System for controlling the starting operation of an internal combustion engine

• US 4,433,650 A
• Filed: 03/05/1981
• Issued: 02/28/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Abe, Osamu, Amano, Matsuo, Teranishi, Takao, Sasayama, Takao, Mouri, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US06/240,968
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179 L, 123/179 G, 123/179 A, 123/179 B, 123/179 BG, 123/491, 364/431.10, 364/431.12
• US Class Current: 123/179.17
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0606 Fuel temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/00 Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2011 Control involving a delay; Control involving a waiting period before engine stop or engine start
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A control system employs a microcomputer, which controls the starting operation of a spark ignition type engine provided with a fuel injection system. The control system is loaded with, at least, contact information of an ignition switch for connecting an ignition device to a power supply and a starter switch for connecting a starter motor to the power supply, and an output signal of a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of cooling water of the engine. Where the cooling water temperature is not higher than a predetermined temperature, a fuel pump which supplies pressurized fuel to an injector of the fuel injection system is started simultaneously with the closure of the ignition switch, and this fuel pump is stopped during the operation of the starter motor.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the starting of an engine, comprising:

manipulation means including at least first and second contacts,

ignition means adapted to be connected to a power supply by said first contact,

a starter motor which is adapted to be connected to said power supply by said second contact,

a fuel injection system which includes an injector to be turned ON and OFF by electrical control, and a fuel pump for supplying pressurized fuel to said injector,

a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of a coolant of the engine, and

a control circuit to which said first and second contacts and said temperature sensor are connected, which drives said fuel pump from a point of time of turning-ON of said first contact and at least during a period of turning-OFF of said second contact and does not drive said fuel pump during any period of turning-ON of said second contact in case where, in a starting operation of said engine, the temperature of the coolant indicated by an output signal of said temperature sensor is not higher than a predetermined reference temperature, and which drives said fuel pump at least during any period of turning-ON of said second contact in case where the temperature of said coolant is higher than said reference temperature.

2. A system for controlling the starting of an engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit can limit within a predetermined time a continuous drive time of said fuel pump during said period during which said second contact is turned OFF.

3. A system for controlling the starting of an engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit drives said fuel pump continuously when a period during which said first contact is turned ON and said second contact is turned OFF is shorter than a predetermined time.

4. A system for controlling the starting of an engine, comprising:

switch means having at least first, second and third statuses,

ignition means adapted to be connected to a power supply when said switch means is in said second and third statuses, and to be disconnected from said power supply when said switch means is in said first status,

a starter motor which is adapted to be connected to said power supply under at least a condition that said switch means is in said third status, and which is disconnected from said power supply when said switch means is in said first and second statuses,

a fuel injection system which includes an injector to be turned ON and OFF by electrical control, and a fuel pump for supplying pressurized fuel to said injector,

a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of a coolant of the engine, and

a control circuit to which outputs of said switch means and said temperature sensor and a conduction situation of said starter motor are transmitted, and which initiates driving of said fuel pump during a period of non-conduction of said starter motor in a time interval after said switch means has been changed-over from said first status into said second status when the temperature of the coolant indicated by the output of said temperature sensor is not higher than a predetermined reference temperature, and which initiates driving of said fuel pump during a period of conduction of said starter motor when the temperature of said coolant is higher than said predetermined reference temperature.

5. A system for controlling the starting of an engine as defined in claim 4, wherein said control circuit can limit a continuous drive time of said fuel pump within a predetermined time.

6. A system for controlling the starting of an engine as defined in claim 4, wherein said control circuit can limit a continuous drive time of said fuel pump when said second status continues longer than a predetermined time.

7. A system for controlling the starting of an engine, comprising:

manipulation means including at least first and second contacts,

ignition means adapted to be connected to a power supply by said first contact,

a starter motor which is adapted to be connected to said power supply by said second contact,

a fuel injection system which includes an injector to be turned ON and OFF by electrical control, and a fuel pump for supplying pressurized fuel to said injector,

a temperature sensor which detects the temperature of a coolant of the engine, and

a control circuit which loads thereinto at least statuses of said first and second contacts and an output of said temperature sensor, and which includes at least input/output means to generate outputs for controlling start and stop of said fuel pump and memory means having areas for setting first and second flags therein, said control circuit including the following operating steps;

(a) the first step of starting said fuel pump and simultaneously setting said first flag when said first contact has been turned ON, and when the output indicated by said temperature sensor is not higher than a predetermined reference temperature,

(b) the second step of deciding whether or not said second contact is turned ON,

(c) the third step of proceeding only when said second contact is turned OFF and said first flag is set, monitoring lapse of a predetermined time since the drive of said fuel pump, and stopping said fuel pump and besides setting said second flag when said predetermined time has lapsed,

(d) the fourth step of proceeding when said second contact is turned ON, and deciding whether or not said second flag is set,

(e) the fifth step of starting said fuel pump in case where it has been decided at said fourth step that said second flag is not set,

(f) the sixth step of monitoring the turning-OFF of said second contact, and

(g) the seventh step of deciding whether or not said engine is self-cranking when said second contact has been turned OFF at said sixth step, and restarting said fuel pump if said fuel pump has been stopped at said third step and simultaneously resetting said first and second flags in case where said engine is self-cranking.