U.S. patent number 3,796,197 [Application Number 05/121,405] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for electronic regulator with fuel injection control for diesel engines.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Robert Bosch GmbH. Invention is credited to Karl-Heinz Adler, Johannes Locher, Edgar Schonart.
| United States Patent |
3,796,197 |
| Locher , et al. |
March 12, 1974 |
ELECTRONIC REGULATOR WITH FUEL INJECTION CONTROL FOR DIESEL
ENGINES
Abstract
Arrangement for controlling fuel injection. Transducers generate
first and second signals indicative of first and second engine
operating conditions. Fuel-quantity selector generates electrical
quantity signal indicative of the quantity of fuel to be injected
per combustion cycle as a predetermined function of said first and
second signals. Timer generates electrical timing signal indicative
of time of commencement of fuel injection with respect to the
combustion cycle as a predetermined function of said first and
second electrical signals. Fuel-injection means commences fuel
injection at a time with respect to the combustion cycle indicated
by said timing signal, and at such time injects an amount of fuel
indicated by said quantity signal.
|
Inventors: |
Locher; Johannes (Stuttgart,
DT), Schonart; Edgar (Stuttgart, DT),
Adler; Karl-Heinz (Leonberg, DT) |
|
Assignee: |
Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart,
DT)
|
| Family
ID: |
5764873 |
| Appl.
No.: |
05/121,405 |
| Filed: |
March 5, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
| Mar 12, 1970 [DT] |
|
|
2011712 |
|
| Current U.S.
Class: |
123/357; 123/458;
123/501 |
| Current CPC
Class: |
F02D
41/38 (20130101); G05D 3/18 (20130101); F02D
41/401 (20130101); F02B 3/06 (20130101); Y02T
10/44 (20130101); Y02T 10/40 (20130101) |
| Current International
Class: |
F02D
41/38 (20060101); F02D 41/40 (20060101); G05D
3/18 (20060101); G05D 3/14 (20060101); F02B
3/00 (20060101); F02B 3/06 (20060101); F02p
005/04 (); F02b 003/00 () |
| Field of
Search: |
;123/139AP,32E,32BA,117R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Goodridge; Laurence M.
Assistant Examiner: Cox; Ronald B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Striker; Michael S.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. An arrangement for controlling the injection of fuel into at
least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine comprising, in
combination, transducer means having first and second transducer
outputs and operative for generating at said outputs respective
first and second electrical signals indicative of respective first
and second variable engine operating conditions; fuel-quantity
selecting means having first and second inputs respectively
connected to said first and second transducer outputs and having a
selecting means output, and operative for generating an electrical
quantity signal whose magnitude depends upon said first and second
signals in a predetermined manner and whose magnitude is indicative
of the quantity of fuel to be injected per combustion cycle; timing
means having one input connected to said first transducer output,
another input connected to said selecting means output, and a
timing means output, and operative for generating an electrical
timing signal whose magnitude depends upon said first signal and
said quantity signal in a predetermined manner and whose magnitude
is indicative of the time during the combustion cycle at which the
injection of fuel is to commence; and fuel-injection means having
inputs respectively connected to said selecting means output and to
said timing means output and being responsive to the magnitude of
said electrical quantity signal and to the magnitude of said
electrical timing signal and being operative for commencing fuel
injection at the time indicated by the magnitude of said timing
signal, and for at such time injecting the amount of fuel indicated
by the magnitude of said quantity signal.
