Compression (i.e., Cylinder Pressure) Patents (Class 73/114.16)
  • Patent number: 11441503
    Abstract: In a method for determining an optimized fuel injection profile in an internal combustion engine, a setpoint combustion profile is firstly defined. Furthermore, at least one influential parameter which influences the setpoint combustion profile is determined. With the influential parameter, a corrected fuel injection profile is determined in a closed-loop control process. This method is preferably repeated iteratively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FEV Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Joschka Schaub, Christian Jörg, Abdelmajid Mettari
  • Patent number: 11421588
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio engine is provided, which includes a connecting rod including a small end connected to a piston through a piston pin, and a big end connected to a crankshaft through a crank pin, a gear eccentric sleeve installed on at least one of the piston pin and the crank pin, and at least one rack engaged with a gear formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear eccentric sleeve at one side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Soon Gil Jang
  • Patent number: 11415476
    Abstract: A pressure and temperature measuring device with improved fluid flow control having a metal bulb that houses a temperature-sensitive element and a base with an orifice for the passage of fluid and tabs that project from the base, extending outside a plastic body, and an axial seal positioned between the conduit and the orifice; with the base of the metal bulb facing the plastic body, with the conduit and the orifice aligned to allow the passage of fluid, with the axial seal compressed axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CEBI ELECTROMECHANICAL COMPONENTS SPAIN, S.A.
    Inventors: Ignacio Ardaiz Usoz, Lesmes Nicolas Haro, Sergio Diez Garcia
  • Patent number: 11035755
    Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure sensor system and a pressure sensor adaptor that allows for the inclusion of a pressure sensor to monitor the pressure of an engine cylinder is provided. The pressure sensor adaptor includes a first end, a second end, a threaded section, a cylindrical midsection, and an annular section; and a pressure sensor channel that comprises an opening in the first end and an opening in a second end and spans from the first end to the second end through the threaded section, the cylindrical midsection, and the annular section. The pressure sensor may be housed in the pressure sensor channel of the pressure sensor adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Hemmingsen, Justin D. Bushman
  • Patent number: 10927785
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged in series in a cylinder section, pressures of the cylinders can be detected by a smaller number of pressure sensors. An engine in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged in series in a cylinder section includes a communication path through which combustion chambers of the cylinders adjacent to each other communicate with each other, and a pressure sensor is disposed in the communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Wakasa, Tetsuya Nakayasu, Hiroyuki Natsui, Daisuke Kitamura, Yuki Nagata, Kazunori Ikarashi
  • Patent number: 10323937
    Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for determining a top-dead-center (TDC) of a reciprocating compressor. In some cases, an apparatus includes: a pressure transducer configured to measure pressure fluctuations inside a compressor cylinder and convert the pressure fluctuations into an asynchronous waveform; and at least one computing device operably connected with the pressure transducer, the at least one computing device configured to: extract a data set representing piston angles over a single revolution of a piston within the compressor cylinder from the asynchronous waveform; remove data representing invalid piston angles from the data set to form a refined data set; determine an average piston angle for the single revolution from the refined data set; and adjust the refined data set to identify a top-dead-center (TDC) position of the piston within the compressor cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian Francis Howard
  • Patent number: 10107611
    Abstract: According to a method of detecting a lift amount of a valve, an area-increasing jig is attached to an upper surface of a retainer attached to the valve. The area-increasing jig has a larger width than a width of the upper surface of the retainer. Then a lift amount of the valve is detected by measuring a distance to the area-increasing jig by using a non-contact sensor disposed above the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shoichi Ishigaki, Masatsugu Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 9915210
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, includes determining a target pressure curve for a cylinder of the engine, determining a heat release model for the cylinder, determining a mass flow of fuel from the heat release model to achieve the target pressure curve, and automatically controlling opening of an injector of the cylinder of the engine to provide the determined mass flow of fuel to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Christian Jörg, Thorsten Schnorbus, Ben Neaves, Daniel Neumann, Kiran Bandila, Simon Jarvis
  • Patent number: 9891138
    Abstract: A pressure sensor including a rod-shaped member, a tubular housing, a variable member and a pressure measuring element. The variable member is entirely disposed within the housing, is connected to the housing and the rod-shaped member, and deforms when the rod-shaped member is displaced relative to the housing along an axial direction. The variable member includes a first portion connected to the rod-shaped member, a second portion connected to the housing, and a bent portion which connects the first portion and the second portion to each other and has a bent shape. A portion of the second portion is a pressure receiving portion which displaces the rod-shaped member in the axial direction when receiving a pressure. The pressure receiving portion of the second portion has a substantially uniform thickness, and the thickness of the pressure receiving portion of the second portion is larger than that of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Hirokawa, Hiroshi Harada
  • Patent number: 9760163
    Abstract: A microcomputer which constitutes an ECU transmits a start/stop signal and a crank angle signal to an analog input circuit. The analog input circuit is activated when the start/stop signal is received. The A/D converter converts a sensor signal into a digital signal. The digital processor detects a peak value of the digital signal. A counter restarts a counting operation when the crank angle signal is received. A data register sends a detected data of the peak value as a specified information adding by a count value and an information of the crank angle signal to the microcomputer. The microcomputer acquires the crank angle of the specified information by computing the crank angle from the detected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Oomi
  • Patent number: 9702787
    Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, for detecting an in-cylinder pressure which is a pressure in a combustion chamber of the engine. The in-cylinder pressure is detected by an in-cylinder pressure detecting block, and a motoring pressure corresponding to an in-cylinder pressure when no combustion is performed in the combustion chamber, is estimated. A peak value of the detected in-cylinder pressure is obtained as a detected pressure peak value in a predetermined operating condition of the engine. An estimated motoring pressure peak value which is a peak value of the estimated motoring pressure and corresponds to the detected pressure peak value, is calculated. The detected pressure peak value is compared with the estimated motoring pressure peak value, and sensitivity correction of the in-cylinder pressure detecting block is performed based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusuke Akazaki, Shunichi Saito
  • Patent number: 9410867
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for measuring internal cylinder pressure of a combustion chamber at least partially formed by a cylinder head. The system may include an emitter configured to generate and emit a wavelength of energy along a surface of the cylinder head, and a target inline with the emitter and configured to receive the wavelength of energy. The system may also include a controller in communication with the emitter and/or target. The controller may be configured to correlate a distortion of the wavelength of energy to the internal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Leo Willi, Marion Billingsley Grant
  • Patent number: 9366594
    Abstract: A combustion pressure sensor (1) includes a housing (2) having an axial hole (23), a flexible member (8) fixed at one end to the housing (2) and being displaceable along the direction of axis (CL1), a pressure transmission body (3) whose outer circumferential surface is fixed to the other end of the flexible member (8), and a sensor element (42) fixed to the housing (2) and outputting a signal on the basis of a pressure applied thereto from the pressure transmission body (3). The housing (2) includes a main body portion (21) having a screw portion (24), and a cap member (22) having a press contact portion (26) which is pressed against the internal combustion engine when the screw portion (24) is screwed into the mounting hole of an internal combustion engine. The one end of the flexible member (8) is fixed to the main body portion (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Maeda, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Masayoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 9322372
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a cylinder internal pressure sensor disposed in the vicinity of a distal end thereof. The cylinder internal pressure sensor detects a cylinder internal pressure in a cylinder and outputs a first sensor signal Ss1 responsive to the detected cylinder internal pressure. Further, a signal processor, which carries out predetermined signal processing with respect to the first sensor signal Ss1 to thereby convert the first sensor signal Ss1 into a second sensor signal Ss2, is disposed between the cylinder internal pressure sensor and a solenoid unit, which is disposed on a proximal end side of the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: KEIHIN CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kaneko, Gaku Sato, Junichi Fukuda, Mitsuhiro Iwadare, Tetsuji Furukawa, Takeshi Kumakura, Minoru Torii
  • Patent number: 9010303
    Abstract: This disclosure provides system and method that can determine hydraulic start of injection (SOI) in engines using an in-cylinder pressure sensor. The system and method determine apparent heat release rate (AHRR) curve data for the cylinder from the pressure information provided by the in-cylinder pressure sensors, and the hydraulic SOI from the derivative of the AHRR curve data. The system and method provide diagnostic, control and/or compensation opportunities for fuel injector operation in high pressure fuel rail engine systems without use of expensive or complex fuel injector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Moonjelly, Richard A. Booth, Lester L. Peters, Jeffrey C. Huang, Phanindra V. Garimella
  • Patent number: 8939121
    Abstract: A glow plug in which a convex portion (70) is formed in an outer peripheral surface (10b) of a heater (10) in a part facing an inner peripheral surface (137b) of a leading end part (137) of a housing (110) and interposed in a leading end side annular gap K1, so as to maintain a gap with the inner peripheral surface (137b). A decline in detection accuracy can be prevented to the extent that combustion gas can be received by the leading end (72) of the convex portion (70) even if soot clogging should occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Nishiyuki, Masahiro Kawakatsu, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Masayoshi Matsui, Shunsuke Maeda, Tadashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140283586
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure-measuring plug for a combustion engine. An interconnection structure in the plug body electrically couples by means of a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) an electrical sensing element at one end of the plug body to connector terminals of the plug at the other end of the plug body. An elongated support structure fixates a part of the flexible PCB in the plug body to enable the flexible PCB to withstand automotive conditions and to facilitate during assembly to put the flexible PCB through the hollow plug body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Engbertus Berkel, Bart Jan Mathijs Salden, Jochem Hendrik Talsma
  • Publication number: 20140260574
    Abstract: An intra-cylinder pressure sensor fault diagnostic device that ensures an opportunity for fault diagnosis in a wide operation region, and can accurately detect an intra-cylinder pressure with a high S/N ratio. The fault diagnostic device for an intra-cylinder pressure sensor, which outputs a value corresponding to an intra-cylinder pressure of an internal combustion engine delays ignition timing so that firing timing comes after a compression top dead center to generate peaks of the intra-cylinder pressure before firing and after firing respectively. When the ignition timing is delayed, at least one of an output value of the intra-cylinder pressure sensor in the peak of the intra-cylinder pressure before firing (hereinafter, called a pre-firing output peak value) and a crank angle thereof is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Sasaki, Shigeyuki Urano
  • Patent number: 8831856
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine that can estimate a quantity of heat generated is provided. An arithmetic processing unit 20 can calculate PV? variable according to a crank angle ? and dPV?/d? as a rate of change in PV?. For convenience' sake, a “crank angle at which dPV?/d? is a maximum while PV? is increasing” is to mean a “crank angle at a combustion proportion of 50%” and be referred to also as “?CA50”. PV? calculated for ?CA50 is to be referred to also as “PV?CA50”. In addition, for convenience' sake, a difference between PV? (which is zero in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and PV?CA50 at a start of combustion is also referred to as ?PV?CA50. A total quantity of heat generated Q is assumed to be twice as much as a value of ?PV?CA50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yasuda, Yusuke Suzuki, Soichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8820150
    Abstract: A method of determining whether a cylinder in an engine system comprising a plurality of cylinders is ready for injection/ignition, the method comprising: monitoring the in-cylinder pressure of each of the plurality of cylinders within the engine system; determining a pressure related parameter for each cylinder within the engine system; wherein, in the event that the pressure related parameter in a given cylinder exceeds a first threshold, the method further comprises performing a diagnostic test in order to determine whether the given cylinder is ready for injection/ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Noureddine Guerrassi, Pierre Allezy
  • Publication number: 20140174164
    Abstract: A device for detecting a pressure, in particular in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, has a housing and an adapter element secured in the housing for accommodating a sensor module. The sensor module includes at least one sensor element and one support element. The sensor element makes electrical contact with connecting lines which extend in the axial direction of the sensor module. The support element has a section on which support surfaces are formed for the connecting lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Holger Scholzen, Martin Gorzolka, Janpeter Wolff
  • Patent number: 8733157
    Abstract: An cylinder inner pressure detector of an internal combustion engine includes: a reference voltage output circuit for outputting a reference voltage having a level, which is selected among multiple levels according to a switching signal; a level shift circuit for shifting a level of a sensor signal of an inner pressure sensor by a selected level of the reference voltage toward a signal potential side corresponding to a low pressure side of cylinder inner pressure; a first A/D converter circuit for converting the shifted sensor signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; and a controller for outputting the switching signal, which provides the reference voltage such that the reference voltage has the level on the signal potential side corresponding to the low pressure side from an offset voltage, and for detecting the cylinder inner pressure based on the digital signal output from the first A/D converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Itou, Daisuke Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8733158
