Multi-fuel marine engine control system

• US 9,695,764 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Christiansen, Erik J., Pugh, Jason F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kerrigan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/797,910
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0613 Switch-over from one fuel to another F02D19/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/027 using knock sensors
• 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 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/045 combined with electronic control of other engine functions, e.g. fuel injection in general F02D37/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1527 with means allowing burning of two or more fuels, e.g. super or normal, premium or regular
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A marine drive system includes an engine, a fuel system that provides at least two different fuels to the engine, and a fuel selection means for selecting a fuel type. A control unit accesses a set of fuel-specific operating parameters based on the selected fuel type and controls the engine based on the set of fuel-specific operating parameters.

Claims

1. A marine drive system comprising:

an engine;

a fuel system that provides at least two different fuels to the engine, wherein the fuel system includes at least two fuel tanks, each containing a different one of the at least two different fuels;

a fuel selection means for operator selection of a fuel type associated with one of the at least two different fuels contained in the at least two fuel tanks;

a control unit;

a storage medium storing at least two different sets of fuel-specific operating parameters, each set of fuel-specific operating parameters associated with a different fuel type, wherein each set of fuel-specific operating parameters includes at least one of a spark timing, fuel injection duration, fuel injection timing, intake airflow, and throttle responsiveness for the engine; and

wherein the control unit

receives an operator-selected fuel type,

controls the fuel system to provide fuel only from the fuel tank containing the operator-selected fuel type,

selects one of the at least two different sets of fuel-specific operating parameters based on the operator-selected fuel type, and

controls the engine based on the selected set of fuel-specific operating parameters associated with the operator-selected fuel type.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel selection means includes at least two key fobs, each key fob associated with a different fuel type, wherein selecting the fuel type includes engaging a key fob receiver with the key fob associated with that fuel type.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the key fob engages the key fob receiver to select the fuel type by being inserted into the key fob receiver.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the key fob engages the key fob receiver to select the fuel type by wirelessly communicating with the key fob receiver.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the key fob emits a radio frequency identifier received by the key fob receiver to select the fuel type.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel selection means includes one of a switch and a button operable to select a fuel type.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel selection means includes an application on a mobile device that allows the operator to select the fuel type on the mobile device and wirelessly communicate the fuel type to a receiver operably connected to the control unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel selection means is a user interface that allows an operator to select the fuel type in the fuel tank.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel selection means allows operator selection of one of at least a high octane fuel type and a standard octane fuel type, wherein the high octane fuel type has a higher octane rating than the standard octane fuel type.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each set of fuel-specific operating parameters is a set of lookup tables containing control values for at least one of the spark timing, fuel injection duration, fuel injection timing, intake airflow, and throttle responsiveness.

11. A method of operating a marine drive, the method comprising:

storing at least two different sets of fuel-specific operating parameters in a memory associated with a control unit, wherein each set of fuel-specific operating parameters is associated with a different one of at least two different fuel types and comprises at least one of a spark timing, fuel injection duration, fuel injection timing, intake airflow, and throttle responsiveness;

receiving an operator selection of one of the at least two different fuel types at the control unit;

accessing one of at least two different sets of fuel-specific operating parameters for a marine engine based on the operator-selected fuel type;

controlling a fuel system to supply only one of at least two different fuels to the engine based on the operator-selected fuel type;

controlling the marine engine based on the set of fuel-specific operating parameters associated with the operator-selected fuel type.

12. The method of claim 11, further including receiving at the control unit the selected fuel type from a user interface.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a knock with a knock sensor;

determining that the selected fuel type is incorrect; and

generating an alert.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

automatically accessing an alternate set of operating parameters upon detecting the knock; and

controlling the engine based on the alternate set of operating parameters.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising, activating one or more race performance control systems if the selected fuel type is a race fuel type.