Methods and Apparatus for Analyzing Internal Combustion Engines
First Claim
1. A method of analyzing an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a battery operative to power a starter motor, the method to be performed by an apparatus having a data processing capability, and the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring a time dependence of voltage level or current draw at the battery while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine;
measuring a respective time dependence of pressure at each of one or more locations in the internal combustion engine while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine;
determining a respective value indicative of a compression for each of the plurality of cylinders from the measured time dependence of voltage level or current draw; and
determining the presence or absence of one or more defects in the internal combustion engine from the one or more measured time dependences of pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An internal combustion engine is analyzed by an apparatus having a data processing capability. The engine has a plurality of cylinders and a battery operative to power a starter motor. The apparatus measures a time dependence of voltage level or current draw at the battery while the engine is being cranked by the starter motor. The apparatus also measures a respective time dependence of pressure at each of one or more locations in the engine. From the measured time dependence of voltage level or current draw, the apparatus determines a respective value indicative of a compression for each of the plurality of cylinders. Furthermore, the apparatus determines the presence or absence of one or more defects in the engine from the one or more measured time dependences of pressure.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of analyzing an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a battery operative to power a starter motor, the method to be performed by an apparatus having a data processing capability, and the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring a time dependence of voltage level or current draw at the battery while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine; measuring a respective time dependence of pressure at each of one or more locations in the internal combustion engine while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine; determining a respective value indicative of a compression for each of the plurality of cylinders from the measured time dependence of voltage level or current draw; and determining the presence or absence of one or more defects in the internal combustion engine from the one or more measured time dependences of pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of analyzing an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a crankcase, an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, a liquid cooling system, and a battery operative to power a starter motor, the method to be performed by an apparatus having a data processing capability, and the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring a time dependence of voltage level or current draw at the battery while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine; measuring a respective time dependence of pressure at each of at least one of the crankcase, the intake manifold, the exhaust manifold, and the liquid cooling system while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine; determining a respective value indicative of a compression for each of the plurality of cylinders from the measured time dependence of voltage level or current draw; and determining the presence or absence of one or more defects in the internal combustion engine from the one or more measured time dependences of pressure. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An apparatus for analyzing an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a battery operative to power a starter motor, the apparatus comprising:
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battery probe circuitry operative to measure a time dependence of voltage level or current draw at the battery while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine; one or pressure sensors operative to measure a respective time dependence of pressure at each of one or more locations in the internal combustion engine while the starter motor is cranking the internal combustion engine; a data processor operative to determine a respective value indicative of a compression for each of the plurality of cylinders from the measured time dependence of voltage level or current draw, and to determine the presence or absence of one or more defects in the internal combustion engine from the one or more measured time dependences of pressure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification