Air restriction derate for internal combustion engines
First Claim
1. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet air filter and a plurality of solenoid operated fuel injection units adapted to receive fuel injection signals and responsively inject fuel into associated engine cylinders, wherein the engine is controlled by an electronic controller that produces the fuel injection signals as a function of sensed operating parameters and in accordance with a preselected horsepower curve, comprising the steps of:
- sensing the level of clogging of the air filter and responsively producing a clogging level signal;
comparing the clogging level signal to a preselected value and limiting the maximum engine horsepower in response to the clogging level signal being greater than or equal to the preselected threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet air filter and a plurality of solenoid operated fuel injection units adapted to receive fuel injection signals and responsively inject fuel into associated engine cylinders. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to sense a level of clogging of the air filter and responsively produce a clogging level signal. An electronic controller is adapted to produce the fuel injection signals as a function of sensed operating parameters and in accordance with a preselected horsepower curve. The controller is further adapted to receive the clogging level signal, compare the clogging level signal to a preselected threshold and limit the maximum engine horsepower in response to the clogging level signal being equal to or greater than the preselected threshold.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet air filter and a plurality of solenoid operated fuel injection units adapted to receive fuel injection signals and responsively inject fuel into associated engine cylinders, wherein the engine is controlled by an electronic controller that produces the fuel injection signals as a function of sensed operating parameters and in accordance with a preselected horsepower curve, comprising the steps of:
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sensing the level of clogging of the air filter and responsively producing a clogging level signal; comparing the clogging level signal to a preselected value and limiting the maximum engine horsepower in response to the clogging level signal being greater than or equal to the preselected threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet air filter and a plurality of solenoid operated fuel injection units adapted to receive fuel injection signals and responsively inject fuel into associated engine cylinders, comprising:
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sensor means for sensing a level of clogging of the air filter and responsively producing a clogging level signal; an electronic controller adapted to produce the fuel injection signals as a function of sensed operating parameters and in accordance with a preselected horsepower curve, the controller further being adapted to receive the clogging level signal, compare the clogging level signal to a preselected threshold and limit the maximum engine horsepower in response to the clogging level signal being equal to or greater than the preselected threshold - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet air filter and a plurality of solenoid operated fuel injection units adapted to receive fuel injection signals and responsively inject fuel into associated engine cylinders, comprising:
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a first sensor adapted to sense the pressure of air flowing into the air filter and responsively produce an inlet air pressure signal; a second sensor adapted to sense the pressure of air flowing out of the air filter and responsively produce an outlet air pressure signal; an electronic controller adapted to produce the fuel injection signals as a function of sensed operating parameters and in accordance with a preselected horsepower curve, the controller further being adapted to receive the inlet and outlet air pressure signals and produce the clogging level signal in response to a difference between the inlet and outlet air pressure signals, compare the clogging level signal to a preselected threshold and limit the maximum engine horsepower in response to the clogging level signal being equal to or greater than the preselected threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification