Air-fuel control for alternative engine fuels
US6026787A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A mixture of gaseous fuel (natural gas or propane) and gasoline is used to fuel the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The ratio of gaseous fuel to gasoline is preadjusted by the manual settings of an electronic processor which is used to change the gasoline fuel injection rate and the manual settings of an air/vacuum balance valve connected to a low pressure regulator and mixer are used to regulate the pressure of the gaseous fuel and mix it with air to provide the desired ratio. The fuel injection is also controlled in response to a signal fed to the processor which is in accordance with the output of the vehicle's exhaust oxygen sensors. The flow rate of gaseous fuel to the engine is controlled by means of a mixer which is preadjusted for a desired flow rate. This flow rate is automatically varied in response to the intake manifold pressure of the engine. This manifold pressure drives a valve which controls the gaseous fuel flow rate. When one of the dual fuels is depleted, a control in the electronic processor operates to switch to the other fuel and the vehicle is then operated on a single fuel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.