Human machine interface (HMI) guided mechanical fuel system adjustment

• US 9,719,454 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ai Alpine Us Bidco LLC
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Spaulding, Dennis John, Selberg, Robert Jarvis, Schaefer, Nathan Patrick, Sammons, Derek Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H
• Application Number:
  US14/539,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20160131070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 701102-104, 701114, 701115, 123295, 123299, 123300, 123445, 123677, 123699, 123700
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1475 Regulating the air fuel ratio at a value other than stoichiometry
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3005 Details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/225 Gaseous fuels, e.g. natural gas

Abstract

A display system for an engine includes a processor configured to receive a first measurement indication relating to a measurement of a fuel control valve position of the engine, wherein the fuel control valve position is configured to control an air/fuel ratio of the engine. The processor is further configured to compare the first measurement indication to a first preset fuel control valve range, generate a first completion indication based on when the measurement is within the first preset fuel control valve range, and display the first completion indication on a display of the display system.

Claims

1. A display system for an engine, comprising a processor configured to:

receive a first data measurement indicative of a position of a fuel control valve that controls an air/fuel ratio of the engine;

compare the first data measurement to a first fuel control valve range, wherein the first fuel control valve range corresponds to a target air/fuel ratio while the engine operates at a low engine speed, a low engine load, or both;

generate an indication of an adjustment to be made via a regulator based on the position of the fuel control valve and the first fuel control valve range;

display a first completion indication related to completion of the adjustment made via the regulator;

receive a second data measurement indicative of the position of the fuel control valve;

compare the second data measurement to a second fuel control valve range, wherein the second fuel control valve range corresponds to a target air/fuel ratio while the engine is operating at a high engine speed higher than the low engine speed, a high engine load higher than the low engine load, or both;

generate an indication of an adjustment to be made to a carburetor based on the position of the fuel control valve and the second fuel control valve range; and

display a second completion indication related to completion of the adjustment made via the carburetor on the display.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processor of the display system is configured to:

display the first fuel control valve range on the display; and

display the first data measurement within the first fuel control valve range on the display as the first completion indication.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display a target fuel valve position and a tolerance associated with the target fuel valve position as the first fuel control valve range.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display an exhaust measurement indication from an oxygen sensor on the display, wherein the exhaust measurement indication corresponds to a measurement of the air/fuel ratio.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first data measurement is displayed on the display before the second data measurement is displayed on the display.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display an exhaust measurement indication and a control setpoint on the display, wherein the exhaust measurement indication is indicative of the air/fuel ratio of the engine, and wherein the control setpoint adjusts the air/fuel ratio by adjusting the position of the fuel control valve.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable code stored thereon, the code comprising instructions to:

receive a first data measurement indicative of a position of a fuel control valve that controls an air/fuel ratio of an engine;

compare the first data measurement to a first fuel control valve range, wherein the first fuel control valve range corresponds to a target air/fuel ratio while the engine operates at a low engine speed, a low engine load, or both;

generate an indication of an adjustment to be made via a regulator based on the position of the fuel control valve and the first fuel control valve range;

transmit a signal to display a first completion indication related to completion of the adjustment via the regulator on a display;

receive a second data measurement indicative of the position of the fuel control valve;

compare the second data measurement to a second fuel control valve range, wherein the second fuel control valve range corresponds to a target air/fuel ratio while the engine is operating at a high engine speed higher than the low engine speed, a high engine load higher than the low engine load, or both;

generate an indication of an adjustment to be made to a carburetor based on the position of the fuel control valve and the second fuel control valve range; and

transmit a signal to display a second completion indication related to completion of the adjustment made via the carburetor on the display.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first fuel control valve range and the second fuel control valve range are associated with an operating authority, wherein the operating authority comprises an initial value and a slope of the air/fuel ratio at one or more engine speeds, one or more engine loads, or both.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to provide an adjustment configured to instruct a user how to adjust a regulator adjustment control of the regulator.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first fuel control valve range comprises a target fuel valve position and a tolerance associated with the target fuel valve position.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, comprising instructions to generate an exhaust measurement indication and a control setpoint, wherein the exhaust measurement indication is indicative of the air/fuel ratio of the engine, and wherein the control setpoint adjusts the air/fuel ratio by adjusting the position of the fuel control valve.

12. A fuel system, comprising:

a fuel control valve configured to control an air/fuel ratio of an engine;

a regulator comprising a regulator adjusting control configured to adjust the fuel control valve;

a fuel flow restriction control configured to adjust the fuel control valve; and

a display system, comprising a processor configured to;

receive a first data measurement indicative of a position of the fuel control valve that controls an air/fuel ratio of the engine;

compare the first data measurement indication to a first fuel control valve range, wherein the first fuel control valve range corresponds to a target air/fuel ratio while the engine operates at a low engine speed, a low engine load, or both;

generate an indication of an adjustment to be made via the regulator adjusting control based on the position of the fuel control valve and the first fuel control valve range;

display a first completion indication related to completion of the adjustment via the regulator adjusting control on a display of the display system;

receive a second data measurement indicative of the position of the fuel control valve;

compare the second data measurement to a second fuel control valve range, wherein the second fuel control valve range corresponds to a target air/fuel ratio while the engine is operating at a high engine speed higher than the low engine speed, a high engine load higher than the low engine load, or both;

generate an indication of an adjustment to be made to the fuel flow restriction control based on the position of the fuel control valve and the second fuel control valve range; and

display a second completion indication related to completion of the adjustment made via the carburetor on the display.

13. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to display the data measurement of the position of the fuel control valve as a percentage, degree, step, inches, centimeters, duration, duty cycle, frequency, or any combination thereof as the first data measurement.

14. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the first fuel control valve range and the second fuel control valve range are associated with an operating authority, wherein the operating authority comprises an initial value and a slope of the air/fuel ratio at one or more engine speeds, one or more engine loads, or both.

15. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the system comprises an electronic control module connected to the display system, wherein the electronic control module is configured to control the position of the fuel control valve.

16. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to display an exhaust measurement indicative of a control setpoint on the display, wherein the exhaust measurement is related to the air/fuel ratio of the engine, and wherein the control setpoint adjusts the air/fuel ratio by adjusting the position of the fuel control valve.

17. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the first fuel control valve range comprises a target fuel valve position and a tolerance associated with the target fuel valve position.

18. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the first completion indication comprises proceeding to a next step, displaying a message indicating that a step is complete, displaying the position of the fuel control valve and the first fuel control valve range, or any combination thereof.

19. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the fuel flow restriction control comprises a carburetor screw.

20. The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the regulator adjusting control comprises a regulator adjusting screw.