Diagnostic devices for internal combustion engines and systems for their use

• US 6,609,416 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sena Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sena Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Brock, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, Eric S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrison, Monica D.
• Application Number:
  US10/052,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 731/15, 731/16, 731/173, 731/19.A, 73/35, 73/1.DV, 123/572, 123/574
• US Class Current: 73/114.69
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/08 Safety, indicating or supervising devices thermal insulation F02B77/11; rendering engines inoperative or idling F02D17/04; dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P11/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/24 specially adapted for measuring pressure in inlet or exhaust ducts of internal-combustion engines

Abstract

Internal combustion diagnostic sensing devices, systems in which they are used, and methods for their use. The devices operate by detecting pulses created by the exhaust stream of internal combustion engines using a new and novel sensing device. The systems are comprised of a combination of the sensing devices and internal combustion diagnostic equipment. The devices and systems can be used for diagnostic operations on any internal combustion engine while the engine is operating.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine diagnostic device comprising:

a. an insertable component comprising a housing having a front and a back, said back having centered therein a closed hub having a wall, said closed hub being integrally connected to and surmounted on an annular flange;

said flange being integrally connected to and surmounted on an open hub, said open hub having a wall defining an interior void space, a front, an external surface, a shouldered seat in the wall at the open hub front thereof, and a bottom in the interior void space, said open hub having threads on the external surface and having an opening from the bottom of the void space and through a portion of the closed hub to form an elongated cavity on the interior of the closed hub, said closed hub having at least two second openings leading from the cavity through the closed hub wall and exiting to the outside of the closed hub, there being located in each such second opening, an electrical lead, each said electrical lead having an external end and an internal end, wherein each external end terminates upon exiting the closed hub through one of the second openings, the internal end passing into the elongated cavity and connecting electrically to a wire lead, each wire lead passing through the elongated cavity, through the void space, and connecting electrically to;

b. a piezoelectric diaphragm, which diaphragm is seated in the shouldered seat in the wall;

c. a noise reduction circuit, said noise reduction circuit being connected to and between each of the wire leads at or near the points of connection of the wire leads to the piezoelectric diaphragm;

d. a modulator disc, said modulator disc overlaying the piezoelectric diaphragm and having a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the piezoelectric diaphragm;

e. a receiving component, said receiving component comprising a housing having a front, a back, a side wall defining an interior void space, said side wall threaded on the interior surface, said interior void space having a bottom, which bottom has a saucer-like concave configuration, and, centered in the saucer-like concave configuration, an elongated opening, which elongated opening passes from the saucer-like concave configuration, through the receiving housing, and exiting to the exterior of the receiving component and being terminated by a tube connector.

2. An internal combustion engine diagnostic system, comprising in combination:

(I) an internal combustion diagnostic device as claimed in claim 1 connected electrically to;

(II) an internal combustion engine diagnostic apparatus and,

(III) a tube capable of withstanding high temperatures, connected to the tube connection of the internal combustion diagnostic device.

3. The internal combustion engine diagnostic system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the internal combustion engine diagnostic device is housed in a housing.

4. A method of diagnosing internal combustion engine disorders, the method comprising:

A. inserting the opposite end of the tube not connected to the tube connection of the internal combustion engine diagnostic device into the tailpipe of a vehicle and securing the tube therein;

B. using the internal combustion engine diagnostic system as claimed in claim 2 while the internal combustion engine is operating.

5. A vehicle, said vehicle having installed therein, a device of claim 1, said device being electronically connected to any computer or other electronics located within the vehicle and which are electronically compatible therewith.

6. A method of warning of an internal combustion engine disorder, said method comprising:

(I) installing on or near an internal combustion engine an internal combustion engine diagnostic device of claim 1, said device being electronically connected to a computer or other electronics and electronically compatible therewith;

(II) providing a visible warning apparatus that is triggered by the computer or other electronics when there is an engine disorder indicated by the internal combustion engine diagnostic device.

7. An internal combustion engine diagnostic device comprising:

(i) an insertable component comprising a housing having a front and a back, said back having centered therein a closed hub having a wall, said closed hub being integrally connected to and surmounted on an annular flange;

said flange being integrally connected to and surmounted on an open hub, said open hub having a wall defining an interior void space, a front, an external surface, a shouldered seat in the wall at the open hub front thereof, and a bottom in the interior void space and having an opening from the bottom of the void space and through a portion of the closed hub to form an elongated cavity on the interior of the closed hub, said closed hub having at least two second openings leading from the cavity through the closed hub wall and exiting to the outside of the closed hub, there being located in each such second opening, an electrical lead, each said electrical lead having an external end and an internal end, wherein each external end terminates upon exiting the closed hub through one of the second openings, the internal end passing into the elongated cavity and connecting electrically to a wire lead, each wire lead passing through the elongated cavity, through the void space, and connecting electrically to;

a piezoelectric diaphragm, which diaphragm is seated in the shouldered seat in the wall;

(ii) a noise reduction circuit, said noise reduction circuit being connected to and between each of the wire leads at or near the points of connection of the wire leads to the piezoelectric diaphragm;

(iii) a modulator disc, said modulator disc overlaying the piezoelectric diaphragm and having a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the piezoelectric diaphragm;

a receiving component, said receiving component comprising a housing having a front, a back, a side wall defining an interior void space, said interior void space having a bottom, which bottom has a saucer-like concave configuration, and, centered in the saucer-like concave configuration, an elongated opening, which elongated opening passes from the saucer-like concave configuration, through the receiving housing, and exiting to the exterior of the receiving component and being terminated by a tube connection.