Engine with gaseous and/or liquid fuel injector

• US 8,342,158 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ulrey, Joseph Norman, Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Primary Examiner(s): MOULIS, THOMAS N
• Application Number:
  US13/461,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 123/525, 123/526, 123/575, 123/577, 123/431, 123299-300, 701/103, 701/104
• US Class Current: 123/525
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/16 Indirect injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/061 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0628 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0689 for in-cylinder direct injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0692 Arrangement of multiple injectors per combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0694 operating with a plurality of fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0697 Arrangement of fuel supply systems on engines or vehicle bodies; Components of the fuel supply system being combined with another device
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3064 with special control during transition between modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3094 the fuel injection being effected by at least two different injectors, e.g. one in the intake manifold and one in the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

In one example, a system for a vehicle travelling on a surface is described. The system includes an engine with a cylinder. The cylinder includes a fuel injector that is supplied with gaseous fuel and liquid fuel by a fuel delivery system. The fuel injector is mounted in the vehicle such that the fuel injector inlet faces at least partially toward the road surface. The orientation of the fuel injector enables a quick transition from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel because the gaseous fuel can rise to the injectors and be preferentially injected. Further, various approaches are described from transitioning operation between gaseous and liquid fuel injection.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an engine cylinder, comprising:

delivering liquid fuel to a first, direct, injector of the cylinder;

delivering gaseous fuel to the second, port, injector of the cylinder; and

transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel responsive to an injection rate of first injector being above a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning is further responsive to generated engine power being less than requested.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning is further responsive to an increase in fuel delivered to the second injection due to generated engine power being less than requested.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering gaseous fuel to the second injector includes supplying gaseous fuel to an inlet of the second injector, the inlet facing at least partially toward a road surface on which a vehicle including the engine travels.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel includes increasing injection of the first injector when ceasing injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel includes decreasing injection of the first injector when resuming injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting injection of the first injector and the second injector in response to knock.

9. A method of controlling an engine cylinder, comprising:

delivering liquid fuel to a first, direct, injector of the cylinder;

delivering liquid fuel to the second, port, injector of the cylinder; and

transitioning the second injector from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel responsive to an injection rate of first injector being above a threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transitioning is further responsive to engine knock.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein transitioning is further responsive to an increase in fuel delivered to the second injector due to engine knock.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein delivering gaseous fuel to the second injector includes supplying gaseous fuel to an inlet of the second injector, the inlet facing at least partially toward a road surface on which a vehicle including the engine travels.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel includes increasing injection of the first injector when ceasing injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusting injection of the first injector when transitioning the second injector from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel includes decreasing injection of the first injector when resuming injection on the second injector, such that the amount of power generated by the engine is maintained in the transition.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

adjusting injection of the first injector and the second injector in response to knock.

17. A method of controlling an engine cylinder, comprising:

delivering liquid fuel to the cylinder'"'"'s direct injector;

selectively delivering gaseous and liquid fuel to the cylinder'"'"'s port injector;

transitioning the second injector from gaseous to liquid fuel responsive to the first injector reaching a maximum injection rate and insufficient engine power; and

transitioning the second injector from liquid to gaseous fuel responsive to the first injector reaching the maximum injection rate and engine knock.