to the OR function of the AND function of the first and second of the pair of timing signals and the AND function of the inverse of the first and second of the pair of timing signals;

means responsive to the single bilevel timing signal for generating a single pulse train including control pulses initiated at intervals of 45* in response to each of the alternate level transitions in the single timing signal, the means connected to the engine for defining the duration of the control pulses in the single pulse signal as a function of at least one engine operating parameter up to a maximum duration of approximately 45*;

means responsive to the single bilevel timing signal and the single bilevel pulse train for generating a pair of bilevel pulse trains each including control pulses initiated at intervals of 90* within each of the pulse trains and displaced at intervals of 45* between each of the pulse trains, the pair of pulse trains equal respectively to the individual AND functions of the single pulse trains with the single timing signal and with the inverse of the single timing signal;

means responsive to the pair of bilevel timing signals and the pair of bilevel pulse trains for generating a set of four bilevel pulse trains each including control pulses initiated at intervals of 180* within each of the pulse trains and displaced at intervals of 45* between each of the pulse trains, the set of pulse trains equal respectively to the individual AND functions of the pair of pulse trains with the pair of timing signals and with the inverse of the pair of timing signals;

means responsive to the set of pulse trains for extending the duration of the control pulses within the set of pulse trains by a maximum factor of four so that each of the control pulses has a maximum duration of approximately 180*;

means responsive to the set of timing signals and to the set of bilevel pulse trains for generating a series of eight bilevel pulse trains each including control pulses initiated at intervals of 360* within each of the pulse trains and displaced at intervals of 45* between each of the pulse trains, the series of pulse trains equal respectively to the individual AND functions of the set of pulse trains with the set of timing signals and with the inverse of the set of timing signals; and

means for applying the first through eighth of the series of pulse trains to the first through eighth of the group of fuel injection units according to the injection order to energize the fuel injection units for the duration of each of the control pulses in the pulse trains.

5. In an internal combustion engine system including a group of eight fuel injection units for applying fuel to the engine when energized in a given injection order per engine cycle, the combination comprising:

means responsive to the operation of the engine to provide a set of four timing signals each containing two magnitude permutations per engine cycle;

means responsive to the set of timing signals to provide a pair of timing signals each containing four magnitude permutations per engine cyCle, the first of the pair of timing signals containing magnitude permutations in response to the magnitude permutations in the first and third of the set of timing signals, and the second of the pair of timing signals containing magnitude permutations in response to the magnitude permutations in the second and fourth of the set of timing signals;

means responsive to the pair of timing signals to provide a single timing signal containing eight magnitude permutations per engine cycle, the single timing signal containing magnitude permutations in response to each of the magnitude permutations in the first and second of the pair of timing signals;

means responsive to the single timing signal to provide a single pulse train containing eight control pulses per engine cycle in response to the eight magnitude permutations in the single timing signal per engine cycle, the means connected to the engine for defining the duration of each of the control pulses in the single pulse train as a function of at least one engine operating parameter;

means responsive to the single timing signal and to the single pulse train to provide a pair of pulse trains each containing four control pulses per engine cycle, the first and second of the pair of pulse trains containing control pulses from the single pulse train which are initiated in coincidence with alternate ones of the magnitude permutations in the single timing signal, respectively;

means responsive to the pair of timing signals and to the pair of pulse trains to provide a set of four pulse trains each containing two control pulses per engine cycle, the first and third of the set of pulse trains containing control pulses from the first of the pair of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate ones of the magnitude permutations in the first of the pair of timing signals, and the second and fourth of the set of pulse trains containing control pulses from the second of the pair of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate ones of the magnitude permutations in the second of the pair of timing signals;

means responsive to the set of pulse trains to extend the duration of the control pulses in the set of pulse trains by a predetermined factor;

means responsive to the set of timing signals and to the set of pulse trains to provide a series of eight pulse trains each containing one control pulse per engine cycle, the first and fifth of the series of pulse trains containing control pulses from the first of the set of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate magnitude permutations in the first of the set of timing signals, respectively, the second and sixth of the series of pulse trains containing control pulses from the second of the set of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate magnitude permutations in the second of the set of timing signals, respectively, the third and seventh of the series of pulse trains containing control pulses from the third of the set of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate magnitude permutations in the third of the set of timing signals, respectively, and the fourth and eighth of the series of pulse trains containing control pulses from the fourth of the set of pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with alternate magnitude permutations in the fourth of the set of timing signals, respectively; and

means for applying the first through eighth of the series of pulse trains to the first through eighth of the group of fuel injection units according to the injection order to individually energize the fuel injection units for the duration of the control pulses in the pulse trains.

6. In an internal combustion engine system including eight fuel injection units for applying fuel to the engine when energized in a given injection order during each engine cycle of 360*, the combination comprising:

means responsive to the operation of the engine for generating four first order timing signals each exhibitIng two magnitude transitions of alternate first and second sense during each engine cycle, the first of the first order timing signals having a first sense transition at the 0* point and a second sense transition at the 180* point of each engine cycle, the second of the first order timing signals having a first sense transition at the 45* point and a second sense transition at the 225* point of each engine cycle, the third of the first order timing signals having a first sense transition at the 90* point and a second sense transition at the 270* point of each engine cycle, and the fourth of the first order timing signals having a first sense transition at the 135* point and a second sense transition at the 315* point in each engine cycle;

means responsive to the four first order timing signals for generating two second order timing signals each exhibiting four magnitude transitions of alternate first and second sense during each engine cycle, the first of the second order timing signals having a first sense transition in response to each of the magnitude transitions in the first of the first order timing signals and having a second sense transition in response to each of the magnitude transitions in the third of the first order timing signals, and the second of the second order timing signals having a first sense transition in response to each of the magnitude transitions in the second of the first order timing signals and having a second sense transition in response to each of the magnitude transitions in the fourth of the first order timing signals;

means responsive to the two second order timing signals for generating one third order timing signal exhibiting eight magnitude transitions of alternate first and second sense during each engine cycle, the third order timing signal having a first sense transition in response to each of the magnitude transitions in the first of the second order timing signals and having a second sense transition in response to each of the magnitude transitions in the second of the second order timing signal;

means responsive to the third order timing signal for generating one fourth order pulse train having eight control pulses during each engine cycle in response to the eight magnitude transitions in the third order timing signal during each engine cycle, the means connected to the engine for defining the duration of each of the control pulses in the fourth order pulse train as a function of at least one engine operating parameter up to a maximum duration of 45*;

means responsive to the third order timing signal and the fourth order pulse train for generating two third order pulse trains each having four control pulses during each engine cycle, the first and second of the third order pulse trains containing control pulses from the fourth order pulse train which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the third order timing signal;

means responsive to the two second order timing signals and to the two third order pulse trains for generating four second order pulse trains each having two control pulses during each engine cycle, the first and third of the second order pulse trains containing control pulses from the first of the third order pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the first of the second order timing signals, and the second and fourth of the second order pulse trains containing control pulses from the second of the third order pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the second of the second order timing signals;

means responsive to the four second order pulse trains for extending the duration of the control pulses by a factor of four (4) so that each of the controL pulses has a maximum duration of 180*;

means responsive to the four first order timing signals and the four second order pulse trains for generating eight first order pulse trains each having one control pulse during each engine cycle, the first and fifth of the first order pulse trains containing control pulses from the first of the second order pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the first of the first order timing signals, the third and seventh of the first order pulse trains containing control pulses from the third of the second order pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the third of the first order timing signals, the second and sixth of the first order pulse trains containing control pulses from the second of the second order pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the second of the first order timing signals, and the fourth and eighth of the first order pulse trains containing control pulses from the fourth of the second order pulse trains which are initiated in coincidence with the first sense transitions and with the second sense transitions, respectively, in the fourth of the first order timing signals; and

means for applying the first through eighth of the first order pulse trains to the first through eighth of the fuel injection units according to the injection order to energize the fuel injection units for the duration of the control pulses.