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US 10,215,144 B1Granted
Fuel system with switchable pressure regulation
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsBrent D. Keppy, Justin Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel system is provided for switching between two separate regulated pressures of a first fuel pump to a supply line. The supply line supplies both a second fuel pump of a high pressure fuel injection system and a fuel injector separate from the high pressure fuel injection system. The switchover can include multiple regulators, one of which is selectively disabled.
Claims20
A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a fuel tank;
- a first fuel pump in communication with the fuel tank to draw fuel therefrom;
- a second fuel pump in communication with the first fuel pump to receive fuel therefrom, the second pump being operable to supply fuel at a pressure greater than that received from the first fuel pump to a first fuel injection system;
- a first fuel injector of the first fuel injection system operably coupled to receive fuel supplied from the fuel tank by the first and second fuel pump;
- a second fuel injector of a second fuel injection system operably coupled to receive fuel from the fuel tank by the first fuel pump and not the second fuel pump;
- a supply line shared by the second fuel pump and the second fuel injector;
- a first regulator operable to regulate fuel pressure from the first fuel pump to the supply line at a first value;
- a second regulator operable to regulate fuel pressure from the first fuel pump to the supply line at a second value that is higher than the first value;
- and
- a controller programmed to operate the fuel system in a first mode in which the first regulator is enabled to set a fuel pressure in the supply line to the first value, the second regulator is disabled, and the second fuel injector is disabled,
- wherein the controller is programmed to operate the fuel system in a second mode in which the second fuel injector is enabled and the second regulator is enabled to set a fuel pressure in the supply line to the second value.
8 more elements
A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a fuel tank;
- a first fuel pump in communication with the fuel tank to draw fuel therefrom;
- a second fuel pump in communication with the first fuel pump to receive fuel therefrom, the second pump being operable to supply fuel at a pressure greater than that received from the first fuel pump to a first fuel injection system;
- a first fuel injector of the first fuel injection system operably coupled to receive fuel supplied from the fuel tank by the first and second fuel pumps, the first fuel injector operable to inject fuel into the engine for combustion;
- a second fuel injector of a second fuel injection system operably coupled to receive fuel from the fuel tank by the first fuel pump and not the second fuel pump, the second fuel injector operable to inject fuel into an exhaust gas pipe coupled to the engine;
- a supply line shared by the second fuel pump and the second fuel injector;
- a first regulator operable to regulate fuel pressure from the first fuel pump to the supply line at a first value;
- a second regulator operable to regulate fuel pressure from the first fuel pump to the supply line at a second value that is higher than the first value;
- and
- a switchover valve operable to switch from a first position in which the first regulator is active to a second position in which the second regulator is active.
7 more elements
A method of operating a fuel system for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- drawing fuel from a fuel tank by operation of a first fuel pump;
- regulating fuel pressure in a supply line between the first fuel pump and a second fuel pump to a first value in a first mode of operation;
- operating the second fuel pump to supply fuel to a first fuel injector of a first fuel injection system at a pressure greater than the first value, the first fuel injector injecting fuel into the engine for combustion;
- transitioning during running of the engine to a second mode of operation in which fuel pressure in the supply line is regulated to a second value that is higher than the first;
- supplying both the second fuel pump and a second fuel injector of a second fuel injection system from the supply line during the second mode of operation;
- operating the second fuel injector to inject fuel into an exhaust gas pipe coupled to the engine during the second mode of operation;
- and
- operating the second fuel pump to supply fuel to the first fuel injector at a pressure greater than the second value during the second mode of operation.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.