Two-cycle engine with electronic fuel injection

• US 6,062,202 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Injection Research Specialists Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Infection Research Specialists Incorporated
• Inventors: Chasteen, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/163,139
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 123/478, 123/480, 123/486, 123/73 A, 123/73 C, 701/101, 701/103, 701/104, 701/108
• US Class Current: 123/478
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/503 Battery correction, i.e. corrections as a function of the state of the battery, its output or its type
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/703 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/04 Two-stroke combustion engines with electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/00 Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents F02D43/00 takes precedence ; control of engine starters F02N11/08, electrical control of engine ignition timing F02P5/145
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/068 for warming-up
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3005 Details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/345 Controlling injection timing F02D41/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 236/08 Computer

Abstract

A fuel injection system for a two-stroke cycle engine comprising an air manifold; a throttle valve; a fuel injector; a fuel supply system including a fuel pump; a battery voltage sensor; an air temperature sensor; an engine speed sensor; a timing sensor; a barometric pressure sensor; a throttle position sensor; a first data processor for receiving and processing sensing signals for determining fuel injector duration and timing and fuel pump operating speed; a first data processor temperature sensor for sensing the relative temperature of certain electronic components in the first data processor; a heater operatively associated with the first data processor electronic components for selectively heating the electronic components; and a second data processor operable independently of the first data processor for receiving an electronic component temperature sensing signal and for generating a control signal to the heater responsive thereto for heating the components when the temperature thereof is below a predetermined minimum value.

Claims

1. A fuel injection system for a two-stroke cycle engine of the type comprising at least one cylinder, a crankcase associated with said cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder and crankcase;

a reciprocally openable and closable crankcase inlet for enabling combustible fluid to be drawn into the crankcase, a reciprocally openable and closable transfer port for transferring combustible fluid compressed in said crankcase to said cylinder, an ignition system for igniting compressed combustible fluid in said cylinder, a reciprocally openable and closable exhaust port in said cylinder for enabling exhaust of burned combustible fluid from said cylinder, a crankshaft connected to said piston for transferring mechanical energy from said piston to a drive unit, and a electrical energy supply source for operating the ignition system and other electrical components, comprising;

a) a fuel injector for injecting fuel to a manifold for combustion within said cylinder;

b) a fuel injector pump for supplying fuel to said injector;

c) an air temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of ambient air temperature;

d) an engine speed sensor for providing a signal indicative of a speed of revolution of said engine;

e) a timing sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine timing;

f) a barometric pressure sensor for providing a signal indicative of atmospheric air pressure;

g) a throttle position sensor for providing a signal indicative of an amount of opening of an engine throttle valve;

h) an engine temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine temperature;

i) a look-up table to experimentally determined base fuel injection values at predetermined standard operating conditions is stored according to engine revolution speed and throttle valve opening amount for operating characteristics of a particular two-stroke cycle engine to be fuel-injected; and

j) a processor executing a program performing the following functions;

1) turning said fuel pump on and off,

2) receiving the engine revolution speed signal and the throttle valve opening amount signal, and retrieving a corresponding base fuel injection valve from said experimentally determined look-up table,

3) receiving the ambient air temperature signal and calculating an air temperature modification value of the base fuel injection value,

4) receiving the atmospheric air pressure signal and calculating a barometric pressure modification value of the base fuel injection value,

5) receiving the engine temperature signal and calculating an engine temperature modification value to the base fuel injection value,

6) determining a total fuel injection value from the base fuel injection value, the air temperature modification value, the barometric pressure modification value, and the engine temperature modification value,

7) determining an injector open duration interval based upon the total fuel injection value and a known fuel output rate capacity of said fuel injector, and

8) generating a control signal for opening said fuel injector for the determined injector open duration interval in response to the engine timing signal.

2. A fuel injection system for a two-stroke cycle engine of the type comprising at least one cylinder, a crankcase associated with said cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder and crankcase;

a reciprocally openable and closable crankcase inlet for enabling combustible fluid to be drawn into the crankcase, a reciprocally openable and closable transfer port for transferring combustible fluid compressed in said crankcase to said cylinder, an ignition system for igniting compressed combustible fluid in said cylinder, a reciprocally openable and closable exhaust port in said cylinder for enabling exhaust of burned combustible fluid from said cylinder, a crankshaft connected to said piston of transferring mechanical energy from said piston to a drive unit, and an electrical energy supply for operating the ignition system and other electrical components, comprising;

a) a fuel injector for injecting fuel to a manifold for combustion within said cylinder;

b) a fuel pump for supplying fuel to said fuel injector;

c) an air temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of ambient air temperature;

d) an engine speed sensor for providing a signal indicative of a speed of revolution of said engine;

e) a timing sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine timing;

f) a barometric pressure sensor for providing a signal indicative of atmospheric air pressure;

g) a throttle position sensor for providing a signal indicative of an amount of opening of an engine throttle valve;

h) an engine temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine temperature;

i) a look-up table of experimentally determined base fuel injection values at predetermined standard operating conditions is stored according to engine revolution speed and throttle valve opening amount of operating characteristics of a particular two-stroke cycle engine to be fuel-injected; and

j) a processor executing a program performing the following functions;

1) turning said fuel pump on and off,

2) receiving the engine revolution speed signal and the throttle valve opening amount signal, and retrieving a corresponding base fuel injection value from said experimentally determined look-up table,

3) receiving the ambient air temperature signal and calculating an air temperature modification value of the base fuel injection value,

4) receiving the atmospheric air pressure signal and calculating a barometric pressure modification value of the base fuel injection value,

5) receiving the engine temperature signal and calculating an engine temperature modification value to the base fuel injection value,

6) determining a total fuel injection value from the base fuel injection value, the air temperature modification value, the barometric pressure modification value, and the engine temperature modification value,

7) determining, an injector open duration interval based upon the total fuel injection value and a known fuel output rate capacity of said fuel injector, and

8) generating a control signal for opening said fuel injector for the determined injector open duration interval in response to the engine timing signal;

wherein the predetermined standard operating conditions include ambient air temperature, atmospheric air pressure, and engine temperature at the time the base fuel injection values are experimentally determined.

3. The fuel injection system of claim 2 wherein the air temperature modification value, the barometric pressure modification value, and the engine temperature modification value are determined based upon the predetermined standard operating conditions.

4. A fuel injection system for a two-stroke cycle engine of the type comprising at least one cylinder, a crankcase associated with said cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder and crankcase;

a reciprocally openable and closable crankcase inlet for enabling combustible fluid to be drawn into the crankcase, a reciprocally openable and closable transfer port for transferring combustible fluid compressed in said crankcase to said cylinder, an ignition system for igniting compressed combustible fluid in said cylinder, a reciprocally openable and closable exhaust port in said cylinder for enabling exhaust to burned combustible fluid from said cylinder, a crankshaft to said cylinder, an ignition system for igniting compressed combustible fluid in said cylinder, a reciprocally openable and closable exhaust port in said cylinder for enabling exhaust of burned combustible fluid from said cylinder, a crankshaft connected to said piston for transferring mechanical energy from said piston to a drive unit, and an electrical energy supply source for operating the ignition system and other electrical components, comprising;

a) fuel injector for injecting fuel to a manifold for combustion within said cylinder;

b) a fuel pump for supplying fuel to said fuel injector;

c) an air temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of ambient air temperature;

d) an engine speed sensor for providing a signal indicative of a speed of revolution of said engine;

e) a timing sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine timing;

f) a barometric pressure for providing a signal indicative of atmospheric air pressure;

g) a throttle position sensor for providing a signal indicative of an amount of opening of an engine throttle valve;

h) an engine temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine temperature;

i) a look-up table of experimentally determined base fuel injection values at predetermined standard operating conditions is stored according to engine revolution speed and throttle valve opening amount for operating characteristics of a particular two-stroke cycle to be fuel-injected; and

j) a processor executing a program performing the following functions;

1) turning said fuel pump on and off,

2) receiving the engine revolution speed signal and the throttle valve opening amount signal, and retrieving a corresponding base fuel injection value from said experimentally determined look-up table,

3) receiving the ambient air temperature signal and calculating an air temperature modification value of the base fuel injection value,

4) receiving the atmospheric air pressure signal and calculating an engine barometric pressure modification value of the base fuel injection value,

5) receiving the engine temperature signal and calculating an engine temperature modification value to the base fuel injection value,

6) determining a total fuel injection value from the base fuel injection value, the air temperature modification value, the barometric pressure modification value, and the engine temperature modification value,

7) determining an injector open duration interval based upon the total fuel injection value and a known fuel output rate capacity of said fuel injector, and

8) generating a control signal for opening said fuel injector for the determined injector open duration interval in response to the engine timing signal;

wherein said processor program generates a priming control signal in response to the engine revolution speed signal and the throttle valve open amount signal.

