Internal combustion engine reactor protective control system
First Claim
1. In an internal combustion engine system in which the engine has a normal operating temperature above ambient temperature, the system having a catalytic reactor and a reactor protective system includingengine operation sensing means (26-29) located in sensing relation to at least two of the cylinders of the engine and sensing a characteristic of a combustion event in the respective cylinder to monitor combustion of fuel and air supplied thereto, and providing a combustion monitor signal upon detection of conditions indicative of failure of combustion in a respective cylinder;
- andinterrupting means (16-19;
25) controlled by said monitor signal interrupting supply of combustible mixture of air and fuel to the respective cylinder to protect the reactor against entry of uncombusted mixture thereinto,the improvement comprisinga low-temperature sensor means (45, 23, 24;
26-29) providing an override signal to said interrupting means (16-19;
25) to disable said interrupting means when the sensed temperature is below normal engine operating temperature level at which the exhaust gases have a predetermined temperature sufficient for detoxification in the catalytic reactor, the sensor being in temperature sensing relation with a component of the engine system and providing an output signal (41'"'"') when the temperature of the component is below said normal level, to disable said interrupting means and permit application of combustible air-fuel mixture to the engine regardless of presence of a combustion monitor signal indicative of failure of combustion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing means is provided to monitor combustion of fuel and air supplied to an internal combustion engine, for example by sensing ignition pulses, combustion pressure, or cylinder temperature. Signals, as sensed, are compared and if one of these signals is extreme with respect to an average and, at the same time, the temperature of a catalytic reactor in the exhaust system becomes excessive, supply of the combustible fuel-air mixture to the specific cylinder is interrupted. To permit starting with unequal heating of cylinders, interruption of supply of the combustible fuel-air mixture is cancelled during starting, as sensed, for example, by closing of the starting switch, or low temperature in the engine system.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In an internal combustion engine system in which the engine has a normal operating temperature above ambient temperature, the system having a catalytic reactor and a reactor protective system including
engine operation sensing means (26-29) located in sensing relation to at least two of the cylinders of the engine and sensing a characteristic of a combustion event in the respective cylinder to monitor combustion of fuel and air supplied thereto, and providing a combustion monitor signal upon detection of conditions indicative of failure of combustion in a respective cylinder; - and
interrupting means (16-19;
25) controlled by said monitor signal interrupting supply of combustible mixture of air and fuel to the respective cylinder to protect the reactor against entry of uncombusted mixture thereinto,the improvement comprising a low-temperature sensor means (45, 23, 24;
26-29) providing an override signal to said interrupting means (16-19;
25) to disable said interrupting means when the sensed temperature is below normal engine operating temperature level at which the exhaust gases have a predetermined temperature sufficient for detoxification in the catalytic reactor, the sensor being in temperature sensing relation with a component of the engine system and providing an output signal (41'"'"') when the temperature of the component is below said normal level, to disable said interrupting means and permit application of combustible air-fuel mixture to the engine regardless of presence of a combustion monitor signal indicative of failure of combustion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification