Measuring and testing – Vehicle chassis – Steering
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2003-08-05
Fuller, Benjamin R. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Vehicle chassis
Steering
C701S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06601442
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for monitoring the performance of an engine, such as an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the invention provides a system for monitoring data related to the engine performance and defining an engine duty cycle.
Owners and operators of power plants, such as internal combustion engines, are continuously faced with the problem of making the most economical use of their engines. This need is particularly keen for automotive engines and the vehicles that they power. Vehicle and engine recording devices have been developed for a variety of applications pertaining to both operator and vehicle communication and control. From the vehicle operator's standpoint, a recording device can be used to log and report such items as the operator's driving time, trip time, vehicle and engine faults, and other operating information. With respect to the vehicle itself, the recording device can be used to record fuel efficiency on a trip-by-trip basis, engine operating parameters and other related information.
One such system is depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. In this prior system, a vehicle monitoring device
10
communicates with an engine/vehicle controller
12
via a communications bus
14
. The communications bus is typically according to an industry standard configuration, such as an SAE-J1587 bus. This data bus is preferred in the automotive and trucking industry because it permits communication of a large quantity of data between the controller
12
and the monitoring device
10
.
In a typical automotive vehicle, the controller
12
not only controls the function of various components of the engine and vehicle, it also generates data or translates sensor outputs regarding the performance of these components. In one such controller, the CENSE™ system sold by Cummins Engine Company of Columbus, Ind. the data output on bus
14
can include engine speed, engine percent torque, instantaneous engine load, instantaneous fuel rates, as well as data related to the functional elements of the engine such as valve position, fuel injector setting, and the like.
The monitoring device
10
can be mounted within the vehicle, and can include a connector
26
to enable convenient connection with a printer
22
. In one embodiment, the device
10
includes a microprocessor or micro-controller
28
, a keypad
30
, a back light
32
for eliminating an LCD display
34
, a DUART asynchronous receiver/transmitter
36
and an audible alarm
38
. The majority of the data processed by the micro-controller
28
is received through the communications link
14
. However, additional data inputs to the micro-controller can be provided, such as an engine speed signal
40
and a vehicle speed signal
42
.
The micro-controller
28
is programmable via the keypad
30
to accumulate and output specific trip data, such as odometer setting and trip mileage, total fuel consumption and mean fuel consumption rate. As a further refinement, the monitoring device
10
, and particularly the micro-controller
28
, can be programmed to delineate fuel usage and fuel economy as a function of certain specific categories of the vehicle operation. In one mode of operation of the monitoring device
10
shown in
FIG. 1
, the device generates an audit trail indicative of the overall performance of the vehicle during a particular trip. A sample output of this form is depicted in FIG.
2
. In the illustrated embodiment, four such categories can be implemented: drive, in which the vehicle has a non-zero speed; idle, in which the vehicle speed is zero; PTO, in which the vehicle engine is driving an auxiliary component; and a vehicle speed greater than 65 miles per hour (or any other predetermined speed).
The monitoring device
10
provides the information shown in the output of
FIG. 2
to allow the vehicle operator/owner to evaluate the vehicle and/or vehicle operator performance. For example, the audit trail shown in
FIG. 2
provides information as to the amount of time that the vehicle is running at idle. A lengthy idle period significantly reduces the fuel economy for the vehicle, and is indicative of poor vehicle usage or driving habits of the vehicle operator.
The monitoring device
10
is shown in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,163, assigned to Cummins Electronic Company and issued on Apr. 12, 1994, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This system presents a significant improvement for a vehicle owner/operator's ability to maximize the usage and profitability of the vehicle. The configurable monitoring system disclosed in that patent provides a clear indication of the overall performance of the vehicle over particular trips. This information can then be used by the owner/operator to establish performance or operating limits that cannot be exceed by the vehicle operator. Hence, the system
10
can include an alarm
38
which can be activated when the vehicle or engine exceeds or falls below limits that are newly established in view of the prior recorded performance of the vehicle and operator. Thus, the invention of the '163 patent provides a secure and configurable monitoring device that helps a vehicle owner optimize the overall usage and performance of the subject vehicle.
However, the monitoring device shown in the '163 patent is focused more on a global level—i.e., the overall performance of the vehicle—as opposed to a local level concentrating on the overall performance of the individual elements of the vehicle, such as the engine. While the device of the '163 patent allows the vehicle owner to establish overall vehicle operating parameters, it does not provide a basis for establishing specific operating parameters for specific vehicle components like the engine.
Consequently, there remains a need for a monitoring system that has the capacity for providing meaningful data throughout the entire operation of a specific vehicle component, such as the engine. This need is further expressed within the overall desire to improve the performance of the components, and ultimately its cost efficiency to the vehicle owner/operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to address this need, the present invention contemplates a system and method for monitoring engine performance, and more particularly for defining a duty cycle specific to the particular engine, vehicle and operator. Preferably, the system contemplates a micro-controller that is separate from, but works in conjunction with, an engine/vehicle controller. The engine/vehicle controller provides control signals to various functional components of the engine and vehicle. In addition, the engine/vehicle controller generates data from sensors and virtual sensors indicative of current operating conditions. The micro-controller of the present invention communicates with the engine/vehicle controller to extract data concerning selected operating conditions.
The engine duty cycle can be defined from an engine performance curve that is a function of two or more engine operating parameters or conditions. In a preferred embodiment, engine torque and speed are used to describe the curve. In one feature of the invention, the engine owner/operator can input data into a micro-controller sufficient to define the curve. Preferably, the torque/speed curve is defined by seven data points.
In one aspect of the invention, the area under the performance curve is segmented into a plurality of sectors, each sector corresponding to a range of values for the two or more engine operating parameters. In the preferred embodiment in which torque and speed are the selected operating parameters, the sectors are bounded by engine speeds enveloping the engine speeds input by the user to define the torque/speed curve. The sectors are further bounded by torque values corresponding to specific percent torque curves—, e.g., 100, 90, 70, 50 and 30 percent of rated torque. The invention contemplates that the speed and torque boundaries defining the duty cycle sectors can be
Decker Scott G.
Greathouse Gregory G.
Irons John M.
Cummins Inc.
Fuller Benjamin R.
Stevens Maurice
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