Fuel Injection Nozzle Needle Opening Delay Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines lack precision in determining the amount of fuel injected, which affects engine control and contributes to increased pollutant emissions.

Innovation Solution

A method that calculates the opening delay time of the nozzle needle, linked to the actuator's control time, allowing for more precise fuel injection by determining the minimum activation time and incorporating additional time periods such as closing and closing delay times, using linear regression to establish a function between control and further time periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the control time of the actuator is used directly to determine fuel injection amount, then the control process is simple, but the measurement precision of fuel injection amount is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel injection amount determination precisionVSAvoidcontrol process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the opening delay time of the nozzle needle in advance through a function that incorporates the actuator control time, switching valve closing time, and other time parameters. This pre-calculated delay time is then used to accurately determine the fuel injection amount, resolving the contradiction by preparing necessary data beforehand rather than calculating everything in real-time, thus improving precision without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The opening delay time of the nozzle needle serves as an intermediary parameter between the actuator control time and the fuel injection amount. Instead of directly using control time, the patent introduces this intermediate measurement that accounts for mechanical response delays, enabling more accurate fuel quantity determination while maintaining a manageable control process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the opening delay time of the nozzle needle is determined using multiple time parameters (control time, closing time, etc.), then the fuel injection amount precision is improved, but the calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel injection amount precisionVSAvoidtime parameter measurement and calculation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal function that consolidates multiple time parameters (actuator control time, switching valve closing time, opening delay time) into a single calculation framework. This multi-functional approach allows the same function to determine fuel injection characteristics across different operating conditions, improving precision while standardizing the measurement and calculation process rather than requiring separate complex measurements for each parameter

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If precise fuel injection control is implemented, then fuel efficiency improves and emissions decrease, but the system requires more complex timing calculations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidtiming control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using the determined opening delay time to refine the fuel injection control strategy. The calculated delay time feeds back into the injection timing determination, allowing the system to compensate for mechanical response variations and achieve more precise fuel delivery, thereby improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions while keeping the control logic systematic rather than overly complex

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 method enhances the control of internal combustion engines, leading to fuel savings and reduced pollutant emissions by improving the accuracy of fuel injection.

Implementation Method 1

A switching valve is moved by controlling an actuator, for example a magnet or piezo actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2652299B1Method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2652299B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2652299B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP2652299B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injection system comprises an injector for the metered addition of a fuel to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injector comprises an actuator, a control valve, and a nozzle needle. In the method, a voltage and/or a current is supplied to the actuator during an actuation period (dactive). The actuator causes the control valve to carry out a stroke motion. By means of of the stroke motion of the control valve, the nozzle needle opens and closes the injector. A further period (dclose, dc1) is determined. The further period (dclose, dc1) ends with the closing time of the nozzle needle. A function is determined which links the actuation period (dactive) to the further period (dclose, dc1). By means of the function, a shortest actuation period is determined, at which the nozzle needle opens and an injection is carried out. An opening delay period (d01) of the nozzle needle is determined depending on the shortest duration (dactive,min).