US 5,692,478 AGranted

Fuel control system for a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine with improved fuel metering and mixing means

AssigneeHitachi America, Ltd., Research and Development Division

InventorsToshiharu Nogi, Robert I. Bruetsch

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Abstract

A fuel management system for a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine is disclosed in which a mass air flow sensor as well as a mass gas flow sensor provide input signals to an electronic control unit (ECU) which then determines the air/fuel ratio. The ECU in turn generates output signals to a fuel valve to control the mass of fuel flow to the engine and thus the air/fuel ratio. A turbocharger bypass valve, a precooler for the gaseous fuel supply, a pressure accumulator upstream from the fuel valve, as well as a system to calibrate the engine to the specific gaseous fuel is described to enhance the accuracy of the fuel management system. An improved pressure balanced valve for controlling the fuel flow to the engine is also provided as well as a cylinder pressure transducer to optionally provide an output signal to the ECU to determine the air/fuel ratio.

Claims9

Dependent claims

For use in conjunction with a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine having an air intake, a manifold passageway extending between the air intake and the engine and a source of gaseous fuel, a combination mass air flow sensor and air/fuel mixing device comprising:

a housing having an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway extending between said inlet end and said outlet end,
a hot wire mass air flow sensor positioned in said housing passageway,
means for introducing the fuel into said housing passageway immediately downstream from said hot wire mass air flow sensor and within said housing wherein said fuel introducing means comprises an elongated fuel distribution bar extending transversely across said housing passageway, said bar having an interior chamber fluidly connected to the fuel source and a plurality of longitudinally spaced ports extending between said interior chamber and said housing passageway
wherein said airflow sensor and said fuel distribution bar are formed as an integrated unit in said housing.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.