INJECTION DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

An injection device for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber and at least one intake manifold, the injection device including a first injector for injecting a fuel directly into the combustion chamber, and the injection device including a second injector for injection into the intake manifold, wherein the second injector is configured to inject water.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An injection device for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber and at least one intake manifold, comprising: a first injector to inject a fuel directly into the combustion chamber; and a second injector to inject water into the intake manifold.

12. The injection device of claim 11, wherein the second injector is configured to optionally inject either water or the fuel or a further fuel, or is configured to simultaneously inject both water and the fuel or a further fuel.

13. The injection device of claim 11, wherein the injection device includes a third injector for injecting the fuel or the further fuel or a third fuel into the intake manifold or into a further intake manifold.

14. The injection device of claim 11, wherein: (i) the first injector is a main injector, and both the second and third injectors are secondary injectors, the main injector injecting a larger amount of fuel and/or having a longer operating time than the secondary injector, or (ii) the first and second injectors are secondary injectors and the third injector is a main injector, the main injector injecting a larger amount of fuel and/or having a longer operating time than the secondary injector.

15. The injection device of claim 11, wherein the fuel is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, and wherein the first injector is configured as the main injector for injecting the fuel and the second injector is configured as the secondary injector for optionally injecting the fuel or for injecting water.

16. The injection device of claim 11, wherein either the fuel is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, or the fuel is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel, wherein the first injector is configured as the main injector for injecting the fuel, wherein the second injector is configured as a secondary injector for injecting water, and wherein the third injector is configured as a secondary injector for injecting the fuel.

17. The injection device of claim 11, wherein either the fuel is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, and the further fuel is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel, or the fuel is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel, and the further fuel is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, and wherein the first injector is configured to inject the fuel, wherein the second injector is configured to inject water, and wherein the third injector is configured to inject the further fuel.

18. The injection device of claim 11, wherein either: (i) the fuel is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, and the further fuel is an ethanol fuel and/or a methanol fuel, and the third fuel is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel or an alcohol fuel, or (ii) the fuel is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel or an alcohol fuel, and the further fuel is an ethanol fuel and/or a methanol fuel, and the third fuel is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, and wherein the first injector is configured to inject the fuel, wherein the third injector is configured to inject the third fuel, and the second injector is configured to optionally inject the further fuel or to inject water, or is configured to simultaneously inject both water and the further fuel.

19. The injection device of claim 11, wherein a control unit controls the injection amount of the first injector, the injection amount of the second injector and/or the injection amount of the third injector as a function of the load of the internal combustion engine and further operating parameters of the internal combustion engine.

20. The injection device of claim 11, wherein the fuel, the further fuel and the third fuel are one of the following fuels: gasoline, or liquefied petroleum gas, or compressed natural gas, or alcohols, or flex fuel, or gasoline and flex fuel.

21. The injection device of claim 11, wherein the fuel, the further fuel and the third fuel are one of the following fuels: gasoline, or liquefied petroleum gas, or compressed natural gas, or alcohols, including methanol and/or ethanol, or flex fuel, including mixtures of ethanol and gasoline or mixtures of methanol and gasoline, or gasoline and flex fuel.

22. The injection device of claim 11, wherein the fuel, the further fuel and the third fuel are one of the following fuels: gasoline, or liquefied petroleum gas, or compressed natural gas, or alcohols, including methanol and/or ethanol, or flex fuel, including mixtures of ethanol and gasoline, including E0-E85 or E22-E100, or mixtures of methanol and gasoline, including M15-M100, or gasoline and flex fuel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an injection device for an internal combustion engine according to a first exemplary specific embodiment of the present invention in a schematic representation.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an injection device for an internal combustion engine according to a second exemplary specific embodiment of the present invention in a schematic representation.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows an injection device for an internal combustion engine according to a third exemplary specific embodiment of the present invention in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Identical parts are always denoted by the same reference numerals in the various figures and are therefore generally also cited or mentioned only once.

