Detroit Diesel Corporation

Ian Daniel McKenzie

Richard Michael Avery, Jr

Jeffery Scott Hawkins

Marleen F Thompson

Stephen Karl Flammersfeld

John Edward Longnecker

Dennis Michael Letang

Curtis Paul Ritter

David Lloyd Hart

Donald Michael McDonald

David John Brunette

James A Gray

Kurt Joseph Couture

David Lawrence Hasfjord

A real-time maintenance alert system and method for use in a heavy-duty truck having an engine controller with memory are provided. The system includes a sensor operative to indicate an engine condition from the group consisting of: oil filter restriction, air filter restriction, fuel filter restriction, oil level, and coolant reserve tank fluid level. Control logic at the engine controller processes the sensor signal to determine a real-time fault condition, when appropriate.

Maintenance alert system for heavy-duty trucks

An engine control system for a compression ignition engine employs a microprocessor-based controller that detects engine operation in a speed range previously determined to be undesirable, and responding to the detection by changing operation of the engine. In the preferred embodiment, the controller commands a parameter for adjusting engine operation to reach a different speed outside of first and second thresholds defining the undesirable range in a time period subsequent to the detection.

Method and apparatus for limiting engine operation in a programmable range

A system, storage medium, and method for controlling an engine in a vehicle which provides the operator with a particular operating capability for a specified time period, which time period is reestablished at a predefined interval, including determining whether the operator has tampered with the engine control system clock to obtain additional time for the particular operating capability. The system, storage medium, and method monitor the system clock and utilize one or more criteria to determine whether tampering has occurred. If the system clock has been tampered with, one or more additional steps are taken, including logging the tampering event, suspending any steps which would provide the particular operating capability to the operator for any additional time until the next interval, or until the engine has been returned to personnel authorized to reprogram the engine control.

Vehicle clock tampering detector

A snow blower, vehicle having a blower engine and a propulsion engine is provided with a drvice for limiting the speed of operation of the snow blower vehicle if the blower engine is overloaded. A first signal is transmitted to the propulsion engine when the blower engine is overloaded and a second signal is transmitted to the propulsion engine when the blower engine is no longer being overloaded. The first signal may be provided to the propulsion engine to automatically limit the output thereof or it may be provided to generate an operator perceptible warning to the operator of the vehicle. The second signal may be provided to the propulsion engine to discontinue the limitation of the output of the propulsion engine or to stop the generation of the warning. A method of improving snow blower performance by increasing the ability of the blower engine to blow snow by limiting the output of the propulsion engine.

Snow blower vehicle and method for improving snow blower vehicle performance

A system and method for controlling a compression ignition internal combustion engine having an electronic control module with an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time include determining whether the engine is being loaded and overriding the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded. In one embodiment, the present invention includes monitoring operating conditions to determine that the vehicle is stationary, monitoring the engine to determine the engine is idling, initiating a timer/counter to provide an indication of idling time, determining that the engine is operating in an auxiliary power mode, determining engine load, and automatically stopping the engine when the idling time exceeds a first threshold and the engine load is less than a second threshold. The present invention makes it more difficult for engine operators to defeat the idle shutdown feature by detecting current engine operating conditions to verify that the selected operating mode is consistent with current engine operating conditions.

Idle shutdown override with defeat protection

A method and system for detecting tampering with a vehicle speed sensor by calculating an average speed based upon global positioning system data. A first position of a vehicle is learned from a global positioning system at a first time. After a time interval the system learns a second position from the GPS at a second time. Based on this information, the average speed is calculated and is then compared to a maximum speed limit value. The system checks to determine if anyone has tampered with the GPS if no over speed condition is detected. If an over speed condition is detected or if there is an indication of tampering with the global positioning system, the system integrates a vehicle speed sensor tampering system that is either logged in memory or may be used to limit engine speed by controlling the engine control module.

System and method of detecting vehicle speed limiting system tampering

An apparatus to visually check coolant corrosiveness having first and second opposing ends in spaced apart relation to each other, and a sidewall extending substantially unbroken therebetween to define a hollow body; a non corrodible coolant barrier at said first end occluding said first end and forming a water tight seal over said first end; said non corrodible barrier having a transparency in at least a portion of said barrier; a corrodible coolant barrier at said second end occluding said second end and forming a water tight seal over said second end; whereby changes in coolant pH render the coolant corrosive, which corrodes the coolant corrodible barrier, thereby allowing coolant into said hollow body to be seen through said transparency in said first end.

Apparatus for detecting coolant corrosiveness

A method for controlling an engine of a system having an air-charger system connected to the engine includes sensing air-charger system temperature; comparing the air-charger system temperature to a temperature threshold; and adjusting an engine control parameter when the air-charger system temperature exceeds the temperature threshold. A system for controlling engine operation is also provided.

Method and system for enhanced engine control

A method is provided for controlling an engine of a system having an exhaust system connected to the engine, and the exhaust system includes an exhaust gas cooler. The method includes sensing exhaust system temperature downstream of the exhaust gas cooler; comparing the exhaust system temperature to a temperature threshold that is less than 200 degrees Celsius; and adjusting an engine control parameter when the exhaust system temperature exceeds the temperature threshold. A system for controlling engine operation is also provided.

Method and system for enhanced engine control based on exhaust temperature

A method of acquiring population data from engine control modules provided with a memory for storing data relating to parameters of engine operation. The method includes the steps of downloading stored data from a plurality of engine control modules when the engine control modules are reprogrammed. A set of population data is developed and communicated to a central database. The population data is statistically analyzed when a statistically significant portion of the population is obtained. The statistical analysis of the population data is then used to make engine design modifications, provide warranty problem analysis, and analysis of optional feature acceptance.

Population data acquisition system

A method of operating an engine during an over temperature condition to protect the engine, an information recording medium incorporating a computer program implementing this protection method, and an electronic control module that performs this protection method are disclosed. A torque value representative of an engine generated torque is recorded in response to an engine temperature exceeding a protection temperature threshold. The engine torque is then reduced as a nonlinear function of the temperature signal and the recorded torque value to promote engine cooling.

Engine over temperature protection

A system and method for controlling an engine in a vehicle which allows the vehicle operator to manually request a vehicle speed in excess of the established vehicle speed limit that includes establishing a normal vehicle speed limit, establishing a passing duration period, establishing a passing override reset interval, and controlling the engine in response to operator input to provide a greater vehicle speed for a cumulative period not greater than the passing duration period at any time during the passing override reset interval. The system and method may include the capability of establishing a passing speed increment and controlling the vehicle speed during passing to limit the vehicle to a speed not exceeding the normal vehicle speed limit plus the passing speed increment.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Ian Daniel McKenzie