Fuel burning efficiency determination system
First Claim
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1. In combination:
- a hydrocarbon combustor with a fuel inlet means, an air intake means and an exhaust means, said combustor having an idle state and an off idle state;
analyzer means associated with said exhaust means for measuring carbon monoxide content, hydrocarbon content, and oxygen content of said exhaust means and producing a first, second and third signal respectively proportionate thereto;
response means connected to said analyzer means for producing, while said hydrocarbon combustor is in said idle state, a first output when said first signal exceeds a predetermined maximum, a second output when said second signal exceeds a second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal exceeds a third predetermined maximum, a third output when said second signal exceeds said second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and said first signal is greater than said third signal, and a fourth output when said second signal exceeds said second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and said third signal is greater than said first signal;
said response means further producing, while said hydrocarbon combustor is in said off idle state, a fifth output when said first signal exceeds a fourth predetermined maximum, a sixth output when said second signal is below a fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is present, a seventh output when said second signal is below said fifth predetermined maximum while said fourth output is present, an eighth output with a ninth output when said signal output exceeds said fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is absent and a tenth output when said second signal exceeds said fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is present; and
display means connected to said response means for displaying information according to said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth outputs.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining fuel burning efficiency in articles which require hydrocarbon combustion for operation, such as noncatalytic converter equipped internal combustion engines, hot water heaters, furnaces and the like.
The invention includes a three gas analyzer which measures the amount of carbon monoxide, oxygen and hydrocarbon in the emissions of the exhaust system.
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In combination:
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a hydrocarbon combustor with a fuel inlet means, an air intake means and an exhaust means, said combustor having an idle state and an off idle state; analyzer means associated with said exhaust means for measuring carbon monoxide content, hydrocarbon content, and oxygen content of said exhaust means and producing a first, second and third signal respectively proportionate thereto; response means connected to said analyzer means for producing, while said hydrocarbon combustor is in said idle state, a first output when said first signal exceeds a predetermined maximum, a second output when said second signal exceeds a second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal exceeds a third predetermined maximum, a third output when said second signal exceeds said second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and said first signal is greater than said third signal, and a fourth output when said second signal exceeds said second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and said third signal is greater than said first signal;
said response means further producing, while said hydrocarbon combustor is in said off idle state, a fifth output when said first signal exceeds a fourth predetermined maximum, a sixth output when said second signal is below a fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is present, a seventh output when said second signal is below said fifth predetermined maximum while said fourth output is present, an eighth output with a ninth output when said signal output exceeds said fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is absent and a tenth output when said second signal exceeds said fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is present; anddisplay means connected to said response means for displaying information according to said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for measuring hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions exhausted from an internal combustion engine having a fuel inlet, an air intake and an exhaust means, the engine having an idle state and an off idle state, said apparatus comprising:
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analyzer means associated with said exhaust means for measuring a carbon monoxide content of said exhaust and producing a first signal proportionate thereto, for measuring a hydrocarbon content of said exhaust and producing a second signal proportionate thereto, and for measuring an oxygen content of said exhaust and producing a third signal proportionate thereto; response means connected to said analyzer means for producing while said hydrocarbon combustor is in said idle state a first output when said first signal exceeds a predetermined maximum, a second output when said second signal exceeds a second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal exceeds a third predetermined maximum, a third output when said second signal exceeds said second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and said first signal is greater than said third signal, and a fourth output when said second signal exceeds said second predetermined maximum while said first signal plus said third signal is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and said third signal is greater than said first signal; said response means further producing, while said hydrocarbon combustor is in said off idle state, a fifth output when said first signal exceeds a fourth predetermined maximum, a sixth output when said second signal is not greater than a fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is present, a seventh output when said second signal is not greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and said fourth output is present, an eighth output with a ninth output when said second signal exceeds said fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is absent, a tenth output when said second signal exceeds said fifth predetermined maximum while said second output is present, an eleventh output when said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth outputs are not produced; and display means connected to said response means for displaying information responsive to said outputs. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A fault analyzer for testing an internal combustion engine with an idle state and an off idle state, a gas analyzer for measuring a carbon monoxide content, a hydrocarbon content, and an oxygen content in the exhaust of the internal combustion engine, and a means for displaying faults, said fault analyzer comprising:
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first means connected to said gas analyzer for producing a first output when the engine is in the idle state and the carbon monoxide content exceeds a predetermined maximum, and a second output when the engine is in the off idle state and the carbon monoxide content exceeds said predetermined maximum; second means connected to the gas analyzer for producing a third output when the engine is in the idle state and the carbon monoxide content is greater than the oxygen content, the oxygen content plus the carbon monoxide content is not greater than a second predetermined maximum, the hydrocarbon content exceeds a third predetermined maximum; third means connected to the gas analyzer for producing a fourth output when the engine is in the idle state and the oxygen content is greater than the carbon monoxide content, the oxygen content plus the carbon monoxide content does not exceed said second predetermined maximum, the hydrocarbon content exceeds said third predetermined maximum; fourth means connected to the gas analyzer for producing a fifth output when the engine is in the idle state and the carbon monoxide content is greater than the oxygen content, the oxygen content plus the carbon monoxide content does not exceed said second predetermined maximum, the hydrocarbon content exceeds said third predetermined maximum; fifth means connected to the gas analyzer for producing a sixth output when the engine is in the off idle state and the oxygen content plus the carbon monoxide content are greater than said second predetermined maximum, the hydrocarbon content is greater than said third predetermined maximum; sixth means for producing a seventh output when the engine is in the idle state, the carbon monoxide content plus the oxygen content are greater than said second predetermined maximum and the hydrocarbon content is greater than said third predetermined maximum; seventh means for producing an eighth output when the engine is in the off idle state and the hydrocarbon content is greater than said third predetermined maximum; eighth means connected to the gas analyzer for producing a ninth output when the engine is in the off idle state and said third output is produced, said seventh output is not produced, and said hydrocarbon content does not exceed said third predetermined maximum; ninth means connected to the gas analyzer for producing a tenth output when the engine is in the off idle state, said seventh output is not produced and said hydrocarbon content does not exceed said third predetermined maximum; tenth means connected to the gas analyzer for producing an eleventh output when the engine is in the off idle state and the hydrocarbon content is not greater than said third predetermined maximum and the carbon monoxide content is not greater than said first predetermined maximum when the engine is in the idle state; eleventh means connected to said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth means and to said means for displaying faults for producing fault information in response to said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh outputs.
