Method for converting diesel internal combustion engine vehicles to a dual-fuel gas version with an inhibited mode

Abstract

Method for converting diesel internal combustion engine vehicles to a dual-fuel gas version with an inhibited mode. The invention relates to the field of converting internal combustion engine vehicles to a dual-fuel gas version in the case of diesel-powered vehicles. The method comprises adding a fuel selection switch in the passenger compartment, according to the state of the art, to either 100% diesel mode or a mode with a proportion of gaseous fuel injected indirectly into the intake and a proportion of diesel fuel in proportions depending on the operating conditions, and the selection of the 100% diesel mode is inhibited for the user in order to reduce emissions. The switch physically comprises a momentary contact whose switching action from the gas mode to the 100% diesel mode, according to the state of the art, is inhibited by software. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for converting diesel internal combustion engine vehicles to a dual-fuel gas version with an inhibited mode

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

[0002] The invention relates to the field of conversions of internal combustion engine vehicles to a dual-fuel gas version.

[0003] This involves the conversion of a thermal vehicle, a fleet of thermal vehicles, or a fleet of thermal vehicles, originally equipped with thermal engines, by means of a dual-fuel gas engine and an optimization of emissions in all modes. EARLIER ART

[0004] It is common to convert internal combustion engine vehicles to dual-fuel gas, including older gasoline vehicles operating with indirect gasoline injection.

[0005] In this context, the bi-fuel gas operating mode can be 100% gas, but according to the embodiments, once a certain temperature of the engine is reached, and in particular of its cooling water, to vaporize the gas.

[0006] In the context of gasoline engines with direct injection in each cylinder, it is common to retain around 15% gasoline not for physico-chemical reasons but to cool the injectors which, in the absence of the original fuel, would overheat and deteriorate.

[0007] In the context of diesel engines, in the absence of spark plugs, a direct injection of a minimum of diesel is necessary to initiate the combustion of the two fuels, namely the original fuel diesel and the gas.

[0008] In fact, in these three contexts, it is common to have inside the passenger compartment an operating mode switch allowing the engine to be run either solely with the original fuel or with a fuel that is either 100% gaseous in the context of indirect injection engines or with a simultaneous injection without mixing of the original fuel in direct injection and the gaseous fuel in indirect injection in proportions depending on the operating conditions.

[0009] Since gaseous fuel produces fewer emissions during its combustion than the original fuel, the mode of operation with indirect gas injection is the one that produces the fewest emissions.

[0010] On the other hand, due to the presence of the switch available to the user, he can, by a personal, non-ecological choice, drive only with the original fuel without any gas injection.

[0011] This is all the more damaging in the case of a diesel engine which has more emissions than a petrol version.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The method for converting vehicles comprising a diesel internal combustion engine to a dual-fuel gas version combining the original internal combustion system and a gas system according to the invention relates to diesel internal combustion engines and consists at least of adding a second tank with its gas supply chute and filling port in addition to the original tank with its original fuel supply chute and filling port, consists at least of adding an injection system with its own electronic control unit and injectors for gas in addition to the original injection system with the original electronic injection control unit and injectors for the original fuel,as well as the addition in the passenger compartment of a state-of-the-art fuel selection switch, either in 100% diesel mode or in a mode with a proportion of gaseous fuel injected indirectly into the intake and a proportion of diesel fuel in proportions depending on the operating conditions, and that the choice of the 100% diesel mode is inhibited for the user in order to reduce emissions.

[0014] Advantageously, the switch physically comprises a pulse contact whose switching action from gas mode to 100% diesel mode according to the state of the art is inhibited by software.

[0015] Advantageously, at the start of the internal combustion engine, as long as the engine cooling temperature has not reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vaporizer, the engine runs on 100% diesel but displays a gas operation and a flashing of an additional symbol specific to this temperature rise phase.

[0016] Advantageously, it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of an initial calibration.

[0017] Advantageously, in this configuration critical parameters such as temperature or knocking are measured and acceptable thresholds for these same critical parameters are defined in gas injection compared to the values ​​supported in 100% diesel mode.

[0018] Advantageously, if temperature or knocking thresholds are exceeded, the gas system reverts to 100% diesel mode for safety reasons and displays a gas operation similar to the display of the 100% diesel mode when the engine is started. thermal until the engine cooling temperature has reached a sufficient level for the operation of the vaporizer.

[0019] Advantageously, it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of the 100% diesel system maintenance.

[0020] Advantageously, by removing the fuse from the entire gas system, the 100% diesel mode remains inhibited.

[0021] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is achieved by the gas computer which intercepts at least one input signal from the original fuel computer.

[0022] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is effective when the gas system includes a gas level gauge for the gas tank and the gas tank gauge indicates that the gas tank is empty.

[0023] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is not effective when the gas system includes a solenoid valve in the gas circuit of the engine compartment and when it is deactivated either by disconnecting it electrically or by physically separating the control coil from the solenoid valve, the gas system goes into safety mode and switches to 100% diesel mode. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the attached drawing.

[0025] [Fig-1] shows an embodiment of a vehicle conversion to dual-fuel gas, including the addition of a second tank with its fuel filler neck and gas filling port, and the addition of an injection system with its own electronic control unit and gas injectors. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The method for converting vehicles (V) comprising a diesel internal combustion engine (M) to a dual-fuel gas version combining the original internal combustion system and a gas system according to the invention relates to diesel internal combustion engines and consists at least of adding a second gas tank (R2) with its gas supply chute and filling port (O2) in addition to the original fuel tank (RI) with its original fuel supply chute and filling port (O1), consists at least of adding an injection system with its own electronic control unit (C2) and injectors (12) for gas in addition to the original injection system with the original electronic injection control unit (C1) and its injectors (II) for the original fuel, as well as adding a switch in the passenger compartment fuel selection according to the state of the art either in 100% diesel mode or in a mode with a proportion of gaseous fuel in indirect injection into the intake and a proportion of diesel fuel in proportions depending on the operating conditions, and that the choice of the 100% diesel mode is inhibited for the user in order to reduce emissions.

[0027] Fig. 1 illustrates the classic implementation of the conversion of a vehicle with a thermal engine to a dual-fuel gas version consisting at least of the addition of a second tank (R2) with its gas supply chute and its gas filling orifice (02) in addition to the original tank (RI) with its original fuel supply chute and its original fuel filling orifice (01) and the addition of an injection system with its own electronic control unit (C2) and its injectors (12) for gas in addition to the original injection system with the original electronic injection control unit (C1) and its injectors (II) for the original fuel.

[0028] Advantageously, a polyvalve (PV) is associated with the gas reservoir (R2) in particular to ensure a safety valve function.

[0029] Conventionally, a vaporizer-regulator (VD) is added to convert the liquid LPG from the gas tank (R2) into a gas for the gas injectors (12), as well as in the case of low-temperature natural gas. To this end, the vaporizer-regulator (VD) utilizes the engine's heat by intercepting the engine's cooling circuit via water-conducting pipes (CE).

[0030] Advantageously, the switch physically comprises a pulse contact whose switching action from gas mode to 100% diesel mode according to the state of the art is inhibited by software.

[0031] Advantageously, at the start of the internal combustion engine, as long as the engine cooling temperature has not reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vaporizer, the engine runs on 100% diesel but displays a gas operation and a flashing of an additional symbol specific to this temperature rise phase.

[0032] Advantageously, it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of an initial calibration.

[0033] Advantageously, in this configuration critical parameters such as temperature or knocking are measured and acceptable thresholds for these same critical parameters are defined in gas injection compared to the values ​​supported in 100% diesel mode.

[0034] Advantageously, if temperature or knocking thresholds are exceeded, the gas system reverts to 100% diesel mode for safety reasons and displays a gas operation similar to the display of the 100% diesel mode when the engine is started. thermal until the engine cooling temperature has reached a sufficient level for the operation of the vaporizer.

[0035] Advantageously, it is possible to restore the engine's operation to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of the maintenance of the 100% diesel system.

[0036] Advantageously, by removing the fuse from the entire gas system, the 100% diesel mode remains inhibited.

[0037] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is achieved by the gas computer (C2) which intercepts at least one input signal from the original fuel computer (Cl).

[0038] The input signal from the original fuel computer is intercepted to become an input to the gas computer (C2) which generates an output signal to the intercepted input of the original fuel computer (Cl).

[0039] Advantageously, the same gas computer (C2) interception device is used to reduce the amount of diesel injected by the original computer (Cl) to inject by the gas computer (C2) a greater quantity of gas than that allowed by the quantity of excess air available in the intake line not used by the combustion of diesel when the engine is operating at nominal.

[0040] Advantageously, the input signal intercepted when the injection system is of the common rail type is the injection pressure signal common to all injectors measured by a pressure sensor.

[0041] Advantageously, the intercepted input signal is at least an accelerator pedal position signal.

[0042] There are redundant accelerator pedal position sensors, i.e. with two deliberately different signals, for example a signal increasing as a function of the angle and a second decreasing signal.

[0043] In this configuration, it is necessary to intercept the two signals in parallel.

[0044] In fact, thus removing the gas fuse does not allow bypassing the device by automatically switching to 100% diesel mode, the gas computer (C2) no longer being powered no longer transmits the intercepted input signal(s) from the original computer (Cl).

[0045] Advantageously, at the start of the internal combustion engine, as long as the engine cooling temperature has not reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vaporizer, the engine runs on 100% diesel but displays a gas operation and a flashing of an additional symbol specific to this temperature rise phase.

[0046] Advantageously, it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of an initial calibration.

[0047] Advantageously, in this configuration critical parameters such as temperature or knocking are measured and acceptable thresholds for these same critical parameters are defined in gas injection compared to the values ​​supported in 100% diesel mode.

[0048] Advantageously, in the event of temperature or knocking thresholds being exceeded, the gas system falls back to 100% diesel mode for safety and displays a gas operation analogous to the display of the 100% diesel mode at the start of the internal combustion engine until the engine cooling temperature has reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vaporizer.

[0049] Advantageously, it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of the maintenance of the 100% diesel system.

[0050] Advantageously, by removing the fuse from the entire gas system, the 100% diesel mode remains inhibited.

[0051] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is achieved by the gas computer (C2) which intercepts at least one input signal from the original fuel computer (Cl).

[0052] The input signal from the original fuel computer is intercepted to become an input to the gas computer (C2) which generates an output signal to the intercepted input of the original fuel computer (Cl).

[0053] Advantageously, the same gas computer (C2) interception device is used to reduce the amount of diesel injected by the original computer (Cl) to inject by the gas computer (C2) a greater quantity of gas than that allowed by the quantity of excess air available in the intake line not used by the combustion of diesel when the engine is running at nominal.

[0054] Advantageously, the input signal intercepted when the injection system is of the common rail type is the injection pressure signal common to all injectors measured by a pressure sensor.

[0055] Advantageously, the intercepted input signal is at least an accelerator pedal position signal.

[0056] There are redundant accelerator pedal position sensors, i.e. with two deliberately different signals, for example a signal increasing as a function of the angle and a second decreasing signal.

[0057] In this configuration, it is necessary to intercept the two signals in parallel.

[0058] In fact, removing the empty gas fuse does not allow the device to be bypassed by automatically switching to 100% diesel mode.

[0059] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is effective when the gas system includes a gas level gauge for the gas tank and the gas tank gauge indicates that the gas tank is empty.

[0060] In fact, having an empty gas tank does not allow the device to be bypassed by automatically switching to 100% diesel mode.

[0061] Advantageously, the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is not effective when the gas system includes a solenoid valve in the gas circuit of the engine compartment and when it is deactivated either by disconnecting it electrically or by physically separating the control coil of the solenoid valve the gas system goes into safety mode and switches to 100% diesel mode.

[0062] Thus, this operation allows the maintenance and repair of the vehicle by a garage that is not an expert in gas systems in a conventional way, especially if it does not have the specific diagnostic tool for the gas system. Industrial application

[0063] In terms of industrial application, the process relates to the conversion of diesel thermal vehicles with the fact that the choice of the 100% diesel mode is inhibited for the user in order to reduce emissions.

[0064] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with their spirit for implementations adapted to each specific context.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for converting vehicles (V) comprising a diesel internal combustion engine (M) to a dual-fuel gas version combining the original internal combustion system and a gas system, characterized in that it relates to diesel internal combustion engines and consists at least of adding a second tank (R2) with its gas supply chute and its gas filling port (O2) in addition to the original tank (RI) with its original fuel supply chute and its original fuel filling port (O1), consists at least of adding an injection system with its own electronic control unit (C2) and its injectors (12) for gas in addition to the original injection system with the original electronic injection control unit (C1) and its injectors (II) for the original fuel,as well as the addition in the passenger compartment of a fuel selection switch to either 100% diesel mode or a mode with a proportion of gaseous fuel injected indirectly into the intake and a proportion of diesel fuel in proportions depending on the operating conditions, and that the choice of the 100% diesel mode is inhibited for the user in order to reduce emissions.

2. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the switch physically comprises a pulse contact whose switching action from gas mode to 100% diesel mode according to the state of the art is inhibited by software.

3. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 2 characterized in that the gas system includes a vaporizer and that at the start of the internal combustion engine, as long as the engine cooling temperature has not reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vaporizer, the engine runs on 100% diesel but displays a gas operation and a flashing of an additional symbol specific to this temperature rise phase.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of an initial calibration.

5. Method according to claim 4 characterized in that in this configuration critical parameters such as temperature or knocking are measured and acceptable thresholds of these same critical parameters are defined in gas injection compared to the values ​​supported in 100% diesel mode.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the gas system includes a vapor regulator, that at the start of the internal combustion engine, as long as the engine cooling temperature has not reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vapor regulator, the engine runs on 100% diesel but displays a gas operation and a flashing of an additional symbol specific to this temperature rise phase, and that in the event of temperature thresholds or knocking being exceeded, the gas system falls back by safety to 100% diesel mode and displays a gas operation analogous to the display of the 100% diesel mode at the start of the internal combustion engine as long as the engine cooling temperature has not reached the level sufficient for the operation of the vapor regulator.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it is possible to restore the engine to 100% diesel mode by connecting a specific diagnostic tool for the duration of the maintenance of the 100% diesel system.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that, by removing the fuse from the entire gas system, the 100% diesel mode remains inhibited and in that the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is obtained by the gas computer (C2) which intercepts at least one input signal from the computer (Cl) of the original fuel.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is effective when the gas system includes a gas level gauge for the gas tank and the gas tank gauge indicates that the gas tank is empty.

10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the inhibition of the 100% diesel mode is not effective when the gas system includes a solenoid valve in the engine compartment gas circuit, and that by deactivating it either by electrically disconnecting it or by physically separating the coil The solenoid valve control system shuts down and switches to 100% diesel mode.

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