Dual fuel engine control unit
First Claim
1. A multi-mode engine system comprising an engine adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes including a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising:
- a first engine control unit (ECU) for controlling the flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode;
a plurality of first sensors operatively connected to the first ECU, each of which first sensors is adapted to sense a first variable, and to emit a first input signal dependent on a value of the sensed first variable; and
a second ECU operatively connected to the first ECU;
wherein the first ECU comprises;
a signal receiver for receiving the first input signals, and an output for emitting a first output signal dependent on the first input signals, which first output signal determines the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine,the second ECU being adapted to modify the first output signal when the engine is running in the second mode to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal;
the first modified signal determining the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode, and the second calculated signal determining the amount of second fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode, wherein the second ECU is operatively connected to the first ECU in both the first mode and the second mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-mode engine system comprising a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising: a first engine control unit (ECU) for controlling the flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode; and a second ECU operatively connected to the first ECU; wherein the first ECU comprises: a signal receiver for receiving the first input signals, and an output for emitting a first output signal; and the second ECU being adapted to modify the first output signal when the engine is running in the second mode to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-mode engine system comprising an engine adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes including a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising:
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a first engine control unit (ECU) for controlling the flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode; a plurality of first sensors operatively connected to the first ECU, each of which first sensors is adapted to sense a first variable, and to emit a first input signal dependent on a value of the sensed first variable; and a second ECU operatively connected to the first ECU; wherein the first ECU comprises; a signal receiver for receiving the first input signals, and an output for emitting a first output signal dependent on the first input signals, which first output signal determines the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine, the second ECU being adapted to modify the first output signal when the engine is running in the second mode to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal;
the first modified signal determining the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode, and the second calculated signal determining the amount of second fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode, wherein the second ECU is operatively connected to the first ECU in both the first mode and the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating an engine in either a first mode in which the engine is fuelled by a first fuel, or in a second mode in which the engine is fuelled by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first fuel and the second fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
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programming the engine to operate initially in the first mode; repeatedly sensing a plurality of first variables and obtaining a measured value for each sensed first variable, and emitting a first input signal dependent on the measured value of each sensed first variable; causing a first output signal to be emitted in dependence on the first input signals for controlling the amount of the first fuel supplied to the engine, switching the mode of operation to the second mode; modifying the first output signal to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal, the first modified signal determining the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine and the second calculated signal determining the amount of second fuel supplied the engine when the engine is running in the second mode, wherein the engine comprises a first ECU and a second ECU, the second ECU being operatively connected to the first ECU in both the first and the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification