US5076237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Means and method for measuring and controlling smoke from an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Barrack Technology Ltd
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Filing: 1990-01-11
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Granted: 1991-12-31
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Expires: 2010-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A means and method for measuring and controlling smoke emissions from an internal combustion engine using a luminosity probe which measures the luminosity of soot in a combustion chamber of the engine. The luminosity signals generated by the probe are then used to measure smoke emissions based on an equation developed by the inventors which correlates the actual smoke being emitted from the exhaust with a predicted smoke emission value resulting from the luminosity signals. This smoke emission measurement can, in turn, be used in an engine control loop to control smoke emissions.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter G. Hartman
- 👤 Steven L. Plee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:45
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B77/00; F02B77/08; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1444; F02D41/1451; G; G01; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/10; G01M15/102; G01M15/108; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A means for measuring smoke emissions from an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for delivering fuel into the combustion chamber, means for delivering air to the combustion chamber, means for causing combustion to occur within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber, and means electrically connected to said luminosity detecting means for generating a luminosity signal indicative of the detected luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in eh combustion chamber and for measuring exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A means for measuring smoke emissions from an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for delivering fuel into the combustion chamber, means for delivering air to the combustion chamber, means for causing combustion to occur within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber, and means electrically connected to said luminosity detecting means for generating a luminosity signal indicative of the detected luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in eh combustion chamber and for measuring exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity signal in relation to crank angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein the exhaust soot emissions from the engine are measured on the basis of the start and end of luminosity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 4, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of start and end of luminosity to maintain a desired end of luminosity at a particular crank angle so as to control exhaust emissions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions independent of engine parameters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions on a cycle to cycle basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine has a plurality of combustion chambers, said fuel delivering means delivers fuel into each combustion chamber, said air delivering means delivers air to each combustion chamber, said combustion causing means causes combustion to occur within each combustion chamber, and said detecting means detects the luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in each combustion chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 8, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions on a chamber to chamber basis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity signal for adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to maintain at least one parameter of the luminosity signal at a desired crank angle so as to control exhaust emissions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 10, wherein said internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 10, wherein the exhaust soot emissions from the engine are measured on the basis of the start and end of luminosity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 12, wherein said measuring means measures exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of start and end of luminosity for adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to maintain a desired end of luminosity at a particular crank angle so as to control exhaust emissions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to maintain at least one parameter of the luminosity signal at a desired crank angle so as to control exhaust emissions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for adjusting at least one parameter of the engine adjusts fuel delivery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 14, wherein means for adjusting at least one parameter of the engine adjusts fuel injection timing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A means for measuring smoke as recited in claim 14, wherein the engine includes a turbocharger waste gate and wherein means for adjusting at least one parameter of the engine adjusts turbocharger waste gate position.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for measuring smoke emissions from an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, comprising the steps of delivering fuel into the combustion chamber, delivering air to the combustion chamber, causing combustion to occur within the combustion chamber, detecting the luminosity of soot in the combustion chamber, generating a curve indicative of the detected luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber and measuring exhaust soot emission from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity curve.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for measuring smoke emissions from an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, comprising the steps of delivering fuel into the combustion chamber, delivering air to the combustion chamber, causing combustion to occur within the combustion chamber, detecting the luminosity of soot in the combustion chamber, generating a curve indicative of the detected luminosity including at least a portion of the soot radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber and measuring exhaust soot emission from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity curve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 18, wherein said internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 18, wherein said measuring step measures exhaust soot emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity curve in relation to crank angle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 18, wherein the exhaust soot emissions from the engine are measured on the basis of the start and end of luminosity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 21, wherein in said measuring step exhaust soot emissions from the engine are measured on the basis of start and end of luminosity to maintain a desired end of luminosity at a particular crank angle so as to control exhaust soot emissions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to maintain at least one parameter of the luminosity curve at a desired crank angle so as to control exhaust soot emissions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 23, wherein said adjusting step comprises adjusting fuel delivery.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 23, wherein said adjusting step comprises adjusting fuel injecting timing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for measuring smoke as recited in claim 23, wherein said adjusting step comprises adjusting turbocharger waste gate position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
118 words
A means for measuring particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for delivering fuel into the combustion chamber, means for delivering air to the combustion chamber, means for causing combustion to occur within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity including at least a portion of the particulate matter radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber, and means electrically connected to said luminosity detecting means for generating a luminosity signal based on the detected luminosity including at least a portion of the particulate matter radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber and for measuring particulate emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
118 words
A means for measuring particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for delivering fuel into the combustion chamber, means for delivering air to the combustion chamber, means for causing combustion to occur within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity including at least a portion of the particulate matter radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber, and means electrically connected to said luminosity detecting means for generating a luminosity signal based on the detected luminosity including at least a portion of the particulate matter radiation spectrum in the combustion chamber and for measuring particulate emissions from the engine on the basis of at least one parameter of the luminosity signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A means for measuring particulate emissions as recited in claim 27, wherein said measuring means measures particulate emissions during operation of the engine at high smoke conditions.
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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) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |