US4796590A — Rapid-response method and devices for detection o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber, receiving at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through this zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents, said compound serving as an additive for detection purposes, and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber within said degree of absorption.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber, receiving at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through this zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents, said compound serving as an additive for detection purposes, and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber within said degree of absorption.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method according to claim 1, for monitoring the gaseous effluents of an internal-combustion engine, wherein said combustion chamber is part of said internal-combustion engine and the richness of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine is controlled as a function of the degree of absorption of ultraviolet radiation, measured in the exhaust gases.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method according to claim 1, for monitoring the gaseous effluents of an internal-combustion engine wherein said combustion chamber is part of said internal-combustion engine and the recycling rate of the exhaust gases is controlled as a function of the degree of absorption of ultraviolet radiation, measured in the exhaust gases.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method according to claim 1, for monitoring the gaseous effluents of an internal-combustion engine with controlled ignition wherein said combustion chamber is part of said internal combustion engine and the engine ignition is controlled as a function of the degree of absorption of ultraviolet radiation, measured in the exhaust gases.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method, according to claim 1, for monitoring the gaseous effluents of a fuel-injected internal-combustion engine, wherein said combustion chamber is part of said internal-combustion engine and the fuel injection is controlled as a function of the degree of absorption of ultraviolet radiation measured in the exhaust gases.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 47 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein said combustion chamber is part of an internal-combustion engine and the governing of the at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber is effected by regulating the richness of an air-fuel mixture supplied to the internal combustion engine.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises adding compounds which absorb ultraviolet radiation to the fuel and/or to the combustion air before entering the combustion chamber, said compounds being normally destroyed by combustion; emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least a part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least a part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through the zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber as a function of said degree of absorption.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises adding compounds which absorb ultraviolet radiation to the fuel and/or to the combustion air before entering the combustion chamber, said compounds being normally destroyed by combustion; emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least a part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least a part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through the zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber as a function of said degree of absorption.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 143 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises adding to the fuel and/or combustion air, before entering the combustion chamber, compounds which react to a greater or lesser degree depending upon combustion quality and which furnish at least one substance with absorbs ultraviolet radiation in the exhaust gases discharged from the combustion chamber; emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through this zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber as a function of said degree of absorption.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 143 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises adding to the fuel and/or combustion air, before entering the combustion chamber, compounds which react to a greater or lesser degree depending upon combustion quality and which furnish at least one substance with absorbs ultraviolet radiation in the exhaust gases discharged from the combustion chamber; emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through this zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber as a function of said degree of absorption.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 128 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which is passed through this zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents, said compound serving as an additive for detection purposes, and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber as a function of said degree of absorption; the measurement of the ultraviolet radiation being carried out in a zone located in the immediate vicinity of the combustion chamber.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 128 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber, which comprises emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which is passed through this zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents, said compound serving as an additive for detection purposes, and governing at least one parameter influencing combustion within said combustion chamber as a function of said degree of absorption; the measurement of the ultraviolet radiation being carried out in a zone located in the immediate vicinity of the combustion chamber.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 164 words

A rapid-response device enabling poor combustion of a lean mixture to be detected by monitoring the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine, which comprises, in combination, a first optical system emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the effluents as the effluents leave the combustion chamber, a second optical system separated from the first optical system by said zone, said second optical system being disposed to receive at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which has traversed said zone and being associated with a means for measuring a degree of absorption of ultraviolet radiation by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents, said optical systems being fitted with ducts admitting a gas for cooling said systems and for cleaning walls of the systems which are in contact with the effluents; said optical systems being disposed in contact with the engine exhaust gases in the immediate vicinity of the exhaust orifice thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 164 words

A rapid-response device enabling poor combustion of a lean mixture to be detected by monitoring the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine, which comprises, in combination, a first optical system emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least part of the effluents as the effluents leave the combustion chamber, a second optical system separated from the first optical system by said zone, said second optical system being disposed to receive at least part of the ultraviolet radiation which has traversed said zone and being associated with a means for measuring a degree of absorption of ultraviolet radiation by a chemical compound contained in the gaseous effluents, said optical systems being fitted with ducts admitting a gas for cooling said systems and for cleaning walls of the systems which are in contact with the effluents; said optical systems being disposed in contact with the engine exhaust gases in the immediate vicinity of the exhaust orifice thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

A device according to claim 10, wherein said means for measuring absorption of ultraviolet radiation is connected with means for regulating the richness of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

A device according to claim 10, wherein said combustion chamber is part of an internal-combustion engine, and said means for measuring absorption of ultraviolet radiation is connected to a means for regulating the recycling rate of the exhaust gases.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

A device according to claim 10, wherein said combustion chamber is part of a controlled-ignition, internal-combustion engine and said means for measuring absorption of ultraviolet radiation is connected to means for regulating the engine ignition.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

A device according to claim 10, wherein said combustion chamber is a fuel-injected, internal-combustion engine and said means for measuring absorption of ultraviolet radiation is connected to means for regulating the fuel injection.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 160 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine which comprises introducing a fuel-air mixture containing a tracer compound, serving as an additive for detection purposes, into the combustion chamber, said tracer compound being a combustible compound that absorbs ultraviolet radiation or a combustible compound capable of producing a reaction product compound that absorbs ultraviolet radiation in case of poor combustion; emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least a part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least a part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through said zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a compound contained in the gaseous effluents that absorbs ultraviolet radiation and regulating at least one parameter influencing the combustion chamber as a function of the degree of absorption of the ultraviolet radiation.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 160 words

A method of regulating combustion of a lean mixture by rapid-response monitoring of the gaseous effluents leaving a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine which comprises introducing a fuel-air mixture containing a tracer compound, serving as an additive for detection purposes, into the combustion chamber, said tracer compound being a combustible compound that absorbs ultraviolet radiation or a combustible compound capable of producing a reaction product compound that absorbs ultraviolet radiation in case of poor combustion; emitting ultraviolet radiation to a zone of small volume traversed by at least a part of the gaseous effluents leaving the combustion chamber; receiving at least a part of the ultraviolet radiation which has passed through said zone; measuring the degree to which the ultraviolet radiation has been absorbed by a compound contained in the gaseous effluents that absorbs ultraviolet radiation and regulating at least one parameter influencing the combustion chamber as a function of the degree of absorption of the ultraviolet radiation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-01-10	1992-07-11	1993-01-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-01-10	1996-07-11	1997-01-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-01-10	2000-07-11	2001-01-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Rapid-response method and devices for detection of poor combustion

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