2. An arrangement for controlling fuel injection into at least one
cylinder of an internal combustion engine, comprising in
combination transducer means for generating at least first and
second electrical signals indicative of respective first and second
variable engine operating conditions; fuel-quantity selecting means
for generating an electrical quantity signal indicative of the
quantity of fuel to be injected per combustion cycle as a
predetermined function of said first and second electrical signals;
timing means for generating an electrical timing signal indicative
of the timing of commencement of fuel injection with respect to the
combustion cycle as a predetermined function of said first and
second electrical signals; and fuel-injection means for commencing
fuel injection at a time with respect to the combustion cycle
indicated by said timing signal, and for at such time injecting an
amount of fuel indicated by said quantity signal, wherein said
first variable operating condition is engine speed, and wherein
said transducer means has first and second transducer outputs at
which said first and second signals are respectively generated, and
wherein said fuel-quantity selecting means has a selecting means
output at which said quantity signal is generated, and wherein said
timing means comprises an operational amplifier circuit including
an operational amplifier having an output connected to said
fuel-injection means and an input connected to said first
transducer output, and diode-resistor network means connected to
said input to said amplifier and to said selecting means output and
operative for establishing a non-linear relationship between said
quantity signal and the signal at said input of said operational
amplifier.
3. An arrangement for controlling the fuel injection into at least
one cylinder of an internal combustion engine comprising, in
combination, transducer means for generating at least first and
second electrical signal indicative of respective first and second
variable engine operating conditions; fuel-quantity selecting means
for generating an electrical quantity signal whose magnitude
depends upon said first and second signals in a predetermined
manner and whose magnitude is indicative of the quantity of fuel to
be injected per combustion cycle; timing means for generating an
electrical timing signal whose magnitude depends upon said first
and second signals in a predetermined manner and whose magnitude is
indicative of the time during the combustion cycle at which the
injection of fuel is to commence; and fuel-injection means
connected to said fuel-quantity selecting means and to said timing
means and responsive to the magnitude of said electrical quantity
signal and to the magnitude of said electrical timing signal and
operative for commencing fuel injection at the time indicated by
the magnitude of said timing signal, and for at such time injecting
the amount of fuel indicated by the magnitude of said quantity
signal, wherein said fuel-injection means includes movable
injection-advancing means movable to a plurality of settings
corresponding to respective advanced and retarded fuel-injection
commencement times, and a servo system for automatically moving
said injection-advancing means to a position corresponding to an
injection commencement time indicated by said timing signal, and
wherein said fuel-injection means further includes movable
fuel-quantity setting means movable to a plurality of settings
corresponding to respective quantities of fuel, and another servo
system for automatically moving said fuel-quantity selecting means
to a position corresponding to a quantity of fuel indicated by said
quantity signal, and wherein said quantity signal and said timing
signal constitute command signals, and wherein at least one of said
servo systems comprises moving means for moving the respective one
of said movable means, feedback transducer means for generating an
electrical feedback signal corresponding to the actual setting of
said movable means, and means for pulse-width-modulating the
difference between the respective one of said command signals and
said feedback signal and applying the pulse-width-modulated
difference signal to said moving means to cause the latter to
effect movement of said movable means in one direction
contemporaneously with the duration of width-modulated pulses and
in the opposite direction during the time intervals between such
width-modulated pulses.
4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said
fuel-injection means includes movable injection-advancing means
movable to a plurality of settings corresponding to respective
advanced and retarded fuel-injection commencement times, and a
servo system for automatically moving said injection-advancing
means to a position corresponding to an injection commencement time
indicated by said timing signal.
5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said
fuel-injection means further includes movable fuel-quantity setting
means movable to a plurality of settings corresponding to
respective quantities of fuel, and another servo system for
automatically moving said fuel-quantity setting means to a position
corresponding to a quantity of fuel indicated by said quantity
signal.
6. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said operational
amplifier circuit further includes a pair of voltage supply lines
for connection to a source of biasing voltage, an input resistor
connected between said first transducer output and said operational
amplifier input, and a pair of series-connected input resistors
connected between said operational amplifier input and said
selecting means output, a first voltage divider connected between
one of said supply lines and the junction between said
series-connected input resistors and including a diode and a pair
of series-connected first voltage-divider resistors, a second
voltage divider connected across said supply lines, and a diode
connected between the tap of said second voltage divider and the
junction between said first voltage-divider resistors.
7. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said operational
amplifier has an output circuit comprising the output circuit of a
transistor, a two-tap voltage divider connected across said supply
lines and having a first tap connected to the output of said
operational amplifier and another tap constituting the output of
said operational amplifier circuit, and wherein said first signal
varies inversely to engine speed, and wherein said quantity signal
varies inversely to the quantity of fuel to be injected.
8. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said moving means
comprises hydraulic moving means.
9. An arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said hydraulic
moving means comprises a cylinder, a piston movable in said
cylinder and dividing said cylinder into two chambers, a source of
pressurized fluid, a fluid reservoir, a fluid conduit connecting
said source of fluid to one of said chambers, and
electromagnetically operated hydraulic switch means for
alternatively connecting the other of said chambers to said source
of fluid and to said fluid reservoir.
10. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein the keying ratio
of said pulse-width-modulated signal is 1:1 when said difference is
null.
11. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said
pulse-width-modulating means comprises a differential-input
operational amplifier having a first input arranged to receive one
of said command signals and a second input arranged to receive said
feedback signal, a feedback resistor connecting said output to said
first input, another feedback resistor connecting said output to
said second input, supply lines for connection to a source of
biasing voltage, and a capacitor connected between said second
input and one of said supply lines.
12. An arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said modulating
means further includes emitter-follower means for receiving said
feedback signal and applying the same to said second input.
13. An arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said modulating
means includes a magnetic relay connected across said supply lines
and directly connected to one of said supply lines, and a
compensating resistor connected between said first input of said
operational amplifier and said one of said supply lines.
14. An arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said
pulse-width-modulating means further includes fail-safe means for
effecting movement by said servo system of said movable means to
the null position of said movable means in response to loss of said
feedback signal.
15. An arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said
pulse-width-modulating means further includes time-delay means
connected to said second input of said amplifier and operative for
introducing a time delay in the application of said feedback signal
to said second input.
16. An arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said time-delay
means comprises an emitter-follower transistor connected to said
input and operative for applying thereto said feedback signal, and
a capacitor connected between the base of said emitter-follower
transistor and one of said supply lines.
17. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first
variable engine operating condition is engine speed, and wherein
said variable engine condition is the setting of an
operator-activated control.
18. An arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said second
engine operating condition is the setting of the engine
accelerator.
19. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said
fuel-injection means includes movable injection-advancing means
movable to a plurality of settings corresponding to respective
advanced and retarded fuel-injection commencement times, and a sero
system for automatically moving said injection-advancing means to a
position corresponding to an injection commencement time indicated
by said timing signal.
20. An arrangement as defined in claim 19, wherein said
fuel-injection means further includes movable fuel-quantity setting
means movable to a plurality of settings corresponding to
respective quantities of fuel, and another servo system for
automatically moving said fuel-quantity setting means to a setting
corresponding to a quantity of fuel indicated by said quantity
signal.
21. An arrangement as defined in claim 20, wherein said first
variable engine operating condition is engine speed, and wherein
said second variable engine operating condition is the setting of
an operator-activated control.
22. An arrangement as defined in claim 21, wherein said second
engine operating condition is the setting of an operator-activated
accelerator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a fuel injection regulator for diesel
engines, the regulator having an electronic generator for producing
an electrical signal indicative of the quantity of fuel to be
injected. The fuel injection regulator further has a fuel injection
unit timing.
As a rule with diesel engines, the fuel is injected by a high
pressure fuel injection pump into the combustion chamber in time
with the engine stroke. Since the fuel injection pump is connected
to the combustion chamber by lines and spray nozzles, the beginning
of the fuel injection does not coincide with the beginning of the
compression stroke of the pump, the beginning of the compression
stroke being that moment at which a piston of the pump begins to
expel fuel. The pressure created by the piston propagates in the
form of a pressure wave through the lines to the nozzles, so that
there is a delay between the opening of a spray nozzle and the
beginning of the compression stroke. This delay, called fuel
injection lag, depends, among other factors, on the length of the
lines, on the opening pressure to which the nozzles are adjusted,
and on the engine rpm.
In practical operation, the influence of the engine rpm is
particularly of concern. For example, if within the range of
operating rpms, the injection lag is too great, this can interfere
with make satisfactory engine operation. In these cases, it is
necessary to install a special unit to control, during operation,
the moment at which the fuel is injected. With the diesel engines
commonly used up to the present time, satisfactory operation can be
obtained, as a general rule, if the injection is made rpm
dependent. However, with high speed and high output diesel engines,
far better operation can be had if the moment at which the
injection begins is dependent not only on rpm, but also on the
engine load.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide for diesel engines a fuel
injection regulator that precisely adjusts the beginning of the
injection in dependence on both the rpm and the load.
A further object of the invention is the regulator of the preceding
object, which regulator enables the injection to be made dependent
on any desired operating and control parameters, including
non-linear parameters, of the engine.
Briefly, the invention consists of transducer means for generating
at least first and second electrical signals indicative of
respective first and second variable engine operating conditions.
Fuel-quantity selecting means generates an electrical quantity
signal indicative of the quantity of fuel to be injected per
combustion cycle as a predetermined function of said first and
second electrical signals. Timing means generates an electrical
timing signal indicative of the time of commencement of fuel
injection with respect to the combustion cycle as a predetermined
function of said first and second electrical signals.
Fuel-injection means commences fuel injection at a time with
respect to the combustion cycle indicated by said timing signal,
and at such time injects an amount of fuel indicated by said
quantity signal.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The
invention itself, however, both as to its objects and advantages
thereof, will be best understood from the following description of
specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the arrangement of the invention;
FIG. 2 graphically shows the relationship of the timing signal to
the speed and accelerator signals;
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the timing means;
FIG. 4 schematically shows details of the servo systems shown in
FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a pulse-width modulator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an arrangement according to the
invention.
A first transducer 11 generates a first electrical signal Un
indicative of engine speed. A second transducer 10 generates a
second electrical signal U.alpha. indicative of the position of the
(non-illustrated) accelerator pedal.
The first (speed) signal and second (accelerator) signal are
applied to the two inputs of fuel-quantity selecting means 12 which
generates an electrical quantity signal Uk indicative of the amount
of fuel to be injected into a cylinder during the combustion cycle.
Selecting means 12 generates the quantity signal Uk as a
predetermined, and typically very non-linear function of the first
and second signals Un, U.alpha.. A fuel-quantity selecting means of
the general type in question is described, for example, in German
patent 1,267,905.
The speed signal Un is also applied to one input of timing means
17. The quantity signal Uk is applied to the other input of timing
means 17. Timing means 17 generates, as a predetermined function of
signals Un and Uk, a timing signal U.sub.NW indicative of the time
of commencement of fuel injection with respect to the cylinder
combustion cycle. The functional relationship between signals Un,
Uk and U.sub.NW will be discussed with respect to FIG. 2.
Quantity signal Uk and timing signal U.sub.NW are command signals
which are applied to the fuel-injection means 13-16, 18-20.
Fuel-injection means 13-16, 18-20 comprises two distinct servo
systems, namely, one servo system 13, 14, 16 and another servo
system 18-20. The fuel pump is designated by numeral 15.
Servo system 13, 14, 16 is responsive to fuel-quantity signal Uk.
Block 14 represents a movable fuel-quantity setting means and
associated hydraulic moving means for moving the setting means. The
movable fuel-quantity setting means is known per se, and may for
example be the conventional control rod which adjusts the stroke
volume of the fuel injector. The hydraulic moving means of the
servo system will be explained in more detail below. Feedback
transducer 16 generates an electrical signal indicative of the
actual setting of the fuel-quantity setting means. The actual
setting of the fuel-quantity setting means is designated RW, and
the corresponsing electrical feedback signal is designated
U.sub.RW. The servo system 13, 14, 16 furthermore includes a
comparing means 13 which compares the 9 quantity signal Uk and the
feedback signal U.sub.RW and generates an activating signal
corresponding to the difference between Uk and U.sub.RW, in
accordance with usual servo operation. This activating signal is
applied to the servo moving means of block 14.
