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US 3,999,525 AGranted
Apparatus for the cold starting and warming run of spark plug-ignited internal combustion engines
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsGerhard Stumpp, Josef Steiner, Friedbert Michel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In each fuel injection valve forming part of a fuel injection apparatus and associated with an internal combustion engine, there is disposed an electric heater which transmits heat to the fuel by contact-type heat exchange. The heat output of each heater is controlled by a device which processes input signals representing different engine variables.
Claims26
An apparatus including a plurality of fuel injection valves forming part of a fuel injection system for externally ignited internal combustion engines for electrically heating fuel directly ahead of the injection location of the fuel during cold starting and warming run of the internal combustion engine, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. temperature sensing means responsive to at least one varying temperature characterizing the engine operation for producing a control signal which varies as a function of the temperature sensed;
- and
- D. at least one control means in circuit between said electrical supply means, said heater body and said temperature sensing means for controlling the heat output of the heater body, said temperature sensing means being connected in said circuit to said control device for applying the variable control signal thereto indicative of the temperature sensed, such that said heater body is automatically switched on in dependence on the temperature sensed not only during cold starting of the engine but also during the operation of the engine when the engine is temporarily cooled down so that the preponderant portion of the fuel to be delivered to the combustion chambers of the engine is converted into the gaseous phase required for combustion upon expansion subsequent to its injection by said fuel injection valve, wherein said temperature sensing means includes a temperature sensor positioned in said valve downstream of said heater body for producing a control signal in response to fuel temperature, and wherein said control means includes a control input coupled to said temperature sensor and responsive to the control signal therefrom for controlling current applied to said heater body.
2 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body formed as an electric resistance heater disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. at least one control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body for controlling the heat output of said heater;
- and
- D. temperature sensing means responsive to at least one varying temperature characterizing the engine operation, said temperature sensing means being connected to said control device for applying signals thereto, wherein said heater body is made of a material (PTC- material) having a special temperature-dependent resistance and serves simultaneously as a further control means, and wherein the maximal temperature of said electric resistance heater and thereby its heat output are controlled by the special temperature-dependence of its resistance.
2 more elements
An apparatus including a plurality of fuel injection valves forming part of a fuel injection system for externally ignited internal combustion engines for electrically heating fuel directly ahead of the injection location of the fuel during cold starting and warming run of the internal combustion engine, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. first temperature sensing means positioned in the vicinity of said heater body downstream therefrom for producing a first control signal in response to fuel temperature, which signal varies as a function of the fuel temperature sensed;
- and
- D. control means in circuit between said electrical supply means said heater body and said first temperature sensing means, said control means having a first control input coupled to said first temperature sensing means and responsive to the first control signal for controlling current supplied from said supply means to said heater body and consequently the heat output of the heater body as a function of fuel temperature to automatically switch on said heater body not only during cold starting of the engine but also during the operation of the engine when the engine is temporarily cooled down to cause a preponderant portion of the fuel to assume its gaseous state for combustion upon expansion subsequent to its injection by said fuel injection valve.
2 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. at least one control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body for controlling the heat output of said heater body;
- D. temperature sensing means responsive to at least one varying temperature characterizing the engine operation, said temperature sensing means being connected to said control device for applying signals thereto;
- and
- E. a chamber coupled to an air intake tube and into which said fuel injection valve feeds, wherein:
- i. said temperature sensing means includes a temperature sensor positioned in said valve downstream of said heater body for producing a control signal in response to fuel temperature and a temperature sensor positioned in said chamber for producing a control signal in response to the temperature of intake air;
- and
- ii. said control means includes a control input coupled to said temperature sensors and responsive to the control signals therefrom for controlling current supplied to said heater body.
6 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current.
- C. at least one control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body for controlling the heat output of said heater body;
- D. temperature sensing means responsive to at least one varying temperature characterizing the engine operation, said temperature sensing means being connected to said control device for applying signals thereto;
- and
- E. a cylinder head, wherein:
- i. said temperature sensing means includes a temperature sensor positioned in said valve downstream of said heater body for producing a control signal in response to fuel temperature and a temperature sensor positioned in said cylinder head for producing a control signal in response to the temperature of said cylinder head;
- and
- ii. said control means includes a control input coupled to said temperature sensors and responsive to the control signals therefrom for controlling current supplied to said heater body.
6 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. at least one control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body for controlling the heat output of said heater body;
- D. temperature sensing means responsive to at least one varying temperature characterizing the engine operation, said temperature sensing means being connected to said control device for applying signals thereto;
- and
- E. a coolant passageway, wherein:
- i. said temperature sensing means includes a temperature sensor positioned in said valve downstream of said heater body for producing a control signal in response to fuel temperature and a temperature sensor positioned in said coolant passage for producing a control signal in response to the temperature of the coolant;
- and
- ii. said control means includes a control input coupled to said temperature sensors and responsive to the control signals therefrom for controlling current supplied to said heater body.
6 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. first temperature sensing means positioned in the vicinity of said heater body downstream therefrom for producing a first control signal in response to fuel temperature;
- D. control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body, said control means having a first control input coupled to said first temperature sensing means and responsive to the first control signal for controlling current supplied from said supply means to said heater body as a function of fuel temperature to cause a preponderant portion of the fuel to assume its gaseous state upon expansion subsequent to its injection by said fuel injection valve;
- E. a chamber coupled to an air intake tube and into which said fuel injection valve feeds;
- and
- F. a further temperature sensing means positioned in said chamber for producing a further control signal in response to the temperature of intake air, wherein said control means includes a further control input coupled to said further temperature sensing means and responsive to the further control signal therefrom for further controlling current supplied to said heater body.
4 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. first temperature sensing means positioned in the vicinity of said heater body downstream therefrom for producing a first control signal in response to fuel temperature;
- D. control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body, said control means having a first control input coupled to said first temperature sensing means and responsive to the first control signal for controlling current supplied from said supply means to said heater body as a function of fuel temperature to cause a preponderant portion of the fuel to assume its gaseous state upon expansion subsequent to its injection by said fuel injection valve;
- E. a cylinder head;
- and
- F. a further temperature sensing means positioned in said cylinder head for producing a further control signal in response to the temperature of said cylinder head, wherein said control means includes a further control input coupled to said further temperature sensing means and responsive to the further control signal therefrom for further controlling current supplied to said heater body.
4 more elements
An apparatus for cold starting and warming run of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus forming part of a fuel injection system which includes a plurality of fuel injection valves, the improvement comprising:
- A. a heater body disposed in at least one valve of said fuel injection valves in a heat exchanging relationship with fuel passing through said fuel injection valve;
- B. electrical supply means for providing current;
- C. first temperature sensing means positioned in the vicinity of said heater body downstream therefrom for producing a first control signal in response to fuel temperature;
- D. control means in circuit between said electrical supply means and said heater body, said control means having a first control input coupled to said first temperature sensing means and responsive to the first control signal for controlling current supplied from said supply means to said heater body as a function of fuel temperature to cause a preponderant portion of the fuel to assume its gaseous state upon expansion subsequent to its injection by said fuel injection valve;
- E. a coolant passageway;
- and
- F. a further temperature sensing means positioned in said coolant passageway for producing a further control signal in response to the temperature of the coolant, wherein said control means includes a further control input coupled to said further temperature sensing means and responsive to the further control signal therefrom for further controlling current supplied to said heater body.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.