Engine Controller Fueling Delay for Oil Pump Priming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines experience accelerated wear of moving parts due to insufficient lubrication when the engine has not been running for an extended period, as the oil pump can lose prime and take time to re-prime, delaying the delivery of engine motor oil.
Innovation Solution
An engine controller implements a control strategy that measures the elapsed time since the engine last stopped and controls the onset of fueling based on this time, delaying fueling to allow the lubrication pump to deliver sufficient lubricant before starting the engine, thereby preventing premature wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the engine is started immediately after stopping, then the starting time is reduced, but the lubrication is insufficient causing accelerated wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-priming the oil pump before engine start-up when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold. This ensures lubricant is delivered to moving parts before combustion begins, resolving the contradiction by preparing the lubrication system in advance rather than waiting for it to prime during cranking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the elapsed time since engine stop and using this information to control the fueling system and oil pump operation. The controller adjusts fueling onset based on the measured time, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes both starting speed and lubrication adequacy.
2Reliability
If the oil pump is operated to deliver lubricant before start, then the lubrication is improved, but the time required for engine start is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The oil pump is operated in advance during the period when elapsed time exceeds the threshold, performing preliminary lubrication before the engine actually starts. This eliminates the need for extended cranking to prime the pump, as lubrication is already in place when combustion begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the fueling strategy based on the elapsed time condition. When elapsed time is sufficient, the system transitions to a mode where fueling is delayed until after pump operation, optimizing the balance between lubrication and starting time based on real-time conditions.
3Reliability
If the fueling is delayed to allow pump priming, then the lubrication is improved, but the engine start process is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pump operation to establish lubrication before fueling begins, rather than delaying fueling to allow pump priming. This reverses the traditional sequence, achieving adequate lubrication without extending the overall start process, as the pump operates concurrently with or before fueling rather than sequentially delaying it.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses feedback from the elapsed time measurement to dynamically control the fueling system timing. By monitoring the time since engine stop, the system optimizes the fueling onset to achieve the best balance between lubrication adequacy and start process efficiency, preventing both premature wear and excessive delay.
Data Source
AI summary
An elapsed time from a time at which the engine last ceased running until a time of occurrence of an engine start command which causes the cranking motor and the lubrication pump to operate is measured. The onset of fueling of the engine cylinders is a function of the elapsed time measured.