Apparatus and method for controlling the fuel supply of a gas-fueled engine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A premixture apparatus for operating a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine having a fuel supply means and an air intake means, said apparatus comprising:
- air flow sensing means disposed in said air intake means for detecting the mass flow rate of air delivered through said air intake means;
gas flow sensing means for detecting the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel to be supplied to said internal combustion engine, wherein said gas flow sensing means is located in a longitudinal housing having a lumen defined by said housing, said housing further comprising a nozzle on one end thereof constricting said lumen;
gas valve means responsive to said gas flow sensing means and having at least one outlet disposed in said air intake means downstream of said air flow sensing means, for selectively controlling the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel supplied to said internal combustion engine;
throttle means, having a movable plate disposed in said air intake means downstream of the outlet of said gas valve means, for varying the quantity of air and fuel flow through said air intake means; and
control means for controlling the operation of said gas valve, said control means being responsive to at least said air flow sensing means and said gas flow sensing means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated premixture chamber is disclosed, for mixing gaseous fuel and air for delivery to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The integrated premixture chamber includes a mass air flow sensor, a throttle valve and position sensor, a fuel shut-off valve, a gas flow sensor and a fuel metering valve having discharge outlets downstream of the mass air flow sensor to provide more accurate metering. The integrated premixture chamber is controlled by an electronic unit separate from the engine'"'"'s control unit.
48 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A premixture apparatus for operating a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine having a fuel supply means and an air intake means, said apparatus comprising:
-
air flow sensing means disposed in said air intake means for detecting the mass flow rate of air delivered through said air intake means; gas flow sensing means for detecting the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel to be supplied to said internal combustion engine, wherein said gas flow sensing means is located in a longitudinal housing having a lumen defined by said housing, said housing further comprising a nozzle on one end thereof constricting said lumen; gas valve means responsive to said gas flow sensing means and having at least one outlet disposed in said air intake means downstream of said air flow sensing means, for selectively controlling the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel supplied to said internal combustion engine; throttle means, having a movable plate disposed in said air intake means downstream of the outlet of said gas valve means, for varying the quantity of air and fuel flow through said air intake means; and
control means for controlling the operation of said gas valve, said control means being responsive to at least said air flow sensing means and said gas flow sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a gaseous fuel supply source and an air intake passageway coupled to at least one combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
-
detecting within the air intake passageway the mass flow rate of air delivered through the air intake passageway; detecting the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber by measuring the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel passing through a gas flow sensor disposed in a longitudinal housing having a constricted nozzle located on one end of said housing; selectively supplying an amount of gaseous fuel in accordance with operating characteristics of the engine, to the air intake passageway for intermixing with the air at a location downstream from where the air flow rate is being detected; and regulating a throttle disposed in the air intake passageway downstream of the location where the gaseous fuel and air mix, for varying the quantity of air and fuel flow through the air intake passageway to the combustion chamber in accordance with operating characteristics of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An integrated premixture apparatus for mixing gaseous fuel and air for delivery to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine coupled to a fuel supply system and to a main engine control unit, and having an air intake passageway coupled to at least one combustion chamber, said premixture apparatus comprising:
-
an air flow sensor disposed in said air intake passageway for detecting the mass flow rate of air moving through said air intake passageway; a gas flow sensor for detecting the mass flow rate of gaseous fuel supplied to said combustion chamber; a gas valve responsive to said gas flow sensor and having at least one outlet disposed in said air intake passageway downstream of said air flow sensor, for selectively controlling the amount of gaseous fuel supplied to said combustion chamber; a throttle valve, having a pivotally secured plate disposed in said air intake passageway downstream of the outlet of said gas valve, for regulating the quantity of air and fuel flow through said air intake passageway; a throttle position sensor responsive to varying positions in said throttle plate, for actuating said gas valve to provide gaseous fuel in response to said throttle plate position; and a sub-central processor unit located in close proximity to said premixture chamber for controlling the operation of said gas valve, said processor being responsive to at least said air flow sensor, said gas flow sensor and said throttle position sensor, wherein said sub-central processor unit communicates engine sensor data to and from said main engine control unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification