Combustion pressure sensor
First Claim
1. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, a housing component including a first wall having a mounting boss, a second wall spaced from the first wall and having an opening, and an annular wall joining the first and second walls and at least partly defining an access well from the second wall opening to the mounting boss, the first wall substantially defining at least one side of the combustion chamber and flexing in response to varying pressure therein, the second wall being relatively rigid and located away from direct exposure to combustion chamber pressure, and at least a portion of the annular wall being compressible in response to varying combustion chamber pressure, the improvement comprising:
- a sensor including an annular insert and an annular load sensing element, the annular insert being engaged with the second wall within the access well to secure the sensor,the sensor being engaged with the first wall so as to axially load the annular load sensing element in parallel with the compressible portion of the annular wall.
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Abstract
This invention is an annular sensor that measures combustion chamber pressure in an internal combustion engine. The sensor is located in an engine component opening, such as a spark plug well, and is engaged with first and second walls that define the ends of the opening. The first wall is located near the combustion chamber and flexes in response to varying combustion chamber pressure. The second wall is located away from the combustion chamber and remains relatively rigid. Movement of the first wall relative to the second wall due to varying combustion chamber pressure transmits a load to the sensor. The sensor generates an output signal that corresponds to that load which may subsequently be used to control engine functions.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, a housing component including a first wall having a mounting boss, a second wall spaced from the first wall and having an opening, and an annular wall joining the first and second walls and at least partly defining an access well from the second wall opening to the mounting boss, the first wall substantially defining at least one side of the combustion chamber and flexing in response to varying pressure therein, the second wall being relatively rigid and located away from direct exposure to combustion chamber pressure, and at least a portion of the annular wall being compressible in response to varying combustion chamber pressure, the improvement comprising:
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a sensor including an annular insert and an annular load sensing element, the annular insert being engaged with the second wall within the access well to secure the sensor, the sensor being engaged with the first wall so as to axially load the annular load sensing element in parallel with the compressible portion of the annular wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification