Apparatus for measuring the frequency of occurence of ignition signals in a multicylinder engine

Claim 2

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines, first means for deriving a plurality of trigger signals from the engine at a rate dependent upon the speed of the engine; second means responsive to the trigger signals to provide a first signal with a progressively increasing amplitude; third means connected to the second means and operable in a closed loop to vary the slope of the first signal for maintaining the amplitude of the first signal constant even with variations in the rate of the trigger signals; fourth means operable in an open loop to vary the amplitude of the first signal proportionally with the rate of the trigger signals in relation to the previously established constant value in the amplitude of the first signal; and means to provide an indication of the amplitude of the first signal as provided by the fourth means.

Claim 3

In the apparatus set forth in claim 1, the means providing an indication of the amplitude of the first signal being operative to provide an indication of the average value of the amplitude.

Claim 4

In the apparatus set forth in claim 1, means responsive to the differences in the amplitude of the first signal as provided by the fourth and third means for providing an indication of the percent change in speed of the engine.

Claim 5

In the circuit set forth in claim 1, the third means being operative to provide an average amplitude for the sweep signal.

Claim 6

In the circuit set forth in claim 1, means responsive to the difference between the amplitude of the sweep signal provided by the third means and the particular amplitude for providing an indication of the percent change of speed of the engine.

Claim 7

In combination for controlling the sweep rate of a display signal in accordance with a variable rate of recurrence of a sequence of successive phenomena, which are triggering signals for sequentially firing the cylinders on a cyclic basis in a multicylinder engine; first electronic means having a first state of operation for providing a signal having first characteristics and having a second state of operation for providing a signal having second characteristics different from the first characteristics; second electronic means responsive to each recurrence of a particular one of the successive phenomena for obtaining a triggering of the first electronic means to the first state of operation and for providing the first electronic means in the first state of operation for a controlled period of time less than the time between that occurrence and the next occurrence of the particular one of the successive phenomena; third electronic means for triggering the first electronic means to the second state at the end of each controlled period of time; fourth electronic means responsive to the operation of the first electronic means in the first and second states for maintaining a particular timed relationship between the operation of the first means in the first and second states regardless of changes in the variable rate of recurrence of the sequence of successive phenomena; fifth electronic means for providing a sweep of an oscilloscope beam during the operation of the first means in the first state; sixth electronic means associated with the first electronic means to provide a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude during the operation of the first electronic means in the first state; the second electronic means being responsive to the production of the ramp voltage of the particular amplitude to institute the operation of the first means in the second state; and seventh means for measuring the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 8

In combination for controlling the sweep rate of a display signal in accordance with a variable rate of recurrence of a sequence of successive phenomena, which are triggering signals for sequentially firing the cylinders on a cyclic basis in a multicylinder engine; first electronic means having a first state of operation for providing a signal having first characteristics and having a second state of operation for providing a signal having second characteristics different from the first characteristics; second electronic means responsive to each recurrence of a particular one of the successive phenomena for obtaining a triggering of the first electronic means to the first state of operation and for providing the first electronic means in the first state of operation for a controlled period of time less than the time between that occurrence and the next occurrence of the particular one of the successive phenomena; third electronic means for triggering the first electronic means to the second state at the end of each controlled period of time; fourth electronic means responsive to the operation of the first electronic means in the first and second states for maintaining a particular timed relationship between the operation of the first means in the first and second states regardless of changes in the variable rate of recurrence of the sequence of successive phenomena; fifth electronic means for providing a sweep of an oscilloscope beam during the operation of the first means in the first state; sixth electronic means associated with the first electronic means to provide a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude during the operation of the first electronic means in the first state; the second electronic means being responsive to the production of the ramp voltage of the particular amplitude to institute the operation of the first means in the second state; and seventh means for measuring the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 6, wherein the seventh means are operative to measure the average value of the ramp voLtage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of the particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 6, wherein means are responsive to the difference in the ramp voltage measured by the seventh means and the particular amplitude of the ramp voltage for providing an indication of the percent change of speed of the engine.

Claim 11

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means responsive to each of the triggering signals in the first mode of operation of the first means for producing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude through a period of time less than the time between successive triggering signals but dependent upon the rate of the triggering signals; third means responsive to the ramp voltage for producing a sweep of an oscilloscope beam in accordance with the ramp voltage; fourth means responsive to each of the triggering signals in the second mode of operation of the first means for producing the ramp voltage during the period between the successive triggering signals; and fifth means operative in the second mode for determining the amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the fourth means.

Claim 12

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means responsive to each of the triggering signals in the first mode of operation of the first means for producing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude through a period of time less than the time between successive triggering signals but dependent upon the rate of the triggering signals; third means responsive to the ramp voltage for producing a sweep of an oscilloscope beam in accordance with the ramp voltage; fourth means responsive to each of the triggering signals in the second mode of operation of the first means for producing the ramp voltage during the period between the successive triggering signals; and fifth means operative in the second mode for determining the amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the fourth means.

Claim 13

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 9, the fifth means being operative to determine the average amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the fourth means.

Claim 14

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 9, means responsive to the difference between the amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the fourth means and the particular amplitude for providing an indication of the percent change of speed of the engine.

Claim 15

In the testing apparatus specified in claim 9, the fifth means being operative to measure the peak amplitude of the voltage produced by the fourth means.

Claim 16

In the testing apparatus specified in claim 9, the fifth means being operative to measure the ratio of the amplitudes of the voltages produced by the fourth and second means.

Claim 17

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means connected in a closed loop in the first mode of the first means for producing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude in synchronism with the triggering signals and at a slope dependent upon the rate of the triggering signals; third means connected in an open loop in the second mode of operation for producing the ramp voltage at the slope previously produced by the second means and for producing the ramp voltage throughout the period between the successive triggering signals to produce a voltage dependent upon such period; and fourth means operative in the second mode for determining the amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the third means.

Claim 18

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means connected in a closed loop in the first mode of the first means for producing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude in synchronism with the triggering signals and at a slope dependent upon the rate of the triggering signals; third means connected in an open loop in the second mode of operation for producing the ramp voltage at the slope previously produced by the second means and for producing the ramp voltage throughout the period between the successive triggering signals to produce a voltage dependent upon such period; and fourth means operative in the second mode for determining the amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the third means.

Claim 19

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 14, the fourth means being operative to measure the peak amplitude of the voltage produced by the third means.

Claim 20

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 14, the fourth means being operative to measure the ratio of the amplitudes of the voltages produced by the third means and the second means.

Claim 21

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 14, the fourth means being operative in the second mode for determining the average amplitude of the ramp voltage produced by the third means.

Claim 22

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 14, means responsive to the difference between the ramp voltage produced by the third means and the particular amplitude for providing an indication of the percent change of speed of the engine.

Claim 23

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means operative in the first mode of operation for providing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude in synchronism with triggering signals and with a slope dependent upon the rate of occurrence of the triggering signals; third means operative in the second mode for providing the ramp voltage throughout the period between the successive triggering signals at the slope provided by the second means; and fourth means for measuring the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 24

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means operative in the first mode of operation for providing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude in synchronism with triggering signals and with a slope dependent upon the rate of occurrence of the triggering signals; third means operative in the second mode for providing the ramp voltage throughout the period between the successive triggering signals at the slope provided by the second means; and fourth means for measuring the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 25

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 19, the fourth means being operative to measure the average value of the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 26

In the testing apparatus set forth in claim 19, means responsive to the difference between the ramp voltage measured by the fourth means and the particular amplitude for providing an indication of the percent change in speed of the engine.

Claim 27

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means connected in a closed loop in the first mode of the switching means for producing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude in synchronism with the triggering signals and at a slope dependent upon the rate of the triggering signals; third means connected in an open loop in the second mode of operation for producing the ramp voltage at the slope previously produced by the second means and for producing the ramp voltage throughout the period between the successive triggering signals to produce a voltage dependent upon such period; and fourth means for measuring the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.

Claim 28

In a testing apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engines wherein triggering signals are introduced to the different cylinders in the engine to fire the cylinders, first means providing first and second modes of operation; second means connected in a closed loop in the first mode of the switching means for producing a ramp voltage to a particular amplitude in synchronism with the triggering signals and at a slope dependent upon the rate of the triggering signals; third means connected in an open loop in the second mode of operation for producing the ramp voltage at the slope previously produced by the second means and for producing the ramp voltage throughout the period between the successive triggering signals to produce a voltage dependent upon such period; and fourth means for measuring the ramp voltage in each cycle of sequential firing of the multiple number of cylinders, upon the failure of a particular one of the cylinders to fire in each cycle, to indicate the speed of the engine.