Cold starting aid system for an internal combustion engine and method of start-up sequencing for same

Abstract

A cold starting system and power management software consisting of an air heater system, a fuel heater system, a controller with microprocessor and related software, a series of devices comprising of switches, indicators, solenoids and sensors, is used as an aid to assist start up of air cooled combustion engines in extreme temperature environments. Both the air and fuel heater systems include electrically powered heating elements. The power management software controls the sequential operation of individual system components.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A cold start system for an engine having at least one fuel injector for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber and an air intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber, said cold start system including at least one heating element to be disposed in said manifold for heating a body of air therein and a heater to be disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein.  
     
     
         2 . A cold start system according to  claim 1 , wherein said heater is adapted to encompass a body of said injector.  
     
     
         3 . A cold start system according to  claim 2 , wherein said heater includes a body and at least one electrical heating element disposed in said body.  
     
     
         4 . A cold start system according to  claim 3 , wherein said heater includes a heat conductive gasket to be interposed between said body and said injector.  
     
     
         5 . A cold start system according to  claim 4 , wherein said body includes a recess for receiving said injector and a plurality of electrical heating elements are located in said body adjacent to said recess for transferring heat to said injector.  
     
     
         6 . A cold start system according to  claim 1 , wherein said heating element disposed is electrically activated.  
     
     
         7 . A cold start system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a controller for monitoring the operation of said system.  
     
     
         8 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller manages a plurality of switches for monitoring the cyclic operation of said heating elements and said heater.  
     
     
         9 . A cold start system according to  claim 6  including a spacer for mounting in said manifold, said spacer having a peripheral wall and said heating element being located on said peripheral wall.  
     
     
         10 . A cold start system according to  claim 9 , wherein said heating elements are distributed on said peripheral wall and project inwardly therefrom for providing uniform heating of air within said manifold.  
     
     
         11 . A cold start system according to  claim 9 , wherein said spacer is divided into first and second portions and an insulator is interposed between said portions for inhibiting electrical transfer therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . A cold start system according to  claim 9  including thermally insulating gaskets on opposite sides of said spacer, whereby said spacer is thermally isolated from said manifold.  
     
     
         13 . A cold start system according to  claim 9  further comprising a housing adjacent to said spacer for inhibiting contact of foreign matter with said heating elements.  
     
     
         14 . A cold start system according to  claim 9  including a plurality of insulating fasteners to couple said spacer to said manifold.  
     
     
         15 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller varies operation of said heating elements and said heater in response to variations in ambient temperature.  
     
     
         16 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor with a real time clock and associated software for managing an appropriate start up cycle.  
     
     
         17 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller monitors predetermined operating parameters and is operable to inhibit operation of the engine in the event that a sensed parameter is outside of a predetermined operating range.  
     
     
         18 . A cold start system according to  claim 17 , wherein said sensed parameter is selected from a group comprising information from a proximity sensor, oil temperature, oil pressure, engine rpm, and the presence of water in the fuel.  
     
     
         19 . A cold start system according to  claim 18  further including an indicator to show said sensed parameter outside of said predetermined operating range.  
     
     
         20 . A cold start system according to  claim 19 , wherein said indicator is a light.  
     
     
         21 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein a controller initiates the operation of said heating elements and said heater and terminates said operation after a predetermined interval.  
     
     
         22 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller monitors an operation of said fuel pump and a supply of fuel to said injector during operation of said heating element and said heater.  
     
     
         23 . A cold start system according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller monitors an operation of said fuel pump and a supply of fuel to said injector during operation of said heating element and said heater.  
     
     
         24 . An air cooled internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft; a piston operably associated with said crankshaft and reciprocal within a cylinder; a combustion chamber formed between said piston and cylinder; an air intake system for supplying combustion air to said combustion chamber including a manifold and at least one heating element disposed in said manifold; a fuel injection system for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber and including a fuel injector, a fuel pump for delivering fuel to said injector and a heater disposed on said injector for heating the fuel contained therein; a starter for rotating said crankshaft; and a controller for monitoring operation of said heating element, said heater and said starter; whereby the starting of said engine is facilitated.  
     
     
         25 . An engine according to  claim 24  wherein said controller inhibits operation of said starter during operation of said heating element and said heater.  
     
     
         26 . An engine according to  claim 24  wherein said controller inhibits operation of said fuel pump during operation of said heating element and said heater.  
     
     
         27 . An engine according to  claim 24  wherein said heating element is an electrically operated element disposed in said manifold.  
     
     
         28 . An engine according to  claim 24  wherein said heater is an electrically operated element coupled to said injector.  
     
     
         29 . A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for supplying air to a combustion chamber and a fuel injector for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber, said method comprising the steps of; heating of air in said manifold for a predetermined time period; heating of fuel in said injector for a predetermined time period; and operating a starter for delivering said air and said fuel into said combustion chamber for initiating combustion.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29  further including the step of sensing an ambient temperature and selecting one of a plurality of said predetermined time periods.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29  further including the step of inhibiting operation of said starter during said heating.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 29  further including the step of inhibiting said heating of said fuel during operation of said starter.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 29  further including the step of inhibiting said heating of said air during operation of said starter.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 29  further including the step of indicating to a user a plurality of operational states of said engine.