Fuel control system

• US 7,072,757 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Adams, Robert E., Griffith, Robert C. Jr., Fischer, Jeffery T., Chevalier, Douglas M., Laugel, Diane M., He, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US10/166,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 701/103, 701/105, 123/480, 123/497, 123/179.16, 123/179.17
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/061 the corrections being time dependent
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/406 Electrically controlling a diesel injection pump F02D41/401 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method of controlling an engine by determining the state of an ignition command device and the speed of an engine and operating a fuel pump during a predetermined period in response to the ignition command device being in a predetermined state and the speed being substantially zero.

Claims

1. An engine having a moveable component, comprising:

a fuel injector tip positioned in each of a plurality of engine cylinders;

an ignition command device being operable to deliver an ignition signal representative of a state of the ignition command device, which is indicative of a commanded engine state;

a speed signal indicative of a speed of the moveable component;

a controller operable to receive the ignition and speed signals and provide a control signal in response to the speed being substantially zero and the ignition command device being in at least one predetermined state;

a fuel pump responsive to the control signal;

wherein the control signal causes the pump to be on for a predetermined period and then off;

a fuel filter fluidly positioned between the pump and the fuel injector; and

wherein the predetermined state is at least one of a run state and a start state.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein the engine has a control system including a speed sensor operable to provide the speed signal and a conversion device operable to receive the control signal and responsively provide power to operate the pump.

3. The engine of claim 2, wherein the conversion device is at least one of a relay or a solenoid activated valve and including at least one of a data link interface and a service tool interface for providing to a person at least one of the state of the ignition command device, the speed, and the state of the pump.

4. The engine of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a maintenance mode in which the ignition command device is in a run state and the engine speed is zero, and the control signal causes the pump to be on for a predetermined period and then off.

5. The engine of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a filter priming mode in which the ignition command device is in a run state and the engine speed is zero, and the control signal causes the pump to be on for a predetermined period and then off.

6. The engine of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a lack of fuel engine shut down mode in which the ignition command device is in a run state and the engine speed is zero, and the control signal causes the pump to be on for a predetermined period and then off.

7. The engine of claim 6, wherein the controller includes a maintenance mode in which the ignition command device is in a run state and the engine speed is zero, and the control signal causes the pump to be on for a predetermined period and then off.

8. The engine of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a filter priming mode in which the ignition command device is in a run state and the engine speed is zero, and the control signal causes the pump to be on for a predetermined period and then off.

9. A method of controlling an engine, comprising:

controlling individual fuel injectors associated with each of a plurality of cylinders to inject fuel from tips located in the respective cylinders;

determining a state of an ignition command device, which is indicative of a commanded engine state;

determining a speed of a moveable component;

operating a fuel pump during a predetermined period in response to the ignition command device state and the speed determination being substantially zero indicating one of a maintenance mode, a fuel filter priming mode and a lack of fuel shut down mode; and

deactivating the fuel pump after the predetermined period.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined state is at least one of a run state and a start state.

11. The method of claim 10, including providing to a person at least one of the state of the ignition command device, the speed, and a state of the pump.