Apparatus and method for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine having an intake manifold, including:
- means for sensing filtered air pressure and responsively producing a filtered air pressure signal;
means for sensing intake manifold pressure and responsively producing an intake manifold pressure signal;
means for sensing intake manifold temperature and responsively producing an intake manifold temperature signal;
means for receiving said intake manifold pressure and temperature signals, responsively determining a density of air at the intake manifold, and producing an air density signal;
means for detecting a low load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said low load condition and producing a low load mass flow air signal;
means for detecting a high load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said high load condition and producing a high load mass flow air signal;
means for receiving said low load and high load condition mass air flow signals and said filtered air pressure signal, responsively determining a restriction value, and responsively producing a restriction signal; and
means for receiving said restriction signal and responsively detecting a plugged condition of the air filter.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting a plugged condition of an air filter uses a computer based model of the air restriction.
107 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine having an intake manifold, including:
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means for sensing filtered air pressure and responsively producing a filtered air pressure signal; means for sensing intake manifold pressure and responsively producing an intake manifold pressure signal; means for sensing intake manifold temperature and responsively producing an intake manifold temperature signal; means for receiving said intake manifold pressure and temperature signals, responsively determining a density of air at the intake manifold, and producing an air density signal; means for detecting a low load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said low load condition and producing a low load mass flow air signal; means for detecting a high load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said high load condition and producing a high load mass flow air signal; means for receiving said low load and high load condition mass air flow signals and said filtered air pressure signal, responsively determining a restriction value, and responsively producing a restriction signal; and means for receiving said restriction signal and responsively detecting a plugged condition of the air filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine having an intake manifold, including the steps of:
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sensing filtered air pressure and responsively producing a filtered air pressure signal; sensing intake manifold pressure and responsively producing an intake manifold pressure signal; sensing intake manifold temperature and responsively producing an intake manifold temperature signal; receiving said intake manifold pressure and temperature signals, responsively determining a density of air at the intake manifold, and producing an air density signal; detecting a low load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said low load condition and producing a low load mass flow air signal; detecting a high load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said high load condition and producing a high load mass flow air signal; receiving said low load and high load condition mass air flow signals and said filtered air pressure signal, responsively determining a restriction value, and responsively producing a restriction signal; and receiving said restriction signal and responsively detecting a plugged condition of the air filter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification