[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel injection system.
[Background Art]
[0003] Research and development of technology for fuel combustion in combustion chambers
of internal combustion engines have been performed.
[0004] In this connection, a device for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal
combustion engine is known (see Patent Document 1), in which a high-pressure source,
a pressure booster, and a metering valve are provided. The pressure booster has a
working chamber and a control chamber, both of which are separated by a movable piston.
A change in pressure inside the control chamber of the pressure booster is made to
cause a change in pressure inside a compression chamber of the pressure booster. The
pressure booster is of a type that is made to impinge a nozzle chamber surrounding
an injection valve member via a fuel inlet. A pressure relief valve having a valve
body is disposed in a control line between the control chamber of the pressure booster
and the metering valve. The valve body is made to impinge at least one hydraulic chamber
of the pressure relief valve, and the hydraulic chamber can be linked with a pressure
prevailing in a high-pressure accumulator chamber.
[Citation List]
[Patent Document]
[Patent Document 1]
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0006] According to Patent Document 1, the device for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber
of an internal combustion engine is provided with a common rail acting as the high-pressure
source that supplies the fuel at a reference pressure. The device for injecting fuel
boosts a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber of the internal
combustion engine using a pressure boosting mechanism to a pressure that is higher
than the reference pressure of the high-pressure source. In this case, the device
for injecting fuel needs to discharge part of the high-pressure fuel to the outside
differently from the combustion chamber in order to operate the pressure boosting
mechanism. In this case, an amount of the fuel discharged to the outside by operating
the pressure boosting mechanism using fuel is more than that of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber. For this reason, the device for injecting fuel dissipates
part of the energy of the high-pressure fuel as thermal energy. That is, the device
for injecting fuel increases a fuel consumption rate in proportion to the energy dissipated
as thermal energy.
[0007] Therefore, the present invention was made in view of the problems in the related
art, and provides a fuel injection system capable of changing a pressure of fuel injected
into a combustion chamber to a pressure desired by a user while suppressing an increase
in fuel consumption rate.
[Solution to Problem]
[0008] To solve the above problems, a fuel injection system according to an aspect of the
present invention is a fuel injection system that injects fuel into a combustion chamber
of an internal combustion engine, and includes: a pressure accumulating unit to which
the fuel is supplied from a high-pressure source that supplies the fuel at a prescribed
pressure; a first valve configured to supply the fuel, which is supplied from the
high-pressure source, into the pressure accumulating unit; and a second valve configured
to inject the fuel, which is supplied to the pressure accumulating unit, into the
combustion chamber from the pressure accumulating unit.
[0009] Further, to solve the above problems, a fuel injection system according to an aspect
of the present invention is a fuel injection system that injects fuel into a combustion
chamber of an internal combustion engine, and includes: an injection part configured
to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber; a high-pressure source configured
to supply the fuel to the injection part at a prescribed pressure; and a pressure
reducing unit configured to reduce a pressure of the fuel provided between the injection
part and the high-pressure source.
[0010] Further, to solve the above problems, a fuel injection system according to an aspect
of the present invention is a fuel injection system that injects fuel into a combustion
chamber of an internal combustion engine, and enables a pressure at which the fuel
supplied from a high-pressure source at a prescribed pressure is injected into a combustion
chamber to be changed to a pressure that is lower than or equal to a prescribed pressure
corresponding to each of at least three or more stages.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0011] According to the present invention, a fuel injection system capable of changing a
pressure of fuel injected into a combustion chamber to a pressure desired by a user
while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate can be provided.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a constitution of a fuel injection
system (1).
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a logical structure of the fuel injection
system (1).
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an ECU
(3).
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the ECU
(3).
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 1 of a control method of the
fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 2 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 7 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 3 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 8 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 4 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 9 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 5 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 10 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 6 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 11 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 7 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 12 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 8 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 13 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 9 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 14 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 10 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 15 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 11 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 16 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 12 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 17 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 13 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 18 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 14 of the control method of
the fuel injection system (1).
FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of selecting an injection pattern
of the embodiment.
[Description of Embodiments]
<Embodiments>
[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference
to the drawings.
<Outline of fuel injection system>
[0014] First, an outline of a fuel injection system 1 according to an embodiment will be
described.
[0015] The fuel injection system 1 is a system that is provided on a self-ignition type
internal combustion engine EG and injects (supplies) fuel to a combustion chamber
CC of the internal combustion engine EG. The internal combustion engine EG is an internal
combustion engine having a pressure accumulating injection system (a common rail injection
system). The internal combustion engine EG is a diesel engine that is provided in,
for example, a motor vehicle, a ship, a railroad vehicle, a heavy machine, or the
like. For this reason, an example of the fuel is light oil. In place of the diesel
engine, the internal combustion engine EG may be another self-ignition type internal
combustion engine such as a self-ignition type gasoline engine.
[0016] For example, when a pressure of fuel injected into a combustion chamber of an internal
combustion engine having a fuel injection system is increased to a higher pressure
than a reference pressure using a pressure boosting mechanism, a fuel injection system
(e.g., a conventional fuel injection system) different from the fuel injection system
1 needs to discharge part of the high-pressure fuel to the outside in order to operate
the pressure boosting mechanism. For this reason, the fuel injection system dissipates
part of energy of the high-pressure fuel as thermal energy. That is, the fuel injection
system increases a fuel consumption rate by the energy dissipated as the heat energy.
[0017] Therefore, the fuel injection system 1 includes a pressure accumulating unit to which
fuel is supplied from a high-pressure source (a common rail) that supplies the fuel
under a prescribed pressure, a first valve that supplies the fuel supplied from the
high-pressure source to the inside of the pressure accumulating unit, and a second
valve that injects the fuel supplied to the pressure accumulating unit from the pressure
accumulating unit into a combustion chamber. The prescribed pressure is a reference
pressure in the fuel injection system 1. That is, the fuel injection system (e.g.,
the conventional fuel injection system) different from the fuel injection system 1
can set a pressure of fuel injected by the fuel injection system to a higher pressure
than the reference pressure in the fuel injection system, whereas the fuel injection
system 1 can set a pressure of fuel injected by the fuel injection system 1 to a pressure
that is lower than or equal to the prescribed pressure that is the reference pressure
in the fuel injection system 1. Further, the fuel injection system 1 does not include
a pressure boosting mechanism provided in the fuel injection system (e.g., the conventional
fuel injection system) different from the fuel injection system 1, and thus has a
lower fuel consumption rate than the fuel injection system. That is, in the fuel injection
system 1, a user can change a pressure of fuel injected into a combustion chamber
CC to a desired pressure while not dissipating part of energy of high-pressure fuel
as thermal energy, namely while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate of
the internal combustion engine EG. As a result, the fuel injection system 1 enables
a pattern of temporal change in the pressure of fuel injected into a combustion chamber
CC of the internal combustion engine EG to match with a pattern desired by a user.
The matching between these patterns may include an error. Here, in the internal combustion
engine EG, depending on the pattern of temporal change, some or all of a fuel consumption
rate per unit time according to a combustion state in the combustion chamber CC, an
amount of noise from the internal combustion engine EG in a driven state, a magnitude
of vibration of the internal combustion engine EG in a driven state, and an amount
of generation of emissions (e.g., NOx, HC, CO, other particulate matter, etc.) from
the internal combustion engine EG vary. For this reason, in a case where a user who
uses the internal combustion engine EG having the fuel injection system 1 feels uncomfortable
about an increase in the fuel consumption rate, an increase in the amount of noise,
an increase in the magnitude of vibration, a reduction in the amount of power generation,
and so on, the fuel injection system 1 can cause a reduction in the fuel consumption
rate, a reduction in the amount of noise, a reduction in the magnitude of vibration,
an increase in the amount of generation, and so on, and improve comfort of the user.
Hereinafter, a constitution of the fuel injection system 1 and a control method for
the fuel injection system 1 will be described in detail.
<Constitution of fuel injection system>
[0018] Hereinafter, a constitution of the fuel injection system 1 according to the embodiment
will be described.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a constitution of the fuel injection
system 1. The fuel injection system 1 includes a fuel injector 2, and an electronic
control unit (ECU) 3 that controls the fuel injector 2. The fuel injection system
1 may not include the ECU 3.
[0020] The fuel injector 2 is located on a downstream side from the high-pressure source
4 in a fuel supply path (not shown) starting from a fuel tank (not shown), and is
supplied with fuel from the high-pressure source 4. The fuel injector 2 injects the
fuel supplied from the high-pressure source 4 into the combustion chamber CC of the
internal combustion engine EG in response to control of the ECU 3 at a pressure corresponding
to the control. In FIG. 1, to emphasize portions filled with the fuel, hatching of
sectional portions of the fuel injector 2 and the internal combustion engine EG is
omitted. One fuel injector 2 illustrated in FIG. 1, but there is no limitation to
providing a plurality of fuel injectors 2 on the downstream side from the single high-pressure
source 4. For example, the plurality of fuel injectors 2 may have the same specification.
In this case, the fuel injectors 2 may be connected to the high-pressure source 4
independently of each other, and be partly used in common with the high-pressure source
4.
[0021] The high-pressure source 4 is a common rail provided in the internal combustion engine
EG. For example, the fuel supplied from the fuel tank is pressurized by a pressurizing
pump (not shown), and is supplied to the high-pressure source 4. The high-pressure
source 4 supplies the fuel to the fuel injector 2 at a prescribed pressure.
[0022] The fuel injector 2 includes, for example, an electric injector 11 and an electric
injector 12 that are two electric injectors.
[0023] The electric injector 11 includes a fuel supply pipeline 111, a first pressure accumulating
unit 112, a nozzle needle 113, a first opening 115 formed in the first pressure accumulating
unit 112, and a drive unit A1.
[0024] The fuel supply pipeline 111 is a pipe that is formed inside a housing of the electric
injector 11. The fuel supply pipeline 111 is a pipe along which the fuel supplied
from the high-pressure source 4 at a prescribed pressure flows. Further, the fuel
supply pipeline 111 is a pipe that connects the high-pressure source 4 and the first
pressure accumulating unit 112. That is, the first pressure accumulating unit 112
of the electric injector 11 is connected to the high-pressure source 4 by the fuel
supply pipeline 111. The fuel supplied from the high-pressure source 4 at a prescribed
pressure is supplied to the first pressure accumulating unit 112 through the fuel
supply pipeline 111.
[0025] The first pressure accumulating unit 112 includes a pressure accumulator that is
formed inside the housing of the electric injector 11. Fuel is supplied to the pressure
accumulator of the first pressure accumulating unit 112 from the high-pressure source
4, and the first pressure accumulating unit 112 is formed to be able to hold a pressure
of the fuel. The first pressure accumulating unit 112 includes a first valve 21. The
first valve 21 is provided, for example, on a discharge port for the fuel of the first
pressure accumulating unit 112. The electric injector 12 is provided on the downstream
side of the electric injector 11 on the fuel supply path. That is, the first valve
21 cuts off supply of the fuel to the electric injector 12, and supplies the fuel
supplied from the high-pressure source 4 to the electric injector 12. To be more specific,
in a case where the first valve 21 is opened, the fuel accumulated in the first pressure
accumulating unit 112 is supplied to the electric injector 12 at a prescribed pressure.
Meanwhile, in a case where the first valve 21 is closed, the fuel supplied from the
high-pressure source 4 at a prescribed pressure is accumulated in the first pressure
accumulating unit 112. For example, if the fuel is always supplied from the high-pressure
source 4 to the first pressure accumulating unit 112 at a prescribed pressure, a pressure
inside the first pressure accumulating unit 112 always becomes a prescribed pressure
at a prescribed pressure except for an error. In a case where a dynamic effect accompanied
by movement of the fuel (to be described below) occurs, the pressure inside the first
pressure accumulating unit 112 is sometime higher than the prescribed pressure in
the high-pressure source 4. To simplify the description, a case where a dynamic effect
does not occur will be described in advance.
[0026] The first valve 21 is made up of a tip portion 114A of the nozzle needle 113 and
a first opening 115 formed in the first pressure accumulating unit 112. The nozzle
needle 113 includes, for example, a shaft portion that is formed in at least an axial
part thereof. The tip portion 114A and a tip portion 114B are provided in regions
of ends of the nozzle needle 113 in an extending direction (a longitudinal direction).
The nozzle needle 113 is disposed toward the tip portion 114A in a direction in which
fuel flows, and is movably supported in the extending direction thereof. For example,
the tip portion 114A is formed in a tapered shape in symmetry with respect to an axis
of the shaft portion. The first opening 115 is provided in an outlet portion to which
fuel is discharged from the first pressure accumulating unit 112. The first opening
115 is blocked or opened by the tip portion 114A due to movement of the nozzle needle
113 in the extending direction. That is, the tip portion 114A of the nozzle needle
113 blocks the first opening 115 in a state where the first valve 21 is closed. In
a case where the ECU 3 drives the drive unit A1, the nozzle needle 113 moves in a
direction that is directed from the tip portion 114A to a tip, which is close to the
tip portion 114B in the extending direction thereof, namely which is opposite to the
tip portion 114A, of the tips of the nozzle needle 113 and that is one of directions
parallel to the longitudinal direction, and opens the first opening 115. That is,
in this case, the first valve 21 is opened. In a case where the drive unit A1 is not
driven by the ECU 3, the tip portion 114A of the nozzle needle 113 is pushed to the
first opening 115 by a pressure (e.g., a prescribed pressure) of the fuel supplied
through the fuel supply pipeline 111, and blocks the first opening 115. Thus, the
drive unit A1 closes the first valve 21. On the other hand, in a case where the drive
unit A1 is driven by the ECU 3, a pressure (e.g., a prescribed pressure) of the fuel
supplied to the first pressure accumulating unit 112 through the fuel supply pipeline
111 is reduced by opening a valve A1V provided on the drive unit A1 to discharge part
of the fuel adjacent to the tip portion 114B from the valve A1V. In association with
this pressure reduction, an actuator (a command piston) provided in the drive unit
A1 moves the nozzle needle 113 in a direction of the tip portion 114B, and opens the
first opening 115. Thus, the drive unit A1 opens the first valve 21. A flow rate area
of the first valve 21 in the open state is set to be equal to or wider than that of
the fuel supply pipeline 111, and thus the electric injector 11 can reduce a loss
of energy stored in the fuel raised to the prescribed pressure. The fuel discharged
from the valve A1V flows back to the fuel tank (not shown) or the like. Further, since
a structure and motion for setting a state of the first valve 21 to any of an open
state and a closed state may be a well-known structure and motion or a structure and
motion developed therefrom, more detailed description will be omitted. The valve A1V
that is an electromagnetic valve is shown for the drive unit A1 as an example, but
it may include a piezo element (a laminated piezoelectric element) instead of the
valve A1V. In this case, description of supplying a drive current to the valve A1V
may be replaced with description of applying a drive voltage to the piezo element.
[0027] The electric injector 12 includes a fuel supply pipeline 121, a second pressure accumulating
unit 122, a nozzle needle 123, a second opening 125 formed in the second pressure
accumulating unit 122, and a drive unit A2.
[0028] The fuel supply pipeline 121 is a pipe that is formed inside a housing of the electric
injector 12. The fuel supply pipeline 121 is a pipe along which the fuel supplied
from the first pressure accumulating unit 112 of the electric injector 11 at a prescribed
pressure flows. Further, the fuel supply pipeline 121 is a pipe that connects the
first opening 115 of the electric injector 12 and the second pressure accumulating
unit 122. That is, the second pressure accumulating unit 122 of the electric injector
12 is connected to the first pressure accumulating unit 112 of the electric injector
11 by the fuel supply pipeline 121. The fuel supplied from the first pressure accumulating
unit 112 at a prescribed pressure is supplied to the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 through the fuel supply pipeline 121 in a case where the first valve 21 is
opened.
[0029] The second pressure accumulating unit 122 includes a pressure accumulator that is
formed inside the housing of the electric injector 12. Fuel is supplied to the pressure
accumulator of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the first pressure accumulating
unit 112 of the electric injector 11, and the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is formed to be able to hold a pressure of the fuel. A combination of the fuel supply
pipeline 121 and the second pressure accumulating unit 122 (or the second pressure
accumulating unit 122) is an example of the pressure accumulating unit in Claims.
Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a pressure inside each of the fuel supply
pipeline 121 and the second pressure accumulating unit 122 will be described as a
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122. The fuel injection system
1 may not include the fuel supply pipeline 121. In this case, in the fuel injection
system 1, for example, the first pressure accumulating unit 112 and the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 are adjacent to each other with the first valve 21 interposed
therebetween, and are partitioned by the first valve 21. The second pressure accumulating
unit 122 includes a second valve 22. The second valve 22 is provided, for example,
on a discharge port for the fuel in the second pressure accumulating unit 122. The
combustion chamber CC of the internal combustion engine EG is provided on a downstream
side of the electric injector 12 on the fuel supply path. That is, the second valve
22 cuts off supply of the fuel to the combustion chamber CC, and injects the fuel
supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122. To be more specific, in a case
where the second valve 22 is opened, the fuel accumulated in the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is injected into the combustion chamber CC in response to the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122. A state where the first valve 21 is open
and the second valve 22 is closed is referred to as a first state. In a case of the
first state, the pressure is raised, for example, up to a prescribed pressure that
is a pressure of the high-pressure source 4 at a maximum. A state where the first
valve 21 is closed and the second valve 22 is open is referred to as a second state.
In a case of the second state, the pressure is reduced according to an elapsed time
after the second valve 22 is opened. In this case, an amount of change of the pressure
per unit time is expressed by Formula (1) below.
[0030] ΔP indicates an amount of change of the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 per unit time in the second state. Further, K indicates a bulk modulus of
elasticity of fuel accumulated in the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further,
q indicates a fuel injection amount that is an amount of fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 per unit time in the second
state. Further, V indicates a volume of the sum of a volume of the fuel supply pipeline
121 and a volume of the second pressure accumulating unit 122. That is, the amount
of change of the pressure per unit time inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is inversely proportional to the volume V of the second pressure accumulating
unit 122, and is proportional to the fuel injection amount q injected per unit time
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122.
[0031] Here, in a case where an amount by which the pressure of the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the second state is reduced per unit time is greater than an amount by
which the pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the first state
is raised per unit time, the pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122
in a third state is reduced. The third state is a state where the first valve 21 is
open and the second valve 22 is opened. To be more specific, in a case where the amount
of change ΔP of the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
second state is greater than the amount of change of the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the first state, the amount of change of the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the third state is smaller than
a difference in amount of change ΔP between the amount of change ΔP of the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the second state and the amount
of change of the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
first state.
[0032] Further, in a case where an amount by which the pressure of the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the second state is reduced per unit time is smaller than an amount by
which the pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the first state
is raised per unit time, the pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122
in the third state is raised. To be more specific, in a case where the amount of change
ΔP of the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the second
state is smaller than the amount of change of the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 in the first state, the amount of change of the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the third state is increased whenever
a difference unit time between the amount of change ΔP of the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the second state and the amount of change
of the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the first state
has elapsed.
[0033] Hereinafter, the case where the amount of change ΔP of the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the second state is smaller than the amount of change
of the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the first state
will be described as an example. That is, in this example, an amount by which the
pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the second state is reduced
per unit time is smaller than an amount by which the pressure of the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 in the first state is raised per unit time. For this reason,
the fuel injection system 1 can change the pressure of the fuel injected into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 into an arbitrary
pressure within a range lower than or equal to a prescribed pressure depending on
the open and closed states of the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
[0034] The second valve 22 is made up of a tip portion 124A of the nozzle needle 123 and
a second opening 125 formed in the second pressure accumulating unit 122. The nozzle
needle 123 includes, for example, a shaft portion that is formed in at least an axial
part thereof. The tip portion 124A and a tip portion 124B are provided in regions
of ends of the nozzle needle 123 in an extending direction (a longitudinal direction).
The nozzle needle 123 is disposed toward the tip portion 124A in a direction in which
fuel flows, and is movably supported in the extending direction thereof. For example,
the tip portion 124A is formed in a tapered shape in symmetry with respect to an axis
of the shaft portion. The second opening 125 is provided in an outlet portion to which
fuel is discharged from the second pressure accumulating unit 122. The second opening
125 is blocked or opened by the tip portion 124A due to movement of the nozzle needle
123 in the extending direction. That is, the tip portion 124A of the nozzle needle
123 blocks the second opening 125 in a state where the second valve 22 is closed.
In a case where the ECU 3 drives the drive unit A2, the nozzle needle 123 moves in
a direction that is directed from the tip portion 124A to a tip, which is close to
the tip portion 124B in the extending direction thereof, namely which is opposite
to the tip portion 124A, of the tips of the nozzle needle 123 and that is one of directions
parallel to the longitudinal direction, and opens the second opening 125. That is,
in this case, the second valve 22 is opened. In a case where the drive unit A2 is
not driven by the ECU 3, the tip portion 124A of the nozzle needle 123 is pushed to
the second opening 125 by a pressure (e.g., a prescribed pressure) of the fuel supplied
through the fuel supply pipeline 121, and blocks the second opening 125. Thus, the
drive unit A2 closes the second valve 22. On the other hand, in a case where the drive
unit A2 is driven by the ECU 3, part of the fuel that is supplied to the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 through the fuel supply pipeline 121 and is adjacent to the
tip portion 124B is discharged from the valve A2V by opening a valve A2V provided
on the drive unit A2, and a pressure of the fuel adjacent to the tip portion 124B
is reduced. In association with this pressure reduction, an actuator (a command piston)
provided in the drive unit A2 moves the nozzle needle 123 in a direction of the tip
portion 124B, and opens the second opening 125. Thus, the drive unit A2 opens the
second valve 22. The fuel discharged from the valve A2V flows back to the fuel tank
(not shown) or the like. Further, since a structure and motion for setting a state
of the second valve 22 to any of an open state and a closed state may be a well-known
structure and motion or a structure and motion developed therefrom, more detailed
description will be omitted. The valve A2V that is an electromagnetic valve is shown
for the drive unit A2 as an example, but it may include a piezo element instead of
the valve A2V. In this case, description of supplying a drive current to the valve
A2V may be replaced with description of applying a drive voltage to the piezo element.
<Logical structure of fuel injection system>
[0035] Hereinafter, a logical structure of the fuel injection system 1 will be described
with reference to FIG. 2. The constitution of the fuel injection system 1 is not limited
to that described in FIG. 1. Therefore, a logical structure in which essential components
which the fuel injection system 1 should have to realize the first to third states
are combined will be described here. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of the
logical structure of the fuel injection system 1.
[0036] A high-pressure source PR1, a first valve VI, a pressure accumulating unit PR2, a
second valve V2, and an injection part CR are illustrated in FIG. 2. The high-pressure
source PR1, the first valve VI, the pressure accumulating unit PR2, the second valve
V2, and the injection part CR are logically connected in the order of the high-pressure
source PR1, the first valve VI, the pressure accumulating unit PR2, the second valve
V2, and the injection part CR. That is, the logical structure of the fuel injection
system 1 is shown as a structure in which the high-pressure source PR1, the first
valve VI, the pressure accumulating unit PR2, the second valve V2, and the injection
part CR are logically connected in the order of the high-pressure source PR1, the
first valve VI, the pressure accumulating unit PR2, the second valve V2, and the injection
part CR.
[0037] The high-pressure source PR1 is a common rail that supplies fuel to the pressure
accumulating unit PR2 at a prescribed pressure. In a case where the first valve V1
is open in a state where the second valve V2 is closed, the fuel supplied from the
high-pressure source PR1 at a prescribed pressure is accumulated in the pressure accumulating
unit PR2 through the first valve V1. In this case, a pressure inside the pressure
accumulating unit PR2 is raised depending on a time for which the first valve V1 is
opened, and becomes, for example, a prescribed pressure at the maximum. Further, in
a case where the second valve V2 is open in a state where the first valve V1 is closed,
the fuel accumulated in the pressure accumulating unit PR2 is injected into a combustion
chamber CC from the injection part CR by the pressure inside the pressure accumulating
unit PR2 which is a pressure corresponding to a time that has elapsed after the second
valve V2 is opened. That is, in a case where the fuel injection system 1 is formed
by a combination of members corresponding to the high-pressure source PR1, the first
valve VI, the pressure accumulating unit PR2, the second valve V2, and the injection
part CR and where the logical structure of the fuel injection system 1 is coincident
with the logical structure illustrated in FIG. 2, conditions relating to open or closed
states of the first valve V1 and the second valve V2 are combined with the logical
structure, and the aforementioned first to third states can be realized.
[0038] Here, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the member corresponding to the high-pressure
source PR1 is the high-pressure source 4. In this example, the member corresponding
to the first valve V1 is the first valve 21. Further, in this example, the member
corresponding to the pressure accumulating unit PR2 is a combination of the fuel supply
pipeline 121 and the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, in this example,
the member corresponding to the second valve V2 is the second valve 22. Further, in
this example, the member corresponding to the injection part CR is the second opening
125. As described above, the members are made to correspond to the corresponding components,
and thus treatment required for analysis of pressure variation of each component can
be simplified.
<Constitution of ECU>
[0039] Hereinafter, a constitution of the ECU 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the
ECU 3. The ECU 3 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 31, a storage
unit 32, a first valve drive circuit 33, and a second valve drive circuit 34. These
components are connected to be able to communicate with each other via a bus Bus.
Further, the ECU 3 may be configured to include a communication unit for mutually
communicating with another ECU.
[0040] The CPU 31 includes a processor that executes software programs (hereinafter referred
to as programs), and reads out and executes various programs stored in the storage
unit 32 or the like.
[0041] The storage unit 32 includes, for example, an electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM),
and so on. The storage unit 32 stores various pieces of information processed by the
ECU 3.
[0042] The first valve drive circuit 33 supplies the drive unit A1 with a drive current
that drives the drive unit A1 for opening/closing the first valve 21.
[0043] The second valve drive circuit 34 supplies the drive unit A2 with a drive current
that drives the drive unit A2 for opening/closing the second valve 22.
<Functional configuration of ECU>
[0044] Hereinafter, a functional configuration of the ECU 3 will be described with reference
to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration
of the ECU 3. The ECU 3 includes the storage unit 32, the first valve drive circuit
33, the second valve drive circuit 34, and a controller 36.
[0045] The controller 36 controls the first valve drive circuit 33 such that the drive unit
A1 is driven, and sets a state of the first valve 21 to an open state or a closed
state depending on a timing prestored in the storage unit 32. Further, the controller
36 controls the second valve drive circuit 34 such that the drive unit A1 is driven,
and sets a state of the second valve 22 to an open state or a closed state depending
on a timing prestored in the storage unit 32. For example, the CPU 31 executes the
various programs stored in the storage unit 32, and thus the controller 36 is realized.
Further, the controller 36 may be a hardware functional unit such as a large scale
integration (LSI) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
<Control method of fuel injection system>
[0046] Hereinafter, specific examples of a control method of the fuel injection system 1
will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 18. Hereinafter, for convenience of
description, control under which the controller 36 controls the first valve drive
circuit 33 in the state where the second valve 22 is opened, and drives the drive
unit A1 to open the first valve 21 will be described as pressure boost control, and
control under which the controller 36 controls the second valve drive circuit 34 with
the first valve 21 closed, and drives the drive unit A2 to open the second valve 22
will be described as pressure reduction control. Hereinafter, a case where the first
valve drive circuit 33 supplies a drive current A0 to the drive unit A1 and opens
the first valve 21 and where the second valve drive circuit 34 supplies a drive current
A0 to the drive unit A2 and opens the second valve 22 will be described as an example.
That is, the drive unit A1 closes the first valve 21 when the supply of the drive
current A0 from the first valve drive circuit 33 is stopped, and the drive unit A2
closes the second valve 22 when the supply of the drive current A0 is stopped.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 1 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 5 includes four
graphs from a graph CH11 to a graph CH14. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH11 to CH14 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH11 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH12 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH13 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH14 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, a time t11 on the graphs CH11 to CH14 indicates a time when the drive
current is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and
the first valve 21 is opened. A time t12 on the graphs CH11 to CH14 indicates a time
when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive
unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. A time t13 on the graphs CH11 to CH14 indicates
a time when the supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34
to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Here, the time
t11 is a time before the time t12, and the time t12 is a time before the time t13.
[0048] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, in an 11th time slot that is a time slot from
the time t11 to the time t12, the fuel injection system 1 realizes the aforementioned
first state. Here, a case where, in this example, a pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is zero (0) in a time slot before the time t11 will be described.
In the 11th time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t11. Further,
since a pressure of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
a prescribed pressure P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 can be raised to the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the
pressure in the 11th time slot is raised from zero (0) to the prescribed pressure
P0. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the first state from zero (0) to the prescribed pressure P0 can be investigated
by an experiment or the like, and can be estimated by calculation based on hydrodynamics
or the like. A user can determine a length of the 11th time slot to be a time longer
than or equal to the time on the basis of a result of an experiment or a calculation.