The other servo system 18-20 is associated with fuel-injection
timing. Block 19 represents movable injection-advancing means and
means for moving such advancing means. The injection-advancing
means is known per se and typically comprises a rotary member
rotatable with and also rotatable relative to the camshaft. The
time of fuel-injection commencement, during the combustion cycle,
is represented in degrees of rotation of the setting means relative
to the camshaft; .degree.NW designates the setting of the
injection-advancing means, each setting of the injection-advancing
means corresponding to a different time of fuel-injection
commencement within the combustion cycle.
A feedback transducer 20 generates an electrical signal
U.degree..sub.NW indicative of the actual setting of the
injection-advancing means. A comparing means 18 compares the
command signal U.sub.NW and the feedback signal U.degree..sub.NW
and generates at its output an activating signal corresponding to
the difference between such signals, in accordance with usual servo
operation. This activating signal is applied to the servo moving
means of block 19. The servo moving means, in the disclosed
embodiment, is hydraulic, and is discussed more fully below.
FIGS. 2a, 2b illustrate the functional relationship between the
timing signal U.sub.NW and the speed signal Un and the quantity
signal Uk. In FIG. 2a different percentage values of Uk are the
parameters for the family of characteristics shown. It will be
noticed that the lines corresponding to values of 0 percent, 20
percent, 40 percent, 60 percent for Uk have a first spacing,
whereas the curves corresponding to 60 percent, 80 percent, 100
percent have a second spacing; this variation as a function of Uk
is explicitly illustrated in FIG. 2b.
FIG. 3 shows the wiring diagram for the timing means 17. Timing
means 17 comprises an operational amplifier 25 having two inputs,
an inverting input M and a non-inverting input P. The input stage
of the operational amplifier is designed as a differential
amplifier. The design of the output of the operational amplifier is
indicated by a transistor T, connected grounded emitter. The
non-inverting input P is connected by a resistor 26 to a grounded
line 27 and by a resistor 28 to a positive line 29. The positive
line 29 is connected to the positive terminal of a voltage source
Ub. The inverting input M is connected by a negative feedback
resistor 32 to the output of the operational amplifier and by an
input resistor 30 to an input terminal 31. Two series-connected
input resistors 34 and 36 connect a second input terminal 33 to the
inverting input M. Connected between the junction 35 and the
grounded line 27 is a first voltage divider composed of a
conductively biased diode 37 and two resistors 38 and 40. Resistors
41 and 42 form a second voltage divider connected between the
positive line 29 and the grounded line 27. A conductively biased
diode 43 connects together the two junctions 39 and 44. A two-tap
voltage divider, consisting of the resistors 44,45, and 46, is
connected between the positive line 29 and the grounded line 27.
The desired output signal voltage U.sub.NW is obtained at the
positive-most second tap 47 of this voltage divider, the first tap
48 being connected to the output of the operational amplifier 25.
In accordance with the invention, the voltage divider can have more
than three resistors connected in series.
The timing means shown in FIG. 3 operates in the following manner.
The voltage divider composed of the resistors 26 and 28 keeps the
non-inverting input P at a constant potential. The operational
amplifier 25 is controlled solely by the signal at the inverting
input M. The operational amplifier is wired as a computer
amplifier, the resistor 32 being a negative feedback resistor and
the input resistor being the resistor 30 on the diode-resistance
network connected to the input terminal 33. The input M controls
the operational amplifier from ground potential up. For reasons of
safety, the rpm n and the rpm dependent voltage Un are inversely
proportional to each other; as the rpm rises, the voltage Un falls.
This inverse proportionality makes operation safer, because if a
lead should break or if the transducer 11 is faulty, the engine
cannot be overdriven, since it appears to the regulator as though
the engine is operating at maximum rpm.
In the following explanation, it will be assumed that the signal Uk
is constant. As the rpm increases, the signal Un becomes smaller;
but because of the reversal in polarity between the input M and the
output of the operational amplifier 25, the signal U.sub.NW becomes
more positive. The rate of the increase in U.sub.NW with respect to
the engine rpm n, is determined by the ratio of the resistor 32 to
the resistor 30. There will now be assumed a second engine
operating situation in which the engine rpm n is constant and the
signal Uk, changes. For reasons of safety, there is also an inverse
proportionality between the selected fuel amount and the signal Uk.
At no load, the voltage Uk has, therefore, its largest value.
Consequently, the diode 37 conducts, because the voltage at the
junction 35 is more positive than the voltage at the junction 39.
If the selected fuel quantity increases, the voltage Uk falls. So
long as the diode 37 conducts, the change in the signal Uk at the
junction 35 (and therefore at the inverting input M) is less than
if the diode does not conduct, since the junction 35 is connected
by the conductive diode 37, resistor 38, and diode 43 to the
junction 44 of the voltage divider consisting of resistors 41 and
42. If the signal Uk exceeds the value U.sub.ko --in other words,
if the selected fuel quantity is greater than a value corresponding
to U.sub.ko -- the diode 37 is cut off; and the change in the
signal Uk is conducted by the resistors 34 and 36 in full measure
to the inverting input M. When the diode 37 does not conduct, there
is no additional loading of the input circuit between the terminal
33 and the input M, the amplification factor of the operational
amplifier appears to be higher than when a conductive diode 37
connects a supplementary, grounded, load to the junction 35. This
additional load is composed of the resistor 38 connected in series
with the parallel resistors 40,41, and 42. As previously explained,
the diode 43 is conductive at all times, and serves solely as a
temperature compensator.
It is apparent from the diagrams of FIG. 2 that the injection
control is active only beginning at a predetermined minimum engine
rpm n and that it cannot exceed a maximum engine rpm. These two
conditions are fulfilled by the voltage divider consisting of the
resistors 44,45, and 46. For example, if the rpm is high, the
signal voltage Un is small. Because of the change in polarity
between the input M and the output of the operational amplifier 25,
the output voltage of the amplifier is large: in other words, the
transistor T is non-conductive. When the transistor T is
non-conductive, the voltage U.sub.NW at the junction 47 is
determined solely by the relative values of the resistors 44,45 and
46. In the other extreme case, in which the rpm is very small and
the signal voltage Un is large, the output voltage of the
operational amplifier is small because of the reversal in polarity.
This means that the transistor T is saturated. This being true, the
resistance of the emitter-collector path of the transistor is
small, and the resistor 46 is short-circuited by the
emitter-collector path of the transistor T. Consequently, the value
of the signal voltage U.sub.NW at the junction 47 is, in this case,
determined solely by the ratio between the resistors 44 and 45. In
this way, electrical limits are provided for the largest and
smallest values of the injection control.
FIG. 4 schematically shows the make-up of servo system 13, 14, 16
(FIG. 1) and the similar servo system 18-20 (FIG. 1). A cylinder
and piston arrangement 55 is provided with hydraulic fluid through
two openings 56 and 57. The unit 55 comprises a cylinder 59 and a
piston 60 that is free to move lengthwise in the cylinder. The
piston rod 61 on the piston 60 projects out of the cylinder 59, and
is connected to the aforementioned movable means--i.e., the movable
injection-advancing means 19 in the case of servo system 18-20 or
the movable fuel-quantity setting means 14 in the case of servo
system 13, 14, 16. The piston 60 divides the cylinder 59 into two
pressure chambers 62 and 63, the chamber 62 having an opening 56
and the chamber 63 having an opening 57. The opening 56 is joined
by a line 64 to a pressure tank 65; the opening 57 is joined by a
line 66 to an electromagnetically operated hydraulic switch means
67-69 which, when a pulse is present on line 74 connects line 66 by
way of a line 68 to a source of pressurized fluid 65 or by way of a
line 69 to a fluid reservoir 70. The piston rod 61 is connected to
a transducer 71 that converts the mechanical movements of the
piston rod into a feedback signal which is conducted to a
pulse-width modulator 72. The regulator 72 is part of either unit
13 or 18, shown in FIG. 1. Command means 73, which can be either
the means 12 or 17, shown in FIG. 1, provides a command signal A
lead 74, shown in dashed lines, connects the pulse-width modulator
72 to the solenoid of the electromagnetic valve 67. The transducer
71 corresponds to the transducer 16 or 20, shown in FIG. 1; in FIG.
