Thermo King Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Donald G Knauff

Jay L Hanson

Thomas R Sem

Gerald J Ladendorf

Loran W Sutton

Curtis G Yaeger

Michael E McBroom

Bruce E Jungquist

A diesel engine system in which fuel in a fuel tank having an air space above a fuel level is pumped to a fuel injection system disposed in spaced relation above the fuel tank, and excess fuel is returned to the fuel tank air space via an uninterrupted fluid flow path between the injection system and the air space of the fuel tank. The fluid flow path has a cross sectional area selected such that air from the fuel tank air space flows counter to fuel returning to the fuel tank by gravity during non-operation of the diesel engine, to maintain the space vacated by returning fuel near atmospheric pressure. A method embodiment includes the steps of providing an uninterrupted fluid flow return path between the injection system and the air space of the fuel tank, and sizing the fluid flow return path such that, during non-operation of the diesel engine, air from the fuel tank air space flows counter to fuel returning to the fuel tank by gravity, to maintain the space vacated by returning fuel near atmospheric pressure.

Method and apparatus for distributing fuel in a diesel engine

A method of automatically starting and stopping an engine of a truck to conserve fuel while maintaining the engine in a ready-to-start condition, and while controlling the temperature of a truck sleeper unit. The method includes the steps of selecting predetermined system parameters via a password accessible interactive program, providing a first switch for selecting an automatic engine start-stop operating mode, providing a second switch for selecting an automatic temperature control mode for the truck sleeper unit, and providing safety apparatus which indicates when the truck engine may be safely operated in the automatic engine start-stop operating mode. The method further includes the step of overriding the ignition switch control of the engine in response to a predetermined condition when the first switch selects the automatic operating mode and the safety apparatus indicates the truck engine may be safely operated in the automatic operating mode. The engine is started and stopped automatically while the ignition switch control of the engine is being overridden by the overriding step, to maintain the engine in a ready-to-start condition, regardless of the selection of the second switch, and additionally controlling the temperature of the sleeper unit, when the second switching means selects automatic temperature control. The overriding step is terminated in response to a predetermined condition, restoring ignition switch control of the engine, and preventing automatic re-starting of the engine while the ignition switch is in control of the engine.

Method of monitoring a truck engine and for controlling the temperature

A method of operating a refrigeration system having a compressor driven by an engine, with the refrigeration system being operable in a first control mode to hold the temperature of a conditioned space at a selected set point temperature, and in a second control mode to maintain the engine in a ready-to-start condition. The second control mode includes monitoring the ambient temperature, and determining a dynamic set point temperature as a function of ambient temperature. The engine is started and stopped to maintain engine startability, and also as a function of the dynamic set point temperature, to maintain the temperature of the conditioned space at the dynamic set point temperature while maintaining the engine in a ready-to-start condition. Control is changed from the second to the first control mode, when a programmed start feature is activated, with the time of such mode change being a function of the difference between the ambient temperature and the selected set point temperature.

Method of operating a refrigeration system

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Lakeville, MN, United States of America

Donald G Knauff