[0049] Next, in a 12th time slot that is a time slot from the time t12 to the time t13,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes the aforementioned third state by performing
pressure boost control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 11th time slot is raised to the prescribed pressure P0, and the first
valve 21 remains open also in the 12th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
while continuously keeping the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 intact at the prescribed pressure
P0 in the 12th time slot. Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve
22 at the time t13, the injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot after the time t13. Meanwhile, since the fuel
injection system 1 keeps the first valve 21 open in this time slot, the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is continuously still kept at the prescribed
pressure P0.
[0050] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 5, the fuel injection system 1 easily enables a pattern of temporal change in
the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion
chamber CC to coincide with a pattern of temporal change in the pressure of fuel which
a fuel injection system (e.g., a conventional fuel injection system) different from
the fuel injection system 1 injects into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion
engine equipped with the different fuel injection system while suppressing an increase
in fuel consumption rate. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the pattern
of temporal change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects
into the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated in FIG. 5, will be
described as a rectangular pattern.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 2 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 6 includes four
graphs from a graph CH21 to a graph CH24. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH21 to CH24 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH21 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH22 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH23 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH24 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, a time t21 on the graphs CH21 to CH24 indicates a time when the drive
current is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and
the first valve 21 is opened. Further, a time t22 on the graphs CH21 to CH24 indicates
a time when the supply of the drive current from the first valve drive circuit 33
to the drive unit A1 is stopped and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time
t23 on the graphs CH21 to CH24 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22
is opened. Further, a time t24 on the graphs CH21 to CH24 indicates a time when the
supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Here, the time t21 is a time before
the time t22, the time t22 is a time before the time t23, and the time t23 is a time
before the time t24.
[0052] In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, in a 21st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t21 to the time t22, the fuel injection system 1 realizes the aforementioned
first state. Here, a case where, in this example, a pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is a pressure P11 in a time slot before the time t21 will be
described. The pressure P11 is lower than a prescribed pressure P0. In the 21st time
slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending
on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t21. Further, since a pressure
of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the prescribed pressure
P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 can be raised to
the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the pressure in the 21st
time slot is raised from the pressure P11 to the prescribed pressure P0. Like the
length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 21st time slot is determined by a user.
[0053] Next, in a 22nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t22 to the time t23,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 21st
time slot is raised from the pressure P11 to the prescribed pressure P0. For these
reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 22nd
time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0.
[0054] Next, in a 23rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t23 to the time t24,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
22nd time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0, the fuel injection system
1 injects the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 23rd time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel
injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P11 corresponding
to a length of the 23rd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure
P11, namely the length of the 23rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the
prescribed pressure P0, the pressure P11, and Formula (1) described above. Since the
fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t24, the injection
of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t24. Meanwhile, since the fuel injection system 1 keeps the first valve
21 closed in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P11.
[0055] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 6, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with an inverted deltaic pattern among patterns desired by a user while
suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate. The inverted deltaic pattern is
the pattern of temporal change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated
in FIG. 6. That is, the inverted deltaic pattern is a pattern in which the pressure
of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC by the fuel injection system 1
is monotonously reduced from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P11 over time
in a period (e.g., the 23rd time slot illustrated in FIG. 6) in which the fuel injection
system 1 injects the fuel. In the inverted deltaic pattern, the fuel injected into
the combustion chamber CC from the fuel injection system 1 is nearly homogeneously
injected into the combustion chamber CC in the 23rd time slot. This is because a speed
of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the fuel injection system
1 becomes slow with the elapse of time (i.e., along with a reduction in the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122) in the 23rd time slot. As a result,
the fuel injection system 1 can suppress a cooling loss caused when fuel flames are
cooled at an inner wall of the combustion chamber CC by either collision of fuel with
the inner wall of the combustion chamber due to excessive fuel spraying or collision
of fuel with the inner wall of the combustion chamber CC due to flames after ignition.
Here, the fuel flames are flames generated by combustion of the fuel.
[0056] FIG. 7 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 3 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 7 includes four
graphs from a graph CH31 to a graph CH34. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH31 to CH34 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH31 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH32 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH33 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH34 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, a time t31 on the graphs CH31 to CH34 indicates a time when the drive
current is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1, the
drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2, and both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22 are open. Further, each of
a time t33, a time t35, and a time t37 on the graphs CH31 to CH34 indicates a time
when the drive current is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive
unit A1 and the first valve 21 is opened. Further, each of a time t32, a time t34,
a time t36, and a time t38 on the graphs CH31 to CH34 indicates a time when the supply
of the drive current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is
stopped and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time t39 on the graphs CH31 to
CH34 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the second valve drive
circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Here,
the time t31 is a time before the time t32, the time t32 is a time before the time
t33, the time t33 is a time before the time t34, the time t35 is a time before the
time t36, the time t36 is a time before the time t37, the time t37 is a time before
the time t38, and the time t38 is a time before the time t39. Further, each of a pressure
P21, a pressure P22, a pressure P23, a pressure P24, and a pressure P25 on the graphs
CH32 and CH34 is lower than a prescribed pressure P0. Further, the pressure P21 is
lower than the pressure P22, the pressure P22 is lower than the pressure P23, the
pressure P23 is lower than the pressure P24, the pressure P24 is lower than the pressure
P25, and the pressure P25 is lower than the pressure P26.
[0057] In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, in a 31st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t31 to the time t32, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by
performing pressure boost control. Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P21 in a time slot
before the time t31 will be described. In the 31st time slot, the fuel injection system
1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 while raising the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
from the pressure P21 to the pressure P23 corresponding to a length of the 31st time
slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P21 at the time t31, and
is raised from the pressure P21 to the pressure P23 in the 31st time slot. A time
required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the pressure P21 to the pressure P23, namely the length of the 31st time slot, can
be calculated on the basis of the pressure P21, the pressure P23, Formula (1) described
above, and the method of determining the length of the 11th time slot.
[0058] Next, in a 32nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t32 to the time t33,
the fuel injection system 1 performs pressure reduction control, and thus realizes
a second state. For this reason, in the 32nd time slot, the fuel injection system
1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 while reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the pressure P23 to the pressure P22 corresponding to a length of the 32nd
time slot. As a result, in the 32nd time slot, the pressure of the fuel injected into
the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure
P23 at the time t32, and is reduced from the pressure P23 to the pressure 22 in the
32nd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P23 to the pressure P22, namely the length
of the 32nd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P23, the pressure
P22, and Formula (1) described above.
[0059] Next, in a 33rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t33 to the time t34,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
In the 33rd time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 while raising the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P22 to the pressure
P25 corresponding to a length of the 33rd time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is the pressure P22 at the time t33, and is raised from the pressure P22 to the
pressure P25 in the 33rd time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P22 to the pressure P25, namely
the length of the 33rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P22,
the pressure P25, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0060] Next, in a 34th time slot that is a time slot from the time t34 to the time t35,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. For this reason, in the 34th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
while reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the pressure P25 to the pressure P24 corresponding to a length of the 34th time slot.
As a result, in the 34th time slot, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P25 at the
time t34, and is reduced from the pressure P25 to the pressure P24 in the 34th time
slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P25 to the pressure P24, namely the length of the 34th
time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P25, the pressure P24, and
Formula (1) described above.
[0061] Next, in a 35th time slot that is a time slot from the time t35 to the time t36,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
In the 35th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 while raising the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P24 to the prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P24 at the time t35,
and is raised from the pressure P24 to the prescribed pressure P0 in the 35th time
slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P24 to the prescribed pressure P0, namely a length of the
35th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P24, the prescribed
pressure P0, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0062] Next, in a 36th time slot that is a time slot from the time t36 to the time t37,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. For this reason, in the 36th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
while reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P26 corresponding to a length of the 36th
time slot. As a result, in the 36th time slot, the pressure of the fuel injected into
the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the prescribed
pressure P0 at the time t36, and is reduced from the prescribed pressure P0 to the
pressure P26 in the 36th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure
P26, namely the length of the 36th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the
prescribed pressure P0, the pressure P26, and Formula (1) described above.
[0063] Next, in a 37th time slot that is a time slot from the time t37 to the time t38,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
In the 37th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 while increasing the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P26 to the prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P26 at the time t37,
and is raised from the pressure P26 to the prescribed pressure P0 in the 37th time
slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P26 to the prescribed pressure P0, namely the length of
the 37th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P26, the prescribed
pressure P0, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0064] Next, in a 38th time slot that is a time slot from the time t38 to the time t39,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. For this reason, in the 38th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
while reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P21 corresponding to a length of the 38th
time slot. As a result, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the prescribed pressure P0 at
the time t38 in the 38th time slot, and is reduced from the prescribed pressure P0
to the pressure P21 in the 38th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to
the pressure P21, namely the length of the 38th time slot, can be calculated on the
basis of the prescribed pressure P0, the pressure P21, and Formula (1) described above.
[0065] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t39, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t39. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P21. The pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 does not include a pressure
caused by a compression process of the combustion chamber CC. In a case where the
pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is zero (0), this is equivalent to, for example, a case where
the fuel is injected in an open state.
[0066] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 7, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with a deltaic pattern among patterns desired by a user while suppressing
an increase in fuel consumption rate. The deltaic pattern is a pattern of temporal
change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into
the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated in FIG. 7. That is, the
deltaic pattern is a pattern in which the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC by the fuel injection system 1 is nearly monotonously raised from the pressure
P21 to the prescribed pressure P0 over time in a period (a time slot from the time
t31 to the time t39 in the example illustrated in FIG. 7) in which the fuel injection
system 1 injects the fuel. In the deltaic pattern, the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the fuel injection system 1 is injected at a high pressure in a latter
period subsequent to a former period in the period in which the fuel injection system
1 injects the fuel into the combustion chamber CC. For this reason, the fuel injection
system 1 can atomize the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC, and can perform
agitation and combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber CC. As a result, the
fuel injection system 1 can reduce an amount of noise of the internal combustion engine
EG in a driving state, and can further reduce an amount of emissions generated from
the internal combustion engine EG.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 4 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 8 includes four
graphs from a graph CH41 to a graph CH44. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH41 to CH44 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH41 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH42 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH43 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH44 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, each of a time t41 and a time t44 on the graphs CH41 to CH44 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to
the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21 is opened. Further, each of a time t42 and
a time t45 on the graphs CH41 to CH44 indicates a time when the supply of the drive
current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and
the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time t43 on the graphs CH41 to CH44 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to
the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, a time t46 on the graphs
CH41 to CH44 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the second
valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is
closed. Here, the time t41 is a time before the time t42, the time t42 is a time before
the time t43, the time t43 is a time before the time t44, and the time t45 is a time
before the time t46. Further, a pressure P31 on the graphs CH42 and CH44 is lower
than a prescribed pressure P0.
[0068] In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, in a 41st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t41 to the time t42, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state.
Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P31 in a time slot before the time t41 will be described.
In the 41st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t41. Further,
since a pressure of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
the prescribed pressure P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 can be raised to the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the
pressure in the 41st time slot is raised from the pressure P31 to the prescribed pressure
P0. Like the length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 41st time slot is determined
by a user.
[0069] Next, in a 42nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t42 to the time t43,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 41st
time slot is raised from the pressure P31 to the prescribed pressure P0. For these
reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 42nd
time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0.
[0070] Next, in a 43rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t43 to the time t44,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
42nd time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0, the fuel injection system
1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 43rd time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel
injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P31 corresponding
to a length of the 43rd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure
P31, namely the length of the 43rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the
prescribed pressure P0, the pressure P31, and Formula (1) described above.
[0071] Next, in a 44th time slot that is a time slot from the time t44 to the time t45,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 44th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P31 to the prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P31 at the time t44,
and is raised from the pressure P31 to the prescribed pressure P0 in the 44th time
slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P31 to the prescribed pressure P0, namely a length of the
44th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P31, the prescribed
pressure P0, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0072] Next, in a 45th time slot that is a time slot from the time t45 to the time t46,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
prescribed pressure P0 at the time t45, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into
the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 45th
time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system
1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P31 corresponding to a length
of the 45th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P31, namely
the length of the 45th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the prescribed
pressure P0, the pressure P31, and Formula (1) described above.
[0073] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t46, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t46. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P31.
[0074] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 8, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with a concave pattern among patterns desired by a user while suppressing
an increase in fuel consumption rate. The concave pattern is a pattern of temporal
change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into
the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated in FIG. 8. That is, the
concave pattern is a pattern in which the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC by the fuel injection system 1 is monotonously reduced from the prescribed
pressure P0 to the pressure P31 over time in a period (a time slot from the time t43
to the time t46 in the example illustrated in FIG. 8) in which the fuel injection
system 1 injects the fuel, and then is monotonously raised from the pressure P31 to
the prescribed pressure P0. In the concave pattern, the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the fuel injection system 1 is nearly homogeneously injected into
the combustion chamber CC in the 43rd time slot, and is again injected at the prescribed
pressure P0 that is higher than the pressure P31 after the 44th time slot. Thus, the
fuel injection system 1 can perform agitation and combustion of the fuel in the combustion
chamber CC in a latter period subsequent to a former period in the period in which
the fuel injection system 1 injects the fuel into the combustion chamber CC. As a
result, the fuel injection system 1 can reduce an amount of emissions generated from
the internal combustion engine EG. That is, the control method represented by the
timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 8 becomes a control method that combines the control
method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 6 and the control method
represented by the timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 7. For this reason, the fuel
injection system 1 can obtain both the effects described in FIG. 6 and the effects
described in FIG. 7.
[0075] FIG. 9 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 5 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 9 includes four
graphs from a graph CH51 to a graph CH54. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH51 to CH54 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH51 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH52 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH53 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH54 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, a time t51 on the graphs CH51 to CH54 indicates a time when the drive
current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 and
the second valve 22 is opened. Further, each of a time t52, a time t54, and a time
t56 on the graphs CH51 to CH54 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21
is opened. Further, each of a time t53, a time t55, and a time t57 on the graphs CH51
to CH54 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the first valve
drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and the first valve 21 is closed.
Further, a time t58 on the graphs CH51 to CH54 indicates a time when the supply of
the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped
and the second valve 22 is closed. Here, the time t51 is a time before the time t52,
the time t52 is a time before the time t53, the time t53 is a time before the time
t54, the time t54 is a time before the time t55, the time t55 is a time before the
time t56, the time t56 is a time before the time t57, and the time t57 is a time before
the time t58. Further, each of a pressure P41, a pressure P42, a pressure P43, a pressure
P44, a pressure P45, and a pressure P46 on the graphs CH52 and CH54 is lower than
a prescribed pressure P0. Further, the pressure P41 is lower than the pressure P42,
the pressure P42 is lower than the pressure P43, the pressure P43 is lower than the
pressure P44, the pressure P44 is lower than the pressure P45, and the pressure P45
is lower than the pressure P46.
[0076] In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, in a 51st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t51 to the time t52, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state
by performing pressure reduction control. Here, a case where, in this example, the
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P42 in a
time slot before the time t51 will be described. In the 51st time slot, the fuel injection
system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 while reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the pressure P42 to the pressure P41 corresponding to a length of the 51st
time slot. As a result, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 51st time slot is the pressure
P42 at the time t51, and is reduced from the pressure P42 to the pressure P41 in the
51st time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P42 to the pressure P41, namely the length
of the 51st time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P42, the pressure
P41, and Formula (1) described above.
[0077] Next, in a 52nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t52 to the time t53,
the fuel injection system 1 performs pressure boost control, and thus realizes a third
state. In the 52nd time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 while raising the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P41 to the pressure
P44 corresponding to a length of the 52nd time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is the pressure P41 at the time t52, and is raised from the pressure P41 to the
pressure 44 in the 52nd time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P41 to the pressure P44, namely
the length of the 52nd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P41,
the pressure P44, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0078] Next, in a 53rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t53 to the time t54,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. For this reason, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 53rd time slot while
reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P44 to the pressure P43 corresponding to a length of the 53rd time slot. As a result,
the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 in the 53rd time slot is the pressure P44 at the time t53, and
is reduced from the pressure P44 to the pressure P43 in the 53rd time slot. A time
required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the pressure P44 to the pressure P43, namely the length of the 53rd time slot, can
be calculated on the basis of the pressure P44, the pressure P43, and Formula (1)
described above.
[0079] Next, in a 54th time slot that is a time slot from the time t54 to the time t55,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
For this reason, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 54th time slot while raising
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P43
to the pressure P46 corresponding to a length of the 54th time slot. Thus, the pressure
of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P43 at the time t54, and is raised from the pressure P43
to the pressure P46 in the 54th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P43 to the pressure P46,
namely the length of the 54th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure
P43, the pressure P46, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining
the length of the 11th time slot.
[0080] Next, in a 55th time slot that is a time slot from the time t55 to the time t56,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. For this reason, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 55th time slot while
reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P46 to the pressure P45 corresponding to a length of the 55th time slot. As a result,
the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 in the 55th time slot is the pressure P46 at the time t55, and
is reduced from the pressure P46 to the pressure P45 in the 55th time slot. A time
required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the pressure P46 to the pressure P45, namely the length of the 55th time slot, can
be calculated on the basis of the pressure P46, the pressure P45, and Formula (1)
described above.
[0081] Next, in a 56th time slot that is a time slot from the time t56 to the time t57,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
In the 56th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 while raising the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P45 to a prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P45 at the time t56,
and is raised from the pressure P45 to the prescribed pressure P0 in the 56th time
slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P45 to the prescribed pressure P0, namely a length of the
56th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P45, the prescribed
pressure P0, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0082] Next, in a 57th time slot that is a time slot from the time t57 to the time t58,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
prescribed pressure P0 at the time t57, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into
the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 57th
time slot while reducing pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from
the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P42 corresponding to a length of the 57th
time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P42, namely the length of
the 57th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the prescribed pressure P0,
the pressure P42, and Formula (1) described above.
[0083] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t58, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t58. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P42.
[0084] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 9, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with a convex pattern among patterns desired by a user while suppressing
an increase in fuel consumption rate. The convex pattern is a pattern of temporal
change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into
the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated in FIG. 9. That is, the
convex pattern is a pattern in which the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC by the fuel injection system 1 is nearly monotonously raised from the pressure
P42 to the prescribed pressure P0 over time in a period (a time slot from the time
t51 to the time t58 in the example illustrated in FIG. 9) in which the fuel injection
system 1 injects the fuel, and then is monotonously reduced from the prescribed pressure
P0 to the pressure P42. In the convex pattern, the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the fuel injection system 1 is injected at a pressure that is higher
than that in former and latter periods on the basis of the middle period in the period
in which the fuel injection system 1 injects the fuel into the combustion chamber
CC. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can atomize the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC. As a result, the fuel injection system 1 can reduce an amount of noise
of the internal combustion engine EG in a driving state, and can further reduce an
amount of emissions generated from the internal combustion engine EG.
[0085] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 6 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The control method represented by the timing diagram
illustrated in FIG. 10 is a control method that increases an injection amount of fuel
in the inverted deltaic pattern described in FIG. 6. The timing diagram illustrated
in FIG. 10 includes four graphs from a graph CH61 to a graph CH64. The horizontal
axis of each of the graphs CH61 to CH64 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis
of the graph CH61 indicates a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit
33 to the drive unit A1. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH62 indicates a
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis
of the graph CH63 indicates a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit
34 to the drive unit A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH64 indicates a
pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, each of a time t61, a time t64, a time t66, a time
t68, and a time t70 on the graphs CH61 to CH64 indicates a time when the drive current
is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first
valve 21 is opened. Further, each of a time t62, a time t65, a time t67, a time t69,
and a time t71 on the graphs CH61 to CH64 indicates a time when the supply of the
drive current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped
and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time t63 on the graphs CH61 to CH64 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to
the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, a time t72 on the graphs
CH61 to CH64 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the second
valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is
closed. Here, the time t61 is a time before the time t62, the time t62 is a time before
the time t63, the time t63 is a time before the time t64, the time t64 is a time before
the time t65, the time t65 is a time before the time t66, the time t66 is a time before
the time t67, the time t67 is a time before the time t68, the time t68 is a time before
the time t69, and the time t69 is a time before the time t70. Further, each of a pressure
P51, a pressure P52, a pressure P53, a pressure P54, a pressure P55, a pressure P56,
a pressure P57, a pressure P58, and a pressure P59 on the graphs CH62 and CH64 is
lower than a prescribed pressure P0. Further, the pressure P51 is lower than the pressure
P52, the pressure P52 is lower than the pressure P53, the pressure P53 is lower than
the pressure P54, the pressure P54 is lower than the pressure P55, the pressure P55
is lower than the pressure P56, the pressure P56 is lower than the pressure P57, the
pressure P57 is lower than the pressure P58, and the pressure P58 is lower than the
pressure P59.
[0086] In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, in a 61st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t61 to the time t62, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state.
Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P51 in a time slot before the time t61 will be described.
In the 61st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t61. Further,
since a pressure of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
the prescribed pressure P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 can be raised to the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the
pressure in the 61st time slot is raised from the pressure P51 to the prescribed pressure
P0. Like the length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 61st time slot is determined
by a user.
[0087] Next, in a 62nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t62 to the time t63,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 61st
time slot is raised from the pressure P51 to the prescribed pressure P0. For these
reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 62nd
time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0.
[0088] Next, in a 63rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t63 to the time t64,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
62nd time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0, the fuel injection system
1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 63rd time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel
injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P58 corresponding
to a length of the 63rd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure
P58, namely the length of the 63rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the
prescribed pressure P0, the pressure P59, and Formula (1) described above.
[0089] Next, in a 64th time slot that is a time slot from the time t64 to the time t65,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 64th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P58 to the pressure P59
corresponding to a length of the 64th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P58 at the time t64, and is raised from the pressure P58 to the pressure
P59 in the 64th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P58 to the pressure P59, namely the
length of the 64th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P58,
the pressure P59, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0090] Next, in a 65th time slot that is a time slot from the time t65 to the time t66,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P59 at the time t65, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 65th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P59 to the pressure P56 corresponding to a length of the 65th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P59 to the pressure P56, namely the length of the 65th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P59, the pressure P56, and Formula (1) described above.
[0091] Next, in a 66th time slot that is a time slot from the time t66 to the time t67,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 66th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P56 to the pressure P57
corresponding to a length of the 66th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P56 at the time t66, and is raised from the pressure P56 to the pressure
P57 in the 66th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P56 to the pressure P57, namely the
length of the 66th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P56,
the pressure P57, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0092] Next, in a 67th time slot that is a time slot from the time t67 to the time t68,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P57 at the time t67, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 67th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P57 to the pressure P54 corresponding to a length of the 67th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P57 to the pressure P54, namely the length of the 67th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P57, the pressure P54, and Formula (1) described above.
[0093] Next, in a 68th time slot that is a time slot from the time t68 to the time t69,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 68th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P54 to the pressure P55
corresponding to a length of the 68th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P54 at the time t68, and is raised from the pressure P54 to the pressure
P55 in the 68th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P54 to the pressure P55, namely the
length of the 68th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P54,
the pressure P55, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0094] Next, in a 69th time slot that is a time slot from the time t69 to the time t70,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P55 at the time t69, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 69th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P55 to the pressure P52 corresponding to a length of the 69th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P55 to the pressure P52, namely the length of the 69th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P55, the pressure P52, and Formula (1) described above.
[0095] Next, in a 70th time slot that is a time slot from the time t70 to the time t71,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 70th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P52 to the pressure P53
corresponding to a length of the 70th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P52 at the time t70, and is raised from the pressure P52 to the pressure
P53 in the 70th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P52 to the pressure P53, namely the
length of the 70th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P52,
the pressure P53, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0096] Next, in a 71st time slot that is a time slot from the time t71 to the time t72,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P53 at the time t71, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 71st time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P53 to the pressure P51 corresponding to a length of the 71st time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P53 to the pressure P51, namely the length of the 71st time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P53, the pressure P51, and Formula (1) described above.
[0097] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t72, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t72. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P51.
[0098] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 10, like the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 6, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with an inverted deltaic pattern among patterns desired by a user while
suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate. Further, according to the control
method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 10, the fuel injection
system 1 can inject fuel more than the fuel, which is injected into the combustion
chamber CC by the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 6, into the combustion chamber CC. As a result, the fuel injection system 1 can
suppressing a cooling loss caused because fuel flames are cooled at an inner wall
of the combustion chamber CC by either collision of fuel with the inner wall of the
combustion chamber CC due to excessive fuel spray or collision of fuel with the inner
wall of the combustion chamber CC due to flames after ignition.
[0099] FIG. 11 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 7 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 11 includes four
graphs from a graph CH71 to a graph CH74. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH71 to CH74 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH71 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH72 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH73 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH74 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, each of a time t81, a time t84, a time t86, and a time t88 on the graphs
CH71 to CH74 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied from the first valve
drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21 is opened. Further, each
of a time t82, a time t85, a time t87, and a time t89 on the graphs CH71 to CH74 indicates
a time when the supply of the drive current from the first valve drive circuit 33
to the drive unit A1 is stopped and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time
t83 on the graphs CH71 to CH74 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22
is opened. Further, a time t90 on the graphs CH71 to CH74 indicates a time when the
supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Here, the time t81 is a time before
the time t82, the time t82 is a time before the time t83, the time t83 is a time before
the time t84, the time t84 is a time before the time t85, the time t85 is a time before
the time t86, the time t86 is a time before the time t87, the time t87 is a time before
the time t88, the time t88 is a time before the time t89, and the time t89 is a time
before the time t90. Further, each of a pressure P61 and a pressure P62 on the graphs
CH72 and CH74 is lower than a prescribed pressure P0. Further, the pressure P61 is
lower than the pressure P62.
[0100] In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, in an 81st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t81 to the time t82, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state.
Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P61 in a time slot before the time t81 will be described.
In the 81st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t81. Further,
since a pressure of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
the prescribed pressure P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 can be raised to the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the
pressure in the 81st time slot is raised from the pressure P61 to the prescribed pressure
P0. Like the length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 81st time slot is determined
by a user.
[0101] Next, in an 82nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t82 to the time t83,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 81st
time slot is raised from the pressure P61 to the prescribed pressure P0. For these
reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 82nd
time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0.
[0102] Next, in an 83rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t83 to the time t84,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
82nd time slot is still kept at the prescribed pressure P0, the fuel injection system
1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 83rd time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel
injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P61 corresponding
to a length of the 83rd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure
P61, namely the length of the 83rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the
prescribed pressure P0, the pressure P61, and Formula (1) described above.
[0103] Next, in an 84th time slot that is a time slot from the time t84 to the time t85,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 84th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P61 to the pressure P62
corresponding to a length of the 84th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P61 at the time t84, and is raised from the pressure P61 to the pressure
P62 in the 84th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P61 to the pressure P62, namely the
length of the 84th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P61,
the pressure P62, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0104] Next, in an 85th time slot that is a time slot from the time t85 to the time t86,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P62 at the time t85, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 85th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P62 to the pressure P61 corresponding to a length of the 85th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P62 to the pressure P61, namely the length of the 85th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P62, the pressure P61, and Formula (1) described above.
[0105] Next, in an 86th time slot that is a time slot from the time t86 to the time t87,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 86th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P61 to the pressure P62
corresponding to a length of the 86th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P61 at the time t86, and is raised from the pressure P61 to the pressure
P62 in the 86th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P61 to the pressure P62, namely the
length of the 86th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P61,
the pressure P62, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0106] Next, in an 87th time slot that is a time slot from the time t87 to the time t88,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P62 at the time t87, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 87th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P62 to the pressure P61 corresponding to a length of the 87th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P62 to the pressure P61, namely the length of the 87th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P62, the pressure P61, and Formula (1) described above.
[0107] Next, in an 88th time slot that is a time slot from the time t88 to the time t89,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 88th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P61 to the pressure P62
corresponding to a length of the 88th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P61 at the time t88, and is raised from the pressure P61 to the pressure
P62 in the 88th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P61 to the pressure P62, namely the
length of the 88th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P61,
the pressure P62, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0108] Next, in an 89th time slot that is a time slot from the time t89 to the time t90,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P62 at the time t89, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 89th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P62 to the pressure P61 corresponding to a length of the 89th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P62 to the pressure P61, namely the length of the 89th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P62, the pressure P61, and Formula (1) described above.
[0109] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t90, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t90. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P61.
[0110] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 11, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with an L-shaped pattern among patterns desired by a user while suppressing
an increase in fuel consumption rate. The L-shaped pattern is a pattern of temporal
change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into
the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated in FIG. 11. That is, the
L-shaped pattern is a pattern in which the pressure of the fuel injected into the
combustion chamber CC by the fuel injection system 1 is monotonously reduced from
the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P61 over time in a period (a time slot
from the time t83 to the time t90 in the example illustrated in FIG. 11) in which
the fuel injection system 1 injects the fuel, and then is still kept at nearly the
pressure P61. In the L-shaped pattern, the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the fuel injection system 1 is further homogeneously injected into the combustion
chamber CC in this period, compared to an inverted deltaic pattern. As a result, the
fuel injection system 1 can further suppress a cooling loss caused because fuel flames
are cooled at an inner wall of the combustion chamber CC by either collision of fuel
with the inner wall of the combustion chamber CC due to excessive fuel spray or collision
of fuel with the inner wall of the combustion chamber CC due to flames after ignition.
[0111] FIG. 12 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 8 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 12 includes four
graphs from a graph CH81 to a graph CH84. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH81 to CH84 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH81 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH82 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH83 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH84 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, each of a time t91, a time t94, a time t96, and a time t98 on the graphs
CH81 to CH84 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied from the first valve
drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21 is opened. Further, each
of a time t92, a time t95, a time t97, and a time t99 on the graphs CH81 to CH84 indicates
a time when the supply of the drive current from the first valve drive circuit 33
to the drive unit A1 is stopped and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time
t93 on the graphs CH81 to CH84 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22
is opened. Further, a time t100 on the graphs CH81 to CH84 indicates a time when the
supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Here, the time t91 is a time before
the time t92, the time t92 is a time before the time t93, the time t93 is a time before
the time t94, the time t94 is a time before the time t95, the time t95 is a time before
the time t96, the time t96 is a time before the time t97, the time t97 is a time before
the time t98, the time t98 is a time before the time t99, and the time t99 is a time
before the time t100. Further, each of a pressure P71, a pressure P72, and a pressure
P73 on the graphs CH82 and CH84 is lower than a prescribed pressure P0. Further, the
pressure P71 is lower than the pressure P72, and the pressure P72 is lower than the
pressure P73.
[0112] In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, in a 91st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t91 to the time t92, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state.
Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P71 in a time slot before the time t91 will be described.
In the 91st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t91. Further,
since a pressure of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
the prescribed pressure P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 can be raised to the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the
pressure in the 91st time slot is raised from the pressure P71 to the pressure P73
corresponding to a length of the 91st time slot. Like the length of the 11th time
slot, the length of the 91st time slot is determined by a user.
[0113] Next, in a 92nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t92 to the time t93,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 91st
time slot is raised from the pressure P71 to the pressure P73. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 92nd time slot
is still kept at the pressure P73.
[0114] Next, in a 93rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t93 to the time t94,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
92nd time slot is still kept at the pressure P73, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
in the 93rd time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P73 to the pressure P71 corresponding to a length of the
93rd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P73 to the pressure P71, namely the length
of the 93rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P73, the pressure
P71, and Formula (1) described above.
[0115] Next, in a 94th time slot that is a time slot from the time t94 to the time t95,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 94th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P71 to the pressure P72
corresponding to a length of the 94th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P71 at the time t94, and is raised from the pressure P71 to the pressure
P72 in the 94th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P71 to the pressure P72, namely the
length of the 94th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P71,
the pressure P72, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0116] Next, in a 95th time slot that is a time slot from the time t95 to the time t96,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P72 at the time t95, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 95th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P72 to the pressure P71 corresponding to a length of the 95th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P72 to the pressure P71, namely the length of the 95th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P72, the pressure P71, and Formula (1) described above.
[0117] Next, in a 96th time slot that is a time slot from the time t96 to the time t97,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 96th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P71 to the pressure P72
corresponding to a length of the 96th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P71 at the time t96, and is raised from the pressure P71 to the pressure
P72 in the 96th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P71 to the pressure P72, namely the
length of the 96th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P71,
the pressure P72, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0118] Next, in a 97th time slot that is a time slot from the time t97 to the time t98,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P72 at the time t97, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 97th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P72 to the pressure P71 corresponding to a length of the 97th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P72 to the pressure P71, namely the length of the 97th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P72, the pressure P71, and Formula (1) described above.
[0119] Next, in a 98th time slot that is a time slot from the time t98 to the time t99,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 98th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P71 to the prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P71 at the time t98,
and is raised from the pressure P71 to the prescribed pressure P0 in the 98th time
slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P71 to the prescribed pressure P0, namely a length of the
98th time slot can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P71, the prescribed
pressure P0, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0120] Next, in a 99th time slot that is a time slot from the time t99 to the time t100,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
prescribed pressure P0 at the time t99, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into
the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 99th
time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system
1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P71 corresponding to a length
of the 99th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P71, namely
the length of the 99th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the prescribed
pressure P0, the pressure P71, and Formula (1) described above.
[0121] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t100, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t100. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P71.
[0122] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 12, the fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with an inverted L-shaped pattern among patterns desired by a user
while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate. The inverted L-shaped pattern
is a pattern of temporal change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC, which is the pattern illustrated
in FIG. 12. That is, the inverted L-shaped pattern is a pattern in which the pressure
of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC by the fuel injection system 1
is still kept at nearly the pressure P72 over time in a period (a time slot from the
time t93 to the time t100 in the example illustrated in FIG. 12) in which the fuel
injection system 1 injects the fuel, and then is again monotonously reduced to the
pressure P71 after being monotonously raised to the prescribed pressure. In the inverted
L-shaped pattern, like the deltaic pattern, the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC from the fuel injection system 1 is injected at a high pressure in a latter
period subsequent to a former period in this period. However, in the inverted L-shaped
pattern, in comparison with the deltaic pattern, the fuel injection system 1 can atomize
the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC, and can further perform agitation
and combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber CC. As a result, in comparison
with the deltaic pattern, the fuel injection system 1 can further reduce an amount
of noise of the internal combustion engine EG in a driving state, and can further
reduce an amount of emissions generated from the internal combustion engine EG.
[0123] FIG. 13 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 9 of the control method of
the fuel injection system 1. The timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 13 includes four
graphs from a graph CH91 to a graph CH94. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs
CH91 to CH94 indicates time. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH91 indicates
a drive current supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH92 indicates a pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH93 indicates
a drive current supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH94 indicates a pressure of the fuel
injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122. Further, each of a time t101, a time t104, a time t106, a time t108, and a time
t110 on the graphs CH91 to CH94 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21
is opened. Further, each of a time t102, a time t105, a time t107, a time t109, and
a time t111 on the graphs CH91 to CH94 indicates a time when the supply of the drive
current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and
the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time t103 on the graphs CH91 to CH94 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to
the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, a time t112 on the graphs
CH91 to CH94 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the second
valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is
closed. Here, the time t101 is a time before the time t102, the time t102 is a time
before the time t103, the time t103 is a time before the time t104, the time t104
is a time before the time t105, the time t105 is a time before the time t106, the
time t106 is a time before the time t107, the time t107 is a time before the time
t108, the time t108 is a time before the time t109, the time t109 is a time before
the time t110, the time t110 is a time before the time t111, and the time t111 is
a time before the time t112. Further, each of a pressure P81, a pressure P82, and
a pressure P83 on the graphs CH92 and CH94 is lower than a prescribed pressure P0.
Further, the pressure P81 is lower than the pressure P82, and the pressure P82 is
lower than the pressure P83.
[0124] In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, in a 101st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t101 to the time t102, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state.
Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P81 in a time slot before the time t101 will be described.
In the 101st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t101.
Further, since a pressure of fuel supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is the prescribed pressure P0, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 can be raised to the prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example,
the pressure in the 101st time slot is raised from the pressure P81 to the pressure
P83 corresponding to a length of the 101st time slot. Like the length of the 11th
time slot, the length of the 101st time slot is determined by a user.
[0125] Next, in a 102nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t102 to the time t103,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 101st
time slot is raised from the pressure P81 to the pressure P83. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 102nd time slot
is still kept at the pressure P83.
[0126] Next, in a 103rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t103 to the time t104,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
102nd time slot is still kept at the pressure P83, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
in the 103rd time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P83 to the pressure P82 corresponding to a length of the
103rd time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P83 to the pressure P82, namely the length
of the 103rd time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P83, the pressure
P82, and Formula (1) described above.
[0127] Next, in a 104th time slot that is a time slot from the time t104 to the time t105,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 104th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83
corresponding to a length of the 104th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P82 at the time t104, and is raised from the pressure P82 to the pressure
P83 in the 104th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83, namely the
length of the 104th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P82,
the pressure P83, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0128] Next, in a 105th time slot that is a time slot from the time t105 to the time t106,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P83 at the time t105, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 105th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P82 corresponding to a length of the 105th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P82, namely the length of the 105th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P83, the pressure P82, and Formula (1) described above.
[0129] Next, in a 106th time slot that is a time slot from the time t106 to the time t107,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 106th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83
corresponding to a length of the 106th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P82 at the time t106, and is raised from the pressure P82 to the pressure
P83 in the 106th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83, namely the
length of the 106th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P82,
the pressure P83, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0130] Next, in a 107th time slot that is a time slot from the time t107 to the time t108,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P83 at the time t107, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 107th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P82 corresponding to a length of the 107th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P82, namely the length of the 107th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P83, the pressure P82, and Formula (1) described above.
[0131] Next, in a 108th time slot that is a time slot from the time t108 to the time t109,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 108th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83
corresponding to a length of the 108th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P82 at the time t108, and is raised from the pressure P82 to the pressure
P83 in the 108th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83, namely a
length of the 108th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P82,
the pressure P83, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0132] Next, in a 109th time slot that is a time slot from the time t109 to the time t110,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P83 at the time t109, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 109th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P82 corresponding to a length of the 109th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P82, namely the length of the 109th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P83, the pressure P82, and Formula (1) described above.
[0133] Next, in a 110th time slot that is a time slot from the time t110 to the time t111,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 110th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83
corresponding to a length of the 110th time slot. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P82 at the time t110, and is raised from the pressure P82 to the pressure
P83 in the 110th time slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P82 to the pressure P83, namely a
length of the 110th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P82,
the pressure P83, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0134] Next, in a 111th time slot that is a time slot from the time t111 to the time t112,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P83 at the time t111, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 111th time slot while
reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P81 corresponding to a length of the 111th time slot. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure
P83 to the pressure P81, namely the length of the 111th time slot, can be calculated
on the basis of the pressure P83, the pressure P81, and Formula (1) described above.
[0135] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t112, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t112. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P81.
[0136] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 13, the fuel injection system 1 can inject the fuel into the combustion chamber
CC while the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the
combustion chamber CC is kept at nearly the pressure P83 that is a pressure lower
than the prescribed pressure P0 while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption
rate. That is, the fuel injection system 1 can inject the fuel into the combustion
chamber CC at a pressure that is a pressure lower than or equal to a pressure supplied
from the high-pressure source 4 and is desired by a user.
[0137] FIG. 14 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 10 of the control method
of the fuel injection system 1. Embodiment 10 of the control method is a control method
in which multi-stage injections, for example, pilot injection, pre-injection, main
injection, and after-injection are performed on the fuel injection system 1 in turn
by combining some or all of the control methods described above. The timing diagram
illustrated in FIG. 14 includes four graphs from a graph CH101 to a graph CH104. The
horizontal axis of each of the graphs CH101 to CH104 indicates time. Further, the
vertical axis of the graph CH101 indicates a drive current supplied from the first
valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1. Further, the vertical axis of the graph
CH102 indicates a pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH103 indicates a drive current supplied from the second
valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2. Further, the vertical axis of the graph
CH104 indicates a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from
the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further, each of a time t125 and a time
t129 on the graphs CH101 to CH104 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21
is opened. Further, each of a time t127 and a time t130 on the graphs CH101 to CH104
indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the first valve drive circuit
33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, each
of a time t121, a time t123, a time t126, and a time t130 on the graphs CH101 to CH104
indicates a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit
34 to the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, each of a time
t122, a time t124, a time t128, and a time t131 on the graphs CH101 to CH104 indicates
a time when the supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34
to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Here, the time
t121 is a time before the time t122, the time t122 is a time before the time t123,
the time t123 is a time before the time t124, the time t124 is a time before the time
t125, the time t125 is a time before the time t126, the time t126 is a time before
the time t127, the time t127 is a time before the time t128, the time t128 is a time
before the time t129, the time t129 is a time before the time t130, and the time t130
is a time before the time t131. Further, each of a pressure P91, a pressure P92, a
pressure P93, a pressure P94, a pressure P95, and a pressure P96 on the graphs CH102
and CH104 is lower than a prescribed pressure P0. Further, the pressure P91 is lower
than the pressure P92, the pressure P92 is lower than the pressure P93, the pressure
P93 is lower than the pressure P94, the pressure P94 is lower than the pressure P95,
and the pressure P95 is lower than the pressure P96.
[0138] In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, in a 121st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t121 to the time t122, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state
by performing pressure reduction control, and performs pilot injection. Here, a case
where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is the pressure P94 in a time slot before the time t121 will be described. Since
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the
pressure P94 in the 121st time slot, fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 121st
time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system
1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the pressure P94 to the pressure P93 corresponding to a length of the 121st
time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P94 to the pressure P93, namely the length of the 121st
time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P94, the pressure P93, and
Formula (1) described above.
[0139] Next, in a 122nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t122 to the time t123,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 121st
time slot is reduced from the pressure P94 to the pressure P93. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 122nd time slot
is still kept at the pressure P93.
[0140] Next, in a 123rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t123 to the time t124,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control, and performs pre-injection. Since the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P93 in the 122nd time slot, the
fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 123rd time slot while reducing the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P93 to the pressure
P92 corresponding to a length of the 123rd time slot. A time required to reduce the
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P93 to
the pressure P92, namely the length of the 123rd time slot, can be calculated on the
basis of the pressure P93, the pressure P92, and Formula (1) described above.
[0141] Next, in a 124th time slot that is a time slot from the time t124 to the time t125,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the pressure P93 to the pressure P92 in the 123rd time slot. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the
pressure P92 in the 124th time slot.
[0142] Next, in a 125th time slot that is a time slot from the time t125 to the time t126,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state. In the 125th time slot, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed
time that is a time elapsed from the time t125. Further, since a pressure of fuel
supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the prescribed pressure P0,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 can be raised to the
prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the pressure in the 125th
time slot is raised from the pressure P92 to the pressure P96. Like the length of
the 11th time slot, a length of the 125th time slot is determined by a user.
[0143] Next, in a 126th time slot that is a time slot from the time t126 to the time t127,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a third state by performing pressure boost control.
