Electrical system for an internal combustion engine
First Claim
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1. In an electrical system of an internal combustion engine having an electronic control unit (ECU), said electrical system comprising a battery power source;
- and alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
a starter motor powered by said battery source;
an ignition switch controlling current flow from said battery power source to said starter motor, said ECU having memory and connected to said power source;
the improvement comprising a first sensor to sense engine oil temperature, and a second sensor to sense coolant temperature, each sensor in communication with said ECU, and separate current supply lines from the alternator with separate resistance in each line in heat transfer relation with a respective engine fluid each said line having a relay controlled by the ECU to control the flow of current from the alternator to the resistance in response to sensor input to the ECU.
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Abstract
An improved electrical system for internal combustion engines which transfers electrically generated energy from the alternator to heat engine fluids, such as the coolant and the oil, thereby reducing engine warm up time, and/or exhaust emissions and/or fuel consumption.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In an electrical system of an internal combustion engine having an electronic control unit (ECU), said electrical system comprising a battery power source;
- and alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
a starter motor powered by said battery source;
an ignition switch controlling current flow from said battery power source to said starter motor, said ECU having memory and connected to said power source;
the improvement comprising a first sensor to sense engine oil temperature, and a second sensor to sense coolant temperature, each sensor in communication with said ECU, and separate current supply lines from the alternator with separate resistance in each line in heat transfer relation with a respective engine fluid each said line having a relay controlled by the ECU to control the flow of current from the alternator to the resistance in response to sensor input to the ECU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- and alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
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7. In an electrical system of an internal combustion engine having an electronic control unit (ECU), said electrical system comprising a battery power source;
- an alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
a starter motor powered by said battery source;
an ignition switch controlling current flow from said battery power source to said starter motor, said ECU having memory and connected to said power source;
the improvement comprising a first sensor connected to said ECU for sensing the temperature of an engine oil, and a second sensor connected to said ECU for sensing the temperature of an engine coolant;
a first resistance in a first current supply line from the alternator in heat transfer relation with said oil; and
a second resistance in a second current supply line from the alternator in heat transfer relation with said coolant;
each said current supply line having a relay controlled by the ECU to control the flow of current from the alternator to the resistance in response to sensor input to the ECU. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- an alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
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13. A method for controlling the engine speed of an internal combustion engine, having an electronic control unit (ECU) with memory for controlling the engine, an electrical system comprising a battery power source;
- an alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
a starter motor powered by said battery source;
an ignition switch controlling current flow from said battery power source to said starter motor, said ECU connected to said power source and having at least one sensor connected to said ECU for sensing the temperature of engine fluids including engine oil and engine coolant, and at least one resistance in a separate current supply line from the alternator in heat transfer relation with each said engine fluid;
each said current supply line having a relay controlled by the ECU to control the flow of current from the alternator to each said resistance in response to sensor input to the ECU;
the method comprising;(a) starting the engine;
(b) sensing the temperature of at engine oil and engine coolant;
(c) supplying current from the alternator to the resistance;
(d) determining whether the vehicle is speed is greater than 0;
(e) sensing engine speed;
(f) controlling engine speed;
(f) ceasing the flow of current from the alternator to the resistance when a sensed temperature has reached a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- an alternator connected to said battery for recharging said battery;
Specification