Engine acceleration horsepower-metering system

Claim 1

The method of measuring engine horsepower HP as an engine having an inertia J is accelerated from a first speed w1to a second speed w2over a time period Delta t according to the expression where k is a constant, comprising the following steps: providing preset values for two of the three terms Delta tw1and w2; monitoring the acceleration of the engine under test from a first time at the beginning of Delta t to a second time at the expiration of Delta t to provide a valve for the third one of the terms Delta t, w1, and w2; providing an intermediate signal which varies as a function of the expression and modifying the Intermediate signal by a factor related to the inertia J and the constant k to provide an ultimate value representative of the acceleration horsepower of the engine under test.

Claim 2

The method of measuring engine horsepower HP as an engine having an inertia J is accelerated from a first speed w1to a second speed w2over a time period Delta t according to the expression where k is a constant, comprising the following steps: providing preset values for two of the three terms Delta tw1and w2; monitoring the acceleration of the engine under test from a first time at the beginning of Delta t to a second time at the expiration of Delta t to provide a valve for the third one of the terms Delta t, w1, and w2; providing an intermediate signal which varies as a function of the expression and modifying the Intermediate signal by a factor related to the inertia J and the constant k to provide an ultimate value representative of the acceleration horsepower of the engine under test.

Claim 3

The method of measuring engine horsepower as an engine is accelerated from a first speed w1 to a second speed w2 over a time period Delta t, comprising the following steps: deriving a frequency-related digital signal from the engine under test to provide a signal indicative of the first speed w1 at the beginning of the time period Delta t; providing a second signal from the engine under test related to the speed w2 at the end of the time Delta t squaring the first and second speed values w1 and w2; subtracting the value of w12 from the value of w22 to obtain a difference value; dividing the difference value by the value of Delta t to obtain a first resultant value; multiplying the first resultant value by a constant related to the inertia of the engine under test to obtain a second resultant value related to the engine acceleration horsepower; and displaying the resultant horsepower value on a suitable indicator.

Claim 4

The method of measuring engine horsepower as an engine is accelerated from a first speed w1 to a second speed w2 over a time period Delta t, comprising the following steps: deriving a frequency-related digital signal from the engine under test to provide a signal indicative of the first speed w1 at the beginning of the time period Delta t; providing a second signal from the engine under test related to the speed w2 at the end of the time Delta t squaring the first and second speed values w1 and w2; subtracting the value of w12 from the value of w22 to obtain a difference value; dividing the difference value by the value of Delta t to obtain a first resultant value; multiplying the first resultant value by a constant related to the inertia of the engine under test to obtain a second resultant value related to the engine acceleration horsepower; and displaying the resultant horsepower value on a suitable indicator.

Claim 5

A system for measuring and indicating engine horsepower HP as an engine having an inertia J is accelerated from a first speed w1 to a second speed w2 over a time period Delta t corresponding to the expression where k is a constant, comprising: an input circuit connected to provide a speed-indicating signal w which varies in amplitude as a function of the engine speed; circuit means for presetting the value of w1, including means for providing a first output signal related to w1 and a second output signal related to w12; a comparator circuit, connected to receive both the speed-indicating signal w from the input circuit and the first output signal w1, and to provide an output signal responsive to equality between the speed-indicating signal w and the preset value of w1; a timing circuit, including circuit means connected to establish a preset time Delta t upon receipt of an input signal from said comparator circuit; a squaring amplifier connected to continually square he speed-indicating signal w and provide an output signal related to w2; a subtractor stage connected to continually subtract the value w1 2 from w2; a meter arrangement connected to display engine acceleration horsepower; and a gate circuit, connected to pass an output signal from the subtractor stage to the meter arrangement only during the time period Delta t as determined by the timing stage, thus establishing the value of w2 as the instantaneous value of w at the expiration of the preset time period Delta t.

Claim 6

A system for measuring and indicating engine horsepower HP as an engine having an inertia J is accelerated from a first speed w1 to a second speed w2 over a time period Delta t corresponding to the expression where k is a constant, comprising: an input circuit connected to provide a speed-indicating signal w which varies in amplitude as a function of the engine speed; circuit means for presetting the value of w1, including means for providing a first output signal related to w1 and a second output signal related to w12; a comparator circuit, connected to receive both the speed-indicating signal w from the input circuit and the first output signal w1, and to provide an output signal responsive to equality between the speed-indicating signal w and the preset value of w1; a timing circuit, including circuit means connected to establish a preset time Delta t upon receipt of an input signal from said comparator circuit; a squaring amplifier connected to continually square he speed-indicating signal w and provide an output signal related to w2; a subtractor stage connected to continually subtract the value w1 2 from w2; a meter arrangement connected to display engine acceleration horsepower; and a gate circuit, connected to pass an output signal from the subtractor stage to the meter arrangement only during the time period Delta t as determined by the timing stage, thus establishing the value of w2 as the instantaneous value of w at the expiration of the preset time period Delta t.

Claim 12

A system for measuring and indicating engine horsepower HP as an engine having an inertia J is accelerated from a first speed w1 to a second speed w2 over a time period Delta t corresponding to the expression where k is a constant, comprising: an input circuit connected to provide a speed-indicating train of pulses; a converter circuit, coupled to the input circuit, for providing a speed-indicating signal w which varies in amplitude as a function of the engine speed; circuit means connected to preset the values of w1 and w2; a first comparator circuit, connected to receive both the speed-indicating signal w from the converter circuit and the signal representing w1, and to provide a turn-on signal responsive to equality between w and w1; a gate circuit, connected to receive the train of speed-indicating pulses from the input circuit and, responsive to receipt of the turn-on signal from the first comparator stage, to pass the speed-indicating pulse train over its output circuit; a second comparator circuit, connected to receive both the speed-indicating signal w from the converter circuit and the signal representing w2, and to provide a turnoff signal which is applied to said gate circuit responsive to equality between w and w2, to interrupt passage of the pulse train over the gate output circuit; and electronic counter circuit, connected to receive the speed-indicating pulses from the gate circuit, and to provide an output signal related to the acceleration horsepower of he engine under test.

Claim 13

A system for measuring and indicating engine horsepower HP as an engine having an inertia J is accelerated from a first speed w1 to a second speed w2 over a time period Delta t corresponding to the expression where k is a constant, comprising: an input circuit connected to provide a speed-indicating train of pulses; a converter circuit, coupled to the input circuit, for providing a speed-indicating signal w which varies in amplitude as a function of the engine speed; circuit means connected to preset the values of w1 and w2; a first comparator circuit, connected to receive both the speed-indicating signal w from the converter circuit and the signal representing w1, and to provide a turn-on signal responsive to equality between w and w1; a gate circuit, connected to receive the train of speed-indicating pulses from the input circuit and, responsive to receipt of the turn-on signal from the first comparator stage, to pass the speed-indicating pulse train over its output circuit; a second comparator circuit, connected to receive both the speed-indicating signal w from the converter circuit and the signal representing w2, and to provide a turnoff signal which is applied to said gate circuit responsive to equality between w and w2, to interrupt passage of the pulse train over the gate output circuit; and electronic counter circuit, connected to receive the speed-indicating pulses from the gate circuit, and to provide an output signal related to the acceleration horsepower of he engine under test.