Bi-fuel control systems for automotive vehicles and related methods
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F02B-013/00
F02D-019/06
F02D-041/00
출원번호
US-0104970
(2011-05-10)
등록번호
US-9567918
(2017-02-14)
발명자
/ 주소
Kjar, Lucas
Matsukawa, Matthew M.
출원인 / 주소
Go Natural CNG, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Laurence, Kevin B.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
33
초록▼
A bi-fuel control system can include an electronic control module and a control unit that are in communication with each other. The system can include a first set of fuel injectors that are configured to deliver a primary fuel to an engine and can include a second set of fuel injectors that are conf
A bi-fuel control system can include an electronic control module and a control unit that are in communication with each other. The system can include a first set of fuel injectors that are configured to deliver a primary fuel to an engine and can include a second set of fuel injectors that are configured to deliver a secondary fuel to the engine. The bi-fuel control system can operate in either a primary operational state in which the first set of injectors is used or a secondary operational state in which the second set of injectors is used. In either operational state, the electronic control module can control the respective set of injectors independently from the control unit.
대표청구항▼
1. A bi-fuel control system for an automotive vehicle, the system comprising: an internal combustion engine;pairs of fuel injectors, wherein each pair comprises a primary fuel injector configured to deliver a primary fuel to the engine when the system is in a first operational mode and a secondary f
1. A bi-fuel control system for an automotive vehicle, the system comprising: an internal combustion engine;pairs of fuel injectors, wherein each pair comprises a primary fuel injector configured to deliver a primary fuel to the engine when the system is in a first operational mode and a secondary fuel injector configured to deliver a secondary fuel to the engine when the system is in a second operational mode, wherein each fuel injector has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminals of the primary fuel injectors are coupled with each other, and wherein the positive terminals of the secondary fuel injectors are coupled with each other;an electronic control module, wherein the electronic control module comprises a set of drivers, wherein each driver has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and wherein the positive terminals of the drivers are coupled with each other, and wherein each negative terminal of each driver is coupled with the negative terminals of one of the pairs of the primary fuel injectors and secondary fuel injectors;a control unit communicatively coupled with the electronic control module;a switch; anda controller coupled with the control unit and the switch, wherein the controller operates the switch into the first operational mode or the second operation mode based on information received from the control unit; wherein the control unit stores operational information for the first operational mode and operational information for the second operational mode;wherein the control unit uploads either the operational information for the first operational mode or the operational information for the second operation mode into the electronic control module so as to selectively transition the system back and forth from the first operational mode to the second operational mode or from the second operational mode to the first operational mode;wherein, when the system is in the first operational mode, the switch establishes communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the primary fuel injectors and inhibits communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injectors;wherein, when the system is in the second operational mode, the switch establishes communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injectors and inhibits communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the primary fuel injectors;wherein after the controller has operated the switch into the first operational mode then the electronic control module controls the primary fuel injectors in the first operational mode via the drivers and the switch, independently of operational input from the control unit; andwherein after the controller has operated the switch into the second operational mode then the electronic control module controls the secondary fuel injectors in the second operational mode via the drivers and the switch, independently of operational input from the control unit. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module communicates with the control unit via a CAN-bus. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit downloads and stores the operational information for the first operational mode from the electronic control module. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control unit is initially configured to upload the operational information for the second operational mode to the electronic control module so as to transition the system to the second operational mode. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to upload the operational information for the first operational mode to the electronic control module to transition the system from the second operational mode back to the first operational mode. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is positioned within a cab of the vehicle. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control unit comprises a user interface configured to display information obtained from the electronic control module. 8. A method of operating a bi-fuel control system for an automotive vehicle, the method comprising: receiving user input from a user via a user interface portion of a control unit to operate a system of a vehicle that enables an internal combustion engine of the vehicle to use either a primary fuel in a first operational mode or a secondary fuel in a second operational mode, wherein the system is equipped to operate on either the primary fuel in the first operational mode or the secondary fuel in the second operational mode;wherein the system comprises pairs of fuel injectors, wherein each pair comprises a primary fuel injector configured to deliver a primary fuel to the engine when the system is in a first operational mode and a secondary fuel injector configured to deliver a secondary fuel to the engine when the system is in a second operational mode, wherein each fuel injector has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminals of the primary fuel injectors are coupled with each other, and wherein the positive terminals of the secondary fuel injectors are coupled with each other;an electronic control module, wherein the electronic control module comprises a set of drivers, wherein each driver has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and wherein the positive terminals of the drivers are coupled with each other, and wherein each negative terminal of each driver is coupled with the negative terminals of one of the pairs of the primary fuel injectors and secondary fuel injectors; anda switch;storing operational information for the first operational mode in the control unit and operational information for the second operational mode in the control unit;uploading, from the control unit, either the operational information for the first operational mode or the operational information for the second operation mode into the electronic control module so as to selectively transition the system back and forth from the first operational mode to the second operational mode or from the second operational mode to the first operational mode; andcontrolling the switch via a controller coupled with the switch and the control unit, wherein the controller operates the switch into the first operational mode or the second operational mode based on information received from the control unit; wherein, when the system is in the first operational mode, the switch establishes communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the primary fuel injectors and inhibits communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injectors;wherein, when the system is in the second operational mode, the switch establishes communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injectors and inhibits communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the primary fuel injectors;wherein after the controller has operated the switch into the first operational mode then the electronic control module controls the primary fuel injectors in the first operational mode via the drivers and the switch, independently of operational input from the control unit; andwherein after the controller has operated the switch into the second operational mode then the electronic control module controls the secondary fuel injectors in the second operational mode via the drivers and the switch independently of operational input from the control unit. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic control module is factory installed equipment and remains connected with other factory installed equipment throughout the method. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the control unit is aftermarket equipment and remains connected with factory installed equipment throughout the method. 11. A bi-fuel control system for an automotive vehicle, the system comprising: an internal combustion engine;at least one pair of fuel injectors comprising a first pair of a primary fuel injector configured to deliver a primary fuel to the engine when the system is in a first operational mode and a secondary fuel injector configured to deliver a secondary fuel to the engine when the system is in a second operational mode;an electronic control module;a control unit communicatively coupled with the electronic control module;a first switch;a first communication line, wherein the first communication line connects the first switch to the electronic control module;a second communication line, wherein the second communication line connects the first switch to the primary fuel injector;a third communication line, wherein the third communication line connects the first switch to the secondary fuel injector; anda first controller coupled with the control unit and the first switch, wherein the first controller operates the first switch into the first operational mode or the second operation mode based on information received from the control unit; wherein the control unit stores operational information for the first operational mode and operational information for the second operational mode;wherein the control unit uploads either the operational information for the first operational mode or the operational information for the second operation mode into the electronic control module so as to selectively transition the system back and forth from the first operational mode to the second operational mode or from the second operational mode to the first operational mode;wherein, when the system is in the first operational mode, the first switch establishes communication between the electronic control module and the primary fuel injector and inhibits communication between the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injector;wherein, when the system is in the second operational mode, the first switch establishes communication between the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injector and inhibits communication between the electronic control module and the primary fuel injector;wherein after the first controller has operated the first switch into the first operational mode then the electronic control module controls the primary fuel injector in the first operational mode via a circuit including the first communication line, the first switch, and the second communication line, independently of operational input from the control unit; andwherein after the first controller has operated the first switch into the second operational mode then the electronic control module controls the secondary fuel injectors in the second operational mode via a circuit including the first communication line, the first switch, and the third communication line, independently of operational input from the control unit. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a second switch; wherein the at least one pair of fuel injectors further comprises a second pair of a primary fuel injector configured to deliver a primary fuel to the engine when the system is in a first operational mode and a secondary fuel injector configured to deliver a secondary fuel to the engine when the system is in the second operational mode; andwherein the second switch is connected for communication with the primary fuel injector and the secondary fuel injector of the second pair. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first controller is coupled with the second switch, wherein the first controller operates the second switch into the first operational mode or the second operation mode based on information received from the control unit. 14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second controller coupled with the control unit and the second switch, wherein the second controller operates the second switch into the first operational mode or the second operation mode based on information received from the control unit. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit downloads and stores the operational information for the first operational mode from the electronic control module. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control unit is initially configured to upload the operational information for the second operational mode to the electronic control module so as to transition the system to the second operational mode. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to upload the operational information for the first operational mode to the electronic control module to transition the system from the second operational mode back to the first operational mode. 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is positioned within a cab of the vehicle. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control unit comprises a user interface configured to display information obtained from the electronic control module. 20. A bi-fuel control system for an automotive vehicle, the system comprising: an internal combustion engine;pairs of fuel injectors, wherein each pair comprises a primary fuel injector configured to deliver a primary fuel to the engine when the system is in a first operational mode and a secondary fuel injector configured to deliver a secondary fuel to the engine when the system is in a second operational mode, wherein each fuel injector has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminals of the primary fuel injectors are coupled with each other, and wherein the positive terminals of the secondary fuel injectors are coupled with each other;an electronic control module, wherein the electronic control module comprises a set of drivers, wherein each driver has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and wherein the positive terminals of the drivers are coupled with each other, and wherein each negative terminal of each driver is coupled with the negative terminals of one of the pairs of the primary fuel injectors and secondary fuel injectors;a control unit communicatively coupled with the electronic control module;a switch;a set of first communication lines, wherein each of the first communication lines connects the switch to each of the drivers;a set of second communication lines, wherein each of the second communication lines connects the switch to each of the primary fuel injectors;a set of third communication lines, wherein each of the third communication lines connects the switch to each of the secondary fuel injectors; anda controller coupled with the control unit and the switch, wherein the controller operates the switch into the first operational mode or the second operation mode based on information received from the control unit; wherein the control unit stores operational information for the first operational mode and operational information for the second operational mode;wherein the control unit uploads either the operational information for the first operational mode or the operational information for the second operation mode into the electronic control module so as to selectively transition the system back and forth from the first operational mode to the second operational mode or from the second operational mode to the first operational mode;wherein, when the system is in the first operational mode, the switch establishes communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the primary fuel injectors and inhibits communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injectors;wherein, when the system is in the second operational mode, the switch establishes communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the secondary fuel injectors and inhibits communication between the drivers of the electronic control module and the primary fuel injectors;wherein after the controller has operated the switch into the first operational mode then the electronic control module controls the primary fuel injectors in the first operational mode via a circuit including the first communication lines, the switch, and the second communication lines, independently of operational input from the control unit; andwherein after the controller has operated the switch into the second operational mode then the electronic control module controls the secondary fuel injectors in the second operational mode via a circuit including the first communication lines, the switch, and the third communication lines, independently of operational input from the control unit. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the control unit downloads and stores the operational information for the first operational mode from the electronic control module. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control unit is initially configured to upload the operational information for the second operational mode to the electronic control module so as to transition the system to the second operational mode. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the control unit is configured to upload the operational information for the first operational mode to the electronic control module to transition the system from the second operational mode back to the first operational mode. 24. The system of claim 20, wherein the control unit is positioned within a cab of the vehicle. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the control unit comprises a user interface configured to display information obtained from the electronic control module.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (33)
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