Camshaft position sensor testing system

• US 7,066,016 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG), International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Wildman, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/818,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20050217355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 731/16, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 731/19.R
• US Class Current: 73/114.26
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/34 characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2303/01 Tools for producing, mounting or adjusting, e.g. some part of the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/11 Fault detection, diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/041 Camshafts position or phase sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/06 by monitoring positions of pistons or cranks

Abstract

A camshaft testing system has a test sleeve, a controller, and main voltage supply. The camshaft position sensor is placed into the test sleeve. The controller activates the camshaft position sensor. The test sleeve has a test bar, which moves across the camshaft position sensor. The movement of the test bar creates a magnetic field disruption. An indication is made as to whether the camshaft position sensor can sense the magnetic field disruption. A signal indicator on the controller emits at least one flash of light if the camshaft position sensor senses the magnetic field disruption.

Claims

1. A camshaft position sensor testing system, comprising:

a test sleeve forming a cavity;

a test bar rotationally mounted on the test sleeve;

a controller having a signal indicator and a reference voltage supply, where the signal indicator connects to a camshaft position sensor when the camshaft position sensor is positioned in the cavity, and where the reference voltage supply provides a reference voltage to the camshaft position sensor when the camshaft position sensor is positioned in the cavity, where the camshaft position sensor changes a signal in response to a disruption in a magnetic field, and where the signal indicator intermittently operates in response to the signal; and

a main voltage supply connected to the signal connector, where the main voltage supply provides a supply voltage to the signal connector.

2. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the controller has a main voltage indicator connected to the main voltage supply, and where the main voltage indicator emits light in response to the supply voltage from the main voltage supply.

3. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the controller has a test switch connected to a reference voltage indicator, where the test switch is connected to the reference voltage supply, where the reference voltage indicator connects to the camshaft position sensor when the camshaft position sensor is positioned in the cavity, where the reference voltage indicator emits light when the test switch is closed, and where reference voltage supply provides the reference voltage to the camshaft position sensor when the test switch is closed.

4. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the signal indicator emits at least one flash of light in response to the signal.

5. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the supply voltage is about 12 volts, and where the reference voltage is about 5 volts.

6. The camshaft position sensor tasting system of claim 5, where the main voltage supply is a vehicle battery, and where the reference voltage supply is a battery pack.

7. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the test sleeve has a minimum clearance side and a maximum clearance side, where the minimum clearance side forms a first hole, where the maximum clearance side forms a second hole, where the test bar is rotationally mounted in the first hole for a first test, and, where the test bar is rotationally mounted in the second hole for the second test.

8. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the test sleeve has a minimum clearance side and a maximum clearance side, where the test sleeve has a shelf forming a shelf opening into the cavity on the maximum clearance side.

9. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 8, where the distance of the shelf from the minimum clearance side is selected to position the camshaft position sensor at a minimum clearance from the test bar.

10. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 9, where the minimum clearance is about 0.007 inches. (0.178 mm).

11. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the thickness of the test sleeve is selected to position the camshaft position sensor a maximum clearance from the test bar.

12. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 11, where the maximum clearance is in the range of about 0.035 inches (0.889 mm)through about 0.040 inches (1.02 mm).

13. The camshaft position sensor testing system of claim 1, where the test sleeve is made of aluminum, and where the test bar is made of steel.

14. A method for testing a camshaft position sensor, comprising:

inserting a camshaft position sensor in a test sleeve;

activating the camshaft position sensor;

placing an end of the camshaft position sensor at a distance from a test bar on the test sleeve;

moving the test bar across the test sleeve;

disrupting a magnetic field of the camshaft position sensor; and

indicating whether the camshaft position sensor senses a magnetic field disruption.

15. The method of testing a camshaft position sensor of claim 14, wherein the distance is a minimum clearance between the test bar and the camshaft position sensor.

16. The method of testing a camshaft position sensor of claim 14, wherein the distance is a maximum clearance between the test bar and the camshaft position sensor.

17. The method of testing a camshaft position sensor of claim 14, further comprising applying a reference voltage to the camshaft position sensor.

18. The method of testing a camshaft position sensor of claim 17, where the reference voltage is about 5 volts.

19. The method of testing a camshaft position sensor of claim 14, further comprising:

changing a signal from the camshaft position sensor to a signal indicator; and

intermittently operating the signal indicator in response to the signal.

20. The method of testing a camshaft position sensor of claim 19, further comprising emitting a least one flash of light from the signal indicator.