METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ENGINE OPERATION WITH CYLINDERS SELECTIVELY UNFUELED

• US 3,756,205 A
• Filed: 04/26/1971
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George E. Frost
• Original Assignee: George E. Frost
• Inventors: Frost, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodridge, Laurence M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cox, Ronald B.
• Application Number:
  US05/137,480
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198F,32EA
• US Class Current: 123/481
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the supply of fuel to selected ones of the cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes solenoid operated valves which are electrically energized to cause fuel to be supplied to the respective cylinders of the engine. Actuating current pulses are normally applied to all valves to discharge the required amount of fuel for each cylinder power stroke. In accordance with the present invention, an electronic system selectively disables certain of the solenoid operated valves to prevent fuel from being injected so as to cause the associated cylinder to pump air only. This unpowered cylinder operation may be used for any desired purpose, such as to pump air or to reduce the number of cylinders using fuel during idling or low power operation.

Claims

1. In combination, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a first cylinder that executes power strokes during the first half of a crankshaft rotation period and a second cylinder that executes power strokes during the second half of said crankshaft rotation period, and fuel intake valves for the cylinders, respectively;

electrically energizable fuel injectors for said cylinders, respectively, and adapted when energized to discharge fuel adjacent the fuel intake valves, respectively, for induction into the cylinders;

voltage pulse developing means synchronized with operation of said engine operable to energize the fuel injectors for the first cylinder momentarily during the first half of crankshaft rotation and to energize the fuel injector for the second cylinder momentarily during the second half of crankshaft rotation;

first and second electrically controlled disabling means effective to disable the fuel injectors, respectively, said disabling means being actuated in unison and in response to a predetermined control event whereby a fuel injector is disabled in the event a disablinG means is energized at the time of occurrence of a pulse from said voltage pulse developing means; and

means effective when one injector has been deenergized to reset the other for undisabled injection.

2. In combination, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having cylinders that execute power strokes in sequence, fuel intake valves for the cylinders, respectively, and a fuel intake manifold defining passages for the intake of air-fuel mixture to said cylinders, respectively;

electrically energizable fuel injectors for said cylinders, respectively, and adapted when energized to discharge fuel to said intake manifold adjacent the fuel intake valves, respectively;

pulse developing means synchronized with operation of said engine for energizing the fuel injectors, said pulse developing means being effective to alternately energize sequentially each of two fuel injectors at differing times in the engine operating cycle; and

electrical control means effective to disable in unison said two fuel injectors, said control means being actuated on a predetermined control event and being restored to inactive condition in response to a change in voltage of said pulse developing means, whereby said predetermined control event is effective to interrupt fuel for a limited time less than a complete engine operating cycle when said control event has occurred at the time a pulse is developed by said pulse developing means.

3. A fuel injection system for controlling the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine comprising;

a plurality of electrically energizable fuel injectors for controlling the injection of fuel to said engine;

means for developing a series of voltage pulses in timed relation with operation of said engine;

means for applying said pulses sequentially to first and second fuel injectors whereby said fuel injectors are alternately energized in sequence to inject fuel into said engine under one condition of operation;

first and second electrically controlled disabling means connected, respectively, with said first and second fuel injectors for preventing the injection of fuel by a respective fuel injector when a disabling means is actuated;

a source of disabling control pulses;

means connecting said source of disabling control pulses to said first and second disabling means whereby said electrically controlled disabling means are energized in unison to prevent energization of an injector that has a voltage pulse applied thereto; and

means responsive to said voltage pulses for resetting said disabling control means.

4. A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprising;

first and second fuel injectors each having a solenoid which when energized sufficiently opens a fuel injector valve to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine;

a source of direct current;

first and second semiconductor switch means connected, respectively, with said source of direct current and with said first and second solenoids for energizing said solenoids when a respective semiconductor switch means is biased to a conductive condition;

means operable in timed relation with said engine for alternately biasing said first and second semiconductor switch means conductive for predetermined lengths of time;

third and fourth semiconductor switch means connected, respectively, in series with said first and second fuel injector solenoids;

means for causing said third and fourth semiconductor switch means to be biased alternately conductive, respectively, as said first and second semiconductor switch means are biased alternately conductive; and

control means coupled to said third and fourth semiconductor switch means for simultaneously and periodically preventing said third and fourth semiconductor switch means from being biased conductive, whereby each associated fuel injector solenoid is prevented from being energized when a respective first or second semiconductor switch means is biased coNductive.