Cold starting aid system for an internal combustion engine and method of start-up sequencing for same
First Claim
1. A cold start system for an engine having at least one fuel injector for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber and an air intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber, said cold start system including at least one heating element to be disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein, said heater is adapted to encompass a body of said injector, said heater includes a body and at least one electrical heating element disposed in said body, said heater includes a heat conductive gasket to be interposed between said body and said injector, said body includes a recess for receiving said injector and a plurality of electrical heating elements are located in said body adjacent to said recess for transferring heat to said injector.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cold starting system and power management software consisting of an air heater system, a fuel heater system, a controller with microprocessor and related software, a series of devices comprising of switches, indicators, solenoids and sensors, is used as an aid to assist start up of air cooled combustion engines in extreme temperature environments. Both the air and fuel heater systems include electrically powered heating elements. The power management software controls the sequential operation of individual system components.
72 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A cold start system for an engine having at least one fuel injector for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber and an air intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber, said cold start system including at least one heating element to be disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein, said heater is adapted to encompass a body of said injector, said heater includes a body and at least one electrical heating element disposed in said body, said heater includes a heat conductive gasket to be interposed between said body and said injector, said body includes a recess for receiving said injector and a plurality of electrical heating elements are located in said body adjacent to said recess for transferring heat to said injector.
- 4. A cold start system for an engine having at least one fuel injector for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber and an air intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber, said cold start system including at least one heating element to be disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein, said heating element disposed is electrically activated, a spacer for mounting in said manifold, said spacer having a peripheral wall and said heating element being located on said peripheral wall.
- 12. A cold start system for an engine having at least one fuel injector for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber and an air intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber, said cold start system including at least one heating element to be disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein, said heating element disposed is electrically activated, a controller for monitoring the operation of said system, wherein said controller monitors predetermined operating parameters and is operable to inhibit operation of the engine in the event that a sensed parameter is outside of a predetermined operating range.
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17. A cold start system for an engine having at least one fuel injector for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber and an air intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber, said cold start system including at least one heating element to be disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein, said heating element disposed is electrically activated, a controller for monitoring the operation of said system, said controller monitors an operation of said fuel pump and a supply of fuel to said injector during operation of said heating element and said heater.
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18. An air cooled internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft;
- a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder;
a combustion chamber formed between said piston and cylinder;
an air intake system for supplying combustion air to said combustion chamber including a manifold and at least one heating element disposed in said manifold;
a fuel injection system for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber and including a fuel injector, a fuel pump for delivering fuel to said injector and a heater disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein;
a starter for rotating said crankshaft; and
a controller for monitoring operation of said heating element, said heater and said starter;
whereby the starting of said engine is facilitated, said controller inhibits operation of said fuel pump during operation of said heating element and said heater.
- a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder;
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19. An air cooled internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft;
- a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder;
a combustion chamber formed between said piston and cylinder;
an air intake system for supplying combustion air to said combustion chamber including a manifold and at least one heating element disposed in said manifold;
a fuel injection system for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber and including a fuel injector, a fuel pump for delivering fuel to said injector and a heater disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein;
a starter for rotating said crankshaft; and
a controller for monitoring operation of said heating element, said heater and said starter;
whereby the starting of said engine is facilitated, said controller inhibits operation of said fuel pump during operation of said heating element and said heater.
- a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder;
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20. An air cooled internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft;
- a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder;
a combustion chamber formed between said piston and cylinder;
an air intake system for supplying combustion air to said combustion chamber including a manifold and at least one heating element disposed in said manifold;
a fuel injection system for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber and including a fuel injector, a fuel pump for delivering fuel to said injector and a heater disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein;
a starter for rotating said crankshaft; and
a controller for monitoring operation of said heating element, said heater and said starter;
whereby the starting of said engine is facilitated, said heating element is an electrically operated element disposed in said manifold.
- a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder;
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21. A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber and a fuel injector for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
heating of fuel in said injector for a predetermined time period; and
operating a starter for delivering said air and said fuel into said combustion chamber for initiating combustion, sensing an ambient temperature and selecting one of a plurality of said predetermined time periods.
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
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22. A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber and a fuel injector for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
heating of fuel in said injector for a predetermined time period; and
operating a starter for delivering said air and said fuel into said combustion chamber for initiating combustion, inhibiting operation of said starter during said heating.
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
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23. A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber and a fuel injector for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
heating of fuel in said injector for a predetermined time period; and
operating a starter for delivering said air and said fuel into said combustion chamber for initiating combustion, inhibiting said heating of said fuel during operation of said starter.
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
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24. A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber and a fuel injector for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
heating of fuel in said injector for a predetermined time period; and
operating a starter for delivering said air and said fuel into said combustion chamber for initiating combustion, inhibiting said heating of said air during operation of said starter.
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
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25. A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber and a fuel injector for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
heating of fuel in said injector for a predetermined time period; and
operating a starter for delivering said air and said fuel into said combustion chamber for initiating combustion, indicating to a user a plurality of operational states of said engine.
- heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period;
Specification