5. A fuel injection system for a two-stroke cycle engine of the type comprising at least one cylinder, a crankcase associated with said cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder and crankcase;

a reciprocally openable and closable crankcase inlet for enabling combustible fluid to be drawn into the crankcase, a reciprocally openable and closable transfer port for transferring combustible fluid compressed in said crankcase to said cylinder, an ignition system for igniting compressed combustible fluid in said cylinder, a reciprocally openable and closable exhaust port in said cylinder for enabling exhaust of burned combustible fluid from said cylinder, a crankshaft connected to said piston for transferring mechanical energy from said piston to a drive unit, and an electrical energy supply source for operating the ignition system and other electrical components, comprising;

a) fuel injector for injecting fuel to a manifold for combustion within said cylinder;

b) a fuel pump for supplying fuel to said fuel injector;

c) an air temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of ambient air temperature;

d) an engine speed sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine timing;

e) a timing sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine timing;

f) a barometric pressure sensor for providing a signal indicative of atmospheric air pressure;

g) a throttle position sensor for providing a signal indicative of an amount of opening of an engine throttle valve;

h) an engine temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine temperature;

i) a look-up table of experimentally determined base fuel injection values at predetermined standard operating conditions is stored according to engine revolution speed and throttle valve opening amount for operating characteristics of a particular two-stroke cycle engine to be fuel-injected; and

j) a processor executing a program performing the following functions;

1) turning said fuel pump on and off,

2) receiving the engine revolution speed signal and the throttle valve opening amount signal, and retrieving a corresponding base fuel injection value from said experimentally determined look-up table,

3) receiving the ambient air temperature signal and calculating an air temperature modification value of the base fuel injection value,

4) receiving the atmospheric air pressure signal and calculating a barometric pressure modification value of the base fuel injection value,

5) receiving the engine temperature signal and calculating an engine temperature modification value to the base fuel injection value,

6) determining a total fuel injection value from the base fuel injection value, the air temperature modification value, the barometric pressure modification value, and the engine temperature modification value,

7) determining an injector open duration interval based upon the total fuel injection value and a known fuel output rate capacity of said fuel injector, and

8) generating a control signal for opening said fuel injector for he determined injector open duration interval in response to the engine timing signal;

wherein said engine temperature sensor is an engine block temperature sensor.

6. A fuel injection system for a two-stroke cycle engine of the type comprising at least one cylinder, a crankcase associated with said cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder and crankcase;

a reciprocally openable and closable crankcase inlet for enabling combustible fluid to be drawn into the crankcase, a reciprocally openable and closable transferring combustible fluid compressed combustible fluid in said cylinder, a reciprocally openable and closable exhaust port in said cylinder for enabling exhaust of burned combustible fluid from said cylinder, a crankshaft connected to said piston for transferring mechanical energy from said piston to a drive unit, and an electrical energy supply source for operating the ignition system and other electrical components, comprising;

a) fuel injector for injecting fuel to a manifold for combustion within said cylinder;

b) a fuel pump for supplying fuel to said fuel injector;

c) an air temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of ambient air temperature;

d) an engine speed sensor for providing a signal indicative of a speed of revolution of said engine;

e) a timing sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine timing;

f) a barometric pressure sensor for providing a signal indicative of atmospheric air pressure;

g) a throttle position sensor for providing a signal indicative of an amount of opening of an engine throttle valve;

h) an engine temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of engine temperature;

i) a look-up table of experimentally determined base fuel injection values at predetermined standard operating conditions is stored according to engine revolution speed and throttle valve opening amount for operating characteristics of a particular two-stroke cycle engine to be fuel-injected; and

j) a processor executing a program performing the following functions;

1) turning said fuel pump on and off,

2) receiving the engine revolution speed signal and the throttle valve opening amount signal, and retrieving a corresponding base fuel injection value from said experimentally determined look-up table,

3) receiving the ambient air temperature signal and calculating an air temperature modification value of the base fuel injection value,

4) receiving the atmospheric air pressure signal and calculating a barometric pressure modification value of the base fuel injection value,

5) receiving the engine temperature signal and calculating and engine temperature modification value to the base fuel injection value,

6) determining a total fuel injection value from the base fuel injection value, the air temperature modification value, the barometric pressure modification value, and the engine temperature modification value,

7) determining an injector open duration interval based upon the total fuel injection value and a known fuel output rate capacity of said fuel injector, and

8) generating a control signal for opening said fuel injector for the determined injector open duration interval in response to the engine timing signal; and

k) a voltage sensor for providing a signal indicative of voltage, and wherein said processor receives the voltage signal.