US4130013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for using fuel pressure to trigger an injection timing device
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1977-12-27
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Granted: 1978-12-19
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Expires: 1997-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A strain gauge transducer device externally mounted on a fuel line leading to a diesel engine and a circuit for developing engine timing signals from the transducer device output. The circuit includes a peak voltage detector to detect a peak signal from the transducer device output and a scaling potentiometer which attenuates the peak signal by a preset percentage to a level corresponding to the desired fuel pressure. A comparator compares the attenuated signal to the transducer device output and produces a timing signal when the latter is equal to or exceeds the former.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Bailey
- 👤 Ronald K. Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/02; G01L9/04; G01L9/0001; G01L9/0002; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing fuel injection timing information to set the timing of an engine, comprising: (a) running the engine under a certain condition; (b) sensing the pressure of fuel in a fuel line with a pressure sensing means; (c) generating a first variable amplitude output signal with said pressure sensing means, said first signal having fuel pressure information; (d) generating a second signal proportional to a peak amplitude of said first variable signal; (e) comparing said second signal with said first variable signal; and (f) generating a third signal when said first signal is at least equal to said second signal to produce the timing information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing fuel injection timing information to set the timing of an engine, comprising: (a) running the engine under a certain condition; (b) sensing the pressure of fuel in a fuel line with a pressure sensing means; (c) generating a first variable amplitude output signal with said pressure sensing means, said first signal having fuel pressure information; (d) generating a second signal proportional to a peak amplitude of said first variable signal; (e) comparing said second signal with said first variable signal; and (f) generating a third signal when said first signal is at least equal to said second signal to produce the timing information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of generating said second signal comprises: (a) detecting the peak amplitude of said first signal; (b) producing a peak amplitude signal; and (c) attenuating said peak amplitude signal by a predetermined percent of the peak amplitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said peak amplitude signal is attenuated to a level corresponding to a desired fuel pressure in the fuel line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of attenuating comprises: (a) feeding said peak amplitude signal to a potentiometer; and (b) presetting said potentiometer so as to produce said attenuated peak amplitude signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of peak detecting comprises: (a) generating a status signal indicating detection of the peak amplitude of said first signal; and (b) storing the peak amplitude so as to ignore any succeeding peak amplitudes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for triggering a timing indicator to adjust the engine timing of a vehicle having a fuel injection system, including a fuel line leading to the engine, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for sensing fuel pressure in said fuel line and generating a first variable amplitude signal having fuel pressure information; (b) means, responsive to said first signal, for generating a second signal corresponding to the peak amplitude of said first signal; (c) means, responsive to said second signal, for generating a third signal proportional to said second signal and having information relating to a predetermined fuel pressure in said line; and (d) means, responsive to said first signal and said third signal, for generating a triggering signal when said first signal at least equals said third signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for triggering a timing indicator to adjust the engine timing of a vehicle having a fuel injection system, including a fuel line leading to the engine, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for sensing fuel pressure in said fuel line and generating a first variable amplitude signal having fuel pressure information; (b) means, responsive to said first signal, for generating a second signal corresponding to the peak amplitude of said first signal; (c) means, responsive to said second signal, for generating a third signal proportional to said second signal and having information relating to a predetermined fuel pressure in said line; and (d) means, responsive to said first signal and said third signal, for generating a triggering signal when said first signal at least equals said third signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said sensing and first signal generating means comprises a pressure transducer which is sensitive to factors other than fuel pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said third signal generating means comprises means for attenuating said second signal by a predetermined percentage of said second signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pressure transducer is mountable about the circumference of said fuel line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for attenuating comprises: (a) a potentiometer for attenuating said second signal; and (b) an amplifier for receiving said attenuated second signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second signal generating means comprises: (a) a signal detector for detecting the peak amplitude of said first signal; and (b) means for holding the peak amplitude of said first signal so as to ignore succeeding peak amplitudes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said triggering signal generating means comprises a comparator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3698249A
Cited
US3898885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-18 | 1982-06-19 | 1982-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-18 | 1986-06-19 | 1986-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-18 | 1990-06-19 | 1990-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |