JPH0519031B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method of controlling a fuel pump that pumps fuel to an intake system of an automobile engine or the like equipped with an electronically controlled fuel injection device.

[Prior Art] An automobile engine equipped with an electronically controlled fuel injection device is configured so that the operation of a fuel pump installed in a fuel supply system can be controlled by an electronic control device. Of course, even during cranking when the starter is operating, the fuel pump is operated continuously to pump fuel to the injector.

In the case of a device equipped with such an electronically controlled fuel pump, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-203826, for example, as prior art to the present invention, an ignition switch is closed in the electronic control device. When a closing signal is input indicating that the fuel pump has been closed, the fuel pump is operated for a short period of time (usually around 2 seconds).
There are many cases in which the pressure of the fuel supplied to the injector is raised to a predetermined pressure.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional method, the time for operating the fuel pump when the ignition switch is closed is set to a minute time as described above, and the fuel supply system There is no specific pump operation time set for air removal. Therefore,
When starting an engine in the final process of a vehicle assembly line, or after replacing a fuel pipe, fuel tank, etc., the fuel pump is operated for a relatively long period of time to bleed air from the fuel supply system. is the actual situation. However, according to such a method, it is necessary to continuously drive the starter and input the drive signal to the electronic control unit for a long time, which not only complicates the work but also causes damage to the starter, etc. A large amount of power will also be consumed by the electrical loads.

Additionally, if the fuel pump is set to run for a long time when the ignition switch is simply closed, the fuel pump will run for a long time each time the ignition switch is closed, which is a safety issue. It is also unfavorable from the viewpoint of

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel pump control method that can easily eliminate such problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ignition system for a fuel pump that is interposed in a fuel supply system and whose operation is controlled by an electronic control device. In a method for controlling a fuel pump that operates for a minute time when an ignition switch is closed, the fuel pump is operated only for the first time after the electronic control device is connected to a power source. The fuel pump is operated based on a pump operating time set for venting air from the fuel supply system, and when the ignition switch is closed for the second time or later, the fuel pump is operated for a minute time.

[Operation] According to the fuel pump control method having such a configuration, if the ignition switch is closed for the first time after the electronic control unit that controls the operation of the fuel pump is connected to its power supply, for,
The fuel pump is operated based on a preset pump operation time. Therefore, when starting the engine in the final process of a vehicle assembly line, or after replacing fuel supply system parts, the air in the fuel supply system is automatically vented without activating any electrical loads other than the fuel pump. It will be done. Then, next time, that is, from the second time onwards, each time the ignition switch is closed, normal operation control is performed based on a preset minute operation time. With this configuration, the air in the fuel supply system can be vented without the need for special switches or piping, or in other words, without complicating the configuration of the fuel supply system and its control system. This can be done automatically and unconsciously by operating the ignition switch, and can prevent inadvertent air release.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a connection form between an electronic control device installed in an automobile engine and various members arranged in various parts of the engine.

The above-mentioned engine is an electronically controlled engine in which an electronic control device 2 adjusts the amount of fuel injected from an injector 1 provided in an intake pipe or the like. The injector 1 that injects fuel near the intake port and the fuel tank 3 located at the rear of the vehicle are connected via a fuel supply system 4.
A fuel pump 5 for supplying fuel to the injector 1 is interposed therein.

The fuel pump 5 is configured to increase the pressure of fuel drawn from the fuel tank 3 as it operates, and to forcefully feed the fuel to the injector 1 via a pressure regulating valve. The operation of the fuel pump 5 is controlled by a common electronic control device 2 that controls the operation of the injector 1.

That is, the electronic control device 2 receives at least a closing signal +B indicating that the ignition switch 6 is closed, a drive signal a indicating that the starter 7 is operating, and an ignition signal from the igniter 8. b and a signal c from the battery 9 which is a power source are input, and an operation signal d to the fuel pump 5 is input.
is outputted via the drive circuit. When the closing signal +B from the ignition switch 6 is input, immediately after that, the activation signal d is output to the fuel pump 5 for a minute set time (for example, 2 seconds), or the igniter 8 It is set so that an activation signal d is output to the fuel pump 5 for a minute set time (about 2 seconds) each time the ignition signal b is input. Also,
When the driving fuel a of the starter 7 is input,
While the drive signal a is being input, the actuation signal d is output to the fuel pump 5.

Further, the electronic control device 2 is configured to determine whether the closing signal +B inputted from the ignition switch 6 is the first signal after the connection with the battery 9. Then, only when the first closing signal is +B, the pump operation time (for example, 60
It also has the role of connecting the fuel pump 5 to the battery 9 via a relay and operating the fuel pump 5 for a period of 2 seconds).

In order to execute such control, the electronic control device 2 also includes a program as schematically shown in FIG. 2.

First, in step 51, it is determined whether the closing signal +B from the ignition switch 4 is the first signal after the electronic control device 2 is connected to the battery 9, and it is determined whether the closing signal +B is the first closing signal +B. If the closing signal is not the first closing signal +B, that is, if it is the closing signal +B for the second time or later, the routine goes to step 53. In step 52,
Preset time for air release (60 seconds)
In step 53, the fuel pump 5 is operated for a minute set time (2 seconds).

According to the above configuration, when starting the engine in the final process of a vehicle assembly line, the electronic control device 2 that controls the operation of the fuel pump 5 is connected to the battery 9, and then the ignition switch 6 is turned on. When the fuel pump 5 is closed, the electronic control device 2 automatically operates the fuel pump 5 for a set time to bleed air from the fuel supply system 4, and the fuel supply system 4 is filled with fuel. Then, when the cranking state is entered, the fuel supply system 4 is filled with fuel and the injector 1 is supplied with fuel at the set pressure, so that the engine can be started quickly. .

Therefore, with such a configuration, there is no need for special work to bleed the air from the fuel supply system 4 while operating the starter 7, and it also saves power to electrical loads unnecessary for the air bleed work. Consumption can be avoided. In addition, when replacing the fuel tank 3 or fuel supply system parts at a service factory, etc., the battery 9
and various electrical loads are preferably isolated.
Therefore, even in such a case, if the above-described procedure is taken into account, there is no need to carry out special air purge work while operating the starter 7, and the engine can be started quickly from the cranking state.

Note that the set time for venting air from the fuel supply system, etc. can be changed as appropriate, and the present invention is of course not limited to the above embodiments.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, when the fuel supply system is not filled with fuel, the air in the fuel supply system can be automatically vented through cooperation between the fuel pump and the electronic control device. . In other words, this can be done without adding any air purge structure to the fuel supply system, and by operating the ignition switch in the same way as when starting the engine, the fuel pump will automatically switch to the air purge system when air purge is necessary. Since the pump is operated for a set period of time, the air purge operation can be performed easily and quickly, and the user can avoid the risk of accidentally performing the air purge at an unnecessary time. As a result, it is possible to provide a fuel pump control method that allows the final work such as after the vehicle assembly process to be easily performed, and also allows the engine to be started quickly from the cranking state.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the embodiment. 2...Electronic control device, 4...Fuel supply system, 5...Fuel pump, 6...Ignition switch, 9...Power source (battery), +B...Closing signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling a fuel pump in which a fuel pump, which is interposed in a fuel supply system and whose operation is controlled by an electronic control device, is operated for a short period of time when an ignition switch is closed. Only when the ignition switch is closed for the first time after the electronic control unit is connected to the power source, the fuel pump is operated based on the pump operation time set for venting air from the fuel supply system, and the ignition switch is closed. A method for controlling a fuel pump, comprising operating the fuel pump for a short period of time when a combustion switch is closed for the second time or later.