Patent · US Expired

Compressed natural gas injection system for gaseous fueled engines

US5329908A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
15References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 1993
Grant dateJul 19, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/30
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In accordance with preferred embodiments, a fuel injector has a gas accumulator of a volume that is at least ten times the maximum amount of fuel which would have to be injectable thereby, and a solenoid operated poppet valve with an end face that opens into the combustion cylinder and is shaped to deflect a portion of the fuel injected into direct contact with the ignition plug. In a first embodiment, using a variable fuel supply, an electronic control unit (ECU) controls the injection timing to inject the compressed gas into the cylinders as each's piston nears its top dead center (TDC) position to obtain diesel engine-like efficiencies (.eta.=45%) so long as the compressed gas supply pressure is sufficiently high (at least approximately 2,000 psi), and when the compressed gas supply pressure becomes too low for high efficiency operation (i.e., below 2,000 psi), the ECU changes the manner of operation so that fuel is injected into the engine when piston is near its bottom dead center position (BDC) so that it can be premixed with air prior to ignition to produce gasoline engine-like efficiencies (.eta.=35%).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.