4 it is shown as an inductive motion pickup.
The unit shown in FIG. 4 operates in the following manner. In its
normal position, shown in FIG. 4, the two-way electromagnetic valve
67 connects the chamber 63 of the cylinder 59 to the reservoir 70,
by way of the lines 66 and 69. Since the line 64 connects the
chamber 62 at all times with the pressure tank 65, the piston 60 is
moved to its right-most end position, which, for example,
corresponds to the zero position of the control rod of a fuel
injection pump. During operation, the electromagnetic valve 67 is
switched back and forth by the pulse-width modulator 72 at a
predetermined frequency. If the difference between the desired
value and the actual value is zero, the modulator 72 provides a PWM
pulse train of which the keying ratio is 1:1. Thus, the chamber 63
is alternately connected to the pressure source 65 and to the
reservoir 70 for equal lengths of time, the piston 60 oscillating
slightly about a position corresponding to the desire value. The
amplitude of this oscillation about the desired value, depends upon
the frequency of the control signal from the regulator 72. In order
to ensure that the positioning force acting on the piston 60 is the
same for either direction of piston movement, the right face of the
piston must have twice the area of the left face, because the
chamber 62 is continuously connected to the pressure source 65.
However, the area of the left face is smaller than that of the
right face by an amount equal to the cross-sectional area of the
piston rod 61. If both chambers are connected to the pressure tank
65, the resulting positioning force acting on the piston is equal
to the unit pressure times the cross-sectional area of the piston
rod 61. If the chamber 63 is connected to the reservoir 70, only
the pressure in the chamber 62 moves the piston 60; and the
positioning force is the product of the pressure in the chamber 62
times the area of the left face of the piston.
FIG. 5 shows the wiring diagram of the pulse-width modulator of
comparing means 13 (FIG. 1). A similar arrangement is associated
with comparing means 18 of the other servo system 18-20. The
pulse-width modulator comprises an operational amplifier having an
inverting input M and a non-inverting input P. The output of the
operational amplifier is connected by a negative feedback resistor
81 to the inverting input M and by a positive feedback resistor 82
to the non-inverting input P. A resistor 83 also connects the
output to a positive line 84, which is connected to a voltage
source Ub2. An input resistor 85 connects the non-inverting input P
to an input terminal 86. A capacitor 87 connects the inverting
input M to a grounded line 88. An input resistor 89 connects the
inverting input to the emitter of an emitter follower transistor
90. The collector of this transistor is directly connected to the
ground line 88, the emitter is connected by the load resistor 91 to
the positive line 84, and the base is connected by a
parallel-connected capacitor 93 and resistor 92 to the grounded
line 88. A conductively biased diode 95 connects the base of the
transistor 90 to an input terminal 94. A compensating resistor 97
connects the non-inverting input P to a second positive line 96,
which is connected to a source of voltage Ub1. The output of the
operational amplifier 80 is connected to a three-stage power
amplifier, which, acting as a switch, operates the electromagnetic
valve MV. The power amplifier has three transistors 98, 99, and
100. The base of transistor 98 is connected by a resistor 101 to
the output of the operational amplifier and by a resistor 102 to
the grounded line 88. The emitter of this transistor is connected
directly to ground, and a resistor 103 connects the collector to
the positive line 84. The collector of transistor 98 is connected
to the base of transistor 99. A resistor 104 connects the collector
of transistor 99 to the positive line 96, and the emitter of this
transistor is directly connected to the base of transistor 100. The
transistors 99 and 100 constitute a Darlington stage. The emitter
of transistor 100 is directly connected to ground, and the
collector is connected by a parallel-connected resistor 105 and
capacitor 106 to one end of the solenoid of the electromagnetic
valve MV. This valve is the same as the electromagnetic valve 67 in
FIG. 4. The other end of the solenoid is connected to the positive
line 96. The collector of this transistor is also connected by a
series-connected resistor 107 and a non-conductively biased diode
108 to the positive line 96.
