Method and apparatus for testing vehicle exhaust emissions
First Claim
1. A method of spectroscopic testing of exhaust emissions of vehicles having internal combustion engines to estimate whether the emissions of any vehicle meet predetermined standards, comprising:
- moving each said vehicle under its own power along a test track under controlled conditions of operation,said test track having an upwardly inclined portion, a horizontal portion and a downwardly inclined portion, the method comprising the steps of;
(a) moving the vehicle to ascend the upwardly inclined portion at a positive rate of acceleration and within a predetermined first range of velocities, and remotely testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle by spectroscopic means as the vehicle ascends the upwardly inclined portion at a first test point on the upwardly inclined portion;
(b) moving the vehicle across the horizontal portion at a substantially constant velocity and within a predetermined second range of velocities, and remotely testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle by spectroscopic means as the vehicle crosses the horizontal portion at a second test point on the horizontal portion; and
(c) moving the vehicle to descend the downwardly inclined portion at a negative rate of acceleration and within a predetermined third range of velocities, and remotely testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle by spectroscopic means as the vehicle descends the downwardly inclined portion at a third test point on the downwardly inclined portion;
comparing the test results from the first, second and third test points of one vehicle with results for vehicles which meet the predetermined standards, said steps (a), (b) and (c) being performed in any order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a method and apparatus for testing exhaust emissions of vehicles having internal combustion engines. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a test track over which a vehicle is moved under its own power and remote exhaust testers which spectroscopically test exhaust emissions of vehicles as they move over the test track. The apparatus and method of the present invention preferably may be used for pre-screening vehicles as a first step in a testing process utilizing, as a second step, more extensive testing as with stationary testing apparatus. Those vehicles clearly meeting minimum emissions standards can be relatively quickly screened out by the method and apparatus of the present invention and exempted from further, more extensive testing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of spectroscopic testing of exhaust emissions of vehicles having internal combustion engines to estimate whether the emissions of any vehicle meet predetermined standards, comprising:
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moving each said vehicle under its own power along a test track under controlled conditions of operation, said test track having an upwardly inclined portion, a horizontal portion and a downwardly inclined portion, the method comprising the steps of; (a) moving the vehicle to ascend the upwardly inclined portion at a positive rate of acceleration and within a predetermined first range of velocities, and remotely testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle by spectroscopic means as the vehicle ascends the upwardly inclined portion at a first test point on the upwardly inclined portion; (b) moving the vehicle across the horizontal portion at a substantially constant velocity and within a predetermined second range of velocities, and remotely testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle by spectroscopic means as the vehicle crosses the horizontal portion at a second test point on the horizontal portion; and (c) moving the vehicle to descend the downwardly inclined portion at a negative rate of acceleration and within a predetermined third range of velocities, and remotely testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle by spectroscopic means as the vehicle descends the downwardly inclined portion at a third test point on the downwardly inclined portion; comparing the test results from the first, second and third test points of one vehicle with results for vehicles which meet the predetermined standards, said steps (a), (b) and (c) being performed in any order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for spectroscopic testing of exhaust emissions of vehicles having internal combustion engines, comprising:
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(a) a test track over which vehicles are moved under their own power under controlled conditions of operation, said test track having an upwardly inclined portion, a horizontal portion and a downwardly inclined portion; (b) first remote sensing testing means for testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicles by spectroscopic means, said first testing means located at a first test point on the upwardly inclined portion, so as to test the vehicles in a first mode of operation; (c) second remote sensing testing means for testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicles by spectroscopic means, said second testing means located at a second test point on the horizontal portion, so as to test the vehicles in a second mode of operation; (d) third remote sensing testing means for testing the exhaust emissions of the vehicles by spectroscopic means, said third testing means located at a third test point on the downwardly inclined portion, so as to test the vehicles in third mode of operation; and (e) processing means for comparing the test results from the first, second and third test points of one vehicle with results for vehicles which meet the predetermined standards. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification