IP Library Granted Patent US 7,765,053
Granted Patent B2
US 7,765,053 · App. 12/018,437 · Granted Jul 27, 2010

Multi-injection combustion cycle systems for SIDI engines

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,765,053
App. No.
12/018,437
Granted
Jul 27, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The fuel injection system includes a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine. The control module initiates multiple fuel injections in a combustion chamber during a combustion cycle of the cylinder via the fuel injector.

Claims (46)

1. A fuel injection system comprising:

a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine; and

a control module that initiates a first fuel injection in said combustion chamber during a first time period of a combustion cycle of said cylinder via said fuel injector,

wherein said control module initiates a second fuel injection in said combustion chamber during a second time period of said combustion cycle via said fuel injector,

wherein said second time period is nonoverlapping said first time period,

wherein said control module initiates said first fuel injection and said second fuel injection during an exhaust system heating mode, and

wherein said control module retards spark timing of the engine, adjusts timing of said second fuel injection, and decreases an air/fuel ratio of the engine during said exhaust system heating mode.

2. The fuel injection system of claim 1 further comprising a timing sensor that generates a timing signal that is indicative of a crank shaft position of said engine,

wherein said control module adjusts timing of one of said first and second fuel injections based on said timing signal.

3. The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said control module initiates said first fuel injection during an intake stroke and said second fuel injection during a compression stroke.

4. The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said control module initiates said first fuel injection approximately when a piston in said cylinder is at a position approximately between top dead center and 110° from top dead center.

5. The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said control module initiates said second fuel injection approximately when a piston in said cylinder is at a position approximately between bottom dead center and 110° from bottom dead center.

6. The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said control module injects approximately 50%-90% of a total fuel injection amount for a combustion cycle of said cylinder in said first fuel injection and approximately 10%-50% of said total fuel injection amount in said second fuel injection.

7. The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said control module injects a greater amount of fuel in said first fuel injection than in said second fuel injection of a combustion cycle of said cylinder.

8. The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said control module injects approximately two-thirds (⅔) of a total fuel injection amount for a combustion cycle of said cylinder in said first fuel injection and approximately one-third (⅓) of said total fuel injection amount in said second fuel injection.

9. The fuel injection system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor that generates a temperature signal,

wherein said control module reduces number of fuel injections in a combustion cycle of said cylinder based on said temperature signal.

10. The fuel injection system of claim 9 wherein said temperature signal is indicative of a temperature of at least one of said engine and a portion of an exhaust system.

11. An engine system comprising:

an exhaust system that receives an exhaust from an engine;

a temperature sensor that generates a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of a portion of said exhaust system;

a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of said engine; and

a control module that initiates a plurality of fuel injections during nonoverlapping time periods and in said combustion chamber during a single combustion cycle of said cylinder via said fuel injector and based on said temperature,

wherein said control module initiates said plurality of fuel injections during an exhaust system heating mode, and

wherein said control module retards spark timing of said engine, adjusts timing of said plurality of fuel injections, and decreases an air/fuel ratio of said engine during said exhaust system heating mode.

12. The engine system of claim 11 wherein said control module operates in a cranking mode and said exhaust system heating mode.

13. The engine system of claim 12 wherein said control module, when in said cranking mode, operates in a multi-injection combustion cycle mode and initiates a first fuel injection during an intake stroke of said cylinder and initiates a second fuel injection during a compression stroke of said cylinder.

14. The engine system of claim 12 wherein said control module, when transitioning to or during said exhaust system heating mode, adjusts timing of a fuel injection to occur later in a compression stroke.

15. The engine system of claim 12 further comprising an ignition system that generates a spark in said cylinder during each of said combustion cycles,

wherein said control module, when in said exhaust system heating mode, retards timing of said spark and delays initiation of said second fuel injection.

16. The engine system of claim 12 wherein said control module reduces number of fuel injections when transitioning between at least one of said cranking mode and said exhaust heating mode to a normal operation mode.

17. A method of operating a spark ignition fuel injection (SIDI) engine comprising:

operating a fuel injection system in a multi-injection combustion cycle mode that comprises:

initiating a first fuel injection pulse into a combustion chamber during a first time period and during a combustion cycle of a cylinder of the SIDI engine; and

initiating a second fuel injection pulse into said combustion chamber during a second time period that is nonoverlapping said first time period and during said combustion cycle;

generating a temperature signal;

reducing a number of fuel injections during a combustion cycle of said cylinder based on said temperature signal;

initiating said first fuel injection and said second fuel injection during an exhaust system heating mode; and

during said exhaust system heating mode, retarding spark timing of said SIDI engine, adjusting timing of said second fuel injection, and decreasing an air/fuel ratio of said SIDI engine.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said temperature signal is indicative of at least one of an engine temperature and an exhaust system temperature.

19. The method of claim 17 comprising:

initiating said first fuel injection during an intake stroke; and

initiating said second fuel injection during a compression stroke.

20. The method of claim 17 comprising:

initiating said first fuel injection approximately when a crankshaft of said engine is in a position between top dead center and 110° from top dead center; and

initiating said second fuel injection approximately when said crankshaft is in a position between bottom dead center and 110° from bottom dead center.

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 025324/0475 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0001 →
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 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SERIAL NUMBER, FILE DATE AND TITLE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 020402 FRAME 0424. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECTED SERIAL NUMBER 12/018437, FILING DATE: 1/23/2008, TITLE: MULTI-INJECTION COMBUSTION CYCLE SYSTEMS FOR SIDI ENGINES. Recorded Feb 20, 2008
From: GWIDT, JESSE M.; LUCIDO, MICHAEL J.; RAMAPPAN, VIJAY; SANTOSO, HALIM G.; DIBBLE, DONOVAN L.; CLEARY, DAVID J.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020535/0001 →