System and method for engine data trending and analysis

• US 6,671,614 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Letang, Dennis M., Weisman, S. Miller II
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US10/047,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 701/114, 701/115, 701/101, 701/102, 701/35, 701/29
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/045 in a memory, e.g. a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/047 the memory being digital
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0022 Gains, weighting coefficients or weighting functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0042 Transfer function lag; delays
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0052 Filtering, filters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2023/00 Signal processing; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2023/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/40 : Oil temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/46 : Engine parts temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/00 : Fail safe
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/06 : Retarder
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/04 : by varying pump speed, e.g. by changing pump-drive gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/048 : using electrical drives
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/08 : by cutting in or out of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 : with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 : rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1432 : the system including a filter, e.g. a low pass or high pass filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 : Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 : Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/16 : End position calibration, i.e. calculation or measurement of actuator end positions, e.g. for throttle or its driving actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 : Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/26 : by applying a torque limit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0225 : in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 : for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/086 : taking into account the temperature of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 : relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/40 : comprising signals other than signals for actuating the final output mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring engine operating data include monitoring various engine operating parameters and periodically storing engine data when corresponding criteria are met. In one embodiment, engine operating parameters may include engine speed, powertrain demand, or a fluid temperature, for example. Engine operating data such as oil pressure, turbo boost pressure, battery voltage, fuel economy, oil temperature, coolant temperature, maximum RPM, maximum vehicle speed, and throttle position sensor voltage, for example may be stored for trending and analysis. In addition, engine components may be monitored to determine service or replacement.

Claims

1. A system for performing lifting of components of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electronic control module for controlling the engine, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for communicating operating conditions of the components to the electronic control module;

a computer readable memory for storing the operating conditions; and

a microprocessor for accessing the stored operation conditions to calculate lifting characteristics of the components.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user-interface for selecting parameters associated with the components, the microprocessor calculating lifting characteristics based on the selected parameters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the selected parameters include specific engine components.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the selected parameters also include adjustable limits for the lifting characteristics.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting characteristic includes a percent of life left for the components.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting characteristic includes an expected replacement date for the components.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service interval trend page stored in memory of the electronic control module that records the lifting characteristics performed for the components, the service interval trend page including service life remaining and total usage incurred.

8. A computer readable storage medium for performing lifting characteristics of selected components, the computer storage medium comprising:

instructions for selecting components;

instructions for recording operating conditions of the selected components;

instructions for selecting lifting characteristics; and

instructions for calculating the lifting characteristics of the selected components based on the recorded operating conditions and selected lifing characteristic.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for selecting the components based on a signal received from a user-interface indicating a component.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions for selecting lifting characteristics based on signals received from the user-interface indicating a lifting characteristic.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the calculated lifting characteristic includes a percent of life left for the selected components.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the calculated lifting characteristic includes an expected replacement date for the selected components.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for storing the calculated lifting characteristics in a service interval trend page, the service interval trend page including service life remaining and total usage incurred.

14. A method for performing lifting analysis of components associated with an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

selecting at least one component to be monitored;

monitoring operating conditions of the selected components;

storing information regarding the operating conditions of the selected components; and

calculating lifting characteristics of the selected components based on the stored information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting the at least one component to be monitored based on a signal received from a user-interface.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting lifing characteristics to be calculated for the selected components.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting an adjustable limit for the selected lifting characteristics.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculated lifing characteristics includes a percent of life left for the selected components.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculated lifing characteristics includes an expected replacement date for the selected components.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the calculated lifting characteristics in a service interval trend page, the service interval trend page including service life remaining and total usage incurred.