Back to results
US 6,876,097 B2Granted
System for regulating speed of an internal combustion engine
AssigneeCummins Engine Company, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Thomas, Terry M VandenBerghe, Matthew S. Carroll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internal combustion engine system is disclosed that improves regulation of engine speed relative to a speed setpoint. The system controls ignition timing, throttle plate actuation, fuel valve actuation or a combination thereof in accordance with maintaining a setpoint speed. The system also includes a transient air flow estimation for further improving setpoint speed accuracy.
Claims44
A method for regulating an engine, comprising:
- providing an engine including one or more combustion chambers, an intake manifold, and a source of gaseous fuel;
- mixing the gaseous fuel and air upstream of the one or more combustion chambers to provide a mixture of air and fuel through the intake manifold to the engine for combustion, wherein the gaseous fuel includes one or more of natural gas, propane, or petroleum gas;
- driving an electric power generator with the engine, the generator being operable to provide AC electric power;
- adjusting a ratio between air and fuel in the mixture to regulate frequency of the AC electric power provided by the generator;
- and
- regulating rotational speed of the engine with a PID control based on a number of multiplies selected as a function of pressure in the intake manifold.
3 more elements
A system for generating electric power, comprising:
- An internal combustion engine including an intake manifold;
- An electric power generator coupled to said engine to be driven therewith;
- A first sensor to sense rotational speed of said engine and output a first signal corresponding thereto;
- A second sensor to sense manifold pressure and output a second signal corresponding thereto;
- A controller responsive to said first signal and said second signal to generate a valve control signal to regulate engine speed relative to a desired rotational engine speed in accordance with a number of gain multipliers each determined as a function of the rotational speed of said engine with the manifold pressure by adjusting a ratio of a mixture of fuel and air provided to said engine for combustion.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- operating an internal combustion engine including a manifold coupled to a number of combustion chambers;
- providing a mixture of fuel and air to the combustion chambers through the manifold;
- detecting a change in rotational speed of the engine;
- adjusting the mixture from a first fuel-to-air ratio to a second fuel-to-air ratio in response to said detecting to regulate the rotational speed of the engine, which includes governing the rotational speed of the engine with a PID controller;
- and
- driving an electric power generator with the engine during said adjusting.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine including a manifold to selectively supply a mixture of gaseous fuel and air to each of a number of combustion chambers, the combustion chambers each corresponding to one of a number of spark ignition devices;
- means for pressurizing the mixture provided to the manifold with a compressor driven by a turbine turned by exhaust from the engine;
- means for supplying the mixture to said manifold;
- means for sensing rotational speed of said engine;
- means for adjusting the mixture from a first fuel-to-air ratio to a second fuel-to-air ratio in response to said sensing means to regulate engine rotational speed;
- and
- means for driving an electric power generator with said engine.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- operating an internal combustion engine including a number of combustion chambers and a corresponding number of spark ignition devices;
- pressurizing a mixture of fuel and air with a compressor, the compressor being driven with a turbine turned by exhaust from the engine;
- providing the mixture to the combustion chambers of the engine;
- driving an electric power generator with the engine;
- detecting a sudden engine load loss of 30% or more;
- and
- retarding timing of the spark ignition devices in response to the sudden engine load loss.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing an engine including one or more combustion chambers and a source of fuel;
- mixing the fuel and air upstream of the one or more combustion chambers to provide a mixture of air and fuel to the engine for combustion;
- driving an electric power generator with the engine, the generator being operable to provide AC electric power;
- adjusting a ratio between air and fuel in the mixture to regulate frequency of the AC electric power provided by the generator;
- and
- regulating rotational speed of the engine with a PID control based on a number of multipliers selected as a function of an engine manifold pressure.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- operating an internal combustion engine including a manifold coupled to a number of combustion chambers;
- providing a mixture of fuel and air to the combustion chambers through the manifold;
- sensing exhaust gas oxygen and fuel mass flow;
- detecting a change in rotational speed of the engine;
- adjusting the mixture from a first fuel-to-air ratio to a second fuel-to-air ratio in response to said detecting to regulate the rotational speed of the engine;
- and
- driving an electric power generator with the engine during said adjusting.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- operating an internal combustion engine including a manifold coupled to a number of combustion chambers;
- providing a mixture of fuel and air to the combustion chambers through the manifold;
- pressurizing the mixture provided to the manifold with a compressor driven by a turbine turned by exhaust from the engine;
- detecting a change in rotational speed of the engine;
- adjusting the mixture from a first fuel-to-air ratio to a second fuel-to-air ratio in response to said detecting to regulate the rotational speed of the engine;
- and
- driving an electric power generator with the engine during said adjusting.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.