The circuit just described operates in the following manner. The
signal Uk, which is the desired value, is conducted to the input
terminal 86, whereas the signal U.sub.RW or U.degree..sub.NW, which
is the actual value, is connected to the input terminal 94. For the
moment it will be assumed that the voltages at the two inputs M and
P are equal. In explaining the oscillatory action of the circuit,
it will also be assumed that the output voltage of the operational
amplifier 80 has suddenly changed from approximately +Ub2 to zero.
The terminal of the resistor 81 connected to the output amplifier
80 consequently is approximately at ground potential, permitting
the capacitor 87 to discharge through the resistor 81. As a
consequence of this discharge, the voltage at the inverting input M
falls. As soon as the voltage at the input M is smaller than the
voltage at the input P, there is a difference in voltage between
these two inputs, which difference in voltage drives the amplifier
to its positive end state. Because of the positive feedback, the
amplifier is very quickly switched to its other state. A part of
the voltage jump appearing at the output of the amplifier 80 is
coupled by the positive feedback resistor 82 to the non-inverting
input P, causing the voltage at this input to undergo a small
positive voltage jump. At the same time, the capacitor 87, being
connected by the resistor 81 to the positive line 84, can charge.
As soon as the capacitor 87 has sufficiently charged so that the
voltage at the input M exceeds that of the input P, the voltage
difference between the two inputs is such that the operational
amplifier is switched to its other end state. The capacitor 87 is
now again free to discharge through the resistor 81, and the
voltage jump caused by the sudden switching from one state to the
other is conducted by the positive feedback resistor 82 to the
non-inverting input P, so that there appears a negative voltage
jump on this input. Immediately after the amplifier has been
switched back to its original state, the voltage at the input P is
below the voltage at the input M; and the operational amplifier can
only switch again when the capacitor 87 has sufficiently discharged
through the resistor 81 that the voltage at the inverting input M
falls below that at the non-inverting input P. The frequency at
which the operational amplifier 80 oscillates depends both on the
time constant of the RC network constituted by the capacitor 87 and
the resistor 81, and on the size of the voltage jump conducted by
the resistor 82 to the non-inverting input P when the amplifier
switches from one state to the other. If the inputs M and P are
under no external voltages, the voltage jumps at the input P are
equal irrespective of whether the amplifier output is changing from
ground potential to +Ub2 or from +Ub2 to ground potential. In this
way, there is obtained a keying ratio of 1:1. If, for example, the
desired value (Uk) is more positive, the discharge of the capacitor
87 takes longer and the charging is shortened. The electromagnetic
valve MV is consequently energized for a longer time and
de-energized for a shorter time, so that the piston 60 can be
positioned until the voltage difference between the desired value
and the actual value is again zero.
If the signal U.sub.RW should fail, the inverting input M assumes
the voltage of the positive source Ub2, the electromagnetic valve
MV is consequently de-energized (the transistor 100 being cut off),
and the fuel pump controlling members return to their zero
position.
Since the energization period of an electromagnetic valve depends
not only on the shape of the pulse delivered to its solenoid, but
also on the value of the voltage to which the solenoid is
connected, the keying ratio will vary with a change in the battery
voltage. If the voltage Ub1 is derived from a vehicle battery any
change in the battery voltage will be conducted by the compensating
resistor 97 to the input P. Consequently, the influence of the
battery voltage on the keying ratio is compensated. The capacitor
93 influences the change with respect to time of the signal
U.sub.RW at the base of the transistor 90. The dynamic
characteristics of the control loop can be altered by the value of
the capacitor 93.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together, may also find a useful application in other
types of circuits differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied
in an electronic regulator with fuel injection control for diesel
engines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,
since various modifications and circuit changes may be made without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can by applying current
knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly
constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific
aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should
and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
equivalence of the following claims.
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