[0047] Injection devices 1 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 each include a first injector 20 and a second injector 30—for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine. According to the present invention, the internal combustion engine includes multiple cylinders, such as two, three, four, five, six, eight, ten or twelve cylinders. In FIGS. 1 through 3, four cylinders 50 of the internal combustion engine are indicated in each case by way of example; however, these are not individually provided with different reference numerals. Each of cylinders 50 includes a combustion chamber including at least one associated intake manifold. The respective intake manifold of each of the four cylinders 50 is denoted by reference numerals 51, 52, 53 and 54 in FIGS. 1 through 3, these reference numerals being combined by reference numeral 50′. The respective first injector 20 of each of the four cylinders 50 is denoted by reference numerals 21, 22, 23 and 24 in FIGS. 1 through 3, these reference numerals being combined by reference numeral 20. The respective second injector 30 of each of the four cylinders 50 is denoted by reference numerals 31, 32, 33 and 34 in FIGS. 1 through 3, these reference numerals being combined by reference numeral 30. According to the present invention, in particular, a first pressure accumulator 20′, from which a stored medium (fuel) is supplied to the respective first injectors 21, 22, 23, 24, is assigned to the respective first injectors 21, 22, 23, 24. According to the present invention, in particular, a second pressure accumulator 30′, from which a stored medium (water and/or either the fuel or a further fuel) is supplied to the respective second injectors 31, 32, 33, 34, is accordingly assigned to the respective second injectors 31, 32, 33, 34.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an injection device 1 for an internal combustion engine according to a first exemplary specific embodiment of the present invention. According to the first specific embodiment, the internal combustion engine or injection device 1—per cylinder—includes a third injector 40, in addition to first and second injectors 20, 30. The respective third injector 40 of each of the four cylinders 50 shown in FIG. 1 is denoted by reference numerals 41, 42, 43 and 44 in FIG. 1, these reference numerals being combined by reference numeral 40. According to the present invention, in particular, a third pressure accumulator 40′, from which a stored medium (fuel or further fuel) is supplied to the respective third injectors 41, 42, 43, 44, is assigned to the respective third injectors 41, 42, 43, 44.

[0049] According to the first specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the internal combustion engine or injection device 1 includes a first injection path 6 for injecting fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel or also a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel) directly into the combustion chamber of each of cylinders 50 with the aid of first injector 20. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine or injection device 1 includes a second injection path 7 for injecting water into the respective intake manifold 50′ of each of cylinders 50, and a third injection path 8 for injecting the fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel or also a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel) directly into an intake manifold. The fuel is supplied to first injection path 6 and third injection path 8 with the aid of a fuel pump 9. Water is supplied to second injection path 7 with the aid of a water pump 10.

[0050] According to the present invention, first injector 20 is, in particular, a main injector for directly injecting the fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel or also a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel) into the combustion chamber of a cylinder 50. According to the present invention, second injector 30 is, in particular, a secondary injector for injecting water into the intake manifold of cylinder 50. According to the present invention, third injector 40 is, in particular, a secondary injector for injecting the fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel or also a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel) into the intake manifold of cylinder 50 or into a further intake manifold (not shown) of cylinder 50. According to one specific embodiment, cylinder 50 additionally includes one further second injector, this being a secondary injector for injecting water into the intake manifold or into the further intake manifold, in particular as a twin injector with the second injector.

[0051] A control unit controls the injection amount of first injector 20, the injection amount of second injector 30 and/or the injection amount of third injector 40 as a function of the load of the internal combustion engine and further operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. In this way, the injection of water and of the fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel) may be carried out autonomously after decoupled control. In a partial load phase of the internal combustion engine, third injector 40 may be switched on. In this way, a reduction in the particulate emission is implemented. In a full load phase of the internal combustion engine, third injector 40 may be also switched on. In this way, an increase in the injected amount of fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel or also a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel) is achieved. Furthermore, second injector 30 may be switched on in a full load phase of the internal combustion engine. The combustion chamber is thereby cooled, so that the efficiency of the internal combustion engine is advantageously increased in a suitable manner, and the knock resistance increases. During a cold start phase and/or warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine, third injector 40 may be switched on. In this way, an emission reduction is achieved.

[0052] According to one variant of the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1 (however, this variant not being shown), the internal combustion engine or injection device 1 also includes first, second, and third injection paths 6, 7, 8; in contrast to the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1, however, not the same fuel, but different fuels are injected via first and third injectors 20, 40: The first injection path is provided for injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber of a cylinder 50 with the aid of first injector 20. Second injection path 7 is provided for injecting water into intake manifold 50′ of cylinder 50. Third injection path 8 is provided for injecting a further fuel (different from the first fuel) either into the intake manifold or into a further intake manifold. According to the present invention, it is in particular provided in this described variant that the fuel (injected via first injector 20) is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel, and that the further fuel (injected via second injector 30) is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel. Alternatively hereto, it is in particular provided in this described variant that the fuel (injected via first injector 20) is a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel, and that the further fuel (injected via second injector 30) is a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel.

[0053] According to this described variant, the internal combustion engine includes third injector 40. First injector 20 is, in particular a basic injector for directly injecting a fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel) into the combustion chamber. Second injector 30 is a secondary injector for injecting water into the intake manifold. Third injector 40 is a basic injector for injecting the further fuel (such as liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas) into the intake manifold or into a further intake manifold of cylinder 50. Furthermore, cylinder 50 may additionally include a further second injector, this being a secondary injector for injecting water into the intake manifold or into the further intake manifold, in particular as a twin injector with the second injector.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows an injection device 1 for an internal combustion engine according to a second exemplary specific embodiment of the present invention. The internal combustion engine includes a first injection path 6 for injecting a fuel (such as gasoline and/or flex fuel) directly into the combustion chamber, a second injection path 7 for injecting water into an intake manifold, and a third injection path 8 for injecting the fuel (such as gasoline and flex fuel) into the intake manifold. The fuel (such as gasoline and flex fuel) is supplied to first injection path 6 and third injection path 8 with the aid of a fuel pump 9. Water is supplied to second injection path 7 with the aid of a water pump 10. According to the present invention, it is provided that third injection path 8 is separated from first injection path 6 with the aid of a shut-off valve 11. First injector 2 is, in particular, a main injector for directly injecting the fuel (such as gasoline and flex fuel) into the combustion chamber. Second injector 30 is a secondary injector for injecting either water or the fuel into the intake manifold.

[0055] A control unit controls the injection amount of first injector 20 and the injection amount of second injector 30 as a function of the load of the internal combustion engine and further operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. In this way, a coupled control of second injection path 7 and of third injection path 8 via shut-off valve 11 and the activation of water pump 10 is possible. In this way, the secondary injector (second injector 30) is configured to optionally inject either water or the fuel. Second injector 30 may be switched on in a partial load phase of the internal combustion engine, the fuel being injected with the aid of second injector 30. In this way, a reduction in the particulate emission is implemented. In addition to operating first injector 20, second injector 30 may be also switched on in a full load phase of the internal combustion engine, water being injected with the aid of second injector 30. The combustion chamber is thereby cooled, so that the efficiency of the internal combustion engine may advantageously be increased in a suitable manner, and the knock resistance increases. During a cold start phase and/or warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine, second injector 30 may be switched on for the injection of the fuel. In this way, an emission reduction is achieved.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows an injection device 1 for an internal combustion engine according to a third exemplary specific embodiment of the present invention. Corresponding to the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the internal combustion engine or injection device 1—per cylinder—includes a third injector 40, in addition to first and second injectors 20, 30, the respective third injector 40 of each cylinder 50 in FIG. 3 being denoted by reference numerals 41, 42, 43 and 44, and these reference numerals being combined by reference numeral 40. Once again, in particular, a third pressure accumulator 40′, from which a stored medium (third fuel) is supplied to the respective third injectors 41, 42, 43, 44, is assigned to the respective third injectors 41, 42, 43, 44. Once again, the internal combustion engine or injection device 1 includes a first injection path 6 for injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber of a cylinder 50 with the aid of first injector 20. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine or injection device 1 includes a second injection path 7 for the alternative (optional) or combined injection of water or a further fuel (with the aid of second injector 30) into the respective intake manifold 50′ of a cylinder 50, and a third injection path 8 for injecting a third fuel directly into an intake manifold of cylinder 50 or into another intake manifold of cylinder 50 (with the aid of third injector 40). According to the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel or a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel or an alcohol fuel is provided as fuel (injected directly into the combustion chamber via first injector 20). An ethanol fuel and/or a methanol fuel are provided as further fuel (injected with the aid of second injector 30). A CNG fuel or an LPG fuel or an alcohol fuel (in particular, when a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel are used as the fuel) or a gasoline fuel and/or a flex fuel (in particular, when a CNG fuel or an LPG fuel or an alcohol fuel is used as the fuel) is provided as third fuel (injected with the aid of third injector 40). The fuel is supplied to first injection path 6 with the aid of a fuel pump 9. Water is supplied with the aid of a water pump 10, or the further fuel is supplied with the aid of a further fuel pump 12, to second injection path 7. The third fuel is supplied to third injection path 8 with the aid of a third fuel pump 13.

[0057] In particular, first injector 20 is a main injector for directly injecting the fuel into the combustion chamber. Second injector 30 is, in particular, a secondary injector for optionally injecting either water or the further fuel into the intake manifold. Third injector 40 is, in particular, a secondary injector for injecting the third fuel into the intake manifold or into the further intake manifold.

[0058] A control unit controls the injection amount of first injector 20, the injection amount of second injector 30 and the injection amount of third injector 40 as a function of the load of the internal combustion engine and further operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. The injection of optionally either water or the further fuel with the aid of second injector 30 takes place as a function of the load and further operating parameters. Furthermore, the third fuel is injected via third injector 40 as a function of the operating parameters.

[0059] According to one further specific embodiment, first injector 20 is a basic injector for directly injecting a fuel into the combustion chamber. Second injector 30 is a secondary injector for injecting water into the intake manifold. Third injector 40 is a basic injector for injecting the fuel or the further fuel into the intake manifold or into a further intake manifold. Furthermore, cylinder 50 may additionally include a further second injector and/or a further third injector, the further third injector being a basic injector for injecting the fuel or the further fuel into the intake manifold or into the further intake manifold, in particular as a twin injector with the third injector, the further second injector being a secondary injector for injecting water into the intake manifold or into the further intake manifold, in particular as a twin injector with the second injector.