§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
Patent US5313826A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5313826A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Engine misfire, knock or roughness detection method and apparatus

Assignee: Sensortech LP
•
Filing: 1991-12-10
•
Granted: 1994-05-24
•
Expires: 2011-12-10
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for comparing torsional stress/strain states of a power transmitting member of an internal combustion engine to detect an abnormal combustion condition, including misfire, knock or roughness. Statistical processing steps may be used to detect an abnormal combustion event including: calculating a mean and standard deviation for a set of signals related to the torsional stress induced in the power transmitting member, calculating a difference between a later signal and the mean, calculating a ratio of the difference to the standard deviation, and comparing the ratio to a threshold. The ratio so obtained from a given cylinder may further be compared with one or more other such ratios from other cylinders. In other words, the autocorrelation and/or cross-correlation techniques may be used. A magnetostrictive sensor may preferably be used to obtain the signals relating to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member, such as the engine crankshaft. In addition, the magnetostrictive sensor may include windings to cancel induced electromagnetic interference signals. The magnetostrictive sensor may also generate signals relating to the position of the power transmitting member in addition to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member. Spatial integration techniques may be used to obtain torsional stress/strain signals which are independent of the rotational speed of the power transmitting member. Spatial integration may be performed using variable amplifiers, variable attenuators, switched capacitors or other techniques.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert D. Klauber
  • 👤 Erik B. Vigmostad
  • 👤 Frederick P. Sprague
  • 👤 Joseph V. Mandarino

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 22:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D3/00; G01D3/028; B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/019; G01L; G01L23/00; G01L23/22; G01L23/221; G01L23/223; G01L3/00; G01L3/02; G01L3/04; G01L3/10; G01L3/101; G01L3/102; G01L3/105; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/042; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/11; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/30; B60G2400/60; B60G2400/90; B60G2400/91; B60G2401/00; B60G2401/17; B60G2401/172; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/60; B60G2600/602; B60G2600/604; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/80; B60G2800/802; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
An apparatus for detecting variation in torque in a rotating power transmitting member, said apparatus comprising: a magnetostrictive sensing means which produces a signal related to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member; a means for sensing rotational speed of the power transmitting member, a filter having at least one of a tunable highpass frequency, a tunable lowpass frequency, and a tunable center frequency, and signal processing means cooperating with said rotational speed sensing means and said filter for tuning at least one of the highpass frequency, the lowpass frequency, and the center frequency of said filter responsive to the rotational speed of the power transmitting member so that spatial Fourier components of said signal relative to rotation angle of the power transmitting member are passed by said tunable filter substantially independent of the rotational speed of the power transmitting member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 142 words
An apparatus for detecting variation in torque in a rotating power transmitting member, said apparatus comprising: a magnetostrictive sensing means which produces a signal related to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member; a means for sensing rotational speed of the power transmitting member, a filter having at least one of a tunable highpass frequency, a tunable lowpass frequency, and a tunable center frequency, and signal processing means cooperating with said rotational speed sensing means and said filter for tuning at least one of the highpass frequency, the lowpass frequency, and the center frequency of said filter responsive to the rotational speed of the power transmitting member so that spatial Fourier components of said signal relative to rotation angle of the power transmitting member are passed by said tunable filter substantially independent of the rotational speed of the power transmitting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises an analog circuit filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a digital filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an internal combustion engine, wherein said internal combustion engine comprises an engine block with an opening formed therein, wherein said power transmitting member is operatively connected to said engine, wherein said magnetostrictive sensing means comprises at least in part a magnetostrictive sensor, and wherein said magnetostrictive sensor is positioned in said opening in the engine block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an internal combustion engine wherein said internal combustion engine comprises in part a torque disk such as a flywheel wherein said power transmitting member is operatively connected to said engine, wherein said magnetostrictive sensing means comprises at least in part a magnetostrictive sensor, and wherein said magnetostrictive sensor is positioned adjacent said torque disk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 66 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an internal combustion engine wherein said internal combustion engine comprises in part an engine bearing with an opening formed therein, wherein said power transmitting member is operatively connected to said engine, and wherein said magnetostrictive sensing means comprises at least in part a magnetostrictive sensor, and wherein said magnetostrictive sensor is positioned within said opening of the engine bearing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter functions with a fixed lowpass filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter functions with no lowpass filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter functions with a fixed highpass filter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter functions with no highpass filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one of the tunable highpass frequency, the tunable lowpass frequency, and the tunable center frequency is proportional to rotational speed of the power transmitting member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal processing means comprises a neural network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a digital signal processing filter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4589290A Cited
US4803885A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-05-23 1997-11-22 1998-05-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-05-23 2001-11-22 2002-05-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-05-23 2005-11-22 2006-05-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag