Electronic control system and method for a hydraulically-actuated fuel injection system

Claim 1

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector injects into an engine, said apparatus comprising: means for determining a desired fuel quantity and delivering a first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of said desired fuel quantity; engine characteristic control means for determining a maximum allowable fuel quantity that limits at least one characteristic produced by the engine, and delivering a maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ) indicative of the magnitude of said maximum allowable fuel quantity; fuel quantity comparing means for comparing the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) to the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), selecting a lesser value of the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) and the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), and delivering a second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected lesser value; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; and converting means for receiving said second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) and the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), converting the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) into a time duration signal (t d ) that is a function of at least the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ), and delivering the time duration signal (t d ) to the injector to electronically control said fuel quantity independent of fuel injection pressure.

Claim 2

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector injects into an engine, said apparatus comprising: means for determining a desired fuel quantity and delivering a first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of said desired fuel quantity; engine characteristic control means for determining a maximum allowable fuel quantity that limits at least one characteristic produced by the engine, and delivering a maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ) indicative of the magnitude of said maximum allowable fuel quantity; fuel quantity comparing means for comparing the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) to the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), selecting a lesser value of the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) and the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), and delivering a second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected lesser value; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; and converting means for receiving said second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) and the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), converting the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) into a time duration signal (t d ) that is a function of at least the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ), and delivering the time duration signal (t d ) to the injector to electronically control said fuel quantity independent of fuel injection pressure.

Claim 4

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector injects into an engine, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing a desired engine speed and delivering a desired engine speed signal (s d ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed desired engine speed; means for sensing an actual engine speed and delivering an actual engine speed signal (s f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actual engine speed (s f ); speed comparing means for comparing the desired engine speed signal (s d ) with the actual engine speed signal (s f ) and producing an engine speed error signal (s e ) in response to a comparison between said compared engine speed signals (s d , s f ); engine control means for receiving the engine speed error signal (s e ), determining a quantity of fuel needed to adjust the actual engine speed so that the engine speed error signal (s e ) results in a magnitude of zero, and delivering a first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of said determined quantity of fuel; torque control means for determining a maximum allowable fuel quantity (q t ), that limits engine torque, and delivering a maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t ) indicative of the magnitude of said maximum allowable fuel quantity; first fuel quantity comparing means for comparing the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) to the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t ), selecting a lesser value of the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) and the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t ), and delivering a second fuel quantity signal (q 2 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected lesser value; emission control means for determining another maximum allowable fuel quantity, that limits engine emissions, and delivering another maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q s ) indicative of the magnitude of said another maximum allowable fuel quantity; second fuel quantity comparing means for comparing the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 ) to the another maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q s ), selecting another lesser value of the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 ) and the another maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q s ), and delivering a third fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected another lesser value; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; and converting means for receiving said third fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) and the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), converting the third fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) into a time duration signal (t d ) that is a function of at least the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), and delivering the time duration signal (t d ) to the injector to electronically control said fuel quantity.

Claim 5

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector injects into an engine, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing a desired engine speed and delivering a desired engine speed signal (s d ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed desired engine speed; means for sensing an actual engine speed and delivering an actual engine speed signal (s f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actual engine speed (s f ); speed comparing means for comparing the desired engine speed signal (s d ) with the actual engine speed signal (s f ) and producing an engine speed error signal (s e ) in response to a comparison between said compared engine speed signals (s d , s f ); engine control means for receiving the engine speed error signal (s e ), determining a quantity of fuel needed to adjust the actual engine speed so that the engine speed error signal (s e ) results in a magnitude of zero, and delivering a first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of said determined quantity of fuel; torque control means for determining a maximum allowable fuel quantity (q t ), that limits engine torque, and delivering a maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t ) indicative of the magnitude of said maximum allowable fuel quantity; first fuel quantity comparing means for comparing the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) to the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t ), selecting a lesser value of the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) and the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t ), and delivering a second fuel quantity signal (q 2 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected lesser value; emission control means for determining another maximum allowable fuel quantity, that limits engine emissions, and delivering another maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q s ) indicative of the magnitude of said another maximum allowable fuel quantity; second fuel quantity comparing means for comparing the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 ) to the another maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q s ), selecting another lesser value of the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 ) and the another maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q s ), and delivering a third fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected another lesser value; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; and converting means for receiving said third fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) and the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), converting the third fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) into a time duration signal (t d ) that is a function of at least the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), and delivering the time duration signal (t d ) to the injector to electronically control said fuel quantity.

Claim 15

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling the timing of fuel injection by a hydraulically-actuated injector that injects fuel into an engine, said apparatus comprising: converting means for receiving the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), converting the desired timing signal (theta) into a corresponding time delay based on the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), and delivering an uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) indicative of the magnitude of said time delay; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; time delay adjustment means for receiving the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and determining a time delay adjustment based on the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), and delivering a time delay adjustment signal (t a ) indicative of the magnitude of the time delay adjustment; time delay adjusting means for adjusting the uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and producing a corrected time delay signal (t c ) in response to an adjustment between said uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and the time delay adjustment signal (t a ), and delivering the corrected time delay signal (t c ) to the injector to initiate fuel injection.