    Abstract: A method for determining the composition of a fuel mixture consisting of a first fuel and a second fuel to operate an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder pressure sensor for determining the cylinder pressure in at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The calorific value of the fuel mixture or a characteristic variable correlating to said calorific value is determined from the cylinder pressure and the composition of the fuel mixture is determined from said calorific value or the characteristic variable correlating to said calorific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Daeubel, Michael Haufer
  • Publication number: 20140130584
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for holding target turbomachine compressor pressure ratio constant while varying the shaft speed. In order to characterize a load compressor and validate the compressor design, the speed of the load compressor can be changed while controlling the compressor operating line and holding the inlet guide vanes at a constant angle. Discharge control valves can be dynamically adjusted to maintain the pressure ratio equal to the operating line over a range of speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Dean Fuller, Daniel Richard Waugh, Justin Aaron Allen, Brian Allen Rittenhouse
  • Patent number: 8725385
    Abstract: A method for computing indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) in an internal combustion engine using sparse input data. The method uses an indirect integration approach, and requires significantly lower resolution crankshaft position and cylinder pressure input data than existing IMEP computation methods, while providing calculated IMEP output results which are very accurate in comparison to values computed by existing methods. By using sparse input data, the indirect integration method offers cost reduction opportunities for a manufacturer of vehicles, engines, and/or electronic control units, through the use of lower cost sensors and the consumption of less computing resources for data processing and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hossein Javaherian, Ibrahim Haskara, Oguz H. Dagci
  • Publication number: 20140070753
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling and diagnosing a prime mover of a vehicle traction system includes an alternator having a rotor and coupled to a crankshaft of the prime mover, a source of electrical energy, a position sensor supplying a position signal representative of an angular position of the rotor, and a control computer. The computer supplies energy to the alternator to crank the prime mover at a controlled rate. In a diagnosis mode, the computer generates a condition signal indicative of a malfunction of the prime mover, from a compression signal derived from an acceleration signal which is derived from the position signal. In a barring-over mode, the computer also supplies energy to the alternator and monitors the position signal to place the crankshaft in a desired angular position in an operation separate from diagnosis mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Brian T. Concannon
  • Publication number: 20130319093
    Abstract: A method for testing a supercharger actuator for a supercharger of a supercharged internal combustion engine, including adjusting the supercharger actuator from a first position to a second position, determining a rotational speed change information, which is a function of the change of the rotational speed of the supercharger resulting from the adjustment, and establishing a malfunction of the supercharger actuator as a function of the rotational speed change information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas BLEILE, Patrick MENOLD
  • Patent number: 8600644
    Abstract: A sensor reset system includes an engine control module and a sensor reset circuit. The engine control module is configured to receive a sensor pressure signal from a cylinder pressure sensor. The sensor pressure signal indicates a pressure within a cylinder of an engine. The engine control module is further configured to: control operation of the engine based on the sensor pressure signal; determine whether to reset the cylinder pressure sensor and generate a reset signal; and encode the reset signal to generate an encoded reset signal. The sensor reset circuit is configured to adjust an output of the cylinder pressure sensor based on the encoded reset signal to reset the cylinder pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Kenneth J. Buslepp
  • Patent number: 8573039
    Abstract: A compression tester adapter is provided. The compression adaptor includes a generally cylindrical plug fitting, including a pilot segment, an external thread, a cylinder segment, a gasket located between the external thread and the cylinder segment and a plug end; and a connector fitting including an attachment interface; and a hose attached to the plug fitting. A method of adapting a compression tester spark plug hose for use with a spark plug socket is provided. The method includes; engaging a threaded spark plug socket in an internal combustion engine cylinder head; attaching a compression tester spark plug hose; and transmitting a compressed gas to the compression tester spark plug hose wherein the spark plug socket thread is configured with a nominal diameter of 12 millimeters; and creating a substantially airtight seal against a periphery of a tapered seat near a inner extreme of the spark plug socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Service Solutions U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Richard Holl
  • Publication number: 20130239669
    Abstract: An estimation device for a cylinder intake air amount in an internal combustion engine is obtained which can estimate an amount of air actually sucked into a cylinder with a high degree of accuracy by using a physical model of an intake system. A volumetric efficiency corresponding value is calculated based on an exhaust efficiency (a linear function of intake pipe internal pressure) which is an index indicating an amount of residual gas which is an exhaust gas after combustion remaining in the cylinder without being discharged from the interior of the cylinder to an exhaust pipe, and an intake efficiency (a linear function of intake pipe internal pressure) which is an index indicating an amount of air coming into the cylinder from an intake pipe excluding the residual gas, whereby the estimation is carried out to a high degree of accuracy with a small number of adaptation constants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Hideki HAGARI, Tomokazu MAKINO
  • Patent number: 8538666
    Abstract: A control system includes a cylinder pressure sensor (CPS) that senses a cylinder pressure of an engine and generates a CPS signal based on the cylinder pressure. A CPS failure detection module selectively generates a failure signal based on characteristics of the CPS signal in a knock frequency range. A status detection module generates a CPS status signal based on the CPS signal and the failure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Jose C. Zavala Jurado
  • Patent number: 8510016
    Abstract: A method and a control system that includes a window module that determines a piston position window, a mean effective pressure determination module that generates a mean effective pressure with in-cylinder pressure signals within the piston position window and an engine control module that controls the engine using the mean effective pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner
  • Patent number: 8495909
    Abstract: A cylinder pressure estimation device calculates a plurality of candidate values of a possible cylinder pressure at an intake-valve-closing time, calculates a plurality of candidates of a possible movement of the cylinder pressure from the intake-valve-closing time to a post-intake-valve-closing time on the basis of the candidate values of the intake-valve-closing-time cylinder pressure, calculates a movement of the cylinder pressure detected by the cylinder pressure sensor from the intake-valve-closing time to the post-intake-valve-closing time; and calculates the candidates of the cylinder pressure movement with the detected cylinder pressure movement, determining the candidate of the cylinder pressure movement to be deemed to correspond to the detected cylinder pressure movement and determining the candidate value of the intake-valve-closing-time cylinder pressure used for calculating the determined candidate of the cylinder pressure movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Takasu
  • Patent number: 8478476
    Abstract: A method and control module includes a pressure sensor data comparison module that compares measured pressure volume signal segments to ideal pressure volume segments. A valve actuation hardware remedy module performs a hardware remedy in response to comparing the measured pressure volume signal segments to the ideal pressure volume segments when a valve actuation hardware failure is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew A. Wiles, Craig D. Marriott
  • Publication number: 20130118241
    Abstract: A method for determining the composition of a fuel mixture consisting of a first fuel and a second fuel to operate an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder pressure sensor for determining the cylinder pressure in at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The calorific value of the fuel mixture or a characteristic variable correlating to said calorific value is determined from the cylinder pressure and the composition of the fuel mixture is determined from said calorific value or the characteristic variable correlating to said calorific value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Bosch GmbH
  • Patent number: 8429955
    Abstract: A method of detecting during a combustion cycle a peak value of pressure in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine includes providing and installing on the engine body an accelerometer that generates an acceleration signal representing vibrations of the engine body. The acceleration signal is filtered by comparing the band-pass filtered replica of the acceleration signal to a threshold. When the threshold is surpassed, a pressure peak is detected and flagged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Ferdinando Taglialatela Scafati, Nicola Cesario, Domenico Porto, Bianca Maria Vaglieco, Simona Silvia Merola
  • Patent number: 8413495
    Abstract: An output correction apparatus that corrects offset drift of a cylinder internal pressure sensor, and a cylinder internal pressure detection apparatus that accurately detects cylinder internal pressure of an internal combustion engine through use of the output correction apparatus. The cylinder internal pressure detection apparatus includes a detection circuit section which detects a change in the resistance of a piezoresistor element as an electrical signal; an amplification circuit section which amplifies and outputs the electrical signal (output value); and a correction circuit section which corrects the output value. The correction circuit section includes a reset control section which resets the output value of the amplification circuit section to a reference value, and a reset timing detection section which determines a timing of the resetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plus Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzo Higuchi, Yoshinori Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 8402939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optimizing combustion of diesel fuels with different cetane numbers in a diesel internal combustion engine. It is provided that cylinder pressures are measured in at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine during the combustion period, that at least one part of the measured cylinder pressures is evaluated in order to derive a characteristic value for the diesel fuel that is fed into the cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and that the characteristic value is used to change parameters that determine the combustion in the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Reuss, Axel Macher
  • Publication number: 20130073174
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine including a crankcase. A condition of the engine may be diagnosed based on frequency content of crankcase pressure. Different types of degradation may be distinguished based on a frequency content of multiple frequencies of the crankcase pressure. Thus, a degraded engine component may be identified in a manner that reduces service induced delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Bret Dwayne WORDEN, Matthew MALONE, Milan KARUNARATNE, Paul Lloyd FLYNN
  • Patent number: 8396649
    Abstract: A method comprises steps for reconstructing in-cylinder pressure data from a vibration signal collected from a vibration sensor mounted on an engine component where it can generate a signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio, and correcting the vibration signal for errors introduced by vibration signal charge decay and sensor sensitivity. The correction factors are determined as a function of estimated motoring pressure and the measured vibration signal itself with each of these being associated with the same engine cycle. Accordingly, the method corrects for charge decay and changes in sensor sensitivity responsive to different engine conditions to allow greater accuracy in the reconstructed in-cylinder pressure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventor: Jian Huang
  • Patent number: 8375776
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining an in-cylinder pressure curve representative of the evolution of the pressure within a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to setting a timeframe during the engine functioning, sampling pressure within at least two sensed cylinders of the engine, the samplings being performed during not contemporary sampling periods within the assumed timeframe, in order to acquire a partial in-cylinder pressure curve for each of the sensed cylinders, and using the partial in-cylinder pressure curves for reconstructing a whole in-cylinder pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Manuel Tugnolo, Alessandro Catanese, Simone Barbero
  • Patent number: 8380423
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a phaser control module that commands a first cam phaser position of a cam phaser of the engine for a first period and a second cam phaser position of the cam phaser for a second period, and a phaser diagnostic module that diagnoses a phaser control error for the cam phaser based on a first pressure of fluid supplied by an oil control valve to the cam phaser measured during the first period, and a second pressure of fluid supplied by the oil control valve to the cam phaser measured during the second period. The first and second pressures are measured on one of an advance-side fluid chamber and a retard-side fluid chamber of the cam phaser. The phaser diagnostic module detects one of a phaser mechanical fault and a phaser hydraulic system fault. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventors: Joshua D. Cowgill, Donovan L. Dibble, Kenneth J. Cinpinski
  • Patent number: 8374772
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to the step of measuring in-cylinder pressure of an expansion phase of a combustion cycle of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and measuring in-cylinder pressure of a compression phase of the combustion cycle of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine. A difference between a polytrophic expansion phase constant of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine and a polytrophic compression phase constant of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine is then determined using the measured expansion phase pressure and the measured compression phase pressure. A misfiring of the cylinder is later detected using the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Cristian Taibi, Alessandro Catanese, Luca Fossati
  • Patent number: 8370050
    Abstract: The instantaneous interruption detection apparatus includes a noise removing section to remove a noise component from an in-cylinder pressure signal inputted thereto, and output a noise-removed in-cylinder pressure signal, a derivative signal calculating section to calculate a detection signal which is a function of a derivative value of the noise-removed in-pressure signal with respect to the crank angle of an internal combustion engine, an instantaneous interruption determining section configured to make determination that instantaneous interruption of the in-cylinder pressure signal has occurred when the detection signal has exceeded a detection threshold, and a threshold setting section configured to set the detection threshold to such a value that the instantaneous interruption determining section can make the determination in accordance with the noise-removed in-pressure signal which is dull compared to the in-cylinder pressure signal inputted to the noise removing section depending on a gain-frequency
