Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Dennis O Taylor

David L Reid

G George Zhu

Yue Yun Wang

Eric K Bradley

Chuan He

Thomas L Bailey

Emma Sweetland

Steven G Smith

Mark F Bares

Leslie A Roettgen

Ray C Hatton

Albert E Sisson

Eric A Pyers

David L Clark

Ramanujam Rajasekaran

James W Whittlesey

Clarence E Kincaid

Donald R Haefner

James A Rupp

Donald J Brott

Richard D Johnston

A method and apparatus is disclosed for recursively estimating vehicle mass and/or aerodynamic coefficient of a moving vehicle. The vehicle speed and push force data are collected and a segment of qualified data is then selected from the collected data. Newton's second law is integrated to express vehicle mass and/or aerodynamic coefficient in terms of vehicle push force and vehicle speed. This expression is then used in a recursive analysis of the qualified data segment to determine an estimated vehicle mass and/or aerodynamic coefficient.

Recursive vehicle mass estimation system

A system and method for diagnosing output power of an internal combustion engine includes means for diagnosing potential causes of low engine output power or torque and means for estimating actual engine output power or torque. In a preferred embodiment of the diagnosis of engine output power, low engine output power is first investigated for authenticity to verify whether a low engine output power condition exists. If one exists, a zero fueling engine cranking test is conducted to determine whether relative compression values for each of the cylinders are within specification, and any problems associated therewith are corrected by service personnel. If the low engine output power problem is not corrected in accordance with the engine cranking test, a snap-throttle cylinder balancing test is conducted to balance the relative power contribution from each cylinder. If the cylinder balancing test does not correct the low engine output power problem, a road test is conducted to estimate the actual engine output power for comparison with a rated engine output power over a desired range of engine speeds.

System and method for diagnosing output power of an internal combustion engine

A vehicle that has a drive train with an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a number of ground engaging wheels. An operator-adjustable throttle control is monitored to provide a position signal corresponding to position of the throttle control. A sensor provides an observed speed signal corresponding to speed of the vehicle and a controller responds to the position signal and the observed speed signal to generate a target speed signal and an error signal. The target speed signal corresponds to a desired speed of the vehicle and is generated from a predetermined relationship between vehicle speed and throttle control position in accordance with the position signal. The error signal corresponds to a difference between the target speed signal and observed speed signal. The engine responds to the error signal to provide the desired vehicle speed for all operating speeds of the vehicle including a stopped or idle condition.

Dynamic speed governing of a vehicle

Recursive vehicle mass estimation

A dual throttle system for an internal combustion engine includes first foot pedal throttle and a second hand controller throttle. The system includes a throttle position signal generator that produces a throttle position signal at an input to an electronic engine control module (ECM). The engine control module uses the throttle position signal input to determine an engine speed and issues appropriate commands to a fuel system controller. The throttle position generator includes a first potentiometer having its wiper mechanically connected to the first throttle and its output electrically connected to the throttle position signal input of the ECM. The first potentiometer is connected in series between a voltage source in the ECM and the wiper of a second variable resistance component driven by the second throttle. The output of the second component is connected to ground to complete the series circuit. The voltage seen at the throttle signal input of the ECM is a function of the combined series resistances of the potentiometer and the second variable resistance component based upon the positions of the respective throttles.

Dual throttle control to a single throttle input

A system and method for measuring individual cylinder power contribution by cutting out individual cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine and performing a snap-throttle test on the engine. Engine speed versus time data is collected and stored during each snap-throttle test. This data is then used to calculate the power contribution provided by each cylinder using various methods, such as a least squares analysis of the speed data or by an analysis of the kinetic energy of the test engine.

System and method for engine cylinder power diagnosis by cylinder(s)

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 dual cooling system for an engine is provided which embodies two independent circuits for a liquid coolant. The temperature of the coolant in one circuit is different than that of the coolant in the other circuit. A pump impeller means is provided for each circuit and both impeller means are actuated by a common drive means. Limited coolant migration between the circuits is effected during actuation of the impeller means. A coolant make-up means is connected to each circuit at the inlet side of the pump impeller means.

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Columbus, IN, United States of America

Dennis O Taylor