US 11,781,508 B2
Highly accurate continuous-flow vaporized fuel supply for large dynamic power ranges
Michael W Walser, Comfort, TX (US); Randall W Walser, Canadian, TX (US); Christopher M Cole, Spring Branch, TX (US); Justin H Sanders, San Antonio, TX (US); Joseph Grogan, San Antonio, TX (US); Kenneth Shouse, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX (US); and Kennon Guglielmo, San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to EControls, LLC, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by EControls, LLC, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/384,896.
Application 17/384,896 is a continuation of application No. 16/435,769, filed on Jun. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,105,299.
Application 16/435,769 is a continuation of application No. 15/685,668, filed on Aug. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,316,797, issued on Jun. 11, 2019.
Application 15/685,668 is a continuation of application No. 13/918,882, filed on Jun. 14, 2013, granted, now 9,957,920, issued on May 1, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/808,910, filed on Apr. 5, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/661,775, filed on Jun. 19, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0099049 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. F02M 21/02 (2006.01); F02D 41/30 (2006.01); F02D 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC F02M 21/0233 (2013.01) [F02D 41/0027 (2013.01); F02D 41/3011 (2013.01); F02M 21/0239 (2013.01); Y02T 10/30 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An accurate gaseous fuel flow control for spark-ignited internal combustion engines, said accurate gaseous fuel flow control producing controlled flow based on an engine control signal that represents the instantaneously or nearly-instantaneously desired flowrate for the gaseous fuel supply flow, said accurate gaseous fuel flow control comprising:
a) a valve comprising a first stage and a second stage, wherein one of said first and second stages comprises a choked flow valve assembly, the choked flow valve assembly being configured in such a way that instantaneously or nearly-instantaneously desired flowrates for a gaseous fuel are achieved, said choked flow valve assembly comprising:
i. a valve body having a fuel flow inlet, a fuel flow outlet, and a fuel flow passage therebetween, said fuel flow inlet being positioned to receive fuel, said valve body further comprising at least a valve member for controlling the flow through said fuel flow passage, said valve member being positioned within said fuel flow passage;
ii. said valve member comprising a flow controlling surface and a shaft, wherein said flow controlling surface is positioned at an operative end of said shaft, said shaft being configured to achieve a mechanical response based on movements of an interconnecting actuator, the flow controlling surface being positioned in such a way that enables interaction between said flow controlling surface and an inner surface of said fuel flow inlet;
iii. wherein an orifice of variable cross-sectional area extends throughout the overall length of said fuel flow inlet and is in fluid communication with said fuel flow outlet;
iv. the interconnecting actuator configured to operatively exert a force on said shaft in such a way that enables a mechanical response from said valve member;
v. a position sensor configured to determine the position of said shaft relative to the position of said fuel flow inlet;
vi. a pressure sensor configured to determine the pressure of the fuel flowing through said choked flow valve assembly; and
vii. a temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the fuel flowing through said choked flow valve assembly;
b) at least a second stage gaseous fuel flow control and a first stage gaseous fuel flow control, wherein the first stage gaseous fuel flow control includes a first stage actuator, and said second stage gaseous fuel flow control includes a second stage actuator, wherein the interconnecting actuator is one of the first stage actuator and the second stage actuator; and
c) a logic controller associated with said first stage gaseous fuel flow control and said second stage gaseous fuel flow control;
d) wherein said first stage gaseous fuel flow control comprises an electronic pressure regulator being configured to reduce the pressure of the gaseous fuel supply flow through operation of said first stage actuator; and
e) wherein said second stage actuator comprises a fast-acting actuator being configured to produce a controlled flowrate of the gaseous fuel flow discharged from said second stage gaseous fuel flow control.