Electronic pressure regulator

• US 8,286,611 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics Line
• Original Assignee: Econtrols Incorporated
• Inventors: Guglielmo, Kennon H., Walser, Michael, Walser, Randy, Shouse, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US12/978,215
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 123/458, 123/445, 123/457, 123/525, 123/527, 123/27.GE
• US Class Current: 123/458
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/022 to adjust the fuel pressure, temperature or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/023 to adjust the fuel mass or volume flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0212 comprising at least 3 C-Atoms, e.g. liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], propane or butane
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0239 Pressure or flow regulators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

The invention includes a very fast voice coil actuator, in the range of 2-5 millisecond full stroke response with high force, a circuit board located in the enclosure, a pressure sensor sensing pressure internal to the system which in the preferred embodiment is located in the actuator cap assembly but could be located in other locations, a diaphragm, a link plate, a mating ring, and a mechanical pressure regulator. An electronic pressure regulator receives pressure commands from the engine control module in a manner similar to receiving pulse width from an engine control module to an injector and calculates the required new pressure command. A novel feature of the present invention includes the Delta P control and the control of the regulator based on direct feedback of pressure.

Claims

1. A method for controlling fuel to a carburetor comprising the steps of:

using a diaphragm connected to a valve to regulate a fuel amount entering the carburetor;

activating the diaphragm using a force balance across the diaphragm and an actuator;

a fuel pressure of fuel going into the carburetor;

controlling the activator based upon the fuel pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of measuring an air inlet pressure to the carburetor.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of calculating an actual pressure using said air inlet pressure and the fuel pressure and controlling said actuator based upon the actual pressure.

4. A method for controlling fuel supply to a fuel mixer, comprising:

determining a mixer fuel inlet pressure;

generating an actuation signal related to a difference between the mixer fuel inlet pressure and a desired pressure; and

actuating an actuator using the actuation signal, wherein in response to the actuation of the actuator, a pressure regulator member that is coupled to the actuator is moved in order to adjust the mixer fuel inlet pressure.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a mixer air inlet pressure, wherein the actuation signal is related to a difference between the mixer fuel inlet pressure and the mixer air inlet pressure.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring the performance of an engine, wherein the desired pressure is determined at least partially based on the monitored performance.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing an actuator force on the pressure regulator member using the actuator, wherein the actuator force is operable to override a plurality of other forces acting on the pressure regulator member.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of other forces comprise a plurality of pressure forces acting on the pressure regulator member.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the actuator is capable of operating at a frequency of 1000 Hz.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the actuator includes a linearly actuated rod and the method further comprises:

maintaining the linearly actuated rod along a predetermined linear range of motion, wherein no contact friction forces are generated when the linearly actuated rod is moved along the predetermined linear range of motion.

11. A method for controlling fuel supply to a carburetor, comprising:

monitoring a fuel inlet pressure at a carburetor fuel inlet;

generating an actuation signal related to a difference between the carburetor fuel inlet pressure and a desired pressure;

actuating an actuator using the actuation signal to move an actuation member; and

moving a pressure regulator member through a coupling of the actuation member and the pressure regulator member; and

adjusting the fuel inlet pressure at the carburetor fuel inlet in response to moving the pressure regulator.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a air inlet pressure at a carburetor air inlet, wherein the actuation signal is related to a difference between the fuel inlet pressure and the air inlet pressure.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring the performance of an engine coupled to the carburetor, wherein the desired pressure is determined at least partially based on the monitored performance.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an actuator force on the pressure regulator member using the actuator, wherein the actuator force is operable to override a plurality of other forces acting on the pressure regulator member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of other forces comprise a plurality of pressure forces acting on the pressure regulator member.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the actuator is capable of a 2 to 5 millisecond full stroke response.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a linearly actuated rod and the method further comprises:

maintaining the linearly actuated rod along a predetermined linear range of motion, wherein no contact friction forces are generated when the linearly actuated rod is moved along the predetermined linear range of motion.

18. A method for operating an engine, comprising:

providing an engine including a carburetor and an engine control module;

monitoring a fuel inlet pressure of the carburetor;

determining an actuation signal related to a difference between the fuel inlet pressure and a desired pressure provided by the engine control module;

actuating an actuator using the actuation signal to move an actuation member along a predetermined range of motion;

moving a valve through a coupling of the actuation member and the valve; and

adjusting a fuel supplied to the carburetor in response to moving the valve.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring a air inlet pressure of the carburetor, wherein the actuation signal is related to a difference between the fuel inlet pressure and the air inlet pressure.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the actuator is capable of operating at a frequency of 1000 Hz.