METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MULTIPLE FUEL INJECTIONS TO THE CYLINDER OF AN ENGINE

A fuel injection control system (10) and method for delivering multiple fuel injections to a cylinder of an engine (12) during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system (10) including an electronic controller (56) coupled to an electronically controlled fuel injector (14) and a plurality of sensors (58) coupled to the controller for inputting certain signals (51-58) representative of certain engine operating conditions, the controller (56) being operable to output a fuel injection signal (510) to the fuel injector (14) to deliver a first fuel shot (60) during the intake stroke and, in a preferred embodiment, when the cylinder piston (76) is positioned near top dead center during the intake stroke, a second fuel shot (62) when the cylinder piston (76) is positioned near top dead center during the compression stroke, and a third fuel shot (64) when the cylinder piston (76) is likewise positioned near top dead center during the compression stroke. The first shot (60) fuel quantity is preferably greater than the second shot (62) fuel quantity but preferably less than the third shot (64) fuel quantity.