US4930478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of operating an engine
Assignee: Barrack Technology Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-05-13
•
Granted: 1990-06-05
•
Expires: 2008-05-13
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine having a luminosity probe and an arrangement for adjusting the running parameters of the engine to obtain the desired luminosity. Also disclosed is an arrangement for maintaining uniformity from cycle to cycle in a given combustion chamber and uniformity combustion in the combustion chambers of a multi-chamber engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L. Plee
- 👤 Peter Hartman
- 👤 Jay K. Martin
- 👤 J. Paul Nolan
- 👤 Donald J. Remboski, Jr.
- 👤 Richard R. Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:23
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/022; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1497; F02D41/1498; G; G01; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/10; F02D2200/00; F02D2200/02; F02D2200/10; F02D2200/1015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of operating an internal combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible fuel/air mixture within the combustion chamber and means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation of the engine from prior to initiation of combustion until after the completion of combustion process, and adjusting the fuel/air ratio to maintain the desired luminosity characteristics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of operating an internal combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible fuel/air mixture within the combustion chamber and means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation of the engine from prior to initiation of combustion until after the completion of combustion process, and adjusting the fuel/air ratio to maintain the desired luminosity characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel/air ratio is adjusted to maintain peak luminosity during the burning cycle.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, means for providing a fuel/air mixture within said combustion chamber, means for igniting the fuel/air mixture, and means for sensing the luminosity of the gases in the combustion chamber during the period from prior to the initiation of combustion until after completion of combustion and adjusting the engine running condition so as to maintain the desired luminosity in relation to output shaft angle.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, means for providing a fuel/air mixture within said combustion chamber, means for igniting the fuel/air mixture, and means for sensing the luminosity of the gases in the combustion chamber during the period from prior to the initiation of combustion until after completion of combustion and adjusting the engine running condition so as to maintain the desired luminosity in relation to output shaft angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the luminosity is maintained at a maximum during the burn cycle at the desired crank angle.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, means for causing combustion to occur in said combustion chamber and means for sensing the luminosity in the combustion chamber, adjusting the running of the engine to maintain uniform luminosity during successive cycles of operation of the engine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, means for causing combustion to occur in said combustion chamber and means for sensing the luminosity in the combustion chamber, adjusting the running of the engine to maintain uniform luminosity during successive cycles of operation of the engine.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine having multiple combustion chambers, means for effecting combustion within said combustion chambers, and means for sensing the luminosity in each of the combustion chambers, comprising the steps of adjusting the running of the engine to maintain uniform luminosity in all of the combustion chambers.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine having multiple combustion chambers, means for effecting combustion within said combustion chambers, and means for sensing the luminosity in each of the combustion chambers, comprising the steps of adjusting the running of the engine to maintain uniform luminosity in all of the combustion chambers.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
47 words
The method of measuring the air/fuel ratio within the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine driving a single cycle comprising the steps of detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber from prior to the initiation of combustion, and calculating the fuel/air ratio from the luminosity signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
47 words
The method of measuring the air/fuel ratio within the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine driving a single cycle comprising the steps of detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber from prior to the initiation of combustion, and calculating the fuel/air ratio from the luminosity signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of measuring the start of combustion in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during a single cycle comprising the steps of sensing the luninosity within the combustion chamber from prior to the initiation of combustion and determining that combustion has begun when the luminosity of the gases in the combustion chamber exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of measuring the start of combustion in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during a single cycle comprising the steps of sensing the luninosity within the combustion chamber from prior to the initiation of combustion and determining that combustion has begun when the luminosity of the gases in the combustion chamber exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of measuring combustion in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the duration when the luminosity exceeds a predetermined value is measured during the single cycle.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of measuring the heat release in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during a single cycle comprising the steps of measuring the luminosity in the combustion chamber during the cycle and relating the value of the luminosity signal to the heat release with the combustion chamber.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of measuring the heat release in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during a single cycle comprising the steps of measuring the luminosity in the combustion chamber during the cycle and relating the value of the luminosity signal to the heat release with the combustion chamber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
49 words
The method of determining the existence of the misfires in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during a single cycle comprising the steps of measuring the luminosity in the combustion chamber, and determining that a misfire has occured if the luminosity signal is below a predetermined value.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
49 words
The method of determining the existence of the misfires in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during a single cycle comprising the steps of measuring the luminosity in the combustion chamber, and determining that a misfire has occured if the luminosity signal is below a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3978720A
Cited
US4393687A
Cited
US4358952A
Cited
US4377086A
Cited
US4369748A
Cited
US4444043A
Cited
US4409815A
Cited
US4422321A
Cited
US4413509A
Cited
US4419212A
Cited
US4468949A
Cited
US4437334A
Cited
US4422323A
Cited
US4425788A
Cited
US4412446A
Cited
US4492108A
Cited
US4463729A
Cited
US4444169A
Cited
US4492121A
Cited
US4487184A
Cited
US4515132A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |