SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING VEHICLE ENGINES

• US 20130173137A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Sukumaran, Suseel, Prasad, Rekha Doddarangaiah, Panigrahi, Kabitanjali, Khadmale, Subodh, Gangwal, Pritamkumar Rameshchandra
• Application Number:
  US13/723,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20130173137A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 45/00 Electrical control not provided for in groups F02D41/00 - F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method includes providing a run-time configurable engine protection configuration that is stored in an engine protection module that is linked to a sensor associated with an engine. The method also includes identifying an engine protection setting corresponding to the engine protection configuration. The engine protection setting includes at least three of a threshold value, a unique message, an action or an alarm. The method further includes presenting the engine protection setting to an operator via an interface. The interface includes at least one of a control panel or a computing device. Also, the method includes receiving, via the interface, an instruction corresponding to a revised engine protection setting. Further the method includes updating, during run-time, the engine protection configuration pursuant to the instruction to reflect the revised engine protection setting, responsive to the receiving of the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

Claims

1. A method for engine protection configuration comprising:

providing a run-time configurable engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection configuration is stored in an engine protection module that is linked to a sensor associated with an engine;

identifying an engine protection setting corresponding to the engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection setting includes at least three of the following;

a threshold value, a unique message, an action, or an alarm;

presenting the engine protection setting to an operator via an interface, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a control panel or a computing device;

receiving, via the interface, an instruction corresponding to a revised engine protection setting; and

,

updating, during run-time, the engine protection configuration, pursuant to the instruction, to reflect the revised engine protection setting, responsive to the receiving of the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is at least one of a temperature, vibration, speed, torque, or fuel consumption.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique message is at least one of a user customizable message or an automatically created message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is at least one of a disable, warning, slowdown request, or shutdown.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm is at least one of a visible or audible alarm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control panel is not power cycled responsive to receiving the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the control panel is an instrument panel associated with at least one of a marine engine system, a marine engine safety system, or a navigation system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine protection setting comprises a corresponding first threshold value, first unique message, and first action, and wherein the revised engine protection setting comprises a corresponding second threshold value, second unique message, and second action that differ from the first threshold value, first unique message, and first action.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine protection setting and the revised engine protection setting each comprise plural engine protection suites, each engine protection suite comprising a corresponding threshold value, message, and action.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a first mode of operation, and wherein the revised engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a second mode of operation.

11. A system for engine protection comprising:

an engine protection module configured for run-time updating of an engine protection configuration associated with an engine, wherein the engine protection configuration comprises an engine protection setting comprising at least three of the following, a threshold value, a unique message, an action, or an alarm; and

a data store configured to store at least one of the engine protection configuration or an alarm log, wherein the alarm log comprises of at least one of a timestamp, an engine state, a threshold indicator, or an alarm message.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a protection handler configured to associate the engine protection configuration with a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an engine parameter of the engine during runtime;

a threshold manager configured to determine when the engine parameter measured by the sensor satisfies the threshold value of the engine protection configuration; and

an action controller configured to select at least one permissible engine operation based on the engine parameter using the engine protection configuration.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the engine operation is at least one of a disable, warning, slowdown request, or shutdown.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising plural configurable engine protection configurations, wherein each engine protection configuration is associated with a unique alarm log.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising an interface configured to allow an operator to at least one of select or modify the engine protection configuration.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the engine protection setting comprises a corresponding first threshold value, first message, and first action, and wherein a revised engine protection configuration comprises a corresponding second threshold value, second message, and second action that differ from the first threshold value, first message, and first action.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the engine protection setting and the revised engine protection setting each comprise plural engine protection suites, each engine protection suit comprising a corresponding threshold value, message, and action.

18. A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct a processor to:

provide a run-time configurable engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection configuration is stored in an engine protection module that is linked to a sensor associated with an engine;

identify an engine protection setting corresponding to the engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection setting includes at least three of the following;

a threshold value, a unique message, an action, or an alarm;

present the engine protection setting to an operator via an interface, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a control panel or a computing device;

receive, via the interface, an instruction corresponding to a revised engine protection setting; and

,

update, during run-time, the engine protection configuration pursuant to the instruction to reflect the revised engine protection setting, responsive to receiving of the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the engine protection setting comprises a corresponding first threshold value, first message, and first action, and wherein the revised engine protection setting comprises a corresponding second threshold value, second message, and second action that differ from the first threshold value, first message, and first action.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the engine protection setting and the revised engine protection setting each comprise plural engine protection suites, each engine protection suite comprising a corresponding threshold value, message, and action.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a first mode of operation, and wherein the revised engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a second mode of operation.