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishimura, Shinya Hoshi, Youhei Morimoto, Kazuhiro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8359909
    Abstract: An abnormal combustion detection method is disclosed for spark-ignition internal-combustion engines, from combustion indicators. Combustion indicators, such as CA10 and MIP, are determined which are converted to new indicators having lower dispersions than those of indicators for normal combustions that are not converted. A parameter characterizing a distribution of N values of the new combustion indicators, acquired over N cycles preceding the cycle in progress, is then determined. The start of an abnormal combustion is thereafter detected by comparing this parameter with a threshold, and the course of the abnormal combustion detected in the combustion chamber is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Laurent Duval, Alexandre Pagot, Benoist Thirouard, Jean-Marc Zaccardi
  • Publication number: 20130024089
    Abstract: Method for estimating NOx creation in a combustion process of an engine including a variable volume combustion chamber includes monitoring engine sensor inputs including a cylinder pressure within the combustion chamber. A mass fraction burn value for combustion can be modeled within the combustion chamber based upon said sensor inputs, wherein said mass fraction burn value indexes a crank angle at which a selected percentage of injected fuel is burned in a combustion cycle. The state of combustion within the combustion chamber can be estimated based upon the mass fraction burn value, the state of combustion including a combustion phasing and a combustion strength. NOx creation within the combustion chamber can be estimated with a non-linear function based upon said state of combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATI
  • Publication number: 20130019668
    Abstract: A method of determining whether a cylinder in an engine system comprising a plurality of cylinders is ready for injection/ignition, the method comprising: monitoring the in-cylinder pressure of each of the plurality of cylinders within the engine system; determining a pressure related parameter for each cylinder within the engine system; wherein, in the event that the pressure related parameter in a given cylinder exceeds a first threshold, the method further comprises performing a diagnostic test in order to determine whether the given cylinder is ready for injection/ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING, S.ARL
    Inventors: Noureddine Guerrassi, Pierre Allezy
  • Patent number: 8356511
    Abstract: A device includes a pressure sensor (11-13) for measuring pressures inside the combustion chamber of a cylinder in an internal combustion engine. The device includes: an outer body (1); a lug (5) extending partially into the combustion chamber; an inner housing (14) inserted into the body and surrounding an upper portion of the lug, the housing being secured to the lug and to the body and having an elastically deformable portion (17) between the two securing areas, characterized in that the housing (14) is secured to the body (1) at a securing area (18) extending in the upper portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Federal-Mogul Italy Srl
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, Sandro Goretti, John Burrows
  • Patent number: 8342011
    Abstract: A method for determining a value representative of the pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: i. measuring the vibration level (2) of the internal combustion engine with an accelerometer placed on the engine block of the internal combustion engine, ii. integrating a value from the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in a window (t1, t2) delimited as a function of the position of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, iii. supplying the result of the integration (A1) as a value representative of the pressure, characterized in that the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in step “i” is integrated while being raised to a power greater than 1 by a predetermined exponent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Frédéric Galtier, Roger Rouphael, Jeroen Van-Est
  • Publication number: 20120330575
    Abstract: A method includes sensing pressure within an engine cylinder, and estimating at least one other engine system parameter based on the sensed pressure. Another method includes designing an engine system, which includes one or more engine cylinder pressure sensors and one or more other engine system sensors. According to this method, the engine system is operated, and engine cylinder pressure is sensed using the engine cylinder pressure sensors, which are in communication with an engine cylinder of an engine of the engine system. Also, other engine system parameters are sensed to obtain at least one other engine system parameter using the other engine system sensors. The engine cylinder pressure is correlated to the at least one other engine system parameter, and engine cylinder pressure is used to replace or augment the at least one other engine system parameter that correlates to the engine cylinder pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Olaf Weber, John Shutty, Wolfgang Wenzel