Patents Assigned to Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.
-
Patent number: 11959831Abstract: Detecting a leak from a site in a sealed system with a source of pressurized gas which is capable of passing through the site, a composition of matter which adheres to the surfaces of the system and which is capable of showing the presence of the gas escaping from the site. The method includes: injecting gas into the system to a pressure in excess of the surrounding pressure, and covering the external surface with the composition to identify the location of the site by the interaction of the escaping gas with the composition. The composition is foam that includes a surfactant which forms a least one bubble in the presence of escaping gas and an indicator which changes color in the presence of the escaping gas. The leak is an opening down to at least the size of a hole 0.001? in diameter. A gas detector may also be used.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Steven G. Thoma, Kenneth D. Ley
-
Patent number: 11953404Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of matter formulated to work in conjunction with CO2 gas for identifying the exact leak site location of small and large leaks in sealed systems. The leak finding compositions of matter foam, or are in the form of a foam, when applied to the one or more external surfaces of a system, that is closed and pressurized with CO2, where a leak site location is suspected. This foam then changes color from a first color to a second color over the exact leak site.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson, Kenneth D. Ley, Steven G. Thoma
-
Patent number: 10519887Abstract: The present invention is one in which an off board Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor is used to diagnose the internal combustion engine. The MAF sensor is connected to the air induction system of the engine. The sensor is then powered from the vehicles battery. The MAF sensor is designed for lower air flow rates produced from the engine such as; crank, idle, and light load. The sensor creates an output voltage that is proportional to the volumetric air flow of each cylinder entering the engine. This MAF voltage output signal is then used to diagnose engine pumping issues.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
-
Patent number: 10222291Abstract: Detecting a leak from a site in a sealed system with a source of pressurized gas which is capable of passing through the site, a composition of matter which adheres to the surfaces of the system and which is capable of showing the presence of the gas escaping from the site. The method includes: injecting gas into the system to a pressure in excess of the surrounding pressure, and covering the external surface with the composition to identify the location of the site by the interaction of the escaping gas with the composition. The composition is foam that includes a surfactant which forms a least one bubble in the presence of escaping gas and an indicator which changes color in the presence of the escaping gas. The leak is an opening down to at least the size of a hole 0.001? in diameter. A gas detector may also be used.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson, Kenneth D. Ley, Steven G. Thoma
-
Patent number: 9863848Abstract: An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle's power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g., Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
-
Patent number: 9846104Abstract: An off-board vehicle fuel handling and containment system leak tester that uses CO2 gas in order to find the location of the leak site. An external source of CO2 gas is used to pressurize the fuel containment system to a pressure greater than the surrounding pressure. An electronic detector capable of detecting CO2 gas is used to scan at least some of the containment system's external surfaces for the presence of the escaping CO2 gas. When the electronic detector senses the CO2 gas an alert system is activated. Once the leak site area is known a leak finding composition of matter is applied to the leak site area in order to identify the exact point of leakage.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
-
Patent number: 9390565Abstract: An off-board vehicle fuel containment tester that utilizes a vacuum/pressure pump to change the pressure in the vehicle's fuel handling and containment system. A microprocessor is programmed to control the vacuum/pressure pump system and through the reading produced by a pressure transducer will determine, by the pressure changes occurring in the containment system, if a leak is present and the size of the leak. Once a leak is determined to be present, a gas analyzer that can detect carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons is used to find the point of leakage in the vehicle containment system.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
-
Publication number: 20140257721Abstract: An off-board vehicle fuel containment tester that utilizes a vacuum/pressure pump to change the pressure in the vehicle's fuel handling and containment system. A microprocessor is programmed to control the vacuum/pressure pump system and through the reading produced by a pressure transducer will determine, by the pressure changes occurring in the containment system, if a leak is present and the size of the leak. Once a leak is determined to be present, a gas analyzer that can detect carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons is used to find the point of leakage in the vehicle containment system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Automotive Test Solutions Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
-
Publication number: 20140151242Abstract: Detecting a leak from a site in a sealed system with a source of pressurized gas which is capable of passing through the site, a composition of matter which adheres to the surfaces of the system and which is capable of showing the presence of the gas escaping from the site. The method includes: injecting gas into the system to a pressure in excess of the surrounding pressure, and covering the external surface with the composition to identify the location of the site by the interaction of the escaping gas with the composition. The composition is foam that includes a surfactant which forms a least one bubble in the presence of escaping gas and an indicator which changes color in the presence of the escaping gas. The leak is an opening down to at least the size of a hole 0.001? in diameter. A gas detector may also be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
-
Patent number: 6850071Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention are useful for the monitoring of the electrical signals within an internal combustion spark plug circuit and the killing of a spark plug within that circuit. The invention essentially consists of connecting a transformer to the high voltage side of the spark plug circuit. Through the use of impedance and inductance, the present invention can either produce a low voltage replica of the waveform of the high voltage electrical signal which is directed to a spark plug or can effectively prohibit that spark plug from firing by short circuiting the low voltage side of the transformer of the device.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Neal R. Pederson, Bernie C. Thompson, James M. Potter