The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 1980
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1978
James E Fenton, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An air/fuel control system (including apparatus and method for a Stirling engine is disclosed. A signal generated by deviation of the temperature of the heater head gas temperature from a set-point is used to control an air flow throttle valve. Variations in the air flow of the external combustion circuit is sensed by way of a vortex-shedding device which delivers a D.C. electrical signal. The signal is shaped and amplified and used to control operation of one or more fuel injectors which feed into a common outlet manifold leading to the fuel nozzle serving the external combustion circuit. The fuel injectors are solenoid operated, one sized to provide a fuel flow rate of 0.4-2.0 g/sec., and at least two others are sized to provide a combined fuel flow rate of 2-15 g/sec., but 180.degree. out of phase with each other. The series of injectors provide an effective fuel control range of 0.4-15 grams/sec. to achieve an air/fuel ratio range of 37.5 to 1.