US4412444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for detection of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a fuel injection engine
Assignee: Clevite Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1981-12-29
•
Granted: 1983-11-01
•
Expires: 2001-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting the presence and quantity of fuel in a fuel/air mixture to the cylinders of a fuel injection engine is disclosed. A portion of the fuel/air mixture injected to the engine is diverted through a solid state sensor which, when included in a detection circuit, provides a resistance which is proportional to the amount of fuel in the mixture. The sensor reacts to the presence of the fuel vapors by providing a change in the voltage across the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 II William E. Ketel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for detecting the presence of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in the fuel injection flow through the fuel line to the cylinders of a fuel injection engine comprising the steps of: (a) diverting a portion of the flow through the fuel line into a sample tube; (b) reducing the rate of flow of the diverted portion to a rate of 3-6 feet/second; (c) passing the reduced flow over a sensor of the type comprising a fuel vapor sensitive semiconductor having a signal output proportional to the quantity of fuel vapor in the flow; (d) providing means for monitoring the sensor signal including a programmable controller; and (e) monitoring quantitatively the sensor signal change to detect the presence and amount of said hydrocarbonaceous fuel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for detecting the presence of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in the fuel injection flow through the fuel line to the cylinders of a fuel injection engine comprising the steps of: (a) diverting a portion of the flow through the fuel line into a sample tube; (b) reducing the rate of flow of the diverted portion to a rate of 3-6 feet/second; (c) passing the reduced flow over a sensor of the type comprising a fuel vapor sensitive semiconductor having a signal output proportional to the quantity of fuel vapor in the flow; (d) providing means for monitoring the sensor signal including a programmable controller; and (e) monitoring quantitatively the sensor signal change to detect the presence and amount of said hydrocarbonaceous fuel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of decelerating the reduced flow to a rate of less than 3 feet/second immediately prior to the flow passing over the sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the additional step of decelerating the reduced flow comprises decelerating the reduced flow at a distance of approximately one inch from the sensor, thereby minimizing the rate of flow into the sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring comprises electrically connecting the sensor to a resistor, applying a voltage across said sensor and said resistor and quantitatively monitoring the change in voltage across said sensor and said resistor.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for detecting the presence of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in the fuel injection flow through the fuel line to the cylinders of a fuel injection engine comprising, in combination: (a) a first sample tube connected from the fuel line for receipt of a portion of the fuel line flow and defining a stream containing said hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a substantially vapor state and hydrocarbonaceous particulate matter passing therein; (b) a second sample tube connected to the first sample tube and having an outlet end and a lesser diameter than the first sample tube; (c) means for diverting a sample of the flow in said first sample tube to the second sample tube to reduce the rate of flow of said sample in said second sample tube; and (d) means for detecting the presence of the hydrocarbonaceous fuel, said means for detecting connected to said outlet end of said second sample tube and including a chamber for reducing the flow rate from the second sample tube and an exhaust passage from the chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for detecting the presence of hydrocarbonaceous fuel in the fuel injection flow through the fuel line to the cylinders of a fuel injection engine comprising, in combination: (a) a first sample tube connected from the fuel line for receipt of a portion of the fuel line flow and defining a stream containing said hydrocarbonaceous fuel in a substantially vapor state and hydrocarbonaceous particulate matter passing therein; (b) a second sample tube connected to the first sample tube and having an outlet end and a lesser diameter than the first sample tube; (c) means for diverting a sample of the flow in said first sample tube to the second sample tube to reduce the rate of flow of said sample in said second sample tube; and (d) means for detecting the presence of the hydrocarbonaceous fuel, said means for detecting connected to said outlet end of said second sample tube and including a chamber for reducing the flow rate from the second sample tube and an exhaust passage from the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for detecting the presence of the hydrocarbonaceous fuel comprises a sensor in the chamber connected in an electrical circuit, said circuit including at least one resistor connected in series with said sensor, a power supply connected across said sensor and said resistor to provide a voltage and voltage monitoring means for monitoring changes in voltage drop across the sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sensor is a gas sensitive semiconductor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including heating means for controlling the temperature of said sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first sample tube has a cross-sectional diameter of approximately ten times the cross-sectional diameter of said second sample tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said voltage monitoring means is a programmable controller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3625756A
Cited
US3676820A
Cited
US3644795A
Cited
US3631436A
Cited
US3732519A
Cited
US3835529A
Cited
US3695845A
Cited
US3900815A
Cited
US4050425A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-31 | 1987-05-02 | 1987-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-31 | 1991-05-02 | 1991-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-31 | 1995-05-02 | 1995-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |