Method and system for predictably assessing performance of a fuel pump in a locomotive
First Claim
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1. A method for determining degradation of fuel pump performance in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- sensing a signal indicative of estimated fuel values delivered by the pump, the estimated fuel values constituting a first set of fuel values influenced at least in part by a first set of operational and environmental conditions of the fuel pump;
monitoring at least one variable associated with the fuel pump at the time of the sensing of the estimated fuel values delivered by the pump, said at least one variable being indicative of the first set of operational and environmental conditions of the fuel pump;
providing a database of nominal fuel values based on data collected from a fleet of fuel pumps corresponding to the fuel pump whose performance is being determined, the nominal fuel values constituting a second set of fuel values relative to a second set of operational and environmental conditions for the fuel pumps;
accessing the database in light of the first set of operational and environmental conditions;
adjusting the respective values of one of the first and second sets of fuel values relative to the other to account for differences between the first and second sets of operational and environmental conditions; and
comparing the respective set of adjusted values against said other set of fuel values to determine the relative performance of the fuel pump to the fleet of fuel pumps for detection of incipient failures of the fuel pump.
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Abstract
A method and system for determining degradation of fuel pump performance in a locomotive having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method allows for monitoring a signal indicative of a fuel value delivered by the fuel pump and for adjusting the value of the monitored signal for deviations from an estimated nominal fuel value due to external variables to generate an adjusted fuel value. The method further allows for comparing the value of the adjusted fuel value against the nominal fuel value to determine the performance of the pump.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for determining degradation of fuel pump performance in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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sensing a signal indicative of estimated fuel values delivered by the pump, the estimated fuel values constituting a first set of fuel values influenced at least in part by a first set of operational and environmental conditions of the fuel pump;
monitoring at least one variable associated with the fuel pump at the time of the sensing of the estimated fuel values delivered by the pump, said at least one variable being indicative of the first set of operational and environmental conditions of the fuel pump;
providing a database of nominal fuel values based on data collected from a fleet of fuel pumps corresponding to the fuel pump whose performance is being determined, the nominal fuel values constituting a second set of fuel values relative to a second set of operational and environmental conditions for the fuel pumps;
accessing the database in light of the first set of operational and environmental conditions;
adjusting the respective values of one of the first and second sets of fuel values relative to the other to account for differences between the first and second sets of operational and environmental conditions; and
comparing the respective set of adjusted values against said other set of fuel values to determine the relative performance of the fuel pump to the fleet of fuel pumps for detection of incipient failures of the fuel pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for determining degradation of fuel pump performance in an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to sense a signal indicative of estimated fuel values delivered by the pump, the estimated fuel values constituting a first set of fuel values influenced at least in part by a first set of operational and environmental conditions of the fuel pump;
a module for monitoring at least one variable associated with the fuel pump at the time of the sensing of the estimated fuel values delivered by the pump, said at least one variable being indicative of the first set of operational and environmental conditions of the fuel pump;
a database of nominal fuel values based on data collected from a fleet of fuel pumps corresponding to the fuel pump whose performance is being determined, the nominal fuel values constituting a second set of fuel values relative to a second set of operational and environmental conditions for the fuel pumps;
a processor configured to access the database in light of the first set of operational and environmental conditions, the processor including;
an adjuster module configured to adjust the respective values of one of the first and second sets of fuel values relative to the other to account for differences between the first and second sets of operational and environmental conditions; and
a comparator configured to compare the respective set of adjusted values against said other set of fuel values to determine the relative performance of the fuel pump to the fleet of fuel pumps for detection of incipient failures of the fuel pump. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification