Control system and method for a bi-fuel engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAllen Dennis Dobryden, John Milton Lapetz, Peter Douglas Kuechler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system 14 for a bi-fuel engine 12 is provided. The control system 14 includes a powertrain controller 52 and a bi-fuel controller 54. The controller 52 has a set of fuel injector drivers 92. The controller 50 has a set of gasoline fuel injector drivers 104 and a set of alternate fuel (AF) fuel injector drivers 106. Each of drivers 92 in controller 52 is electrically connected to a driver 104 and a driver 106 in controller 50. Thus, a control signal generated by a single driver 92 can be utilized by either of drivers 104, 106 to generate a corresponding control signal for controlling a gasoline fuel injector 38 or a AF fuel injector 40, respectively.
Claims19
A control system for an engine that utilizes first and second fuel types, said engine having first and second fuel injectors for injecting said first and second fuel types, respectively, into an engine cylinder, said control system comprising:
- a first controller including a first driver generating a first signal indicative of a desired fueling amount for one of said first and second fuel types, respectively;
- and
- a second controller receiving said first signal, said second controller including second and third drivers for controlling said first and second fuel injectors, respectively, said second driver generating a second signal for controlling an amount of said first fuel type injected by said first fuel injector based on said first signal.
A fuel injector controller for controlling first and second fuel injectors of an engine, said first and second fuel injectors injecting first and second fuel types, respectively, into an engine cylinder, comprising:
- a first driver configured to generate a first signal for controlling said first fuel injector based on a received signal indicative of a desired fueling amount when said first driver is energized;
- a second driver configured to generate a second signal for controlling said second fuel injector based on said received signal when said second driver is energized;
- and,
- a microprocessor operably coupled to said first and second drivers configured to selectively energize one of said first and second drivers.
A method of controlling an engine capable of combusting first and second fuel types, said engine having first and second fuel injectors for injecting said first and second fuel types, respectively, into an engine cylinder, comprising:
- generating a first signal indicative of a desired fueling amount for one of said first and second fuel types, said first signal being generated by a first controller;
- and
- generating a second signal for controlling an amount of said first fuel type injected by said first fuel injector based on said first signal when said first fuel type is to be combusted, said second signal being generated by a second controller.
A bi-fuel controller for controlling first and second fuel control valves providing first and second fuel types, respectively, to an engine cylinder, the controller comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a first driver actuating the first fuel control valve responsive to a first received signal when said first driver is selected by said microprocessor;
- and,
- a second driver actuating the second fuel control valve responsive to the first received signal when the second driver is selected by said microprocessor.
A control system for an engine utilizing first and second fuel control valves for delivering first and second fuel types, respectively, to an engine cylinder, the control system comprising:
- a first controller including a first driver generating a first signal indicative of a desired fueling amount for one of the first and second fuel types, respectively, and
- a second controller receiving said first signal, said second controller including second and third drivers for controlling said first and second fuel control valves, respectively, said second driver generating a second signal for controlling an amount of said first fuel type delivered by said first fuel control valve based on said first signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.