Fuel injector drive system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsAndrew O. Marrack, Bradley D. Ferguson, Eric L. Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector having a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated. A second fuel injector has a second electronically-controlled valve and a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated. The fuel injection system also includes a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve.
Claims20
A fuel injection system, comprising:
- a first fuel injector having:
- a first electronically-controlled valve, the first electronically-controlled valve being a spill valve;
- and
- a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated;
- a second fuel injector having:
- a second electronically-controlled valve, the second electronically-controlled valve being a control valve;
- and
- a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated;
- and
- a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve simultaneously, the simultaneous actuation resulting in fuel being injected by only one of the first and second fuel injectors.
A fuel injection system, comprising:
- a first fuel injector having a spill valve and a control valve;
- a second fuel injector having a spill valve and a control valve;
- a fuel injector drive circuit electrically connected to the spill valve of the first fuel injector and to the control valve of the second fuel injector to supply current for both the spill valve and for the control valve;
- and
- an electronic control module configured to:
- generate a command for energizing the fuel injector drive circuit, and
- identify an abnormality in the first fuel injector or the second fuel injector based on energy supplied with the fuel injector drive circuit.
A fuel injection method, comprising:
- causing an injection of fuel with a first fuel injector by:
- generating a command to actuate a first valve of the first fuel injector with a first injector driver;
- and
- generating a command to actuate a second valve of the first fuel injector with a second injector driver;
- and
- causing an injection of fuel with a second fuel injector by:
- generating a command to actuate a first valve of the second fuel injector;
- and
- generating a command to actuate a second valve of the second fuel injector, wherein the command to actuate the first valve or the command to actuate the second valve, of the second fuel injector, is generated with the first injector driver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.