The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 126th time slot while raising the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P96 to the prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P96 at the time t126,
and is raised from the pressure P96 to the prescribed pressure P0 in the 126th time
slot. A time required to raise the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P96 to the prescribed pressure P0, namely a length of the
126th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P96, the prescribed
pressure P0, Formula (1) described above, and the method of determining the length
of the 11th time slot.
[0144] Next, in a 127th time slot that is a time slot from the time t127 to the time t128,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
prescribed pressure P0 at the time t127, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the
127th time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system
1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P91 corresponding to a length
of the 127th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P91, namely
the length of the 127th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the prescribed
pressure P0, the pressure P91, and Formula (1) described above.
[0145] Next, in a 128th time slot that is a time slot from the time t128 to the time t129,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P91 in the 128th time slot. For these
reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept
at the pressure P91 in the 128th time slot.
[0146] The fuel injection system 1 performs main injection in a period from the time t125
to the time t129.
[0147] Next, in a 129th time slot that is a time slot from the time t129 to the time t130,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state. In the 129th time slot, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed
time that is a time elapsed from the time t129. Further, since a pressure of fuel
supplied to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the prescribed pressure P0,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 can be raised to the
prescribed pressure P0 at the maximum. In this example, the pressure in the 129th
time slot is raised from the pressure P91 to the pressure P95. Like the length of
the 11th time slot, a length of the 129th time slot is determined by a user.
[0148] Next, in a 130th time slot that is a time slot from the time t130 to the time t131,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control, and performs after-injection. Since the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P95 at the time t130, the fuel injection system
1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 130th time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the
fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P95 to the pressure P94 corresponding to a
length of the 130th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P95 to the pressure P94, namely the
length of the 130th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P95,
the pressure P94, and Formula (1) described above.
[0149] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t131, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t131. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P94.
[0150] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 14, the fuel injection system 1 can perform the pilot injection, the pre-injection,
the main injection, and the after-injection described above while suppressing an increase
in fuel consumption rate. In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, the fuel injection
system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC in the pilot injection and the
pre-injection at a pressure that is lower than the pressure of the fuel injected into
the combustion chamber CC in the main injection. Thus, the fuel injection system 1
can further reduce an amount of noise of the internal combustion engine EG, and can
further reduce an amount of emissions generated from the internal combustion engine
EG. Further, in this example, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion
chamber CC by the inverted deltaic pattern described above. Further, the fuel injection
system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC in the after-injection at a pressure
that is lower than the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC
in the main injection and is higher than the pressure of the fuel injected into the
combustion chamber CC in the pilot injection. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can
perform agitation and combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber CC in the 130th
time slot, and reduce an amount of emissions generated from the internal combustion
engine EG.
[0151] Next, a case where dynamic effects associated with movement of fuel in the fuel injection
system 1 is exerted will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18.
[0152] FIG. 15 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 11 of the control method
of the fuel injection system 1. Embodiment 11 of the control method is a control method
in which multi-stage injections, for example, pilot injection, pre-injection, and
main injection are performed on the fuel injection system 1 by combining some or all
of the control methods described above. The control method may be carried out by appropriately
adding after-injection without limiting performing of the after-injection. The timing
diagram illustrated in FIG. 15 includes four graphs from a graph CH111 to a graph
CH114. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs CH111 to CH114 indicates time. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH111 indicates the state of the valve A1V as two values
of an open state and a closed state (hereinafter referred to simply as "indicates
the state of the valve A1V"). A timing at which the state of the valve A1V varies
is later than a timing at which a drive current supplied from the first valve drive
circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is changed by a minute time. Further, the vertical
axis of the graph CH112 indicates a pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH113 indicates the state of the
valve A2V as two values of an open state and a closed state (hereinafter referred
to simply as "indicates the state of the valve A2V"). A timing at which the state
of the valve A2V varies is later than a timing at which a drive current supplied from
the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is changed by a minute time.
Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH114 indicates a pressure of the fuel injected
into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further,
each of a time t141, a time t150, a time t154, and a time t158 on the graphs CH111
to CH114 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied from the first valve
drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21 is opened. Further, each
of a time t142, a time t152, a time t156, and a time t160 on the graphs CH111 to CH114
indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the first valve drive circuit
33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, each
of a time t151, a time t155, and a time t159 on the graphs CH111 to CH114 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to
the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, each of a time t153,
a time t157, and a time t161 on the graphs CH111 to CH114 indicates a time when the
supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit
A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is closed. Each of a time t143, a time t145,
and a time t147 on the graphs CH111 to CH114 indicates a time when the drive current
is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 and the valve
A2V starts to discharge fuel from the second pressure accumulating unit 122. Further,
each of a time t144, a time t146, and a time t148 on the graphs CH111 to CH114 indicates
a time when the supply of the drive current from the second valve drive circuit 34
to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the valve A2V stops discharging fuel from the
second pressure accumulating unit 122. Here, the time t141 is a time before the time
t142, the time t142 is a time before the time t143, the time t143 is a time before
the time t144, the time t144 is a time before the time t145, the time t145 is a time
before the time t146, the time t146 is a time before the time t147, the time t147
is a time before the time t148, the time t148 is a time before the time t150, the
time t150 is a time before the time t152, the time t152 is a time before the time
t151, the time t151 is a time before the time t153, the time t153 is a time before
the time t154, the time t154 is a time before the time t156, the time t156 is a time
before the time t155, the time t155 is a time before the time t157, the time t157
is a time before the time t158, the time t158 is a time before the time t159, the
time t159 is a time before the time t160, and the time t160 is a time before the time
t161. Further, each of a pressure P101, a pressure P103, a pressure P104, and a pressure
P105 on the graphs CH112 and CH114 is higher than zero (0), and is lower than a prescribed
pressure P0, and a pressure P107 is higher than the prescribed pressure P0. Further,
the pressure P101 is lower than the pressure P103, the pressure P103 is lower than
the pressure P104, and the pressure P104 is lower than the pressure P105.
[0153] In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, in a 141st time slot that is a time slot from
the time t141 to the time t142, the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state.
Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the pressure P101 in a time slot before the time t141 will be described.
In the 141st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time elapsed from the time t141.
For example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised
from the pressure P103 to the pressure P107 due to a pressure boosting effect associated
with movement of fuel. The pressure boosting effect associated with movement of fuel
means that a pressure higher than the prescribed pressure P0 occurs at a pressure
of the high-pressure source 4, for example, due to an inertial force of fuel caused
by movement of fuel that is present, for example, in the fuel supply pipeline 121
between the high-pressure source 4 and the second pressure accumulating unit 122.
With use of a dynamic effect caused by the inertial force of fuel, the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 can be increased to a pressure that exceeds
the prescribed pressure P0 without using an active pressure boosting mechanism (a
pressurizer). Like the length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 141st time slot
is determined by a user.
[0154] Next, in a 142nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t142 to the time t143,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised from
the pressure P101 to the pressure P107 in the 141st time slot. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the
pressure P107 in the 142nd time slot.
[0155] Next, in a 143rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t143 to the time t144,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a fourth state by performing non-injection pressure
reduction control. The fourth state is a state where the first valve 21 is closed
state and the valve A2V is subjected to the non-injection pressure reduction control
while the second valve 22 maintains a closed state. Further, the non-injection pressure
reduction control is an example of a technique for reducing the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 without injecting fuel into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122, and is realized, for example, by
supplying a drive current for a short time such that the valve A2V put in a closed
state is open for such a minute time that an actuator makes no response. Since the
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure
P107 in the previous 142nd time slot, the fuel injection system 1 in the 143rd time
slot reduces the pressure of the fuel in the second pressure accumulating unit 122
from the pressure P107 to the pressure P105 corresponding to a length of the 143rd
time slot. The pressure P105 depends on the length of the 143rd time slot. The length
of the 143rd time slot is previously determined to be a time that is longer than a
time until the drive current starts to be supplied to the valve A2V and then the valve
A2V makes a response to start to discharge fuel, and that is shorter than a time until
the second valve 22 makes a response to start to inject fuel. That is, the second
valve drive circuit 34 supplies a prescribed drive current to the valve A2V in a period
of the 143rd time slot, and thus the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is reduced from the pressure P107 to the pressure P105.
[0156] Next, in a 144th time slot that is a time slot from the time t144 to the time t145,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
to the pressure P105 in the 143rd time slot. For these reasons, the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P105 in the
144th time slot.
[0157] Next, in a 145th time slot that is a time slot from the time t145 to the time t146,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a fourth state by performing non-injection pressure
reduction control.
[0158] Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is kept at the
pressure P105 in the 144th time slot, the fuel injection system 1 reduces the pressure
of the fuel in the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P105 to
the pressure P104 in the 145th time slot.
[0159] Next, in a 146th time slot that is a time slot from the time t146 to the time t147,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
to the pressure P104 in the 145th time slot. For these reasons, the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P104 in the
146th time slot.
[0160] Next, in a 147th time slot that is a time slot from the time t147 to the time t148,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a fourth state by performing non-injection pressure
reduction control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is kept at the pressure P104 in the previous 146th time slot, the fuel injection
system 1 reduces the pressure of the fuel in the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 in the 145th time slot. The pressure
P103 is a target pressure to be reduced. Here, due to this non-injection pressure
reduction control, the pressure of the fuel in the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is assumed to reach the pressure P103 that is the target pressure to be reduced.
The number of times which the fourth state is repeated is not limited to the above,
and may be appropriately determined on the basis of a magnitude of pressure that can
be reduced by single non-injection pressure reduction control, the pressure P107,
and the pressure P103 that is the target pressure to be reduced. Alternatively, a
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 which is reached by performing
the non-injection pressure reduction control the prescribed number of times may be
regarded as the target pressure to be reduced (the pressure P103).
[0161] Next, in a 148th time slot that is a time slot from the time t148 to the time t150,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
to the pressure P103 in the 147th time slot. For these reasons, the pressure inside
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P103 in the
148th time slot.
[0162] Next, in a time slot from the time t150 to the time t153, the fuel injection system
1 performs so-called pilot injection. For example, in a 150th time slot that is a
time slot from the time t150 to the time t152, the fuel injection system 1 realizes
the aforementioned first state. In the 150th time slot, the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time
elapsed from the time t150, and becomes the pressure P104. A period of the 150th time
slot is so minute as to make up for a reduction in the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 by controlling the valve A2V, and an increment of the
pressure P103 becomes small. The period of the 150th time slot is minute, but the
first state is provided, and thus pressure reduction can be offset by controlling
the valve A2V. Like the length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 150th time slot
is determined by a user.
[0163] Next, in a 152nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t152 to the time t151,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised to
the pressure P104 in the 150th time slot. For these reasons, the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P104 in the 152nd
time slot.
[0164] Next, in a 151st time slot that is a time slot from the time t151 to the time t153,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P104 at the time t151 will be described. Since
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P104
at the time t151 in the previous 152nd time slot, the fuel injection system 1 injects
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
in the 151st time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 depending on a length of the
151st time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103, namely the length
of the 151st time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P104, the pressure
P103, and Formula (1) described above.
[0165] The time t152 may be disposed in the 151st time slot.
[0166] Next, in a 153rd time slot that is a time slot from the time t153 to the time t154,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 in the 151st time slot. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the
pressure P103 in the 153rd time slot.
[0167] Next, in a time slot from the time t154 to the time t157, the fuel injection system
1 performs so-called pre-injection. For example, in a 154th time slot that is a time
slot from the time t154 to the time t156, the fuel injection system 1 realizes the
aforementioned first state. In the 154th time slot, the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time
elapsed from the time t154, and becomes the pressure P104. A period of the 154th time
slot is so minute as to make up for a reduction in the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 by controlling the valve A2V, and an increment of the
pressure P103 becomes small. The period of the 154th time slot is minute, but the
first state is provided, and thus pressure reduction can be offset by controlling
the valve A2V. Like the length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 154th time slot
is determined by a user.
[0168] Next, in a 155th time slot that is a time slot from the time t155 to the time t157,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Here, a case where, in this example, the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P104 at a point in time of the time t155 will
be described. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
is the pressure P104 at the time t155 in the previous 154th time slot, the fuel injection
system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 in the 155th time slot while reducing the pressure of the fuel which the
fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 depending on a length
of the 155th time slot. A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103, namely the length
of the 155th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P104, the pressure
P103, and Formula (1) described above.
[0169] The time t156 may be disposed in the 155th time slot.
[0170] Next, in a 157th time slot that is a time slot from the time t157 to the time t158,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 in the 155th time slot. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the
pressure P103 in the 157th time slot.
[0171] Next, in a 158th time slot that is a time slot from the time t158 to the time t159,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state. In the 158th time slot, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed
time that is a time elapsed from the time t158. For example, the pressure inside the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised from the pressure P103 to the pressure
P107 due to a pressure boosting effect associated with movement of fuel. Like the
length of the 11th time slot, a length of the 158th time slot is determined by a user.
[0172] Next, in a 159th time slot that is a time slot from the time t159 to the time t160,
the fuel injection system 1 opens both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
The pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is previously raised
to the pressure P107 in the previous 158th time slot. For these reasons, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P107
in the 159th time slot without being raised. The 159th time slot may be omitted.
[0173] Next, in a 160th time slot that is a time slot from the time t160 to the time t161,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P107 at the time t160, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 160th
time slot while at least reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P107 to the pressure P101 corresponding to a length of
the 160th time slot. A time required to at least reduce the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P107 to the pressure P101, namely
the length of the 160th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure
P107, the pressure P101, and Formula (1) described above.
[0174] Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second valve 22 at the time t161, the
injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot
after the time t161. On the other hand, since the fuel injection system 1 still closes
the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is kept at the pressure P101.
[0175] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 15, the fuel injection system 1 can perform the pilot injection, the pre-injection,
the main injection, and the after-injection described above while suppressing an increase
in fuel consumption rate. In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the fuel injection
system 1 adjusts a pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 when
performing the pilot injection and the pre-injection to a desired pressure that is
higher than zero (0) and is lower than the prescribed pressure P0. That is, the desired
pressure is a pressure that is lower than a pressure of fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC during the main injection. The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into
the combustion chamber CC at the desired pressure in each of the pilot injection,
the pre-injection, and the main injection. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can reduce
an amount of noise of the internal combustion engine EG, and can further reduce an
amount of emissions generated from the internal combustion engine EG. In this example,
the fuel injection system 1 can adjust the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 during the pilot injection and the pre-injection, and realize control of
making good use of a unique characteristic of an inverted deltaic pattern in the main
injection.