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14. A method for distinguishing ignition faults and carburetor faults in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust, said method including the steps of:
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operating the engine at an idle speed; measuring the carbon monoxide content of the exhaust; producing one output if the carbon monoxide content is greater than a first predetermined maximum; measuring the hydrocarbon content of the exhaust; measuring the carbon monoxide content plus the oxygen content when the hydrocarbon content is greater than a second predetermined maximum; producing a second output when the carbon monoxide content plus oxygen content exceeds a third predetermined maximum, a third output when the carbon monoxide content is greater than the oxygen content while the carbon monoxide content plus the oxygen content is not greater than said third predetermined maximum, and a fourth output when the oxygen content is greater than the carbon monoxide content while the carbon monoxide content plus the oxygen content is less than said third predetermined maximum; operating the engine at an off idle speed; measuring the carbon monoxide content of the exhaust producing a fifth output when the carbon monoxide content exceeds a fourth predetermined maximum; measuring the hydrocarbon content of the exhaust; producing a sixth output when the hydrocarbon content is not greater than a fifth predetermined maximum and the carbon monoxide content plus the oxygen content exceeds said third predetermined maximum while the engine operates at said idle speed; producing a seventh output when the hydrocarbon content is not greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and while the engine operates at idle speed the oxygen content is greater than the carbon monoxide content, the carbon monoxide content plus the oxygen content is below said third predetermined maximum and the hydrocarbon content is greater than said second predetermined maximum; producing an eighth output when the hydrocarbon content is not greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and while the engine operates at idle speed, the carbon monoxide content is greater than the oxygen content, the carbon monoxide content plus said oxygen content is less than said third predetermined maximum, and the hydrocarbon content is greater than said second predetermined maximum; producing a ninth output when the hydrocarbon content is greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and, while the engine operates at said idle speed, said third output is not produced; and producing a tenth output when the hydrocarbon content is greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and, while the engine operates at said idle speed, said third output is produced. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An apparatus for determining the efficiency of a hydrocarbon combustor having an exhaust, said apparatus comprising:
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analyzer means for measuring the carbon monoxide content and the oxygen content in the exhaust of the hydrocarbon combustor; response means for producing a first output when said oxygen content plus said carbon monoxide content exceeds a predetermined maximum and the oxygen content is greater than the carbon monoxide content, a second output when said carbon monoxide content plus oxygen content exceed said predetermined maximum and said carbon monoxide content is greater than said oxygen content, and a third output when said carbon monoxide content plus said oxygen content is less than said predetermined maximum; display means connected to said response means for displaying information corresponding to said first, second and third output. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for distinguishing ignition and carburetor faults in an internal combustion engine, said method including the steps of:
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setting limits for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and oxygen plus carbon monoxide; operating the engine at idle speed; measuring a carbon monoxide content in the exhaust of said engine; generating an adjust idle air to fuel ratio message whenever said carbon monoxide content in said exhaust exceeds a first predetermined maximum; measuring a hydrocarbon content in said exhaust; measuring a carbon monoxide plus oxygen content in said exhaust; generating a second message indicating probable carburetor imbalance whenever said hydrocarbon content exceeds a second predetermined maximum and said carbon monoxide plus oxygen content is greater than a third predetermined maximum; measuring an oxygen content in said exhaust; generating a third message indicating probable ignition failure at idle whenever said hydrocarbon content exceeds said second predetermined maximum and said carbon monoxide plus oxygen content is not greater than said third predetermined maximum while said carbon monoxide content is greater than said oxygen content; generating a fourth message indicating probable excess leanness at idle whenever said hydrocarbon content exceeds said second predetermined maximum and said carbon monoxide plus oxygen content is not greater than said predetermined maximum while said oxygen content is greater than said carbon monoxide content; operating the engine at an off idle speed; measuring said carbon monoxide content in said exhaust; generating a fifth message indicating that a carburetor overhaul is required whenever said carbon monoxide content exceeds a fourth predetermined maximum; measuring said hydrocarbon content in said exhaust; generating a sixth message indicating that carburetor must be balanced whenever said hydrocarbon content is not greater than a fifth predetermined maximum and said second message is present; generating a seventh message indicating that air to fuel ratio must be adjusted whenever said hydrocarbon content is not greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and said second message is absent while said fourth message is present; generating an eighth message indicating probable ignition failure off idle with a ninth message indicating further diagnostic steps are necessary whenever said hydrocarbon content is greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and said third message is present; and generating a tenth message indicating that an engine tune up is needed whenever said hydrocarbon content is greater than said fifth predetermined maximum and said third message is absent.
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Specification