Engine startup fuel pressure control systems and methods

• US 8,042,520 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gibson, Robert C., Ferdous, Kauser, Miller, Jon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOULIS, THOMAS N
• Application Number:
  US12/482,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20100288235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 123/457, 123/458, 123/464, 701102-104, 701113-115
• US Class Current: 123/458
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/02 Fuel evaporation in fuel rails, e.g. in common rails
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/31 Control of the fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3845 by controlling the flow into the common rail, e.g. the amount of fuel pumped

Abstract

A fuel pressure control system for a vehicle comprises a pressure regulator module and a pressure increasing module. The pressure regulator module regulates a fuel pressure supplied to an engine to a first predetermined pressure during an engine running period. The pressure increasing module selectively increases the fuel pressure to a second predetermined pressure during the engine running period when a counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value. The second predetermined pressure is greater than the first predetermined pressure, and the counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after being assembled.

Claims

1. A fuel pressure control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a pressure regulator module that regulates a fuel pressure supplied to an engine to a first predetermined pressure during an engine running period; and

a pressure increasing module that selectively increases said fuel pressure to a second predetermined pressure during said engine running period when a counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value,

wherein said second predetermined pressure is greater than said first predetermined pressure, and

wherein said counter value is set to said predetermined final value after said engine is started for a first time after being assembled.

2. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 wherein said pressure increasing module determines whether to increase said fuel pressure based on an engine coolant temperature and said engine running period when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

3. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 wherein said pressure increasing module increases said fuel pressure to said second predetermined pressure when an engine coolant temperature is within a predetermined temperature range, said engine running period is less than a predetermined period, and said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

4. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 wherein said pressure regulator module selectively decreases said fuel pressure to a third predetermined pressure that is less than said first predetermined pressure.

5. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 further comprising an engine runtime module that starts said engine running period when an engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed.

6. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 further comprising an engine runtime module that starts said engine running period when an engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed for a predetermined number of combustion events.

7. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 further comprising an engine runtime module that starts said engine running period when an engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed for a predetermined number of consecutive combustion events.

8. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined pressure is approximately four-hundred (400) kPa and said second predetermined pressure is approximately four-hundred, fifty (450) kPa.

9. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined pressure is approximately twenty (20) percent greater than said first predetermined pressure.

10. The fuel pressure control system of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined pressure is approximately thirty (30) percent greater than said first predetermined pressure.

11. A fuel pressure control method for a vehicle, comprising:

regulating a fuel pressure supplied to an engine to a first predetermined pressure during an engine running period; and

selectively increasing said fuel pressure to a second predetermined pressure during said engine running period when a counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value,

wherein said second predetermined pressure is greater than said first predetermined pressure, and

wherein said counter value is set to said predetermined final value after said engine is started for a first time after being assembled.

12. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 further comprising determining whether to increase said fuel pressure based on an engine coolant temperature and said engine running period when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

13. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 further comprising increasing said fuel pressure to said second predetermined pressure when an engine coolant temperature is within a predetermined temperature range, said engine running period is less than a predetermined period, and said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined value.

14. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 further comprising selectively decreasing said fuel pressure to a third predetermined pressure that is less than said first predetermined pressure.

15. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 further comprising starting said engine running period when an engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed.

16. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 further comprising starting said engine running period when an engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed for a predetermined number of combustion events.

17. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 further comprising starting said engine running period when an engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed for a predetermined number of consecutive combustion events.

18. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 wherein said first predetermined pressure is approximately four-hundred (400) kPa and said second predetermined pressure is approximately four-hundred, fifty (450) kPa.

19. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 wherein said second predetermined pressure is approximately twenty (20) percent greater than said first predetermined pressure.

20. The fuel pressure control method of claim 11 wherein said second predetermined pressure is approximately thirty (30) percent greater than said first predetermined pressure.