IP Library Granted Patent US 7,900,594
Granted Patent B2
US 7,900,594 · App. 11/862,543 · Granted Mar 8, 2011

System and method for injecting fuel into a direct injection engine

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,900,594
App. No.
11/862,543
Granted
Mar 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling the operation of at least one fuel injector in a four stroke internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes the steps of initiating fuel injection into a combustion chamber during an expansion stroke of the engine, injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an exhaust stroke of the engine, injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an intake stroke of the engine, and terminating fuel injection into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the engine.

Claims (31)

1. A method for controlling the operation of at least one fuel injector in an internal combustion engine having a rotating crankshaft, the method comprising:

initiating fuel injection into a combustion chamber during an expansion stroke of a cold start of the engine;

injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an exhaust stroke of the engine;

injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an intake stroke of the engine; and

terminating fuel injection into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the engine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating fuel injection into the combustion chamber further comprises initiating fuel injection during a first half of the expansion stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating fuel injection into the combustion chamber further comprises initiating fuel injection during a second half of the expansion stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating fuel injection into the combustion chamber further comprises initiating fuel injection between 620° to 660° of crankshaft rotation, wherein 0° of crankshaft rotation is the end of the compression stroke.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein terminating fuel injection into the combustion chamber further comprises terminating fuel injection during a first half of the compression stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein terminating fuel injection into the combustion chamber further comprises terminating fuel injection during a second half of the compression stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein terminating fuel injection into the combustion chamber further comprises terminating fuel injection between 40° to 80° of crankshaft rotation, wherein 0° of crankshaft rotation is the end of the compression stroke.

8. A system for controlling the operation of at least one fuel injector in a four stroke internal combustion engine having a rotating crankshaft, the system comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to sense the pressure in a fuel rail and transmit a signal indicative of the pressure;

a position sensor configured to sense the rotation of the crankshaft and transmit a signal indicative of crankshaft rotational position; and

a microcontroller in communication with the pressure sensor for receiving the pressure signal and the position sensor for receiving the crankshaft rotational position signal, the microcontroller includes control logic for controlling the operation of the at least one fuel injector in response to the received pressure signal and the received crankshaft rotational position signal, the control logic comprising:

a first control logic for initiating fuel injection into a combustion chamber during an expansion stroke of a cold start of the engine;

a second control logic for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an exhaust stroke of the engine;

a third control logic for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber during an intake stroke of the engine; and

a fourth control logic for terminating fuel injection into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the engine.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first control logic further comprises initiating fuel injection during a first half of the expansion stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first control logic further comprises initiating fuel injection during a second half of the expansion stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the first control logic further comprises initiating fuel injection between 620° to 660° of crankshaft rotation of the engine, wherein 0° of crankshaft rotation is the end of the compression stroke.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the fourth control logic further comprises terminating fuel injection during a first half of the compression stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the fourth control logic further comprises terminating fuel injection during a second half of the compression stroke of the direct injection internal combustion engine.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the fourth control logic further comprises terminating fuel injection between 40° to 80° of crankshaft rotation of the engine, wherein 0° of crankshaft rotation is the end of the compression stroke.

15. A method of operating an engine, the method comprising:

cold starting the engine;

initiating a fuel injection event into a combustion chamber during an expansion stroke of the engine during the cold start;

continuing the fuel injection event into the combustion chamber during an entire exhaust stroke of the engine;

continuing the fuel injection event into the combustion chamber during an entire intake stroke of the engine; and

terminating the fuel injection event into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the engine.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0946 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0780 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0215 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0880 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0670 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0479 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2007
From: GWIDT, JESSE M.; GWIDT, KAREN MARGARET-BELL
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019914/0782 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090084347A1 · Apr 2, 2009