Fuel injector having algorithm controlled look-ahead timing for injector-ignition operation
First Claim
1. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
- an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, the fuel charge comprising a mixture of approximately 65% heptane, 25% cetane, and 10% ethanol by volume and wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a next fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses a one firing cycle look-ahead algorithm for controlling fuel injection. The ECU may further incorporate a look-up table, auto-tuning functions and heuristics to compensate for the rapid rotational de-acceleration that occurs near top dead center in lightweight small ultra-high compression engines as may be used with this invention. The ECU may further ramp heat input to the injector in response to engine acceleration requests and, under such circumstances, may extend its look-ahead for up to four firing cycles.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, the fuel charge comprising a mixture of approximately 65% heptane, 25% cetane, and 10% ethanol by volume and wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection.
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2. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the fuel charge is catalyzed using a catalyst selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel-molybdenum, alpha alumina, aluminum silicon dioxide, other air electrode oxygen reduction catalysts, and other catalysts used for hydrocarbon cracking and wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection.
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3. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm that estimates time to the next firing for controlling fuel injection. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm that compares a current throttle input to prior engine data and determines a fuel load and an estimated time to the next firing for controlling fuel injection. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection, wherein the algorithm adjusts energy input into the fuel injector such that the fuel is heated to a selected temperature more rapidly at higher throttle settings than at lower throttle settings. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection, wherein the ECU includes a supplemental input for receiving fuel mixture information to accommodate a range of fuels and fuel mixtures. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection, and, wherein the ECU utilizes pattern recognition heuristics to fine tune ignition delay drift due to compression braking. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
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an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection; wherein the heated catalyzed fuel injector comprises; an input fuel metering system for dispensing a fuel charge into a pressurizing chamber; a pressurization ram system including a pressurization ram for compressing the fuel charge within the pressurizing chamber, wherein the fuel charge is heated in the pressurization chamber in the presence of a catalyst; and an injector nozzle for injecting the heated catalyzed fuel charge into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein the injector nozzle opens after a pre-determined hold time and the pressurization ram pushes the fuel charge into the combustion chamber such that the pressurization ram reaches a full displacement position. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
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an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection and wherein a next firing cycle involves retracting the pressurization ram, which allows the input fuel metering system to dispense an aerosol of liquid fuel into the pressurization chamber; wherein the heated catalyzed fuel injector comprises; an input fuel metering system for dispensing a fuel charge into a pressurizing chamber; a pressurization ram system including a pressurization ram for compressing the fuel charge within the pressurizing chamber, wherein the fuel charge is heated in the pressurization chamber in the presence of a catalyst; and an injector nozzle for injecting the heated catalyzed fuel charge into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection, wherein the algorithm identifies appropriate pre-oxidizer hold time settings in an ECU database based upon a predetermined fuel mixture in use. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection and adjusts an injector fire signal to compensate for rapid rotational deceleration that occurs just before top dead center in high compression engines. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated fuel injector for heating a fuel charge, the fuel charge comprising a mixture of approximately 65% heptane, 25% cetane, and 10% ethanol by volume and wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection.
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28. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated fuel injector for heating a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm that compares a current throttle input to prior engine data and determines a fuel load and an estimated time to the next firing for controlling fuel injection.
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29. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated fuel injector for heating a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection, wherein the ECU includes a supplemental input for receiving fuel mixture information to accommodate a range of fuels and fuel mixtures.
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30. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
an ECU controlling a heated fuel injector for heating a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection, and, wherein the ECU utilizes pattern recognition heuristics to fine tune ignition delay drift due to compression braking.
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31. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
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an ECU controlling a heated fuel injector for heating a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection; wherein the heated fuel injector comprises; an input fuel metering system for dispensing a fuel charge into a pressurizing chamber; a pressurization ram system including a pressurization ram for compressing the fuel charge within the pressurizing chamber, wherein the fuel charge is heated in the pressurization chamber; and an injector nozzle for injecting the heated fuel charge into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein the injector nozzle opens after a pre-determined hold time and the pressurization ram pushes the fuel charge into the combustion chamber such that the pressurization ram reaches a full displacement position.
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32. An injector-ignition fuel injection system for dispensing fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
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an ECU controlling a heated fuel injector for heating a fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses an algorithm for controlling fuel injection and wherein a next firing cycle involves retracting the pressurization ram, which allows the input fuel metering system to dispense an aerosol of liquid fuel into the pressurization chamber; wherein the heated fuel injector comprises; an input fuel metering system for dispensing a fuel charge into a pressurizing chamber; a pressurization ram system including a pressurization ram for compressing the fuel charge within the pressurizing chamber, wherein the fuel charge is heated in the pressurization chamber; and an injector nozzle for injecting the heated fuel charge into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
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Specification