Method and apparatus for processing and display of diesel injection waveform
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for sensing and reporting a synchronizing event from a diesel engine, comprising:
- an engine analyzer with input ports, said analyzer being capable of responding to the signal applied to its input port and including;
an input capability comprised of an analog voltage input, a display feature that displays the equivalent of an oscilloscope waveform in response to a time-variant analog input voltage signal, a control feature that permits user input of control commands, and a programmable processing capability permitting application of input signals to result in different responses in accordance with changed operational settings;
a transducer to convert a sensed transient physical phenomenon into an electrical signal; and
a signal conditioner to transform the output electrical signal of a transducer into a signal at a level compatible with an input into said engine analyzer.
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Abstract
A signal processing apparatus for detecting and displaying the properties of diesel fuel powered compression-ignition engines senses strain pulses in the fuel injection rail structure to perform a variety of testing functions. Among other capabilities, the apparatus permits the user to establish stroboscope timing, to measure engine RPM, to view the relationship between crankshaft position and injection time, and to examine the time-dependent properties of strain pulses on individual fuel injectors in order to evaluate the condition of the diesel engine.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing and reporting a synchronizing event from a diesel engine, comprising:
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an engine analyzer with input ports, said analyzer being capable of responding to the signal applied to its input port and including;
an input capability comprised of an analog voltage input, a display feature that displays the equivalent of an oscilloscope waveform in response to a time-variant analog input voltage signal, a control feature that permits user input of control commands, and a programmable processing capability permitting application of input signals to result in different responses in accordance with changed operational settings;
a transducer to convert a sensed transient physical phenomenon into an electrical signal; and
a signal conditioner to transform the output electrical signal of a transducer into a signal at a level compatible with an input into said engine analyzer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for sensing and reporting a synchronizing event from a diesel engine, comprising:
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an engine analyzer with input ports, said analyzer being capable of responding to the signal applied to its input port;
transducer to convert a sensed transient physical phenomenon into an electrical signal; and
a signal conditioner to transform the output electrical signal of a transducer into a signal at a level compatible with an input into said engine analyzer, said signal conditioner including an electrically powered circuit that adjusts the polarity, quiescent reference voltage level, signal amplitude, and output impedance of an analog input signal to produce an analog output signal proportional to an input signal from a piezoelectric transducer over a range, the output signal further meeting an input level requirement of a unit of test apparatus intended to monitor one or more functions of a fuel-fired reciprocating engine.
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12. An apparatus for sensing and reporting a synchronizing event from a diesel engine, comprising:
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an engine analyzer with input ports, said analyzer being capable of responding to the signal applied to its input port and including;
an embedded software sequence permitting a user to identify the properties of an input impinging on a standard input port as corresponding to one of a multiplicity of types of external phenomena, an embedded software sequence interpreting a transient electrical signal waveform as a strain signal in a high-pressure fuel line, and an embedded software sequence directing a display element of said engine analyzer to display the impinging transient signal as a time-varying voltage function;
a transducer to convert a sensed transient physical phenomenon into an electrical signal; and
a signal conditioner to transform the output electrical signal of a transducer into a signal at a level compatible with an input into said engine analyzer.
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13. An apparatus for sensing and reporting a synchronizing event from a diesel engine, comprising:
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means for sensing transient mechanical strain events in a tube;
means for converting a detected strain event from a mechanical to an electrical phenomenon;
means for amplifying and conditioning an electrical phenomenon into a conventional electrical signal comparable to one normally used to provide an input to a unit of engine test apparatus;
means for receiving an analog voltage input signal;
means for permitting user input of control commands;
programmable means for permitting application of input signals to result in different responses in accordance with changed operational setting;
means for responding to the input signal; and
means for displaying the equivalent of an oscilloscope waveform in response to a time-variant analog input voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for sensing and reporting a synchronizing event from a diesel engine, comprising the steps of:
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sensing transient mechanical strain events in a metallic tube carrying motor fuel;
converting a detected transient strain event from a mechanical to an electrical phenomenon;
adjusting the amplitude and source impedance of a transient electrical phenomenon to correspond to those characteristics as observable in an electrical signal normally used to provide an input to a unit of engine test apparatus;
receiving an analog voltage input signal;
receiving user input of control commands;
applying input signals to result in different responses in accordance with changed operational settings;
responding to the input signal; and
displaying the equivalent of an oscilloscope waveform in response to a time-variant analog input voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification