US4919099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Combustion monitoring
Assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
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Filing: 1988-03-14
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Granted: 1990-04-24
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Expires: 2008-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of monitoring combustion within a cylinder of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising deriving first and second electrical signals representative of light intensity within the cylinder by means of first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response, said first and second optical transducers observing the combustion event at a common location, or at closely adjacent locations, and, establishing a signal representing the ratio of said first and second electrical signals, said ratio signal being used as, or to obtain, a control parameter for an engine control system. The invention also resides in apparatus for monitoring combustion in accordance with the above method.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Extance
- 👤 Roger J. Hazelden
- 👤 David Nutton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:10
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/022; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1444; F02D41/146; F02D41/1461; F02D41/1462; G; G01; G01L; G01L23/00; G01L23/08; G01L23/16; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/10; G01M15/102; G01M15/108; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02D35/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of monitoring combustion within a cylinder of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising deriving first and second intensity signals representative of light intensity within the cylinder by means of first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response, said first and second optical transducers observing the combustion event at a common location, or at closely adjacent locations, establishing a ratio signal representing the ratio of said first and second intensity signals and having a fast rising leading edge, and using said fast rising leading edge of said ratio signal as, or to obtain, a control parameter for controlling at least one engine function by an engine control system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of monitoring combustion within a cylinder of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising deriving first and second intensity signals representative of light intensity within the cylinder by means of first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response, said first and second optical transducers observing the combustion event at a common location, or at closely adjacent locations, establishing a ratio signal representing the ratio of said first and second intensity signals and having a fast rising leading edge, and using said fast rising leading edge of said ratio signal as, or to obtain, a control parameter for controlling at least one engine function by an engine control system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control parameter is derived from the differential of said ratio signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control parameter is obtained by observing when the value of said ratio signal exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in said engine is a compression ignition engine (self-igniting/diesel engine) and the function which is controlled is the point in the engine cycle at which fuel is injected into the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the engine is a spark ignition engine and the engine function which is controlled is the air/fuel ratio of the engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein an additional controlled function is the point in the engine cycle at which the ignition spark is generated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ratio signal exhibits a minimum immediately following a peak of the fast rising leading edge thereof, and said minimum is used to effect control over the air/fuel ratio of the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ratio signal is a logarithm of the ratio of said first and second intensity signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said signal representing said ratio is a logarithm of the ratio.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ratio signal is a logarithm of the ratio of said first and second intensity signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ratio signal is a logarithm of the ratio of said first and second intensity signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of monitoring the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) content of the exhaust of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including monitoring light intensity within the cylinder, deriving first and second electrical signals representative of light intensity within the cylinder by means of first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response, said first and second optical transducers observing the combustion event at a common location, or at closely adjacent locations, and, establishing a signal representing the ratio of said first and second electrical signals, said ratio signal being used as, or to obtain, a control parameter for an engine control system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of monitoring the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) content of the exhaust of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including monitoring light intensity within the cylinder, deriving first and second electrical signals representative of light intensity within the cylinder by means of first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response, said first and second optical transducers observing the combustion event at a common location, or at closely adjacent locations, and, establishing a signal representing the ratio of said first and second electrical signals, said ratio signal being used as, or to obtain, a control parameter for an engine control system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for monitoring the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) content of the exhaust of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising light conduction means having one end exposed within the combustion chamber of the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and its opposite end communicating with sensor means comprising first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response for providing respective first and second intensity signals, and, means for establishing a signal representing the ratio of the first and second intensity signals produced by said first and second transducers, and for producing an output signal derived from said ratio signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for monitoring the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) content of the exhaust of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising light conduction means having one end exposed within the combustion chamber of the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and its opposite end communicating with sensor means comprising first and second optical transducers of spaced spectral response for providing respective first and second intensity signals, and, means for establishing a signal representing the ratio of the first and second intensity signals produced by said first and second transducers, and for producing an output signal derived from said ratio signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said ratio signal is a logarithm of the ratio of said first and second intensity signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-23 | 1993-10-23 | 1994-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-23 | 1997-10-23 | 1998-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-10-23 | 2002-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |