System for management of fuel in a cold start fuel passageway

(54) SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF FUEL IN A COLD START FUEL PASSAGEWAY

(75) Inventors: Frank Warren Hunt, West Bloomfield, MI (US); Shigeru Oho, Farmington Hills, MI (US); Ayumu Miyajima,

Farmington Hills, MI (US)

(73) Assignee: Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo (JP)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 50 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/274,682

(22) Filed: Oct. 21, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2004/0074465 Al Apr. 22, 2004

(51) Int. C I. F02B 3/00

(52) U.S. CI 123/299; 123/179.12; 123/179.15;

123/480; 123/491

(58) Field of Search 123/179.12, 179.13,

123/179.14, 179.15, 179.16, 298, 299, 480,

491; 701/113

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,361,125 A 11/1982 Igashira et al 123/549

4,606,319 A 8/1986 Silva 123/525

5,284,117 A 2/1994 Akase 123/445

5,353,591 A 10/1994 Kabasin et al 60/274

5,465,701 A 11/1995 Hunt 123/531

5,482,023 A 1/1996 Hunt et al 123/491

5,529,035 A 6/1996 Hunt et al 123/179.15

5,894,832 A 4/1999 Nogi et al 123/491

6,067,972 A 5/2000 Jaasma 123/549

A system for the management of fuel and fuel vapors in the cold start fuel passageway of an internal combustion engine which has a cold start fuel injector which, when activated, introduces fuel into the cold start fuel passageway. The system includes an engine control unit (ECU) which determines the probability of fuel within the cold start passageway. Different procedures programmed in the ECU are then utilized to dissipate the fuel from the cold start passageway. These procedures include delaying the initiation of the spark ignition for the engine, maintaining the heater associated with the cold start fuel injector activated for a period of time following deactivation of the cold start fuel injector, maintaining revolution of the internal combustion engine for a predetermined time period, as well as other strategies.

33 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets