Method for operating a direct fuel injector

• US 9,453,476 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rumpsa, Todd Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, Marguerite
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLBROOK, TEUTA BAJRAMOVIC
• Application Number:
  US14/680,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 123294-305, 123/575, 123/578
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0606 Fuel temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/04 Introducing corrections for particular operating conditions F02D41/14 takes precedence
• 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: F02D 41/3863 by controlling the flow out of the common rail, e.g. using pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 53/043 with cooling means other than air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0265 Pumps feeding common rails
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0275 Arrangement of common rails

Abstract

A method, comprising: operating an engine cylinder with fuel from a first injector and not a second injector and activating the second injector in response to a rail pressure increase of a fuel rail, the fuel rail coupled to the second injector. In this way, degradation of the second injector may be reduced by activating the second injector and allowing fuel flow through the second injector to reduce the pressure and temperature of the fuel rail.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating an engine cylinder with fuel from a first port injector and not a second direct injector; and

activating the second direct injector in response to a rail pressure increase of a fuel rail, the fuel rail coupled to the second injector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second injector is activated in response to rail pressure increasing above a threshold, the rail pressure increase corresponding to a temperature increase, the threshold corresponding to a maximum temperature threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising deactivating the second injector when the rail pressure decreases below the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein fuel is trapped in the fuel rail while monitoring the pressure increase, the method further comprising activating a fuel pump coupled to the fuel rail in response to the rail pressure increase.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting injection of the first injector responsive to activation of the second injector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second injector activation is further based on a fuel rail rigidity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second injector activation is further based on a fuel coefficient of thermal expansion.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a parameter of a cooling system coupled to the fuel rail in response to the rail pressure increase of the fuel rail.

9. The method of claim 8, where the parameter is a flow rate of a coolant.

10. The method of claim 8, where the parameter is a temperature of a coolant.

11. A system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a boosting device coupled to a group of cylinders;

a group of direct fuel injectors in communication with the group of cylinders;

a group of port fuel injectors in communication with the group of cylinders;

a first fuel rail in communication with the group of direct injectors;

a higher-pressure fuel pump in communication with the first fuel rail; and

a control system configured with instructions for;

increasing a flow of fuel through the first fuel rail when a temperature change in a fuel included in the first fuel rail exceeds a threshold, the temperature change based on a rail pressure change.

12. The system of claim 11, where a first condition includes a bulk fuel flow through the group of direct fuel injectors being substantially equal to zero.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second fuel rail in communication with the group of port fuel injectors; and

a lower-pressure fuel pump in communication with the second fuel rail.

14. The system of claim 13, where the group of port fuel injectors is in use during the rail pressure change.

15. The system of claim 11, where increasing the flow of fuel through the first fuel rail includes activating the higher-pressure fuel pump, wherein the boosting device is a turbocharger.

16. The system of claim 11, where allowing fuel flow through a direct fuel injector system includes activating the group of direct fuel injectors.

17. The system of claim 11, where the temperature change is determined as a function of a change in pressure over conditions with the group of direct fuel injectors deactivated, the increasing of fuel flow including reactivating at least one direct fuel injector from the group.

18. A method, comprising:

operating an engine cylinder with fuel from a first port injector and not a second direct injector; and

activating a fuel pump coupled to the second direct injector in response to a rail pressure increase of a fuel rail, the fuel rail coupled between the second direct injector and the pump.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second injector is activated in response to rail pressure increasing above a threshold, the rail pressure increase corresponding to a temperature increase, the threshold corresponding to a maximum temperature threshold.