Electric Fuel Pump Control for Engine Stop Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel control systems for vehicles fail to maintain sufficient fuel pressure in the fuel pipe during automatic stopping of the internal combustion engine, leading to potential reductions in fuel efficiency and restartability.
Innovation Solution
A fuel control apparatus and method that includes an electric pump and a control unit, where the electric pump is powered by a predetermined electric power supply during automatic engine stoppage to maintain fuel pressure in the fuel pipe, ensuring continuous operation of the fuel pump even after the engine has stopped, using power from a battery until the engine restarts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the fuel pump is stopped during automatic stopping of the internal combustion engine, then fuel consumption is reduced, but fuel pressure in the fuel pipe is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit maintains fuel pump operation in advance of potential engine restart needs. When the engine stops automatically, the control unit keeps the fuel pump running to pre-maintain fuel pressure in the fuel pipe, ensuring that when restart is needed, sufficient fuel pressure is already available without needing to restart the pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel pump continues to operate continuously during automatic engine stoppage to maintain fuel pressure. Instead of stopping the fuel pump when the engine stops, the system maintains the fuel supply action continuous, ensuring fuel pressure remains sufficient throughout the idle period and enables immediate restart capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the fuel pump is stopped during automatic stopping of the internal combustion engine, then power consumption is reduced, but restartability of the engine is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit prepares the fuel system in advance for potential restart by maintaining fuel pump operation during automatic engine stoppage. This preliminary action ensures fuel pressure is already established when restart conditions are met, eliminating restart delays and ensuring reliable engine restart capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors engine operating conditions and fuel pressure continuously. When the engine stops automatically, the control unit receives feedback about the stopped state and responds by maintaining fuel pump operation to preserve fuel pressure, ensuring the system is ready for restart when the restart condition is detected.
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 solution effectively secures fuel pressure in the fuel pipe during automatic engine stoppage, enabling reliable fuel injection and efficient restart of the engine, while minimizing battery power consumption and preventing fuel backflow, thus enhancing fuel efficiency and restartability.
Implementation Method 1
an electric pump configured to have electric power supplied, to supply fuel from a fuel tank to an injector of an internal combustion engine through a fuel pipe
Implementation Method 2
supplying electric power from a predetermined electric power supply apparatus to the electric pump, to have the electric pump operate when the control unit has the internal combustion engine stop automatically
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel control apparatus for a vehicle, having an electric pump configured to have electric power supplied, to supply fuel from a fuel tank to an injector of an internal combustion engine through a fuel pipe, and a control unit configured to have the internal combustion engine stop automatically when a first predetermined condition is satisfied, and after having the internal combustion engine stop automatically, start automatically when a second predetermined condition is satisfied, includes an operation unit configured, when the control unit has the internal combustion engine stop automatically, to supply electric power from a predetermined electric power supply apparatus to the electric pump, to have the electric pump operate.