Method and Apparatus for Monitoring the Restriction Level of a Vehicular Air Filter Element

• US 20080229720A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Benscoter, Scott J., Staat, Lawrence A., Van Vechten, Roger G., Stenson, Dennis P., Mc Cormick, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/290
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/60 for the intake of internal combustion engines or turbines intake systems for vehicles comprising filters F02M35/024
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/444 by flow measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/446 by pressure measuring
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/024 using filters, e.g. moistened F02M35/026 takes precedence; cleaning of the filtering material F02M35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/09 Clogging indicators ; Diagnosis or testing of air cleaners sensors therefore F02M35/10373
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/1038 for temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10386 for flow rate air flow meters in air cleaners F02M35/021; circuit arrangements for generating control signals by measuring intake air flow F02D41/18

Abstract

A process is provided for monitoring the filter restriction level of a filter element. The filter element is utilized by an air induction system deployed on a vehicle that includes a mass air flow sensor, a manifold pressure sensor, and a throttle position sensor. The process includes receiving (i) throttle position from the throttle position sensor, (ii) mass flow rate from the mass air flow sensor, and (iii) manifold pressure from the manifold pressure sensor. A reference pressure is determined from the received mass flow rate and the received throttle position, a pressure differential is established between the reference pressure and the received manifold pressure, and a filter restriction level is identified from the established pressure differential and the received mass flow rate.

Claims

1. A process for monitoring the filter restriction level of a filter element utilized by an air induction system deployed on a vehicle that includes a mass air flow sensor, a manifold pressure sensor, and a throttle position sensor, the process comprising:

receiving (i) throttle position from the throttle position sensor, (ii) mass flow rate from the mass air flow sensor, and (iii) manifold pressure from the manifold pressure sensor;

determining a reference pressure from the received mass flow rate and the received throttle position;

establishing a pressure differential between the reference pressure and the received manifold pressure; and

identifying a filter restriction level from the established pressure differential and the received mass flow rate.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of determining comprises comparing the received mass flow rate to a predetermined characteristic associated with the received throttle position.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined characteristic is a three-dimensional look-up table.

4. A process according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined characteristic is a function of mass flow rate versus reference pressure.

5. A process according to claim 4 further comprising selecting the function from a family of functions each associated with a different throttle position.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of identifying comprises comparing the received mass flow rate and the established pressure differential to a plurality of predetermined characteristic each associated with a different air filter restriction level.

7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of predetermined characteristics comprises a three-dimensional look-up table.

8. A process according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of predetermined characteristics comprises a family of functions of mass flow rate versus pressure differential.

9. A process according to claim 1 further comprising:

comparing a current operational parameter of the vehicle to a predetermined threshold; and

identifying a filter restriction level when the current operational parameter passes the predetermined threshold.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the predetermined threshold is associated with one of the group consisting of engine RPM, vehicle speed, and throttle position.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle further comprises a change filter indicator, and wherein the method further comprising:

comparing the identified filter restriction level to a threshold restriction level; and

activating the change filter indicator if the identified filter restriction level exceeds the threshold restriction level.

12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the change filter indicator comprises a display, and wherein the step of activating the change filter indicator comprises generating a change filter message on the display.

13. A process according to claim 12 further comprising:

determining additional filter status information; and

displaying the additional filter status information on the display.

14. A process according to claim 13 wherein the additional filter status information comprises remaining filter element life.

15. A filter restriction monitoring system configured to monitor filter restriction level of a filter element utilized by an air induction system deployed on a vehicle that includes a mass air flow sensor, a manifold pressure sensor, and a throttle position sensor, the system comprising:

means for receiving (i) throttle position from the throttle position sensor, (ii) mass flow rate from the mass air flow sensor, and (iii) manifold pressure from the manifold pressure sensor;

means for determining a reference pressure from the received mass flow rate and the received throttle position;

means for establishing a pressure differential between the reference pressure and the received manifold pressure; and

means for identifying a filter restriction level from the established pressure differential and the received mass flow rate.

16. A filter restriction monitoring system deployed on a vehicle, comprising:

an air induction system, comprising;

an air filter element; and

a plurality of engine control sensors configured to measure operational characteristics of the air induction system; and

a processor coupled to said plurality of engine control sensors, said processor configured to receive data from said plurality of engine control sensors and determine therefrom the filter restriction level of said air filter element.

17. A filter restriction monitoring system according to claim 16 further comprising a change filter indicator coupled to said processor, said processor configured to activate said change filter indicator when the determined filter restriction level exceeds a predetermined threshold.

18. A filter restriction monitoring system according to claim 17 wherein said change filter indicator comprises a display and wherein said processor is configured to generate a change filter message on said display when the determined filter restriction level exceeds the predetermined threshold.

19. A filter restriction monitoring system according to claim 16 wherein said plurality of engine control sensors comprises:

a mass air flow sensor;

a manifold pressure sensor; and

a throttle position sensor.

20. A filter restriction monitoring system according to claim 19 wherein said plurality of engine control sensors further comprises at least one sensor from the group consisting of an inlet air temperature sensor, an engine RPM sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a vehicle mileage recorder, and a barometric sensor.