METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING MALFUNCTIONS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

• US 3,864,964 A
• Filed: 11/23/1970
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederick L. Voelz
• Original Assignee: Frederick L. Voelz
• Inventors: Voelz, Frederick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US05/092,229
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116,23,117.3,118
• US Class Current: 73/114.71
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/108 using optical methods

Abstract

A method for diagnosing mechanical malfunctions of internal combustion engines resulting in unnecessarily high emissions of carbon monoxide and/or hydrocarbon is disclosed. The method comprises analyzing engine exhaust gases for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon content while the engine is operated at both the idle and power carburetion circuits and comparing the analytical results obtained.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing malfunctions of internal combustion engines which result in exhaust gases having unnecessarily high concentrations of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons comprising:

1. analyzing for the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations of the exhaust gases from said engine, said gases being sampled while said engine is being operated in modes (A) and (B), said engine operational modes being at essentially constant no load conditions at normal operating temperatures and (A) on the idle carburetion circuit and (B) on the main carburetion circuit, the engine being operated in modes (A) and (B) in any chronological sequence; and

2. comparing said carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations, wherein engine malfunctions resulting in an overly-rich air-fuel mixture to said engine are indicated when the carbon monoxide concentration obtained from operational mode (B) exceeds that from operational mode (A) and engine malfunctions resulting in improper fuel combustion are indicated when the hydrocarbon concentration obtained from operational mode (B) exceeds that from operational mode (A); and

3. correcting at least one of said indicated engine malfunctions and thereby reducing at least one of said carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations in said engine exhaust gases.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said engine operated on the main carburetion circuit is operated at a speed of at least about 1200 rpm.

3. correcting at least one of said indicated engine malfunctions and thereby reducing at least one of said carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations in said engine exhaust gases.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said engine operated on the main carburetion circuit is operated at a speed from about 1,200 rpm. to about 4,000 rpm.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations are obtained by means of infra-red spectrometry.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said engine is operated in association with a motor vehicle and the exhaust gases for analysis are sampled from the exhaust system effluent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said engine operated on the main carburetion circuit is operated at a speed from about 2,000 rpm. to about 3,000 rpm.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations are obtained by means of infra-red spectrometry.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said engine is operated in association with a motor vehicle and the exhaust gases for analysis are sampled from the exhaust system effluent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon concentrations are obtained by means of infra-red spectrometry.