CLIAMS:I Claim:

1. An apparatus for operating a low pressure pump (10) of an automobile, said apparatus comprising:
an engine control unit (25) coupled to said low pressure pump (20) for operating said low pressure pump (20);
characterized in that said engine control unit (25) operates said low pressure pump (20) at a first voltage prior to an engine cranking phase.
2. The apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said engine control unit (25) is coupled to said low pressure pump (20) through a control flow path (60).
3. The apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said engine control unit (25) operates said low pressure pump (20) at a second voltage during an engine cranking phase.
4. The apparatus in accordance with Claim 3, wherein said engine control unit (25) operates said low pressure pump (20) at a third voltage during an engine running phase, the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage distinct from one another.
5. A method for operating a low pressure pump (10) of an automobile, said method comprising:
coupling an outlet of a fuel tank (90) to a low pressure pump (20);
characterized in that coupling an engine control unit (25) to the low pressure pump (20);
operating the low pressure pump (20) at a first voltage by the engine control unit (25) prior to an engine cranking phase; and
operating the low pressure pump (20) at a second voltage by the engine control unit (25) during an engine cranking phase.
6. The method in accordance with Claim 5, comprising coupling the engine control unit (25) to the low pressure pump (20) through a control flow path (60).
7. The method in accordance with Claim 5, comprising operating the low pressure pump (20) at a third voltage by the engine control unit (25) during an engine running phase, the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage distinct from one another.
,TagSPECI:The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention:
[001] This invention relates to an apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump and an engine control unit thereof.

Background of the invention:
[002] Fuel from a tank of an internal combustion engine is supplied to a high pressure pump through a low pressure pump also known as a fuel metering pump. The high pressure pump is coupled to a high pressure accumulator, wherein the high pressure accumulator is further operatively coupled to a series of fuel injectors. Fuel from the low pressure pump is channelled to the high pressure pump, wherein the fuel is progressively channelled to the fuel injectors through the high pressure accumulator and discharged therein. The excess fuel from the high pressure pump and the low pressure pump is recirculated to the fuel tank through independent recirculation supply lines. This design results in the creation of a bulky and highly complicated system.

[003] U.S. Patent Publication Number 2013/0138327 describes a fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine equipped with a low pressure fuel pump (or feed pump) and a high pressure fuel pump (or supply pump). An engine control unit controls the low pressure fuel pump and an inlet valve based on signals output from various sensors. For instance, the ECU adjusts the opening/closing timing of the inlet valve in such a way that the output signal of a fuel pressure sensor (i.e. the actual fuel pressure) converges to a target value.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[004] An exemplifying embodiment of the invention is explained in principle below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are,

[005] Figure 1 illustrates a front view depicting an apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump according to one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the invention:
[006] Figure 1 depicts an apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 of an automobile, the apparatus comprising an engine control unit 25 coupled to the low pressure pump 20 for operating the low pressure pump 20 characterized in that the engine control unit 25 operates the low pressure pump 20 at a first voltage prior to an engine cranking phase.

[007] A method for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 of an automobile is also disclosed. The method comprises coupling an outlet of said fuel tank 90 to a low pressure pump 20 characterized in that coupling an engine control unit 25 to the low pressure pump 20; operating the low pressure pump 20 at a first voltage by the engine control unit 25 prior to an engine cranking phase; and operating the low pressure pump 20 at a second voltage by the engine control unit 25 during an engine cranking phase.

[008] The fuel inlet passageway 70 is coupled to the low pressure pump 20 to channel fuel from the automobile fuel tank 90 to a fuel filter 30. The low pressure pump 20 increases a pressure and therefore control the flow of fuel supplied through the fuel inlet passageway 70. The low pressure pump 20 increases the pressure and therefore control the flow of fuel supplied through the fuel inlet passageway 70 to the fuel filter 30. In an embodiment, low pressure pump 20 is a manual/automated flow rate adjustable pump that controls the flow rate of fuel from the fuel tank 90 to the fuel filter 30.

[009] In an embodiment, the fuel filter 30 receives fuel from the low pressure pump 20 via the fuel inlet passageway 70. The impurities that are present in the fuel channeled from the low pressure pump 20 is filtered in the fuel filter 30 prior to the fuel being discharged to an outlet of the fuel filter 30. More specifically, dust particles, grime, and any other insoluble impurities that are present in the fuel is filtered in the fuel filter 30, such that pure fuel is discharged through the fuel inlet passageway 70 that is coupled to an outlet of the fuel filter 30.

[0010] In an embodiment, high pressure pump 40 channels fuel from the fuel filter 30 to fuel injector 85 through a first outlet of the high pressure pump 40. More specifically, high pressure pump 40 channels fuel to the fuel injector 85 through a high pressure accumulator 37 that is coupled to the fuel inlet passageway 70. High pressure pump 20 increases the pressure and therefore control the flow of fuel supplied through the fuel inlet passageway 70 to the fuel injector 85 through the high pressure accumulator 37. In an embodiment, high pressure pump 40 is a manual/automated flow rate adjustable pump that controls the flow rate of fuel from the fuel filter 30 to the fuel injector 85 through the high pressure accumulator 37.
[0011] The excess fuel in the high pressure pump 40 is recirculated to the fuel tank 90 through a fluid recirculation path 75 and discharged there through. More specifically, in an embodiment, an upstream end of fluid recirculation path 75 is coupled in flow communication to a second outlet of high pressure pump 40, and a downstream end of the fluid recirculation path 75 is coupled in flow communication to the fuel tank 90.

[0012] The apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 includes an engine control unit 25. The engine control unit 25 is coupled to the low pressure pump 20 through a control flow path 60. Engine control unit 25 controls the low pressure pump 20 to facilitate channeling fuel to the fuel injector 85 from the fuel tank 90. In an embodiment, engine control unit 25 facilitates channeling a metered quantity of fuel from the fuel tank 90 to the fuel injector 85 to maintain a controlled flow of fuel from the fuel tank 90. At a first phase the engine control unit 25 operates the low pressure pump 20 at a first voltage for a few seconds when the ignition key is inserted and turned on. This phase is also known as the engine ignition phase. During the first phase, fuel from the fuel tank 90 enters and fills the fuel inlet passageway 70 if the fuel inlet passageway 70 does not contain any fuel. At a second phase also known as the engine cranking phase, the engine control unit 25 operates the low pressure pump 20 at a second voltage for a few seconds. During a third phase also known as the engine running phase, the engine control unit 25 operates the low pressure pump 20 at a third voltage for a few seconds to facilitate channeling a metered quantity of fuel from the fuel tank 90 to the fuel injector 85. The first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltages are distinct from one another.

[0013] The operation of the apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 is now described with an example. When the automobile is operated for the first time, the fuel inlet passageway 70 does not contain any fuel. When the engine control unit 25 supplies the low pressure pump 20 with a voltage of 12-13 Volts for 2-5 seconds during the engine ignition phase, fuel from the fuel tank 90 is channeled through the fuel inlet passageway 70 and fills the space between the fuel tank 90 and the fuel injector 85 in the fuel inlet passageway 70. The time taken by the fuel to fill the fuel inlet passageway 70 is shorter than the time taken by the fuel to fill the fuel inlet passageway 70 by an uncontrolled low pressure pump. Therefore the cranking time required to crank the engine is also reduced. When the engine control unit 25 supplies the low pressure pump 20 with a voltage of 4-7 volts for 2-3 seconds during the engine cranking phase, a metered quantity of fuel is channeled from the fuel tank 90 through the fuel inlet passageway 70 and delivered to the fuel injector 85. When the engine control unit 25 supplies the low pressure pump 20 with a voltage of 3-6 volts during the engine running phase, a metered quantity of fuel is channeled from the fuel tank 90 and delivered to the fuel injector 85.

[0014] The three phase application of voltages by the engine control unit 25 to the low pressure pump 20 allows for fuel from the fuel tank 90 to be delivered to the fuel injector 85 in a controlled manner thereby resulting in a smooth operation of the apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10.

[0015] The above described apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 is cost effective and highly reliable. The apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 facilitates fuel from the fuel tank 90 to be delivered to the fuel injector 85 through a low pressure pump 20. In addition, the modular nature of each sub-system of the apparatus for operating a low pressure fuel pump 10 facilitates easy disassembly and replacement of individual system components as required.

[0016] It must be understood that the embodiments explained in the above detailed description in only illustrative including the voltage values used in the example to explain the working of the apparatus as claimed and does not limit the scope of this invention. The scope of this invention is limited only by the scope of the claims. Many modification and changes in the embodiments aforementioned are envisaged and are within the scope of this invention.