Walbro Corporation

Kirk D Doane

Charles H Tuckey

Edward J Talaski

John D Zmierski

Peter P Kuperus

Jason D Hatton

Ronald B Kuenzli

Bryan J Gettel

Kevin L Williams

Edwyn R Maschke

A fuel pressure regulation system for an internal combustion engine to regulate fuel pressure using a two-state pressure switch. In addition to the pressure switch, the system includes a control circuit, a current sensor, and a fuel pressure control device such as a fuel pump. The control circuit uses the pressure switch to sense whether the downstream fuel pressure is above or below a desired reference pressure. When below the reference pressure, the control circuit drives the fuel pump at full on to increase the fuel line pressure to the reference pressure. Once the fuel pressure rises and increases to or past the reference pressure, the pressure switch changes state, at which point the current sensor is used to sample and record the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the fuel pump at the moment the switch state changes. As long as the fuel line pressure is above the reference pressure, this stored value is used as a reference value in conjunction with the current measurement reading from the current sensor to provide closed loop control of the fuel pump operating current.

Fuel pressure regulation system

A fuel system for a marine engine has a recirculation cooler which receives a portion of fuel discharged from a fuel pump, cools that fuel, and then returns the cooled fuel to the inlet of the fuel pump to reduce fuel vapor formation and to cool the pump as the cooled fuel flows through the pump. The recirculation cooler is preferably formed of a material of high thermal conductivity and has a water passage adjacent to the fuel passage to reduce the temperature of the fuel that flows through the recirculation cooler. The recirculation cooler is preferably used in high heat applications or with a speed controlled fuel pump, with a pulse width modulated drive, for example. In these applications, during at least some fuel flow conditions, the flow of fuel through the fuel pump may be insufficient to cool the fuel pump motor and may cause increased fuel vapor formation. Desirably, the cooler fuel provided from the recirculation cooler to the inlet of the fuel pump supplements the cooling of the fuel pump motor and reduces fuel vapor formation.

Fuel delivery system with recirculation cooler

A fuel pressure regulation system for use in a fuel pump system in which atomizing air is injected into the fuel delivered to the injector. The system includes both an air rail and a fuel rail and is operable to maintain the fuel pressure within the system at a consistent pressure above the air rail pressure. The system also includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a control circuit, and a fuel pressure pump or other fuel control device. The first and second pressure sensors are differential pressure sensors which measure the air and fuel pressure, respectively, convert those measurements into first and second electronic signals, and send those signals to the control circuit. The control circuit is an electronic circuit that includes a first stage, a second stage, and an output stage and provides the fuel pump with closed loop control based on the first and second signals. Preferably, the closed loop control is achieved using both proportional and integral control with the output being in the form of a pulse-width modulated signal. The fuel pump is in fluid communication with the fuel rail and adjusts the fluid pressure within the fuel rail according to the pulse-width insulated signal sent by the control circuit.

A no-return system for supplying fuel from a tank to a fuel injected internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle in response to the fuel demand of the engine. The pump supplies more fuel than that required by the operating engine and the excess fuel is diverted from the engine by a bypass fuel pressure regulator and returned to the tank through a fluid-activatable switch movable to electrically open and closed states in response to the rate of flow of excess fuel through the switch. An electric control circuit is responsive to the state of the switch to change the magnitude of the power applied to the electric motor to change its operating speed and thereby modulate the output fuel flow rate of the pump in response to the fuel demand of the engine.

Fuel supply system responsive to engine fuel demand

A submersible electronic drive module for a vehicle in-tank fuel pump which includes a circuit board assembly having an input connector for receiving a current, an output connector for applying electric power to a fuel pump electric motor, and electrical components for supplying electric power to the motor as a function of vehicle fuel demand. A heat sink of a heat conductive material is thermally connected to the circuit board assembly which absorbs heat generated by the electrical components on the circuit board assembly. Fuel passes through the heat sink to cool it and thus the circuit board assembly and electrical components. A fuel-impervious casing encapsulates the drive module so that fuel is prevented from contacting the circuit board assembly and electrical components. The electronic drive module is removably attached to the fuel pump and is mounted within a fuel tank of an automotive fuel system.

Submersible electronic drive module

A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine that includes a fuel pump responsive to application of electrical power for delivering fuel under pressure to the engine. A pressure sensor supplies a pressure signal as a function of fuel pump output pressure. Electrical circuitry is responsive to the pressure signal for applying electrical power to the pump. A temperature sensor is operatively coupled to the circuitry for automatically varying the pump power signal to increase fuel pump output pressure when temperature at the temperature sensor exceeds preselected threshold temperature.

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Essexville, MI, United States of America

Kirk D Doane