Method for operating a fuel pump
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a fuel pump having a variable delivery rate in order to feed fuel from a fuel container to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding electrical energy in the form of pulses periodically to the fuel pump,controlling a pulse width as a function of the fuel requirement of the internal combustion engine, andcontrolling the frequency of the pulses in such a way that an inaudible frequency is set when there is a low delivery rate of the fuel pump but not when there is a relatively high delivery rate,wherein controlling the pulse width and the frequency of the pulses includes transitioning between a plurality of integral operational states, each corresponding to a predefined range of fuel requirement values, including at least;
a first state corresponding to a first range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have a first frequency and a first pulse width;
a second state corresponding to a second range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have the same first frequency but a second pulse width different than the first pulse width; and
a third state corresponding to a third range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have a second frequency different than the first frequency, and a third pulse width different than both the first and second pulse widths.
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Abstract
In a method for operating a fuel pump in order to guide fuel from the fuel container of an internal combustion engine, the electric energy, which is in the form of pulses, is periodically guided to the fuel pump and the duration of the pulses is controlled according to the fuel required by the internal combustion engine. The frequency of the pulses is controlled in such a manner that, in the event of low pump rate of the fuel pump, the frequency is controlled to a higher level than in the even of a high pump rate.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for operating a fuel pump having a variable delivery rate in order to feed fuel from a fuel container to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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feeding electrical energy in the form of pulses periodically to the fuel pump, controlling a pulse width as a function of the fuel requirement of the internal combustion engine, and controlling the frequency of the pulses in such a way that an inaudible frequency is set when there is a low delivery rate of the fuel pump but not when there is a relatively high delivery rate, wherein controlling the pulse width and the frequency of the pulses includes transitioning between a plurality of integral operational states, each corresponding to a predefined range of fuel requirement values, including at least; a first state corresponding to a first range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have a first frequency and a first pulse width; a second state corresponding to a second range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have the same first frequency but a second pulse width different than the first pulse width; and a third state corresponding to a third range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have a second frequency different than the first frequency, and a third pulse width different than both the first and second pulse widths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21)
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11. A fuel pump system for feeding fuel from a fuel container to an internal combustion engine, comprising a fuel pump and an integral controller controlling said fuel pump, wherein the integral controller is operable:
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to feed electrical energy in the form of pulses periodically to the fuel pump, to control the duration of the pulses as a function of the fuel requirement of the internal combustion engine, and to control the frequency of the pulses in such a way that an inaudible frequency is set when there is a low delivery rate of the fuel pump but not when there is a relatively high delivery rate, wherein controlling the pulse width and the frequency of the pulses includes transitioning between a plurality of integral operational states, each corresponding to a predefined range of fuel requirement values, including at least; a first state corresponding to a first range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have a first frequency and a first pulse width; a second state corresponding to a second range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have the same first frequency but a second pulse width different than the first pulse width; and a third state corresponding to a third range of fuel requirement values, wherein the pulses have a second frequency different than the first frequency, and a third pulse width different than both the first and second pulse widths. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeVitesco Technologies GmbH (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
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Original AssigneeContinental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
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InventorsGraf, Rolf
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Primary Examiner(s)Cronin; Stephen K
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Assistant Examiner(s)NAJMUDDIN, RAZA NEHAL
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Application NumberUS12/066,204Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,622 DaysField of Search123/497, 123/357, 123/487, 123/255, 123/495, 123/499, 417/410.1, 417/423.3US Class Current123/497CPC Class CodesF02D 2041/2027 Control of the current by p...F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel ...
