Apparatus and method for enabling the calibration and/or monitoring of a combustion process in a combustion engine

• US 6,330,877 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Nordin, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/556,649
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 123/480, 123/406.47, 123/406.58, 123/406.62, 123/406.63, 123/406.65, 123/479, 123/486, 123/488, 701/105, 701/107, 731/19.A, 73/350.3, 731/173
• US Class Current: 123/480
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1432 the system including a filter, e.g. a low pass or high pass filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1015 Engines misfires
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1498 measuring engine roughness
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2432 Methods of calibration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2451 characterised by what is learned or calibrated
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/12 by monitoring vibrations

Abstract

An arrangement and a method for calibration or monitoring a combustion process in a combustion engine, wherein an injection device injects fuel into a combustion chamber of the combustion engine. A noise-detecting sensor at the engine detects a parameter which derives from the noise generated during the combustion process. A control unit receives signal values representing the parameter from the sensors and receives information on the rotation position of a crankshaft in the combustion engine. The control unit determines the crankshaft position when the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber. Thereafter the injection device can be calibrated. Detecting the noise from combustion also makes it possible to assess whether combustion takes place at the intended time.

Claims

1. Arrangement for enabling calibration and/or monitoring of a combustion process in a combustion engine wherein the engine includes a combustion chamber, in the engine at least one injection device for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of the combustion engine, and a rotatable crankshaft,

the arrangement comprising:

at least one noise-detecting sensor at the engine and adapted for detecting at least one parameter which derives from noise generated during the combustion process in the engine;

a control unit adapted for receiving signal values representing the parameter from the at least one sensor and for receiving information on the rotation position of the crankshaft in the combustion engine, the control unit being adapted to determine the time for injection of fuel into the combustion chamber and to determine the crankshaft position at that time.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the detected parameter is amplitude or frequency of the noise.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one filter arranged between the at least one sensor and the control unit, the filter being operable to filter out signal values which do not derive from the combustion process.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the filter includes at least a first filter device adapted to let through only signal values at a specific frequency.

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the filter includes at least a second filter device adapted to let through signal values within at least one frequency range.

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the detected parameter is the frequency of the noise.

7. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the filter includes at least a filter device adapted to let through signal values within at least one frequency range.

8. Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is adapted to store signal values representing the parameter from a combustion process and wherein the injection device comprises a calibrated injection device.

9. Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is further adapted designed to monitor the relevant signal values received which represent the noise corresponding to the stored signal values.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising an indicating device in communication with the control unit, wherein the indicating device is adapted to be activated when the relevant signal values received do not correspond to the stored signal values.

11. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to store signal values representing the parameter from a combustion process and wherein the injection device comprises a calibrated injection device.

12. Arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further adapted designed to monitor the relevant signal values received which represent the noise corresponding to the stored signal values.

13. Arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising an indicating device in communication with the control unit wherein the indicating device is adapted to be activated when the relevant signal values received do not correspond to the stored signal values.

14. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the combustion engine incorporates a multiplicity of combustion chambers which each have an injection device.

15. Method for enabling calibration or monitoring of a combustion process in a combustion engine wherein the engine includes a combustion chamber and at least one injection device for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber,

the method comprising:

detecting at least one parameter deriving from noise generated during the combustion process;

providing information concerning the rotation position of the crankshaft in the engine;

calibrating the injection device to inject fuel on the basis of the information concerning the position of a crankshaft in the combustion engine and signal values representing the parameter, and the time for injection of fuel into the combustion chamber is also based on the position of the crankshaft at said time.

16. Method according to claim 15, further comprising storing signal values representing the parameter from a combustion process with a calibrated injection device for injecting fuel;

continuously monitoring the relevant signal values received, which signal values represent the parameter to determine if the relevant signal values correspond to the stored signal values, and providing an indication if the relevant signal values do not correspond to the stored signal values.