Engine testing system using torque controller designed by μ-synthesis method

• US 6,768,940 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Minoru, Kanke, Masayasu, Sawada, Yoshimasa, Akiyama, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US10/268,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 701/114, 701/110, 701/115, 701/29, 701/35, 701/54, 701/51, 731/173, 731/16, 738/620.1, 738/623.6
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/044 by monitoring power, e.g. by operating the engine with one of the ignitions interrupted; by using acceleration tests

Abstract

An engine testing system has a torque control system which controls at least one of an axial torque and an engine load torque. The torque control system comprises a mechanical transfer function which receives an engine torque and a current and outputs an engine speed, the axial torque and a dynamo speed, an electric transfer function which receives a command current and outputs the current, and a torque controller which receives one of a command axial torque and a command engine load torque, and at least one of the engine speed, the dynamo speed, and the axial torque and outputs the command current. A transfer function representative of the torque controller is designed using the structured singular value synthesis method so as to be adapted to the mechanical transfer function and the electric transfer function.

Claims

1. A system for measuring characteristics of an engine, the system being constructed by connecting the engine with a dynamometer via a shaft, the system comprising:

a torque control system which controls at least one of an axial torque of the shaft and an engine load torque, the torque control system comprising,

a first block represented by a mechanical transfer function, the first block receiving an engine torque and a current and outputting an engine speed, the axial torque and a dynamo speed,

a second block represented by an electric transfer function, the second block receiving a command current and outputting the current, and

a torque controller receiving one of a command axial torque and a command engine load torque, and at least one of the engine speed, the dynamo speed, and the axial torque and outputting the command current, the torque controller being represented by a transfer function designed using the structured singular value synthesis method so as to be adapted to the mechanical transfer function and the electric transfer function.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transfer function of the torque controller is designed so as to achieve the robust stability and the robust performance of the torque control system.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a disturbance input employed in the structured singular value synthesis method includes at least one of the engine torque, a signal added to the axial torque, a signal added to the dynamo torque, a signal added to the command dynamo torque, a signal added to the engine torque, a signal added to the dynamo torque, the command axial torque and the command engine load torque.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controlled variable employed in the structured singular value synthesis method includes at least one of a difference between the command axial torque and the detected axial torque, the command dynamo torque, the dynamo torque, and the axial torque.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a difference between a rotation angle of the dynamometer and a rotation angle of the engine is employed as the axial torque.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when an inertia moment of a member except for the engine and the dynamometer is generated in the torque control system, the inertia moment of the member is employed as a controlled variable in the structured singular value synthesis method.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an uncertainty term employed in the structured singular value synthesis method includes at least one of the engine inertia moment, an axial spring constant of the shaft, and the dynamo inertia moment.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the uncertainty term employed in the structured singular value synthesis method further includes at least one of an inertia moment of a member except for the engine and the dynamometer and an axial spring constant of a member except for the shaft.

9. A method for measuring characteristics of an engine using a torque control system for controlling at least one of an axial torque and an engine load torque in a system of the engine, the dynamometer, and the shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an engine torque and a current and outputting an engine speed, the axial torque and a dynamo speed;

receiving a command current and outputting the current; and

receiving one of a command axial torque and a command engine load torque, and at least one of the engine speed, the dynamo speed, and the axial torque and outputting the command current, by means of a torque controller which is represented by a transfer function designed using the structured singular value synthesis method so as to be adapted to the mechanical transfer function and the electric transfer function.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transfer function of the torque controller is designed so as to achieve the robust stability and the robust performance of the torque control system.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a disturbance input employed in the structured singular value synthesis method includes at least one of the engine torque, a signal added to the axial torque, a signal added to the dynamo torque, a signal added to the command dynamo torque, a signal added to the engine torque, a signal added to the dynamo torque, the command axial torque and the command engine load torque.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a controlled variable employed in the structured singular value synthesis method includes at least one of a difference between the command axial torque and the detected axial torque, the command dynamo torque, the dynamo torque, and the axial torque.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a difference between a rotation angle of the dynamometer and a rotation angle of the engine is employed as the axial torque.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein when an inertia moment of a member except for the engine and the dynamometer is generated in the torque control system, the inertia moment of the member is employed as a controlled variable in the structured singular value synthesis method.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein an uncertainty term employed in the structured singular value synthesis method includes at least one of the engine inertia moment, an axial spring constant of the shaft, and the dynamo inertia moment.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the uncertainty term employed in the structured singular value synthesis method further includes at least one of an inertia moment of a member except for the engine and the dynamometer and an axial spring constant of a member except for the shaft.