Test apparatus and method for an engine mounted fuel pump
First Claim
1. Apparatus for testing the fuel pump of an internal combustion engine equipped with a pressure-time type fuel supply system wherein the engine speed may be controlled by adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine through the fuel supply system, comprising(a) fuel inlet means adapted for fluid connection with the engine fuel pump for receiving the total fuel output of the fuel pump while the pump remains mounted on and mechanically driven by the engine;
- (b) fuel outlet means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and adapted for fluid connection with the fuel supply system for supplying at least a portion of the fuel output of the engine fuel pump back to the fuel supply system for combustion in the engine;
(c) pressure regulator means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and said fuel outlet means for selectively regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to said outlet means to cause the engine to drive selectively the fuel pump at each one of a plurality of predetermined speeds; and
(d) sensing means for measuring the delivery characteristics of the fuel pump at each of the plurality of predetermined speeds at which the fuel pump is driven.
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Abstract
A test apparatus and method is disclosed for a fuel pump mounted on and driven by an engine, the speed of which is controlled by the pressure of fuel supplied thereto wherein the engine continues to be supplied with fuel from the fuel pump during the test. A fluid circuit is provided which is designed to supply fuel to the engine under controlled pressure to permit the engine speed to be controlled independently of the engine throttle position and to permit the flow rate of the fuel to be adjusted to a predetermined value at which the output pressure of the fuel pump may be measured for calibration purposes. The fluid circuitry and necessary measurement circuitry may be mounted within a small, portable housing to allow for field testing of a fuel pump.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for testing the fuel pump of an internal combustion engine equipped with a pressure-time type fuel supply system wherein the engine speed may be controlled by adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine through the fuel supply system, comprising
(a) fuel inlet means adapted for fluid connection with the engine fuel pump for receiving the total fuel output of the fuel pump while the pump remains mounted on and mechanically driven by the engine; -
(b) fuel outlet means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and adapted for fluid connection with the fuel supply system for supplying at least a portion of the fuel output of the engine fuel pump back to the fuel supply system for combustion in the engine; (c) pressure regulator means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and said fuel outlet means for selectively regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to said outlet means to cause the engine to drive selectively the fuel pump at each one of a plurality of predetermined speeds; and (d) sensing means for measuring the delivery characteristics of the fuel pump at each of the plurality of predetermined speeds at which the fuel pump is driven. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for testing and calibrating a fuel pump mounted on and driven by an internal combustion engine equipped with a pressure-time type fuel supply system wherein the engine speed is dependent upon the pressure of fuel normally supplied to the engine by the fuel pump, comprising the steps of
(a) connecting a pressure regulator between the fuel pump outlet and the engine to permit independent selective regulation in the pressure of fuel while the fuel pump is still mounted on and driven by the engine and while the fuel pump continues to supply fuel to the engine; -
(b) adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied by the pressure regulator to the engine to cause the engine to operate at each one of a plurality of different engine speeds; and (c) measuring the fuel delivery characteristics of the fuel pump at each of the selected engine speeds. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for safely testing the fuel pump of an internal combustion engine wherein engine speed may be controlled by adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine through a fuel supply system by the fuel pump and wherein a high speed governor is provided to limit the maximum pressure of fuel supplied to the engine by the fuel pump in order to limit the maximum speed of the engine, comprising
(a) fuel inlet means adapted for fluid connection with the engine fuel pump for receiving the total fuel output of the fuel pump while the pump remains mounted on and mechanically driven by the engine and while the high speed governor remains operative to limit the maximum speed of the engine through control of the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine; -
(b) fuel outlet means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and adapted for fluid connection with the fuel supply system for supplying at least a portion of the fuel output of the engine fuel pump back to the fuel supply system for combustion in the engine; (c) pressure regulator means connected with said inlet means for selectively regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to said outlet means to cause the engine to selectively drive the fuel pump at a highly stable speed by slightly decreasing the pressure of fuel supplied to said outlet means whenever the pressure of fuel supplied to said inlet means by the fuel pump increases; (d) drain means connected with said fuel inlet means for receiving the portion of fuel supplied to said inlet means by the fuel pump which is not supplied to said fuel outlet means, said drain means including an adjustable flow restriction means for adjustably setting the resistance to flow of fluid within said drain means to control the rate of fuel flow through said fuel inlet means; and (e) sensing means for measuring the delivery characteristics of the fuel pump at each of the plurality of predetermined speeds at which the fuel pump is driven, whereby any undesired increase in the flow restriction within said drain means will tend to slightly decrease engine speed due to the operation of said pressure regulator means and any undesired decrease in flow resistance within said drain means resulting in higher engine speed will be limited by the upper limit set by the high speed governor.
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18. Apparatus for testing the fuel pump of an internal combustion engine wherein the engine speed may be controlled by adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine through a fuel supply system and wherein the pressure of fuel supplied by the fuel pump increases and decreases with increases and decreases, respectively, in the engine speed, comprising
(a) fuel inlet means adapted for fluid connection with the engine fuel pump for receiving the total fuel output of the fuel pump while the pump remains mounted on and mechanically driven by the engine; -
(b) fuel outlet means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and adapted for fluid connection with the fuel supply system for supplying at least a portion of the fuel output of the engine fuel pump back to the fuel supply system for combustion in the engine; (c) pressure regulator means fluidically connected with said fuel inlet means and said fuel outlet means for selectively regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to said outlet means to cause the engine to drive selectively the fuel pump at a highly stable speed by slightly adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied to said outlet means inversely with respect to engine speed; and (d) sensing means for measuring the delivery characteristics of the fuel pump at the highly stable speed at which the fuel pump is driven.
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Specification