Thermal imaging system for internal combustion engines
First Claim
1. A thermal imaging system for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a head and a hole extending through said head into said cylinder, said thermal imaging system comprising:
- a lens;
a spark plug having a housing, said spark plug being inserted in said hole in said cylinder head;
an optical housing extending through said spark plug housing, said optical housing having an internal passageway with a distal portion for supporting said lens to provide a field of view within said cylinder and project an image of said field of view through said internal passageway; and
camera means for receiving and recording said image provided by said optical housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal imaging system for use in an internal combustion engine employs a removable optical housing that is inserted through a hole in the cylinder wall or the cylinder head. The distal end of the housing supports a lens made of a material such as polycrystalline spinel or sapphire to provide a desired field of view within the cylinder and to project an image from the field of view through the internal passageway of the optical housing. A camera receives and records the image provided by the lens and optical housing. In one embodiment, the distal portion of the optical housing is secured to the cylinder wall by means of threads or a breech-mount mechanism to permit quick and easy removal and cleaning of the lens. In another embodiment, the distal end of the optical housing is inserted into the cylinder through a spark plug housing. The optical housing is secured to the cylinder head by a formed hole in a support bracket. A thermocouple or heat flux gauge can be mounted to the cylinder wall within the field of view of the thermal imaging system to provide a reference point for temperature measurements.
51 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A thermal imaging system for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a head and a hole extending through said head into said cylinder, said thermal imaging system comprising:
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a lens; a spark plug having a housing, said spark plug being inserted in said hole in said cylinder head; an optical housing extending through said spark plug housing, said optical housing having an internal passageway with a distal portion for supporting said lens to provide a field of view within said cylinder and project an image of said field of view through said internal passageway; and camera means for receiving and recording said image provided by said optical housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A thermal imaging system for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a head and a hole extending through said head into said cylinder, said thermal imaging system comprising:
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a lens; a spark plug having a housing and a space extending through said housing, said spark plug being inserted in said hole in said cylinder head; a tubular optical housing having an internal passageway with a distal opening for insertion into said space in said spark plug housing, said lens being mounted within and sealing said distal opening of said housing to provide a field of view within said cylinder and project an image of said field of view through said internal passageway; camera means for receiving and recording said image provided by said optical housing; and means for removably securing said distal portion of said optical housing to said hole in said cylinder wall. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A thermal imaging system for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a head and a hole extending through said head into said cylinder, said thermal imaging system comprising:
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a spark plug having a housing and a space extending through said housing, said spark plug being inserted in said hole in said cylinder head; an installation socket having an internal passageway for insertion in said hole in said cylinder head, said installation socket having a tube with a distal opening extending along said internal passageway, said tube being inserted into said space in said spark plug housing, said distal opening having a window mounted therein sealing said distal opening; a optical housing with a tubular distal portion for insertion into said tube, said distal portion having an end with an opening; a lens mounted within and sealing said opening of said end of said tubular distal portion of said optical housing to provide a field of view within said cylinder and project an image of said field of view through said optical housing; camera means for receiving and recording said image provided by said optical housing; and means for removably securing said distal portion of said optical housing to said installation socket. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A thermal imaging system for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a head and a hole extending through said head into said cylinder, said thermal imaging system comprising:
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a spark plug having a housing and a space extending through said housing, said spark plug being inserted in said hole in said cylinder head; an installation socket having an internal passageway for insertion in said hole in said cylinder head, said installation socket having a tube with a sealed end and a side opening, said tube extending along said internal passageway and being inserted into said space in said spark plug housing such that said sealed end extends into said cylinder, said side opening having a window mounted therein sealing said side opening; an optical housing with a tubular distal portion with an end for insertion into said tube, said end of said distal portion having a side opening; a lens made of polycrystalline spinel mounted within and sealing said side opening of said end of said tubular distal portion of said optical housing to provide a field of view within said cylinder and project an image of said field of view through said optical housing; camera means for receiving and recording said image provided by said optical housing; and means for removably securing said distal portion of said optical housing to said installation socket. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification