Method for detecting a powerloss condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine

Claim 1

A method for detecting a powerless condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine, the engine having a plurality of reciprocating components, at least one cylinder and a crankshaft, comprising: sensing angular velocity of the crankshaft and responsively producing an angular velocity signal; determining a rate of fuel supplied to the one cylinder and responsively producing a fuel rate signal; determining a requested torque for the one cylinder as a function of said angular velocity signal and said fuel rate signal and responsively producing a requested torque signal; determining an indicated torque for the one cylinder as a function of said fuel rate signal and angular velocity signal and responsively producing an indicated torque signal; determining a strength of the one cylinder as a function of the indicated torque signal and the requested torque signal and responsively producing a strength signal; and, determining an indication of powerless of the one cylinder as a function of said strength signal and responsively producing an indication signal.

Claim 2

A method for detecting a powerless condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine, the engine having a plurality of reciprocating components, at least one cylinder and a crankshaft, comprising: sensing angular velocity of the crankshaft and responsively producing an angular velocity signal; determining a rate of fuel supplied to the one cylinder and responsively producing a fuel rate signal; determining a requested torque for the one cylinder as a function of said angular velocity signal and said fuel rate signal and responsively producing a requested torque signal; determining an indicated torque for the one cylinder as a function of said fuel rate signal and angular velocity signal and responsively producing an indicated torque signal; determining a strength of the one cylinder as a function of the indicated torque signal and the requested torque signal and responsively producing a strength signal; and, determining an indication of powerless of the one cylinder as a function of said strength signal and responsively producing an indication signal.

Claim 6

A method for detecting a powerless condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine having first, second, third, and fourth cylinders and a crankshaft, comprising: sensing angular velocity of the crankshaft and responsively producing an angular velocity signal; determining a rate of fuel supplied to the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth fuel rate signals, respectively; determining a requested torque for the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders as a function of said angular velocity and fuel rate signals and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth requested torque signals, respectively; determining an indicated torque for the first, second, third, and fourth cylinder as a function of said first, second, third, and fourth fuel rate and angular velocity signals, respectively, and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth indicated torque signals; determining a strength of the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders as a function of said first indicated torque and requested torque signals, second indicated torque and requested torque signals, third indicated torque and requested torque signals, and fourth indicated torque and requested torque signals, respectively and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth strength signals; determining an indication of powerless of the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders as a function of said first, second, third, and fourth strength signals and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth indication signals.

Claim 7

A method for detecting a powerless condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine having first, second, third, and fourth cylinders and a crankshaft, comprising: sensing angular velocity of the crankshaft and responsively producing an angular velocity signal; determining a rate of fuel supplied to the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth fuel rate signals, respectively; determining a requested torque for the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders as a function of said angular velocity and fuel rate signals and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth requested torque signals, respectively; determining an indicated torque for the first, second, third, and fourth cylinder as a function of said first, second, third, and fourth fuel rate and angular velocity signals, respectively, and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth indicated torque signals; determining a strength of the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders as a function of said first indicated torque and requested torque signals, second indicated torque and requested torque signals, third indicated torque and requested torque signals, and fourth indicated torque and requested torque signals, respectively and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth strength signals; determining an indication of powerless of the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders as a function of said first, second, third, and fourth strength signals and responsively producing first, second, third, and fourth indication signals.

Claim 13

A method for detecting a powerless condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine, the engine having a plurality of reciprocating components, a a plurality of cylinders and a crankshaft, comprising: sensing angular velocity of the crankshaft and responsively producing an angular velocity signal; determining a rate of fuel supplied to the one cylinder and responsively producing a fuel rate signal; receiving said angular velocity and fuel rate signals and responsively calculating a powerless indicator value for each cylinder; comparing said powerless indicator values and identifying a powerless condition; if said powerless condition exists, identifying a cylinder causing said powerless based on said powerless indicator values; and, if said powerless causing cylinder cannot be identified, performing the following steps: (a) calculating a FUEL RATE MODIFIER as a function of said powerless indicator values; (b) repeat said powerless test once for all cylinders, while modifying the duration of a respective cylinder by said FUEL RATE MODIFIER for each test; and, (c) identify said powerless causing cylinder as a function of the powerless indicator values calculated during each test.

Claim 14

A method for detecting a powerless condition of a reciprocating internal combustion engine, the engine having a plurality of reciprocating components, a a plurality of cylinders and a crankshaft, comprising: sensing angular velocity of the crankshaft and responsively producing an angular velocity signal; determining a rate of fuel supplied to the one cylinder and responsively producing a fuel rate signal; receiving said angular velocity and fuel rate signals and responsively calculating a powerless indicator value for each cylinder; comparing said powerless indicator values and identifying a powerless condition; if said powerless condition exists, identifying a cylinder causing said powerless based on said powerless indicator values; and, if said powerless causing cylinder cannot be identified, performing the following steps: (a) calculating a FUEL RATE MODIFIER as a function of said powerless indicator values; (b) repeat said powerless test once for all cylinders, while modifying the duration of a respective cylinder by said FUEL RATE MODIFIER for each test; and, (c) identify said powerless causing cylinder as a function of the powerless indicator values calculated during each test.