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US 10,544,731 B1Granted
Nitrous oxide injection
OwnerChristopher R. McKinney, Rob Craininventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Implementations are disclosed herein that relate to a nitrous oxide (NOS) injection system. An example provides an engine control unit (ECU) comprising a logic machine and a storage machine holding instructions executable by the logic machine to selectively enable NOS injection from a NOS reservoir into an engine based on engine temperature, operational transmission gear ratio, barometric pressure, NOS reservoir pressure, engine speed, and intake throttle position.
Claims16
A system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine configured to run on a design fuel;
- a fuel system including:
- a fuel reservoir configured to store the design fuel;
- and
- a nitrous oxide (NOS) reservoir configured to store NOS;
- an engine control unit configured by a manufacturer of the engine control unit to selectively cause injection of the NOS into the internal combustion engine responsive to identifying, based on two or more sensor inputs, an operating condition in which NOS injection is permitted, to thereby boost output of the internal combustion engine;
- wherein the ECU uses a first fuel/ignition timing table for an operating condition in which a NOS injection is disabled, and uses a second fuel/ignition timing table for the operating condition in which NOS injection is permitted;
- wherein the engine control unit is further configured to identify a NOS off condition, and responsive to identifying the NOS off condition, exit the second fuel/ignition timing table following expiration of a timer and return to the first fuel/ignition timing table.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine configured to run on a design fuel;
- a nitrous oxide (NOS) injection system including a NOS reservoir configured to store NOS;
- a fuel reservoir configured to store the design fuel;
- and
- an engine control unit configured by a manufacturer of the engine control unit to:
- receive a plurality of sensor inputs;
- identify, based on two or more of the sensor inputs, an operating condition in which NOS injection is permitted;
- and
- responsive to identifying the operating condition in which NOS injection is permitted, cause injection of the NOS into the internal combustion engine to thereby boost output of the internal combustion engine,
- wherein the two or more sensor inputs include two or more of a barometric pressure, a pressure of the NOS reservoir, a speed of the internal combustion engine, and a temperature of the internal combustion engine;
- wherein the operating condition includes:
- the temperature being greater than a minimum temperature and less than a maximum temperature,
- the pressure in the NOS reservoir being less than a maximum pressure in the NOS reservoir relative to the barometric pressure, and
- the speed being greater than a minimum engine speed and less than a maximum engine speed.
11 more elements
An engine control unit, comprising:
- a logic machine;
- and
- a storage machine holding instructions executable by the logic machine to selectively enable nitrous oxide (NOS) injection from a NOS reservoir of a NOS injection system into an engine based on engine temperature, operational transmission gear ratio, barometric pressure, NOS reservoir pressure, engine speed, and intake throttle position,
- wherein the NOS injection system is an aftermarket part, and
- wherein the instructions are installed on the engine control unit by a manufacturer of the engine control unit;
- wherein the instructions are executable to enable NOS injection responsive to:
- the temperature being greater than within 10% of 60 degrees Celsius and less than within 10% of 90 degrees Celsius,
- the operational transmission gear ratio being greater than a first gear and less than an upper gear,
- the NOS reservoir pressure being less than between 0 and within 10% of 350 psi relative to the barometric pressure,
- the barometric pressure being greater than within 10% of 87.5 kPA for an elevation within 10% of 4000 feet,
- the engine speed being greater than within 10% of 6500 RPM and less than within 10% of 10,500 RPM, and
- the intake throttle position being greater than within 10% of 70% fully open.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine configured to run on a design fuel;
- a fuel system including:
- a fuel reservoir configured to store the design fuel;
- and
- a nitrous oxide (NOS) reservoir configured to store NOS;
- an engine control unit configured by a manufacturer of the engine control unit to selectively cause injection of the NOS into the internal combustion engine responsive to identifying, based on two or more sensor inputs, an operating condition in which NOS injection is permitted, to thereby boost output of the internal combustion engine;
- a NOS reservoir sensor;
- an intake passage pneumatically coupled to the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a pressure sensor arranged in the intake passage,
- wherein the two or more sensor inputs include a pressure in the NOS reservoir sensed by the NOS reservoir sensor and a barometric pressure sensed by the pressure sensor, and wherein the operating condition includes the pressure in the NOS reservoir being less than a maximum pressure in the NOS reservoir relative to the barometric pressure.
8 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine configured to run on a design fuel;
- a fuel system including:
- a fuel reservoir configured to store the design fuel;
- and
- a nitrous oxide (NOS) reservoir configured to store NOS;
- an engine control unit configured by a manufacturer of the engine control unit to selectively cause injection of the NOS into the internal combustion engine responsive to identifying, based on two or more sensor inputs, an operating condition in which NOS injection is permitted, to thereby boost output of the internal combustion engine;
- an intake passage pneumatically coupled to the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a pressure sensor arranged in the intake passage,
- wherein the two or more sensor inputs include a barometric pressure sensed by the pressure sensor, and wherein the engine control unit is further configured to throttle NOS injection as the barometric pressure increases.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.