Spark plug heating for a spark ignited engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorThomas G. Leone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising of at least one combustion chamber located in the engine, a delivery system configured to deliver a fuel and a fluid to the combustion chamber, an ignition system including a spark plug configured to ignite the fuel within the combustion chamber, a spark plug heating system configured to supply heat to the spark plug, and a control system configured to vary an amount of heat supplied to the spark plug by the spark plug heating system responsive to a condition of the ignition system.
Claims20
A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one combustion chamber located in the engine;
- a delivery system configured to deliver a fuel and a fluid to the combustion chamber;
- an ignition system including a spark plug configured to ignite the fuel within the combustion chamber;
- a spark plug heating system configured to supply heat to the spark plug;
- and
- a control system for varying at least a resulting ratio of an amount of the fuel and an amount of the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber with varying operating conditions and wherein the control system is configured to vary an amount of heat supplied to the spark plug by the spark plug heating system responsive to a condition of the ignition system;
- wherein the fluid includes a liquid.
A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising:
- a combustion chamber located in the engine;
- a delivery system configured to deliver a fuel and a fluid to at least the combustion chamber, said fluid including at least an alcohol;
- a spark plug configured to ignite at least one of the fuel and fluid within the combustion chamber;
- a spark plug heating system configured to supply heat to the spark plug;
- and
- a control system for varying at least a resulting ratio of an amount of the fuel and an amount of the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber responsive to a first condition, said control system further configured to vary an amount of heat supplied by the spark plug heating system to the spark plug responsive to a second condition.
A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising:
- a combustion chamber;
- a delivery system configured to deliver at least gasoline and ethanol to the combustion chamber;
- a spark plug configured to ignite at least one of the gasoline and the ethanol within the combustion chamber;
- a spark plug heating system configured to supply heat to the spark plug;
- and
- a control system configured to
- during a first condition, control the spark plug heating system and the delivery system to deliver a first amount of the gasoline and a first amount of the ethanol to the combustion chamber, and supply a first amount of heat to the spark plug;
- and
- during a second condition, control the spark plug heating system and the delivery system to deliver a second amount of the gasoline and a second amount of the ethanol to the combustion chamber, and supply a second amount of heat to the spark plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.