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Internal combustion engine with air/fuel ratio control

  • US 5,904,131 A
  • Filed: 12/28/1995
  • Issued: 05/18/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling an internal combustion engine, with a manifold coupled to an air pathway and a gaseous fuel line, the engine being configured to combust a mixture of air from the pathway and gaseous fuel from the fuel line, comprising the steps of:

  • (1) sensing engine speed;

    (2) sensing manifold pressure;

    (3) sensing manifold temperature;

    (4) determining air mass flow rate as a function of sensed engine speed, manifold pressure, and manifold temperature;

    (5) sensing fuel mass flow rate in the fuel line; and

    (6) controlling fuel flow through the fuel line in accordance with air mass flow rate determined in step (4) and sensed fuel mass flow rate of step (5), wherein the engine includes an exhaust stream and a controllable valve to regulate fuel flow in the fuel line, and step (6) further includes the steps of;

    (6a) establishing a target air/fuel ratio;

    (6b) sensing air/fuel ratio from the exhaust stream;

    (6c) determining a first fuel mass flow rate as a function of the sensed air/fuel ratio of step (6b) and the target air/fuel ratio of step (6a);

    (6d) determining a second fuel mass flow rate as a function of the target air/fuel ratio and the air mass flow rate determined in step (4);

    (6e) establishing a target fuel mass flow rate as a function of the first fuel mass flow rate determined in step (6c) and the second fuel mass flow rate determined in step (6d);

    (6f) generating a valve control signal as a function of the sensed fuel mass flow rate of step (5) and the target fuel mass flow rate of step (6e); and

    (6g) actuating the controllable valve in response to the valve control signal generated in step (6f).

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