Fuel Pump Energization Timing Correction for Engine Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel supply systems for internal combustion engines often fail to accurately calculate the energization time of the electromagnetic valve, leading to improper fuel discharge due to mismatches between predetermined crank angle and cam angle timings, resulting in incomplete energization within the calculated time period.

Innovation Solution

A fuel supply system that includes energization time-calculating means using a predetermined crank angle position as calculation timing and correction means to adjust the timing when it deviates from the cam angle timing, ensuring proper calculation and completion of energization within the intended time frame by selecting the closest advanced timing from multiple crank angle positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the calculation timing is set to a predetermined crank angle timing, then the calculation is simple and easy to implement, but the calculation may miss the proper timing when engine specifications vary, resulting in inaccurate fuel discharge control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidcalculation timing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the calculation timing dynamic by linking it to the cam angle timing rather than using a fixed crank angle timing. The ECU calculates the cam angle timing based on the rotation speeds of the camshaft and crankshaft, allowing the calculation timing to adapt to different engine operating conditions and specifications. This resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible enough to maintain accuracy across various engine configurations while remaining implementable through standard sensor data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the calculation timing is advanced to ensure completion of energization, then the energization can be completed within the calculated time period, but the calculation cannot use the newest control parameters when timing deviates from proper calculation timing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergization completion reliabilityVSAvoidtime delay in using newest parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual cam angle timing and comparing it with the predetermined crank angle timing. The ECU calculates the deviation between these timings and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the calculation timing. This ensures that the calculation always uses the newest control parameters while maintaining reliable energization completion, as the system adapts to real-time operating conditions rather than relying on fixed predetermined timings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the predetermined crank angle timing is used for calculation, then the system is simple to operate, but the amount of fuel discharged cannot be properly controlled when the timing misses the proper calculation window

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidfuel discharge control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for calculation timing from a fixed crank angle to a dynamic cam angle timing calculated based on rotation speeds. This parameter change allows the system to maintain operational simplicity through automated calculation while achieving precise fuel discharge control by aligning the calculation timing with the actual mechanical events in the engine. The ECU automatically computes the appropriate timing based on sensor inputs, preserving ease of operation while eliminating the precision problems associated with fixed timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9404457B2Fuel supply system for internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2016.08.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • US9404457B2 patent drawing
  • US9404457B2 patent drawing
  • US9404457B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine capable of executing calculation of an energization time of the electromagnetic valve at proper timing and thereby properly controlling the amount of fuel to be discharged from the fuel pump toward a fuel injection valve. In the fuel supply system, when a predetermined timing corresponding to a predetermined crank angle position of the engine deviates from a predetermined cam angle timing which is within a predetermined time period including a timing at which a top of a cam nose of the driving cam is abutting a plunger, and preceding and following the timing, and corresponds to a predetermined rotational angle position of the driving cam, the calculation timing of the energization time is corrected such that the calculation timing is made closer to the cam angle timing.