Engine misfire detection probe

• US 8,166,805 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bernie C. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Bernie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, Eric S
• Application Number:
  US12/572,859
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 731/140.2, 731/140.6, 731/147.6, 731/146.9
• US Class Current: 73/114.06
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/11 by detecting misfire

Abstract

A probe and method for sensing pressure variations in the exhaust stream of an engine for detecting cylinder misfires. The probe includes a Venturi tube placed in the exhaust stream. The Venturi tube has a sensing tube with an aperture, and the sensing tube is coupled to a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of the exhaust stream within the Venturi tube at the point of the aperture. The pressure sensor then generates a voltage signal based on the pressure, and this voltage signal is viewed on an oscilloscope or processed by a microprocessor to generate a waveform readable by a technician. The waveform will indicate the presence of a misfiring cylinder(s), and more specifically, which cylinder(s) is misfiring.

Claims

1. An engine misfire detection probe comprising:

(a) a first Venturi tube having a first end and a second end, at least a portion of said first Venturi tube seated on a base along the length of said first Venturi tube, said base comprising a sensing chamber, said base adapted to be removably affixed to an exhaust pipe of an engine such that at least said first end of said first Venturi tube is placed in the exhaust stream of said exhaust pipe;

(b) a sensing tube, at least a portion of said sensing tube located within said first Venturi tube, said sensing tube adapted to be coupled to an exhaust sensor.

2. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 1 wherein said sensing tube comprising a first end located outside of said first Venturi tube and a second end located within said sensing chamber, said first end closed and said second end open.

3. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 1 wherein said sensing tube further comprises an aperture positioned within said at least a portion of said sensing tube located within said first Venturi tube.

4. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 1 wherein said exhaust sensor is an electrical pressure transducer.

5. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 1 wherein said exhaust sensor is coupled to a processing system, said processing system capable of generating a waveform from said voltage signal.

6. An engine misfire detection probe comprising:

(a) a first Venturi tube having a first end and a second end, at least a portion of said first Venturi tube seated on a base along the length of said first Venturi tube, said base comprising a sensing chamber, said base adapted to be removably affixed to an exhaust pipe of an engine such that at least said first end of said first Venturi tube is placed in the exhaust stream of said exhaust pipe;

(b) a sensing tube, at least a portion of said sensing tube located within said first Venturi tube, said sensing tube adapted to be coupled to an exhaust sensor, wherein said exhaust sensor is coupled to a processing system, said processing system capable of generating a waveform from said voltage signal, and wherein said processing system is selected from the group consisting of an oscilloscope and a microprocessor.

7. An engine misfire detection probe comprising:

(a) a first tube adapted to accelerate an exhaust stream from said engine as said exhaust stream flows through said first tube,

(b) a pressure sensing system coupled to said first tube;

(c) a first signal generating system coupled to said pressure sensing system;

(d) a second signal generating system coupled to a trigger provided from a rotating engine; and

(e) a signal processing system coupled to said first and second signal generating systems, said signal processing system synchronizing signals from said first and second signal generating systems.

8. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 7 wherein said first tube comprises a Venturi tube.

9. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 8 wherein said first Venturi tube is integrated as a component of an exhaust system of said engine.

10. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 8 wherein said first Venturi tube is a fixed component of an exhaust system of said engine.

11. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 7 wherein said second signal generating system produces a signal so that the position of the crankshaft of an engine relative to the position of a camshaft of an engine position is known.

12. The engine misfire detection probe of claim 7 wherein said trigger is an ignition discharge device of said engine.