Method and apparatus for trimming an internal combustion engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsGregory G. Hafner, Brian G. McGee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel injection control system and method for trimming an internal combustion engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller in electrical communication with the engine, the controller being operable to detect the operating mode of each injector of the engine and alter each injector operating mode as desired.
Claims22
A method for trimming an engine operating in a steady state so that a plurality of injectors contained therein operate in a pre-selected mode, the method comprising:
- determining that a speed and a load of the engine are operating in a steady state;
- selecting one of the plurality of injectors;
- detecting an operating mode of the selected injector;
- recording the operating mode of the selected injector;
- sequentially repeating the above processes for each remaining unselected injector;
- comparing the recorded operating mode of the selected injector to the pre-selected operating mode to determine which of the selected injectors is not operating in the pre-selected operating mode;
- and changing the detected operating mode to the pre-selected mode for each of the selected injectors detected to be operating in other than the pre-selected operating mode.
A method for trimming an engine in a steady state so that a plurality of injectors contained therein operate in a desired operating mode, the method comprising:
- determining that a speed of the engine is operating in a steady state;
- detecting an operating mode of one of the plurality of injectors;
- comparing the detected operating mode of the one of the plurality of injectors to the desired operating mode to determine if the injector is operating in the desired operating mode;
- and
- changing the detected operating mode to the desired operating mode for the one of the plurality of injectors.
A method for trimming an engine having at least one injector controllable by an electronic control signal, the engine having an engine speed and load, the method comprising:
- detecting an operating mode of each injector;
- modifying the electronic control signal to each injector;
- and
- detecting an operating mode of each injector generated by the modified electronic control signal, wherein the injector modes of operation include a split mode and a boot mode.
A method for trimming at least one fuel injection device associated with an engine, the injection device injecting multiple fuel shots in accordance with an electronic control signal generated by the engine during a fuel injection event, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a first engine speed;
- modifying the electronic control signal;
- sensing a second engine speed;
- and
- determining an operating mode of the at least one fuel injection device in response to said first and second engine speeds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.