[0176] The horizontal axis of each graph illustrated in FIG. 15 has been described as indicating
the time, but the time may be replaced with an angle of a crank (not shown) (a crank
angle) of the internal combustion engine EG. In this case, FIG. 15 shows one period
of a combustion cycle. In this case, the ECU 3 may acquire information about a crank
angle using a known method. This is also the same in the following figures.
[0177] FIG. 16 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 12 of the control method
of the fuel injection system 1. Embodiment 12 of the control method is a control method
in which multi-stage injections, for example, pilot injection, pre-injection, and
main injection are performed on the fuel injection system 1 by combining some or all
of the control methods described above. The control method may be carried out by appropriately
adding after-injection without limiting performing of the after-injection. The timing
diagram illustrated in FIG. 16 includes four graphs from a graph CH121 to a graph
CH124. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs CH121 to CH124 indicates time. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH121 indicates the state of the valve A1V. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH122 indicates a pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH123 indicates the
state of the valve A2V. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH124 indicates a
pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, each of a time t150, a time t154, a time t158, and
a time t162 on the graphs CH121 to CH124 indicates a time when the drive current is
supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first
valve 21 is opened. Further, each of a time t152, a time t156, a time t160, and a
time t163 on the graphs CH121 to CH124 indicates a time when the supply of the drive
current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and
the first valve 21 is closed. Further, each of a time t151, a time t155, and a time
t159 on the graphs CH121 to CH124 indicates a time when the drive current is supplied
from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22
is opened. Further, each of a time t153, a time t157, and a time t161 on the graphs
CH121 to CH124 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the second
valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is
closed. Here, the time t161 is a time before the time t162, and the time t162 is a
time before the time t163. Description of the time t150 to the time t161 on the graphs
CH121 to CH124 refers to the description of Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15.
A difference from Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15 is a method of adjusting a
pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 for the pilot injection and
the pre-injection. In Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15, once the pressure of the
second pressure accumulating unit 122 is applied to a pressure P107 after the main
injection before the pilot injection and the pre-injection, the pressure of the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 is adjusted to a desired pressure. In the present embodiment,
this is omitted, and the pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
adjusted without being applied to the pressure P107 once after the time t161. Hereinafter,
the pressure adjustment performed after the time t161 will be described.
[0178] The fuel injection system 1 performs the pilot injection, the pre-injection, and
the main injection in turn from the time t150 to the time t161.
[0179] Next, in a 161st time slot that is a time slot from the time t161 to the time t162,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the pressure P107 to a pressure P101 in the 161st time slot. For these reasons,
the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the
pressure P101 in the 161st time slot. Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the
second valve 22 at the time t161, the injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of
the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 becomes zero (0) in a time slot after the time t161.
[0180] Next, in a 162nd time slot that is a time slot from the time t162 to the time t163,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a first state. In the 162nd time slot, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed
time that is a time elapsed from the time t162. Further, a pressure of fuel supplied
to the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is a prescribed pressure P0. According
to a dynamic effect caused by movement of fuel, the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 can be raised, for example, to the pressure P107 at the maximum.
However, in this example, a length of the 162nd time slot is determined to be a relatively
short time, and the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is at
least kept at a pressure raised to the pressure P103 lower than the prescribed pressure
P0. Like the length of the 11th time slot, the length of the 162nd time slot is determined
by a user.
[0181] Next, the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve
22 up to a timing of the pilot injection of the next combustion cycle in a period
after the time t163. Thus, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 is still kept at the pressure P103.
[0182] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 16, the fuel injection system 1 can perform the pilot injection, the pre-injection,
and the main injection described above while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption
rate. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the fuel injection system 1 at least
adjusts a pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 when performing
the pilot injection and the pre-injection to a desired pressure that is higher than
zero (0) and is lower than the prescribed pressure P0. That is, the desired pressure
is a pressure that is lower than the pressure P107 of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber CC during the main injection. The fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into
the combustion chamber CC at the desired pressure in each of the pilot injection,
the pre-injection, and the main injection. Furthermore, the fuel injection system
1 can at least adjust the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122
during the pilot injection and the pre-injection without rising to the prescribed
pressure P0. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can reduce an amount of noise of the
internal combustion engine EG, and can further reduce an amount of emissions generated
from the internal combustion engine EG. In this example, the fuel injection system
1 can adjust the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 during
the pilot injection and the pre-injection, and realize control of making good use
of a unique characteristic of an inverted deltaic pattern in the main injection.
[0183] FIG. 17 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 13 of the control method
of the fuel injection system 1. Embodiment 13 of the control method is a control method
in which multi-stage injections, for example, pilot injection, pre-injection, and
main injection are performed on the fuel injection system 1 by combining some or all
of the control methods described above. The control method may be carried out by appropriately
adding after-injection without limiting performing of the after-injection. The timing
diagram illustrated in FIG. 17 includes four graphs from a graph CH131 to a graph
CH134. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs CH131 to CH134 indicates time. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH131 indicates the state of the valve A1V. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH132 indicates a pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH133 indicates the
state of the valve A2V. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH134 indicates a
pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, each of a time t171, a time t173, a time t175, and
a time t177 on the graphs CH131 to CH134 indicates a time when the drive current is
supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 and the first
valve 21 is opened. Further, each of a time t172, a time t174, a time t176, and a
time t178 on the graphs CH131 to CH134 indicates a time when the supply of the drive
current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped and
the first valve 21 is closed. Further, a time t170 on the graphs CH131 to CH134 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit 34 to
the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, a time t179 on the graphs
CH131 to CH134 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current from the second
valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second valve 22 is
closed. Here, the time t157 is a time before the time t170, the time t170 is a time
before the time t171, the time t171 is a time before the time t172, the time t172
is a time before the time t173, the time t173 is a time before the time t174, the
time t174 is a time before the time t175, the time t175 is a time before the time
t176, the time t176 is a time before the time t177, the time t177 is a time before
the time t178, and the time t178 is a time before the time t179. Further, each of
a pressure P21, a pressure P101, a pressure P103, a pressure P104, and a pressure
P105 on the graphs CH132 to CH134 is a pressure that is higher than zero (0) and is
lower than a prescribed pressure P0, and a pressure P107 is higher than the prescribed
pressure P0. Further, the pressure P101 is lower than the pressure P103, the pressure
P103 is lower than the pressure P104, the pressure P104 is lower than the pressure
P105. At least the pressure P21 is lower than the pressure P103.
[0184] Description from the time t141 to the time t157 on the graphs CH131 to CH134 refers
to the description of Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15. A case where the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P103 at the time
t141 is given as an example. The pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 at the time t141 varies sometimes depending on the state of the previous
fuel injection cycle. A main difference from Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15
is a method of adjusting a pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 during
the main injection. Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15 is a case of inverted deltaic
main injection, but the present embodiment is a case of deltaic main injection. Hereinafter,
the pressure adjustment performed after the time t170 will be described.
[0185] The fuel injection system 1 performs pressure adjustment for the pilot injection
and the pre-injection from the time t141 to the time t148 prior to the main injection.
Afterward, the pilot injection and the pre-injection are performed in turn from the
time t150 to the time t157.
[0186] Further, in a 157th time slot that is a time slot from the time t157 to the time
t170, the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve
22. Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 in the aforementioned 156th time slot.
For these reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
still kept at the pressure P103 in the 157th time slot.
[0187] In the example illustrated in FIG. 17, the fuel injection system 1 realizes main
injection in a time slot from the time t170 to the time t179. For example, in a 170th
time slot that is a time slot from the time t170 to the time t171, the fuel injection
system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction control. For this
reason, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 170th time slot while reducing the
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P103 to
the pressure P21 corresponding to a length of the 170th time slot. As a result, the
pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P103 at the time t170 in the 170th time slot,
and is reduced from the pressure P103 to the pressure P21 in the 170th time slot.
A time required to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit
122 from the pressure P103 to the pressure P21, namely the length of the 170th time
slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure P103, the pressure P21, and Formula
(1) described above.
[0188] Next, the fuel injection system 1 performs the aforementioned deltaic main injection
illustrated in FIG. 7 in a time slot from the time t171 to the time t179. Detailed
description thereof refers to FIG. 7, and the times t31 to t39 of FIG. 7 are replaced
with the times t171 to t179.
[0189] A broken line denoted by a range from the time t170 to the time t179 on the graph
CH134 models a pressure based on a deltaic pattern. In actual control, the pressure
of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is reduced in a time slot from the time t178 to the time t179 like a solid
line. For example, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber
CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the time slot from the time t178
to the time t179 while reducing the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the prescribed pressure P0 to the pressure P103 corresponding to a length
of the time slot from the time t178 to the time t179. As a result, the pressure of
the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is the prescribed pressure P0 at the time t178 in the time slot from the
time t178 to the time t179, and is reduced from the prescribed pressure P0 to the
pressure P103 in the time slot from the time t178 to the time t179. A time required
to reduce the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 from the prescribed
pressure P0 to the pressure P103, namely the length of the time slot from the time
t178 to the time t179, can be calculated on the basis of the prescribed pressure P0,
the pressure P103, and Formula (1) described above.
[0190] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 17, the fuel injection system 1 can adjust the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 during the pilot injection and the pre-injection, and realize
control of making good use of a unique characteristic of a deltaic pattern in the
main injection.
[0191] FIG. 18 is a timing diagram for illustrating Embodiment 14 of the control method
of the fuel injection system 1. Embodiment 14 of the control method is a control method
in which multi-stage injections, for example, pilot injection, pre-injection, and
main injection are performed on the fuel injection system 1 by combining some or all
of the control methods described above. The control method may be carried out by appropriately
adding after-injection without limiting performing of the after-injection. The timing
diagram illustrated in FIG. 18 includes four graphs from a graph CH141 to a graph
CH144. The horizontal axis of each of the graphs CH141 to CH144 indicates time. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH141 indicates the state of the valve A1V. Further,
the vertical axis of the graph CH142 indicates a pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH143 indicates the
state of the valve A2V. Further, the vertical axis of the graph CH144 indicates a
pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. Further, times t188 to t193 on the graphs CH141 to CH144 are
as follows. Each of the time t188 and the time t191 on the graphs CH141 to CH144 indicates
a time when the drive current is supplied from the first valve drive circuit 33 to
the drive unit A1 and the first valve 21 is opened. Further, each of the time t190
and the time t193 on the graphs CH141 to CH144 indicates a time when the supply of
the drive current from the first valve drive circuit 33 to the drive unit A1 is stopped
and the first valve 21 is closed. Further, the time t189 on the graphs CH141 to CH144
indicates a time when the drive current is supplied from the second valve drive circuit
34 to the drive unit A2 and the second valve 22 is opened. Further, the time t192
on the graphs CH141 to CH144 indicates a time when the supply of the drive current
from the second valve drive circuit 34 to the drive unit A2 is stopped and the second
valve 22 is closed. Here, the time t188 is a time before the time t189, the time t189
is a time before the time t190, the time t190 is a time before the time t191, the
time t191 is a time before the time t192, and the time t192 is a time before the time
t193. Further, each of a pressure P101, a pressure P103, a pressure P104, a pressure
P105, and a pressure P108 on the graphs CH142 to CH144 is a pressure that is higher
than zero (0) and is lower than a prescribed pressure P0, and a pressure P107 is higher
than the prescribed pressure P0. Further, the pressure P101 is lower than the pressure
P108, the pressure P108 is lower than the pressure P103, the pressure P103 is lower
than the pressure P104, and the pressure P104 is lower than the pressure P105.
[0192] Description from the time t141 to the time t157 on the graphs CH141 to CH144 refers
to the description of Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15. A case where the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the pressure P103 at the time
t141 is given as an example. The pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 at the time t141 varies sometimes depending on the state of the previous
fuel injection cycle. A main difference from Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15
is a method of adjusting a pressure of the second pressure accumulating unit 122 during
the main injection. Embodiment 11 illustrated in FIG. 15 is a case of inverted deltaic
main injection, but the present embodiment is a case of V-shaped main injection. Hereinafter,
the pressure adjustment performed after the time t188 will be described.
[0193] The fuel injection system 1 performs pressure adjustment for the pilot injection
and the pre-injection from the time t141 to the time t148 prior to the main injection.
Afterward, the pilot injection and the pre-injection are performed in turn from the
time t150 to the time t157.
[0194] Next, in a 157th time slot that is a time slot from the time t157 to the time t188,
the fuel injection system 1 closes both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
from the pressure P104 to the pressure P103 in the aforementioned 155th time slot.
For these reasons, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is
still kept at the pressure P103 in the 157th time slot.
[0195] In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, in a time slot that is a time slot from the
time t188 to the time t193, the fuel injection system 1 realizes main injection. For
example in the 188th time slot from the time t188 to the time t189, the fuel injection
system 1 realizes a first state. In the 188th time slot, the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 is raised depending on an elapsed time that is a time
elapsed from the time t188. For example, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is raised from the pressure P103 to the pressure P107 due to a pressure boosting
effect associated with movement of fuel. Like the length of the 11th time slot, a
length of the 188th time slot is determined by a user.
[0196] Next, in a 189th time slot that is a time slot from the time t189 to the time t190,
the fuel injection system 1 opens both the first valve 21 and the second valve 22.
Further, the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is reduced
to the pressure P107 in the previous 188th time slot. For these reasons, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the pressure P107
in the 189th time slot without being raised. The 189th time slot may be omitted.
[0197] Next, in a 190th time slot that is a time slot from the time t190 to the time t191,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes a second state by performing pressure reduction
control. Since the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is the
pressure P107 at the time t190, the fuel injection system 1 injects fuel into the
combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 in the 190th
time slot while at least reducing the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 from the pressure P107 to the pressure P108 corresponding to a length of
the 190th time slot. A time required to at least reduce the pressure inside the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 from the pressure P107 to the pressure P108, namely
the length of the 190th time slot, can be calculated on the basis of the pressure
P107, the pressure P108, and Formula (1) described above.
[0198] Next, in a 191st time slot that is a time slot from the time t191 to the time t192,
the fuel injection system 1 realizes the aforementioned third state by performing
pressure boost control. In the 191st time slot, the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 is raised to the prescribed pressure P0. Since the first valve
21 is still open even in the 191st time slot, the fuel injection system 1 gradually
raises the pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber CC from the second
pressure accumulating unit 122 to become the pressure inside the second pressure accumulating
unit 122, and injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure
accumulating unit 122. The case illustrated in FIG. 18 is an example in which the
pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 reaches the prescribed pressure
P0 prior to reaching the time t192. Since the fuel injection system 1 closes the second
valve 22 at the time t192, the injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber CC
from the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is stopped, and the pressure of the
fuel into the combustion chamber CC from the second pressure accumulating unit 122
becomes zero (0) in a time slot after the time t192. On the other hand, since the
fuel injection system 1 still opens the first valve 21 in this time slot, the pressure
inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is still kept at the prescribed pressure
P0. The pressure inside the second pressure accumulating unit 122 is adjusted to a
suitable pressure until the pilot injection is initiated in the next combustion cycle.
[0199] According to the control method represented by the timing diagram illustrated in
FIG. 18, the fuel injection system 1 can adjust the pressure inside the second pressure
accumulating unit 122 during the pilot injection and the pre-injection, and realize
control of making good use of a unique characteristic of a V-shaped pattern in the
main injection. In the case of the V-shaped pattern, like the aforementioned concave
pattern, the fuel injection system 1 can perform agitation and combustion of the fuel
in the combustion chamber CC in a latter period subsequent to a former period in the
period in which the fuel injection system 1 injects the fuel into the combustion chamber
CC. As a result, the fuel injection system 1 can reduce an amount of emissions generated
from the internal combustion engine EG.
[0200] Here, according to the various control methods described above, the fuel injection
system 1 injects fuel into the combustion chamber CC of the internal combustion engine
EG. This fuel injection system 1 can change a pressure at which fuel supplied from
the high-pressure source 4 at the prescribed pressure P0 is injected into the combustion
chamber CC to a pressure that is lower than or equal to the prescribed pressure corresponding
to each of at least three or more stages. For example, the controller 36 of the fuel
injection system 1 divides the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system
1 injects into the combustion chamber CC into a plurality of stages such that they
are different from one another, and injects fuel from the fuel injector 2 under pressures
corresponding to the stages. The controller 36 sets the plurality of stages to, for
example, three or more, so that it can form an injection pattern in which an injection
amount or the like varies depending on the elapse of time from a starting point of
time of single main injection, for example, like an initial stage of injection, a
middle stage within an injection period, a last stage of the injection period, and
so on. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can change the pressure of the fuel which
the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber into a pressure desired
by a user while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate.
[0201] The fuel injection system 1 enables a pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion chamber
CC to coincide with a pattern that is another arbitrary pattern and is desired by
a user.
[0202] For example, the fuel injection system 1 may select a desired injection pattern as
illustrated in FIG. 19, and control the fuel injector 2. FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating
a procedure of selecting injection patterns of the embodiments.
[0203] Prior to the following processes, basic data for generating various injection patterns
that can be applied to the fuel injection system 1 is stored in the storage unit 32.
The controller 36 reads the basic data corresponding to the injection pattern out
of the storage unit 32, and controls the fuel injector 2 according to the basic data.
For example, selection of the injection pattern is based on the following procedure.
[0204] First, the controller 36 acquires identification information of an injection pattern
to be selected (step S11). For example, the controller 36 may settle identification
information of an injection pattern to be selected according to a prescribed rule
on the basis of data relating to an operation of an accelerator (not shown) by a user
or a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine EG, and acquire the identification
information.
[0205] Next, the controller 36 determines the acquired identification information (step
S12). According to a result of the determination of step S12, the controller 36 performs
processes corresponding to the following cases.
[0206] For example, in a case where the identification information corresponds to a deltaic
pattern, the controller 36 reads basic data corresponding to the deltaic pattern out
of the storage unit 32 (step S13). Further, in a case where the identification information
corresponds to an inverted deltaic pattern, the controller 36 reads basic data corresponding
to the inverted deltaic pattern out of the storage unit 32 (step S14). Further, in
a case where the identification information corresponds to an L-shaped pattern, the
controller 36 reads basic data corresponding to the L-shaped pattern out of the storage
unit 32 (step S15). Further, in a case where the identification information corresponds
to an inverted L-shaped pattern, the controller 36 reads basic data corresponding
to the inverted L-shaped pattern out of the storage unit 32 (step S16). Further, in
a case where the identification information corresponds to a concave pattern, the
controller 36 reads basic data corresponding to the concave pattern out of the storage
unit 32 (step S17). Further, in a case where the identification information corresponds
to a convex pattern, the controller 36 reads basic data corresponding to the convex
pattern out of the storage unit 32 (step S18). Further, in a case where the identification
information corresponds to a rectangular pattern, the controller 36 reads basic data
corresponding to the rectangular pattern out of the storage unit 32 (step S19). Further,
in a case where the identification information corresponds to a V-shaped pattern,
the controller 36 reads basic data corresponding to the V-shaped pattern out of the
storage unit 32 (step S20).
[0207] Next, the controller 36 controls a pressure of the first pressure accumulating unit
112 in the fuel injector 2 on the basis of the basic data read out of the storage
unit 32 in any of steps S13 to S20 (step S21), and completes a series of processes
illustrated in the figure. In a case where desired basic data is previously read out
of the storage unit 32, using this is not limited.
[0208] According to this process, it is possible to select a desired injection pattern from
candidates to be selected and to switch an injection pattern performed statically
or dynamically. Instead of this, the fuel injection system 1 can also set the pattern
of temporal change in the pressure of the fuel injected from the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 to a pattern including at least one of the deltaic pattern, the inverted
deltaic pattern, the L-shaped pattern, the inverted L-shaped pattern, the concave
pattern, the convex pattern, the rectangular pattern, and the V-shaped pattern.
[0209] Each of the various patterns described in FIGS. 5 to 18 is merely an example of the
pattern with which the fuel injection system 1 enables the pattern of temporal change
in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection system 1 injects into the combustion
chamber CC to coincide. Depending on the type of the pattern applied to the fuel injection
system 1, selection conditions in FIG. 19 may be changed.
[0210] Further, the fuel injection system 1 changes a pressure of injected fuel by combining
an open/closed state of the first valve 21 and an open/closed state of the second
valve 22. On the other hand, a fuel injection system having the aforementioned pressure
boosting mechanism (a fuel injection system that is different from the fuel injection
system 1) changes a pressure of injected fuel by operating the pressure boosting mechanism.
A response time until a pressure of the fuel injected from the fuel injection system
1 is changed after the fuel injection system 1 changes a drive current supplied to
each of the first valve 21 and the second valve 22 is shorter than that until a pressure
of the fuel injected from the different fuel injection system is changed after the
different fuel injection system operates the pressure boosting mechanism. Due to this
difference in the response time, the different fuel injection system may be difficult
to cause the pattern of temporal change in the pressure of the fuel which the different
fuel injection system injects into the combustion chamber CC to coincide with a pattern
that is another arbitrary pattern and is desired by a user. For example, the different
fuel injection system does not enable the pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel which the different fuel injection system injects to coincide with a pattern,
such as a concave pattern, a convex pattern, a V-shaped pattern, or the like, that
causes a repetitive change in pressure for a short time within a period of single
main injection. In contrast, as described above, the fuel injection system 1 enables
the pattern of temporal change in the pressure of the fuel which the fuel injection
system 1 injects into the combustion chamber CC to coincide with a pattern that is
another arbitrary pattern and is desired by a user. This is important in connection
with improving a degree of freedom of design of the internal combustion engine EG.
[0211] Further, each of the times described in FIGS. 5 to 18 indicates a timing at which
the fuel injection system 1 switches each of the first valve 21 and the second valve
22 to any of the open state and the closed state. The ECU 3 puts each of the first
valve 21 and the second valve 22 in any of the open state and the closed state depending
on a timing prestored in the storage unit 32. Since a user prestores a timing desired
by the user in the storage unit 32, the user performs switching (opening/closing)
of the state of each of the first valve 21 and the second valve 22 on the fuel injection
system 1 at a timing desired by the user. Data relating to the timing is included
in the basic data of the various injection patterns. Here, in each of FIGS. 5 to 18,
for convenience of description, the timing at which the fuel injection system 1 opens/closes
each of the first valve 21 and the second valve 22 has been described to be represented
by the time. However, the timing prestored in the storage unit 32 may be represented
by an elapsed time from a reference time instead of the time, by another known method,
or by a method developed from this known method.
[0212] As described above, the fuel injection system 1 according to the embodiment is a
fuel injection system that injects fuel into a combustion chamber (an example of which
is a combustion chamber CC) of an internal combustion engine (an example of which
is an internal combustion engine EG), and includes: a pressure accumulating unit (an
example of which is a second pressure accumulating unit 122) to which the fuel is
supplied from a high-pressure source (an example of which is a high-pressure source
4) that supplies the fuel at a prescribed pressure (an example of which is a prescribed
pressure P0); a first valve (an example of which is a first valve 21) that supplies
the fuel, which is supplied from the high-pressure source, into the pressure accumulating
unit; and a second valve (an example of which is a second valve 22) that injects the
fuel, which is supplied to the pressure accumulating unit, into the combustion chamber
from the pressure accumulating unit. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can change
a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber into a pressure desired
by a user while suppressing an increase in fuel consumption rate.
[0213] Further, the fuel injection system 1 further includes: a first drive unit (an example
of which is a drive unit A1) that at least puts a state of the first valve in any
of an open state and a closed state; a second drive unit (an example of which is a
drive unit A2) that at least puts a state of the second valve in any of an open state
and a closed state; and a controller (an example of which is a controller 36) that
controls the first drive unit and the second drive unit. Thus, the fuel injection
system 1 can change a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber into
a pressure desired by a user under control by the controller while suppressing an
increase in fuel consumption rate.
[0214] Further, the fuel injection system 1 opens the second valve in a state where the
first valve is closed, and performs control including pressure reduction control of
a pressure of the pressure accumulating unit. Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can
reduce a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber to a pressure desired
by a user.
[0215] Further, in the fuel injection system 1, an amount of change of the pressure per
unit time inside the pressure accumulating unit under the pressure reduction control
is inversely proportional to a volume of the pressure accumulating unit, and is proportional
to an amount of the fuel injected from the pressure accumulating unit. Thus, the fuel
injection system 1 can reduce a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion
chamber to a pressure desired by a user at a speed corresponding to the volume of
the pressure accumulating unit and the amount of the fuel injected from the pressure
accumulating unit.
[0216] Further, the fuel injection system 1 performs control including pressure boost control
that opens the first valve in a state where the second valve is open. Thus, the fuel
injection system 1 can raise a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
to a pressure which a user desires up to a prescribed pressure at the maximum and
which is a pressure reduced by the injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber.
[0217] Further, the fuel injection system 1 can set a pattern of temporal change in pressure
of the fuel injected from the pressure accumulating unit to at least one of a deltaic
pattern, an inverted deltaic pattern, an L-shaped pattern, an inverted L-shaped pattern,
a concave pattern, a convex pattern, a rectangular pattern, and a V-shaped pattern.
Thus, the fuel injection system 1 can set the pattern of temporal change in the pressure
of the fuel injected from the pressure accumulating unit to a pattern desired by a
user.
[0218] Further, the fuel injection system 1 is a fuel injection system that injects fuel
into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and includes: an injection
part (an example of which is a second opening 125) that injects the fuel into the
combustion chamber; a high-pressure source that supplies the fuel to the injection
part at a prescribed pressure; and a pressure reducing unit (an example of which is
a second pressure accumulating unit 122) that reduces a pressure of the fuel provided
between the injection part and the high-pressure source. Thus, the fuel injection
system 1 can change a pressure of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber into
a pressure desired by a user under control by the controller while suppressing an
increase in fuel consumption rate. As described above, the second pressure accumulating
unit 122 is an example of the pressure reducing unit. When movement of the fuel between
the second pressure accumulating unit 122 and the high-pressure source 4 is at least
selectively interrupted, the second pressure accumulating unit 122 reduces a pressure
of the fuel during fuel injection. The fuel injection system 1 may select a state
where the movement of the fuel is less than or equal to a prescribed amount and limits
a flow rate of the fuel instead of the interruption. The second pressure accumulating
unit 122 may form the pressure reducing unit by a combination with a controller 36.
[0219] Further, the fuel injection system 1 is a fuel injection system that injects fuel
into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and can change a pressure
at which the fuel supplied from a high-pressure source at a prescribed pressure is
injected into a combustion chamber to a pressure that is lower than or equal to a
prescribed pressure corresponding to each of at least three or more stages. Thus,
the fuel injection system 1 can set a pattern of temporal change in the pressure of
the fuel injected from the pressure accumulating unit to a pattern desired by a user.
[0220] While the embodiments of this invention have been described in detail with reference
to the drawings, the specific constitution is not limited to the embodiments, and
also includes modifications, substitutions, eliminations, etc. thereof without departing
from the gist of the present invention.
[0221] Further, a program for realizing a function of an arbitrary component in the device
(e.g., the ECU 3) described above may be recorded on a computer readable recording
medium, and be read and executed in a computer system. The "computer system" used
therein includes an operating system (OS) and hardware such as peripheral devices.
Further, the "computer readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium suc
has a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a compact disk (CD)-ROM, or
a storage device such as a hard disk installed in the computer system. Furthermore,
the "computer readable recording medium" also includes a medium that holds a program
for a fixed time like a volatile memory (RAM) in the computer system serving as a
server or a client when a program is sent via a network such as Internet and a communication
link such as a telephone line.
[0222] Further, the program may be transmitted from a computer system in which this program
is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission
medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission
medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium that has a function of transmitting
information like a network (a communication network) such as Internet or a communication
link (a communication line) such as a telephone line.
[0223] Further, the program may be a program for realizing a part of the aforementioned
function. Furthermore, the program may be a so-called differential file (a differential
program) that can be realized by combining the aforementioned function with a program
that previously recorded in a computer system.
[Reference Signs List]
[0224]
- 1
- Fuel injection system
- 2
- Fuel injector
- 11
- Electric injector
- 12
- Electric injector
- 21
- First valve
- 22
- Second valve
- 31
- CPU
- 32
- Storage unit
- 33
- First valve drive circuit
- 34
- Second valve drive circuit
- 36
- Controller
- 111
- Fuel supply pipeline
- 112
- First pressure accumulating unit
- 113
- Nozzle needle
- 114A, 114B
- Tip portion
- 115
- First opening
- 121
- Fuel supply pipeline
- 122
- Second pressure accumulating unit
- 123
- Nozzle needle
- 124A, 124B
- Tip portion
- 125
- Second opening
- A1
- Drive unit
- A2
- Drive unit
- Bus
- Bus
- CC
- Combustion chamber
- CR
- Injection part
- EG
- Internal combustion engine
- PR1
- High-pressure source
- PR2
- Pressure accumulating unit
- V1
- First valve
- V2
- Second valve
- A1V, A2V
- Valve