Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

David L Reid

Dennis O Taylor

Patrick F Flynn

Walter Wayne Eberhard

Clarence E Kincaid

Donald R Haefner

Donald J Brott

Robert J Weimer

An oil change interval monitor is provided which senses diesel engine variables such as oil temperature, fuel flow and the volume of oil added to the engine since the last oil change and combines these variables with values determined by known engine parameters to provide a continuously updated indication of the percentage of oil life used by the engine since the last oil change.

Oil change interval monitor

This disclosure relates to a system for measuring the instantaneous speed of an index point on a rotating part. The part may be a toothed gear or a wheel of an engine, and the index point may be an identifiable point on the part. The system comprises a sensor that is mounted adjacent the part, the sensor including two sensing elements that are spaced apart in the direction of movement of the point as the part rotates. As the point passes the sensor, it causes a first pulse to be produced by one element and then a second pulse to be produced by the other element. The system further includes circuitry that responds to the two time-spaced pulses and produces an indication of the time interval between the two pulses. This time interval is a function of the speed of the point which in turn is proportional to the rate of rotation of the part. In the instance where the part is attached to an engine flywheel, the time interval is also an inverse function of engine RPM.

Engine speed measuring system

This disclosure relates to a system for analyzing the performance of a reciprocating piston, internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine. Sensors are connected to the engine, which respond to various operating parameters, and signals representing the parameters are fed to computer processing equipment. Two of the parameters are the lubricant system pressure and the engine speed. To test the lubricant system, the engine speed is stabilized at maximum governed speed and then the fuel supply to the engine is quickly cut off. The lubricant system pressure and the engine speed data are sensed and processed as the engine decelerates, the processing including a comparison of the pressure-speed characteristic with a standard or reference characteristic.

Diagnosis of engine lubricant system

This disclosure relates to detection of air in the fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine of the character wherein the fuel rate supplied to the engine is controlled by regulating the feed pressure to a set of fuel injectors. A pressure sensor is connected in the fuel supply system and an engine speed sensor is connected to the engine. The engine is started, brought to a stable intermediate no-load speed, the throttle is snapped to a wide open position, and the rate of change of fuel pressure with time is sensed during the initial pressure rise from no load pressure to full load pressure. This measured rate is compared with a reference rate obtained from an engine where no air is present in the fuel system, and the pressure of air is indicated by a comparison of the measured and reference rates.

Method and apparatus for detecting air in fuel

This disclosure relates to a system for analyzing the performance of a reciprocating piston, internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine. Sensors are connected to the engine, which respond to various operating parameters, and signals representing the parameters are transmitted to computer processing equipment. A speed sensor responds to the movement of an engine part such as the teeth of the engine fly-wheel ring gear, and the processor calculates a function representing the change in the instantaneous engine kinetic energy. The kinetic energy change data are accumulated during an engine acceleration run and again during a deceleration run. The signals from an engine cycle event sensor are processed to indicate the firing intervals of the cylinders and thereby to correlate the engine acceleration and deceleration data. The changes in kinetic energy during the cylinder firing intervals are measured during engine acceleration, and the kinetic energy changes are again measured during deceleration, the two sets of measurements being at substantially the same engine speed. For each cylinder, the measurement on deceleration is subtracted from the related measurement on acceleration, to obtain the net work produced by each cylinder. A similar procedure may be followed to obtain the work done over segments of each firing interval, to thereby check the compression balance of the cylinders.

Diagnosis of engine power and compression balance

This disclosure relates to a system for analyzing the performance of a reciprocating piston, internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine. Sensors are connected to the engine, which respond to various operating parameters, and signals representing the parameters are fed to computer processing equipment. Two of the parameters are the intake manifold pressure and the engine speed. A turbocharger of the engine includes a turbine that is driven by the engine exhaust and a compressor that delivers air to the intake manifold. The performance of the turbocharger is tested by stabilizing the engine and the turbocharger at no-load, low-idle speed, quickly accelerating the engine to maximum governed speed, and determining how the turbocharger stabilizes after the engine stabilizes at the maximum speed.

Diagnosis of engine turbocharger performance

A test apparatus and method is disclosed for a fuel pump mounted on and driven by an engine, the speed of which is controlled by the pressure of fuel supplied thereto wherein the engine continues to be supplied with fuel from the fuel pump during the test. A fluid circuit is provided which is designed to supply fuel to the engine under controlled pressure to permit the engine speed to be controlled independently of the engine throttle position and to permit the flow rate of the fuel to be adjusted to a predetermined value at which the output pressure of the fuel pump may be measured for calibration purposes. The fluid circuitry and necessary measurement circuitry may be mounted within a small, portable housing to allow for field testing of a fuel pump.

Test apparatus and method for an engine mounted fuel pump

A metering and control system is described for supplying fuel to a burner nozzle of a burner assembly which preheats intake air in a diesel engine. Fuel for the control system is derived from the regulated pressure output of a fuel pump in the engine fuel supply system. The fuel metering and control system includes a series of parallel flow lines connected between the fuel pump and the burner nozzle. Each line has a metering orifice and check valve set to pass flow above a given pressure level. For intermediate rpm flow is through one line and at high rpm flow is through both. As a result, the fuel flow rate into the burner nozzle is directly proportional to engine rpm to provide a uniform nozzle preheat temperature over the full range of engine rpm. Suitable control inputs are provided to initiate or terminate flow to the burner in response to selected engine operating parameters. In addition, supplemental fuel flow may be provided during start up and/or cold operating conditions, again initiated or terminated by selected engine operating parameters.

Diesel engine intake air preheater fuel control

The disclosure illustrates a heat distribution passage for the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine having a burner type manifold air preheater. The preheater is positioned in an elongated intake manifold having spaced inlet ports which carry intake air to the cylinders of the engine. The preheater is adjacent some, but not all, of the inlet ports. The distribution passage extends from a point adjacent the preheater to an outlet at a remote engine intake port opening. When an engine intake valve is opened to pass air into a cylinder, the intake port has a momentary reduction in pressure. This reduction causes heated air to pass from the preheater through the passage and into the intake port where it is mixed with the nonheated intake air. Proper sizing of the tube in relation to the port area assures even distribution of heat between all of the intake ports.

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Columbus, IN, United States of America

David L Reid