US3783681A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus to monitor quality of operation of a piston in a cylinder
Assignee: MAN AG
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Filing: 1973-01-16
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1993-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A transducer is connected to the cylinder sleeve or liner, and deflection, preferably axial vibration or oscillation of the liner is converted into an electrical signal, which is integrated, and detected with respect to a reference level; if a vibration frequency, particularly in the ultrasonic range is detected, or if vibration amplitudes exceed a certain level, an alarm signal is provided. The reference level may be a dynamic level, in which output signals from all cylinders of a multicylinder engine are combined, and the combined signal is utilized as a dynamic reference for comparison with any individual cylinder signal. Additional operating parameters can be considered in a logic circuit, for example fuel supply, or extent of loading on the engine, with feedback to reduce fuel supply, or shut off the engine upon detection of excessive vibration in any one or more cylinders.
Inventors
- 👤 D Hirt
- 👤 L Gerlich
- 👤 E Heinle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:37
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D17/00; F02D17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
Method of monitoring quality of operation, for example running smoothness, of a piston (P) in a cylinder (C), the cylinder having a cylinder sleeve (1) in which an output signal representative of piston operation is obtained, comprising the steps of sensing the deflection of the cylinder sleeve (1) with respect to the cylinder (C) as the piston (P) operates within the cylinder sleeve (1); and deriving said output signal as a representation of said sensed deflection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
Method of monitoring quality of operation, for example running smoothness, of a piston (P) in a cylinder (C), the cylinder having a cylinder sleeve (1) in which an output signal representative of piston operation is obtained, comprising the steps of sensing the deflection of the cylinder sleeve (1) with respect to the cylinder (C) as the piston (P) operates within the cylinder sleeve (1); and deriving said output signal as a representation of said sensed deflection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method according to claim 1 including the step of analyzing the output signal for amplitude and generating an indication signal representative of amplitudes exceeding a predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method according to claim 1 including the step of analyzing the output signal for a predetermined frequency range, and generating an indication signal representative of frequency within said range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method according to claim 3 wherein the frequency range is in the ultrasonic range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Method according to claim 1 including the step of analyzing the output signal for amplitude in excess of a certain range, and for frequency within a predetermined band and generating an indication signal representative of either amplitude in excess of a predetermined level or frequency within a predetermined range, or both.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the step of sensing deflection of the cylinder sleeve (1) comprises the step of sensing deflection of the cylinder sleeve in axial direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the output signal is electrical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of analyzing the output signal with respect to predetermined frequencies, and amplifying said predetermined frequencies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method according to claim 1 in which the output signal has negative and positive components; and said method comprises the step of rectifying said components and integrating the rectified components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method according to claim 9 wherein the integrating time constant is essentially the same as the time of one revolution of the engine piston crankshaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
Method according to claim 10 including the step of a. storing the integrated signal during one integration cycle until the end of a subsequent operation cycle of the piston, and storing the representation of the integrated signal; b. erasing the integrated result; c. and repeating steps (a) and (b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method to monitor a multi-cylinder engine comprising the steps of individually monitoring the respective cylinders of the engine in accordance with the method of claim 1; and analyzing the output signals derived from the individual cylinders.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Method according to claim 12 including the steps of forming an average value of derived output signals from all the cylinders to provide a dynamic reference value signal; and determining deviation of any individual output signal from said dynamic reference with respect to a predetermined level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of adding a signal representative approximately of signal noise level arising during the sensing and deriving steps, in any one cylinder, to said dynamic reference level to form said predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of indicating decrease of the dynamic reference level below a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method according to claim 15 wherein the step of indicating drop of the dynamic reference level comprises the step of forming the difference between a signal representative of a predetermined level from the dynamic reference level signal; and providing an indication if the remaining difference signal drops below a further predetermined level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
Method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of generating a signal representative of loading on the engine; logically combining said loading signal with the individual derived output signals from the cylinder; and controlling fuel supply to the engine in accordance with a characteristic of the logically combined loading signal and cylinder output signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus to monitor the quality of operation of a piston (P) in a cylinder (C), having a cylinder sleeve (1) to obtain an output signal representative of quality of piston operation, comprising a transducer element (3) located in vibration transfer relation to the cylinder sleeve (1) or liner; means deriving from said transducer an electrical output signal having a characteristic representative of vibration of the cylinder sleeve, or liner; and means (4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13) analyzing said signal with reference to a predetermined level (12) and deriving an alarm output (14) if the signal exceeds said predetermined level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus to monitor the quality of operation of a piston (P) in a cylinder (C), having a cylinder sleeve (1) to obtain an output signal representative of quality of piston operation, comprising a transducer element (3) located in vibration transfer relation to the cylinder sleeve (1) or liner; means deriving from said transducer an electrical output signal having a characteristic representative of vibration of the cylinder sleeve, or liner; and means (4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13) analyzing said signal with reference to a predetermined level (12) and deriving an alarm output (14) if the signal exceeds said predetermined level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the transducer element (3; 103) is hermetically sealed in the cylinder sleeve (1).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus to monitor the operation of a multi-cylinder engine comprising a plurality of apparatus according to claim 18, one for each cylinder; means (15) combining the output signals from the transducers to provide a combined output signal forming a dynamic reference signal; and means (17) comparing the combined dynamic reference signal with the signals derived from the indidual transducers of the individual cylinders to provide an alarm output if the signal from any one individual cylinder deviates from the dynamic reference signal by a predetermined amount.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 comprising means (24'') generating an engine operation signal representative of an engine operating parameter; logic means (23) logically combining said dynamic reference signal, said individual output signals from the individual cylinders, and said operation signal, and deriving a control output signal; and feedback circuit means (23'', 25) controlling engine operation under command of said control output signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2192863A
Cited
US2465735A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |