Alternating current control apparatus and method for glow plugs
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling the power consumed by a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a voltage sensor for sensing the voltage across a glow plug and producing a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage;
a memory device for storing a software map containing a plurality of preselected voltage magnitudes that correspond to a plurality of engine operating parameters;
a microprocessor for receiving the sensed signal, the microprocessor selecting the one of the plurality of preselected voltage magnitudes, comparing the magnitude of the sensed signal with the preselected magnitude, and responsively producing a current command signal; and
an alternator for receiving the current command signal and responsively delivering alternating current to the glow plugs.
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Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is disclosed. A voltage sensor produces a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage across a glow plug. A microprocessor compares the magnitude of the sensed signal with a preselected magnitude indicative of a predetermined temperature glow plug and responsively produces a current command signal. An alternator receives the current command signal and responsively delivers alternating current to the glow plugs.
38 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling the power consumed by a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a voltage sensor for sensing the voltage across a glow plug and producing a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage; a memory device for storing a software map containing a plurality of preselected voltage magnitudes that correspond to a plurality of engine operating parameters; a microprocessor for receiving the sensed signal, the microprocessor selecting the one of the plurality of preselected voltage magnitudes, comparing the magnitude of the sensed signal with the preselected magnitude, and responsively producing a current command signal; and an alternator for receiving the current command signal and responsively delivering alternating current to the glow plugs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a voltage sensor for sensing the voltage across a glow plug and producing a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage; a current sensor for sensing the current across a glow plug and producing a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed current; a divider for receiving the sensed voltage and current signals, dividing the sensed signals, and producing a sensed resistance signal; a memory device for storing a software map containing a plurality of preselected resistance magnitudes that correspond to a plurality of engine operating parameters; a microprocessor for receiving the sensed signal, the microprocessor selecting the one of the plurality of preselected resistance magnitudes that is indicative of a predetermined glow plug temperature, comparing the magnitude of the sensed signal with the preselected magnitude, and responsively producing a current command signal; and an alternator for receiving the current command signal and responsively delivering alternating current to the glow plugs. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a voltage sensor for sensing the voltage across the plurality of glow plugs and producing a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage; a current sensor associated with each glow plug for sensing the current across each glow plug and producing a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed current; a divider for receiving the sensed voltage and current signals, dividing the sensed signals, and producing a sensed resistance signal indicative of the average resistance of the plurality of glow plugs; a microprocessor for receiving the sensed resistance signal , comparing the magnitude of the sensed signal with a preselected magnitude indicative of a predetermined temperature glow plug, and responsively producing a current command signal; and an alternator for receiving the current command signal and responsively delivering alternating current to the glow plugs. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling the temperature of a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
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sensing the voltage across the plurality of glow plugs and producing signals relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage; sensing the current across the plurality of glow plugs and producing signals relative to the magnitude of the sensed current; receiving the sensed voltage and current signals, dividing the sensed signals, and producing a sensed resistance signal indicative of the average resistance of the glow plugs; receiving the sensed resistance signal, comparing the magnitude of the sensed resistance signal with a preselected magnitude indicative of a predetermined glow plug temperature, and responsively producing a current command signal; and receiving the current command signal and responsively delivering alternating current to the glow plugs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification