IP Library Granted Patent US 8,762,030
Granted Patent B2
US 8,762,030 · App. 13/050,460 · Granted Jun 24, 2014

Fuel supply control device for internal combustion engine and fuel vapor processing method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,762,030
App. No.
13/050,460
Granted
Jun 24, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine and a fuel vapor processing method. In the fuel supply control device that calculates a manipulated variable of a fuel pump such that a fuel pressure detected by a fuel pressure sensor is brought close to a target fuel pressure, a determination whether a fuel vapor is generated is made based on a detection value of the fuel pressure and the manipulated variable in a fuel pump, or the determination is made based on an amplitude of the detection value of the fuel pressure and an average fuel pressure in a fuel supply piping. During the fuel vapor generation, the target fuel pressure is corrected to be a higher value to increase the fuel pressure, thereby compressing and removing the fuel vapor. Therefore, in a fuel supply system, the fuel vapor generation can be detected at low cost to suppress the fuel vapor generation.

Claims (31)

1. A fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine, which inputs an output signal of a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of fuel discharged by a fuel pump and calculates a manipulated variable of the fuel pump such that the fuel pressure comes close to a target value to output the calculated the manipulated variable, comprising:

a unit that calculates a state quantity of the fuel pressure based on the output signal; and

a unit that compares the state quantity and a threshold to determine whether a fuel vapor is generated and outputs a signal indicating whether the fuel vapor is generated.

2. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , further comprising a unit that changes the target value to a higher pressure value when the fuel vapor is generated.

3. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2 , wherein the unit that changes the target value variably sets a change width of the target value based on at least one of a fuel temperature, an engine temperature, a fuel property, and a pressure of a fuel tank.

4. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the unit that calculates the state quantity calculates the fuel pressure as the state quantity, and

the unit that determines whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the fuel pressure is lower than a first threshold.

5. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 4 , further comprising a unit that changes the first threshold to a higher value as the manipulated variable changes in a direction in which the fuel pressure is increased.

6. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the unit that calculates the state quantity calculates an amplitude of the fuel pressure as the state quantity, and

the unit that determines whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the amplitude of the fuel pressure is greater than a second threshold.

7. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6 , further comprising a unit that changes the second threshold to a higher value with increasing fuel pressure.

8. The fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the unit that calculates the fuel pressure and an amplitude of the fuel pressure as the state quantity,

the unit that determines whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the fuel pressure is lower than a first threshold, and

the unit that determines whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the amplitude of the fuel pressure is greater than a second threshold.

9. A fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine, which inputs an output signal of a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of fuel discharged by a fuel pump and calculates a manipulated variable of the fuel pump such that the fuel pressure comes close to a target value to output the manipulated variable, comprising:

means for calculating a state quantity of the fuel pressure based on the output signal; and

means for comparing the state quantity and a threshold to determine whether a fuel vapor is generated and outputting a signal indicating whether the fuel vapor is generated.

10. A fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine, which inputs an output signal of a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of fuel discharged by a fuel pump and calculates a manipulated variable of the fuel pump such that the fuel pressure comes close to a target value to output the manipulated variable, the fuel vapor processing method comprising the steps of:

calculating a state quantity of the fuel pressure based on the output signal; and

comparing the state quantity and a threshold to determine whether a fuel vapor is generated.

11. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of changing the target value to a higher value when the fuel vapor is generated.

12. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11 , wherein the step of changing the target value includes a step of setting variably a change width of the target value based on at least one of a fuel temperature, an engine temperature, a fuel property, and a pressure of a fuel tank.

13. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 10 , wherein the step of calculating the state quantity calculates the fuel pressure as the state quantity, and

the step of determining whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the fuel pressure is lower than a first threshold.

14. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13 , further comprising the step of changing the first threshold to a higher value as the manipulated variable changes in a direction in which the fuel pressure is increased.

15. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 10 , wherein the step of calculating the state quantity calculates an amplitude of the fuel pressure as the state quantity, and

the step of determining whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the amplitude of the fuel pressure is greater than a second threshold.

16. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of changing the second threshold to a higher value with increasing fuel pressure.

17. The fuel vapor processing method in a fuel supply control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 10 , wherein the step of calculating the fuel pressure and an amplitude of the fuel pressure as the state quantity,

the step of determining whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the fuel pressure is lower than a first threshold, and

the step of determining whether the fuel vapor is generated determines that the fuel vapor is generated when the amplitude of the fuel pressure is greater than a second threshold.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 25, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 056299/0447 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2012
From: PELLEGATTI, GIAMPAOLO; GOBERTI, PAULO; DE CLIPPELEIR, JOHAN; SPATARO, STEFANO
To: BASELL POLIOLEFINE ITALIA S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 028499/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2011
From: SARUWATARI, MASAYUKI
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 026092/0732 →