Claim 16

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling the timing of fuel injection by a hydraulically-actuated injector that injects fuel into an engine, said apparatus comprising: converting means for receiving the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), converting the desired timing signal (theta) into a corresponding time delay based on the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), and delivering an uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) indicative of the magnitude of said time delay; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; time delay adjustment means for receiving the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and determining a time delay adjustment based on the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), and delivering a time delay adjustment signal (t a ) indicative of the magnitude of the time delay adjustment; time delay adjusting means for adjusting the uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and producing a corrected time delay signal (t c ) in response to an adjustment between said uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and the time delay adjustment signal (t a ), and delivering the corrected time delay signal (t c ) to the injector to initiate fuel injection.

Claim 17

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling the initial timing of fuel injection by a hydraulically-actuated injector that injects fuel into an engine, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing an actual engine speed and delivering an actual engine speed signal (s f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actual engine speed (s f ); means for sensing a desired fuel quantity and delivering a desired fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed desired fuel quantity; timing control means for receiving the actual engine speed signal (s f ) and the desired fuel quantity signal (q 3 ), determining a desired fuel injection timing based on the actual engine speed signal (s f ) and the desired fuel quantity signal (q 3 ), and delivering a desired timing signal (theta) indicative of the magnitude of said desired fuel injection timing; converting means for receiving the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), converting the desired timing signal (theta) into a corresponding time delay based on the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), and delivering an uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) indicative of the magnitude of said time delay; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; time delay adjustment means for receiving the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and determining a time delay adjustment based on the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), and delivering a time delay adjustment signal (t a ) indicative of the magnitude of the time delay adjustment; time delay adjusting means for adjusting the uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and producing a corrected time delay signal (t c ) in response to a summation between said uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and the time delay adjustment signal (t a ), and delivering the corrected time delay signal (t c ) to the injector to initiate fuel injection.

Claim 18

An apparatus adapted for electronically controlling the initial timing of fuel injection by a hydraulically-actuated injector that injects fuel into an engine, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing an actual engine speed and delivering an actual engine speed signal (s f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actual engine speed (s f ); means for sensing a desired fuel quantity and delivering a desired fuel quantity signal (q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed desired fuel quantity; timing control means for receiving the actual engine speed signal (s f ) and the desired fuel quantity signal (q 3 ), determining a desired fuel injection timing based on the actual engine speed signal (s f ) and the desired fuel quantity signal (q 3 ), and delivering a desired timing signal (theta) indicative of the magnitude of said desired fuel injection timing; converting means for receiving the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), converting the desired timing signal (theta) into a corresponding time delay based on the desired timing signal (theta) and the actual engine speed signal (s f ), and delivering an uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) indicative of the magnitude of said time delay; means for sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; time delay adjustment means for receiving the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and determining a time delay adjustment based on the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), and delivering a time delay adjustment signal (t a ) indicative of the magnitude of the time delay adjustment; time delay adjusting means for adjusting the uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and producing a corrected time delay signal (t c ) in response to a summation between said uncorrected time delay signal (t u ) and the time delay adjustment signal (t a ), and delivering the corrected time delay signal (t c ) to the injector to initiate fuel injection.

Claim 20

A method of electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector injects into an engine, said method comprising the steps of: determining a desired fuel quantity and delivering a first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of said desired fuel quantity; determining a maximum allowable fuel quantity, that limits at least one characteristic produced by the engine, and delivering a maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ) indicative of the magnitude of said maximum allowable fuel quantity; comparing the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) to the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), selecting a lesser value of the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) and the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), and delivering a second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected lesser value; sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; and receiving the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) and the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), converting the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) into a time duration signal (t d ) that is a function of at least the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ), and delivering the time duration signal (t d ) to the injector (14) to electronically control said fuel quantity independent of fuel injection pressure.

Claim 21

A method of electronically controlling a quantity of fuel that a hydraulically-actuated injector injects into an engine, said method comprising the steps of: determining a desired fuel quantity and delivering a first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) indicative of the magnitude of said desired fuel quantity; determining a maximum allowable fuel quantity, that limits at least one characteristic produced by the engine, and delivering a maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ) indicative of the magnitude of said maximum allowable fuel quantity; comparing the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) to the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), selecting a lesser value of the first fuel quantity signal (q 1 ) and the maximum allowable fuel quantity signal (q t , q s ), and delivering a second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) indicative of the magnitude of said selected lesser value; sensing the pressure of actuating fluid used to hydraulically actuate the injector and delivering an actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) indicative of the magnitude of said sensed actuating fluid pressure; and receiving the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) and the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ), converting the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ) into a time duration signal (t d ) that is a function of at least the actuating fluid pressure signal (P f ) and the second fuel quantity signal (q 2 , q 3 ), and delivering the time duration signal (t d ) to the injector (14) to electronically control said fuel quantity independent of fuel injection pressure.