Apparatus for evaluating the performance of an internal combustion engine using exhaust gas emission data
First Claim
1. An internal combustion engine analyzer comprising:
- monitoring means connectable to an internal combustion engine for monitoring the operation of the engine for responsively generating timing signals representing the time of firing of each of the cylinders of the engine;
preprocessor means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said timing signals, said preprocessor means selectably operable for inhibiting a selected cylinder of the engine from firing;
exhaust gas measuring means for monitoring the exhaust gas output from the engine for generating a data signal representative of the quantity of a combustion by-product in the exhaust gas output;
visual display means responsive to display signals for generating a visual display; and
processor means communicating with said exhaust gas measuring means, with said preprocessor means and with said visual display means for operating said preprocessor means to inhibit a selected cylinder from firing and for receiving said data signals to provide an indication of the quantity of said combustion by-product in said gas output during firing inhibition of said selected cylinder, said processor means generating first display signals for causing said display means to visually display an indication of said quantity of said combustion by-product, and second display signals for causing said display means to visually display an indication of the cylinder number selected, in visual association with said indication of said quantity of said combustion by-product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved automated engine diagnosing device employing a digital data processor and a cathode ray tube monitor for displaying individual engine cylinder numbers in separate association with correlated values of exhaust gas emissions pollutants. Engine timing data associated with the time of firing of individual cylinders of the engine being tested synchronizes select cylinder firing inhibition for orderly accumulating gas emissions data generated from an exhaust probe placed in the tail pipe of the automobile under test. An automatic sequential firing inhibition and a manually selectable firing inhibition permits dual modes of data acquisition for developing pollutant data to be utilized by the processor for generating the analysis display on the cathode ray tube monitor.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An internal combustion engine analyzer comprising:
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monitoring means connectable to an internal combustion engine for monitoring the operation of the engine for responsively generating timing signals representing the time of firing of each of the cylinders of the engine; preprocessor means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said timing signals, said preprocessor means selectably operable for inhibiting a selected cylinder of the engine from firing; exhaust gas measuring means for monitoring the exhaust gas output from the engine for generating a data signal representative of the quantity of a combustion by-product in the exhaust gas output; visual display means responsive to display signals for generating a visual display; and processor means communicating with said exhaust gas measuring means, with said preprocessor means and with said visual display means for operating said preprocessor means to inhibit a selected cylinder from firing and for receiving said data signals to provide an indication of the quantity of said combustion by-product in said gas output during firing inhibition of said selected cylinder, said processor means generating first display signals for causing said display means to visually display an indication of said quantity of said combustion by-product, and second display signals for causing said display means to visually display an indication of the cylinder number selected, in visual association with said indication of said quantity of said combustion by-product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An internal combustion engine analyzer comprising:
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monitoring means connectable to an internal combustion engine for monitoring the operation of the engine for responsively generating timing signals representing the time of firing of each of the cylinders of the engine; cylinder inhibit means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said timing signals, said cylinder inhibit means selectably operable for inhibiting a selected cylinder of the engine from firing; exhaust gas measuring means for monitoring the exhaust gas output from the engine for generating a data signal representative of the quantity of a combustion by-product in the exhaust gas output; visual display means for generating a visual display of a change in the combustion by-product caused by cylinder firing inhibition; processor means communicating with said exhaust gas measuring means and with said visual display means for receiving said data signals and responsively controlling said visual display means for causing said display means to visually display indicia representative of the change in the combustion by-product due to selected cylinder inhibition, said processor means being instructable for operating said cylinder inhibit means to inhibit a selected cylinder from firing; and manual control means connected to said processor means and being selectively actuable for instructing said processor means to cause firing inhibition of a selected cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An internal combustion engine analyzer comprising:
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monitoring means connectable to an internal combustion engine for monitoring the operation of the engine for responsively generating timing signals representing the time of firing of each of the cylinders of the engine; cylinder inhibit means connected to said monitoring means for receiving said timing signals, said cylinder inhibit means selectably operable for inhibiting a selected cylinder of the engine from firing; exhaust gas measuring means for monitoring the concentration of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas output from the engine for generating a data signal representative of said concentration within a first range of ppm values, said exhaust gas measuring means including means for extending said first range to a second range of ppm values for measuring hydrocarbon levels caused by inhibition of firing of a selected cylinder; visual display means for generating a visual display of hydrocarbon concentration levels in said first and said second range; processor means responsive to cylinder firing inhibition for communicating with said exhaust gas measuring means and with said visual display means for generating a display representative of hydrocarbon levels developed in said second range for indicating hydrocarbon levels generated during cylinder inhibition, said processor means being instructable for operating said cylinder inhibit means to inhibit a selected cylinder from firing; and manual control means connected to said processor means and being selectively actuable for instructing said processor means to cause firing inhibition of a selected cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification