Adaptive Braking Impulse for Fuel Injection Actuator Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in reducing noise emissions due to variations in magnetic actuator efficiency caused by production tolerances and environmental factors, leading to inconsistent braking impulses that affect noise levels.

Innovation Solution

A method that adapts the braking impulse in electromagnetic activation devices by adjusting parameters such as the start, duration, and strength of the pulse width modulation (PWM) or current-controlled phases based on the efficiency of the actuator, supply voltage, and temperature, ensuring a later and weaker braking impulse in more efficient devices to reduce noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a fixed braking impulse is used for all electromagnetic actuators, then the control is simple, but noise emissions increase due to variations in actuator efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol complexityVSAvoidnoise emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The braking impulse parameters (duration, strength, timing) are made dynamically adjustable based on the measured efficiency characteristics of individual electromagnetic actuators. The control device adapts the braking impulse in real-time to match each actuator's performance, thereby reducing noise emissions caused by impact while maintaining simple overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the braking impulse (duration, amplitude, timing) according to the measured efficiency of each electromagnetic actuator. By adjusting these parameters individually for each actuator, the system optimizes noise reduction without requiring complex hardware modifications, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and noise emission reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the braking impulse is strengthened to reduce impact noise, then noise emissions decrease, but wear on components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoidcomponent wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The braking impulse parameters are precisely adjusted based on each actuator's efficiency characteristics. By optimizing the duration and strength of the braking impulse individually for each actuator, the system achieves effective noise reduction while minimizing excessive braking forces that would increase component wear, thereby maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system measures the efficiency of each electromagnetic actuator and uses this feedback information to adaptively adjust the braking impulse parameters. This closed-loop approach ensures that the braking impulse is optimized for each specific actuator, reducing noise emissions while preventing excessive wear through precise parameter control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-generated harmful factors

If individual adaptation of braking impulse is implemented for each actuator, then noise emissions are reduced, but measurement and control complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoidefficiency measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic actuator itself is used to measure its own efficiency characteristics during normal operation. The control device monitors the actuator's performance and automatically determines the optimal braking impulse parameters without requiring external measurement equipment or complex testing procedures, thereby reducing noise emissions while keeping the measurement and control process simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Object-generated harmful factors

If production tolerances are reduced to ensure consistent actuator performance, then noise emissions decrease, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoidmanufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring tight production tolerances for electromagnetic actuators, the invention allows for normal manufacturing variations and then adapts the braking impulse parameters to compensate for these variations. This approach maintains noise emission reduction while avoiding the increased manufacturing costs associated with stricter tolerance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback measurement of each actuator's efficiency and automatically adjusts the braking impulse parameters accordingly. This compensates for production tolerances and performance variations without requiring expensive precision manufacturing, thereby reducing noise emissions while maintaining ease of manufacture and lower costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively reduces the impact speed of the valve element, minimizing noise emissions, scattering, and wear on components, while adhering to noise limits and reducing the risk of breakdowns without additional hardware costs.

Implementation Method 1

The well-known quantity control valve is implemented as a magnetic valve that is actuated electromagnetically by a magnetic coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

The braking force reduces the speed, which reduces the impact noise

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic braking force: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP2376761B1Method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2015.11.04 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2376761B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2376761B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2376761B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a fuel system (10) of an internal combustion engine, fuel is delivered into a fuel rail (18) by a high-pressure pump (16). The amount of the delivered fuel is influenced by an amount control valve (30), which is actuated by an electromagnetic actuating device (34). It is proposed that at least one parameter of a braking pulse of the electromagnetic actuating device (34) depend on an efficiency of the electromagnetic actuating device and/or on a supply voltage of a voltage source and/or on a temperature, particularly of a component of the fuel injection system (10) or of the internal combustion engine.