Vehicle diagnostic tool—utilizing rated horsepower vs. calculated horsepower

• US 8,160,769 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
• Original Assignee: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
• Inventors: Thompson, Bernie C., Pederson, Neal R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen, Lin B
• Application Number:
  US12/624,159
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/33.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/04 Testing internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle'"'"'s power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g, Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.

Claims

1. A method of determining with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor whether an engine'"'"'s rated horsepower has changed;

the engine having a rated horsepower;

the engine having an associated powertrain control module and an air induction system;

the air induction system including at least one sensor used to determine air flow through the engine;

the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “

PID data”

), including fuel trim PID data, from the powertrain control module;

the microprocessor also being programmed with an algorithm which permits the calculation of the engine'"'"'s horsepower;

the method including the steps of;

a. acquiring PID data from the powertrain control module with the instrumentation, the PID data including fuel trim PID data and PID data from the at least one sensor;

b. determining the actual air flow through the engine (weight/unit of time) with PID data from the at least one sensor;

c. determining the calculated horsepower of the engine with the algorithm, the actual air flow and the fuel trim PID data; and

d. comparing the calculated horsepower to the rated horsepower of the engine.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the instrumentation is provided with a chart of engine power vs. time, further including the steps of:

a. graphing the rated horsepower on the chart;

b. graphing the calculated horsepower on the chart; and

c. superimposing one of the graph of one rated horsepower and the graph of calculated horsepower over the other of the graph of rated horsepower and the graph of calculated horsepower.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the instrumentation is provided with a table of engine load vs. engine speed (RPM), wherein the step of comparing the calculated horsepower to the rated horsepower includes determining the percentage difference between the rated horsepower and the calculated horsepower at various engine speeds and engine loads, and further including the step of assigning one or more of the determined percentage differences to the table.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the table is divided into a number of cells, each cell representing a separate range of engine loads vs. engine speeds, and wherein the step of assigning includes assigning the percentage differences to the cells which represent the engine speeds and engine loads at which the differences were determined.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, further including the steps of dividing possible percentage differences into a series of ranges and assigning each range a separate, distinct code.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of assigning codes includes the step of assigning different colors to the different ranges.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5, further including the step of providing a first code for percentage differences between rated horsepower and calculated horsepower in the range of −

A and +A.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, further including the step of providing a second code for percentage differences between rated horsepower and calculated horsepower in the ranges of −

A and −

B and between +A and +B, wherein the absolute value of B is greater than the absolute value of A.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, further including the step of providing a third code for percentage differences between rated horsepower calculated horsepower in the ranges of −

B and −

C and between +B and +C, wherein the absolute value of C is greater than the absolute value of B.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including the step of providing a fourth code for percentage differences greater than +C and less than −

C.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instrumentation includes a visual monitor, wherein the table is displayed on the monitor, wherein the first code is assigned a first color, the second code is assigned a second color, the third code is assigned a third color, and the fourth code is assigned a fourth color.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, further including assigning green as the first color and assigning red as the fourth color.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, further including the steps of assigning a value of 10 to A, a value of 13 to B and a value of 16 to C.

14. An automotive diagnostic table embodied on instrumentation including a microprocessor for use in association with a method of determining the percentage difference between the rated horsepower of an engine and the horsepower calculated at various engine loads and engine speeds, the table including a first axis representing increasing values of engine load and a second axis representing increasing engine speed, the table further including a plurality of cells, each cell representing a different range of engine loads vs. engine speeds, at least some of the cells representing the percentage difference between the calculated horsepower of an engine and the rated horsepower of such engine.

15. A method of calculating the horsepower of an engine with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor;

the engine having an associated powertrain control module and an air induction system;

the air induction system including at least one sensor used to determine air flow through the engine;

the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “

PID data”

) data, from the powertrain control module;

the microprocessor also being programmed with an algorithm which permits the calculation of the engine'"'"'s horsepower;

the method including the steps of;

a. acquiring PID data from the powertrain control module with the instrumentation, including PID data from the at least one sensor;

b. determining the actual air flow through the engine (weight/unit of time) with PID data from the at least one sensor; and

c. determining the calculated horsepower of the engine with the algorithm.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the step of acquiring PID data includes acquiring fuel trim PID data, and wherein the step of determining the calculated horsepower includes determining with the algorithm, the actual air flow and the fuel trim PID data.