United Technologies Corporation

Environmental Systems Products, Inc.

Other

Environmental Systems Product Inc.

Rinaldo R Tedeschi

Gary G Full

Robert A Edwards

John N Rogers

James F Willenbecher

Tony D Hendrix

Philip P Stick

Vincent J Porcaro

Kenneth J Strnatka

Paul Greco

Arthur R Emery

Vincent J Poracaro

Michael W Hmelovsky

Randal J Carter

A vehicle exhaust gas collection probe assembly for the collection of two independent exhaust gas samples from a tailpipe system of a vehicle exhaust system comprises a first collector for collecting an undiluted exhaust gas sample from within the exhaust system and second collection means for collecting the entirety of exhaust gas exiting from an end of the tailpipe system. The second collection means comprises a conical collector having a first open end of a diameter greater than that of the tailpipe system positioned adjacent the end of the tailpipe system and a second end of small diameter coupled to a collection conduit. The first collector comprises a hollow probe having a flexible portion for insertion into the tailpipe system coupled to a conduit positioned along a main longitudinal axis of the conical collector, extending into the conical collector, and being supported by the conical collector.

Vehicle emission sampling probe apparatus

A method for the analysis of performance characteristics of a vehicle includes the measuring of a plurality of performance variables over the course of a predefined test protocol, typically providing for the variation of operating parameters during the duration of the test. Each variable is compared to an appropriate reference at a chosen number of points or 'test sites' during the test, and the results of each comparison is classified as being above, below or within tolerance. The comparison results are tabulated into a value matrix. The matrix is compared to a series of reference matrices, each of which is associated to a different cause, such as bad timing, fouled spark plug, poor cylinder compression, and the like. Association of the values in the matrix to a reference matrix allows the problem as reflected by the measured performance variable values to be identified.

Method for analysis of vehicle performance characteristics

A method and apparatus for improving the integrity of a vehicle test procedure insures that the vehicle to which a varying test parameter is applied is the same as the vehicle whose response is required. A random variation to the test parameter is introduced, and the response of a chosen vehicle characteristic to the variation is monitored and correlated with the variations. A high correlation confirms that the vehicle whose response is being monitored is in fact the vehicle to which the parameter is applied. The method may advantageously be used in connection with EPA-sanctioned exhaust emission test protocols.

Method and apparatus for insuring the integrity of vehicle testing

A method and apparatus for testing vehicle fuel tank integrity determines the free space in the system by pressurizing the system with a known quantity of gas. The loss in pressure over a test period is then monitored. These data are used to calculate the size of the leak. Alternatively, the free volume is compared to a reference volume and a normalized leak rate computed for comparison to reference values.

Method and apparatus for testing of tank integrity of vehicle fuel

A method and apparatus for the testing of vehicle fuel tank caps includes the mounting of a cap to be tested upon a mating socket. The socket/cap combination define a sealed chamber which can be pressurized and/or evacuated in a controlled manner. A pressure transducer monitors the pressure within the chamber. The monitored pressure is compared to reference values to determine cap integrity. The apparatus may be incorporated into a vehicle testing system using microprocessor control and having a database of vehicle, cap and performance data.

Automated testing of vehicle fuel caps

A computer-based system for providing visual images to assist in the inspection of a vehicle emission-control system and components consists of a database of text and graphics data both for emission-control systems and the individual components thereof accessible on a vehicle model and style basis. A first image provides both graphic and text relating to the complete emission-control system recalled, while highlighting one of the elements both in the text and graphics display. Each component may be highlighted in sequence. A second display may be accessed which provides an enlarged graphical display of the highlighted component with additional text, if required, to provide more detailed position data for the component to aid in the location and inspection of the highlighted component. The system may be accessed through a keyboard or keypad, which also allows the entry of inspection data for storage by the system.

Emission system component inspection system

A universal sensor includes a dielectric substrate, a curved surface capacitive plate mounted to the substrate and responsive to the electromagnetic field (EMF) of an integral coil ignition system, and a rotatable lever arm mounted to the substrate and having wire holders for receiving the EMF of spark plug wires of a distributorless ignition system (DIS)ignition, the arm operable in a closed position to conduct the DIS EMF to the plate, and operable in an open position for securing a standard ignition coil secondary wire between the arm and the plate allowing the standard wire EMF to be coupled to the capacitive plate.

Universal secondary high voltage sensor

Engine timing measurement apparatus receives the engine gear tooth signal, sensed combustion, and a crankshaft index (CI) of top dead center (TDC). The apparatus includes a whole tooth interval counter for providing a whole number count of each complete tooth interval, and partial tooth counters for counting incomplete tooth intervals as the ratio of clock pulses counted in a present incomplete tooth interval divided by clock pulses counted in a preceding complete tooth interval, the partial count added to the whole count to provide a decimal value indicative of engine timing.

On-board motor vehicle timing measurement system

Compression is measured in an internal combustion engine by sensing the deceleration in sub-cyclic engine speed resulting from each cylinder's compression stroke while the engine is decelerating without fuel to the cylinders and without engine load.

Deceleration based compression test

A solid state power switch includes a gated switch for connecting electrical power to a load whenever the actual load current is less than selected current reference values.

Solid state electronic switch for motor vehicles

Relative compression in an asymmetric internal combustion (IC) engine is determined by measuring the change in speed of the engine crankshaft while the engine is cranked without ignition during each cylinder sub-cycle; the actual change in speed from a maximum to a minimum is measured during the compression stroke of each cylinder of the cylinder bank which is first to fire in the alternating left bank/right bank firing order of the engine, and the change in speed from a minimum to a maximum is measured during the expansion stroke of each cylinder of the second bank, such that the changes in engine speed over one engine cycle is provided as a sequence of delta speed signals associated alternately with a compression stroke and next with an expansion stroke for succeeding left bank and right bank cylinder displacements in accordance with the firing order; the delta speed signal magnitude associated with each cylinder, i.e. the compression stroke interval for the first bank of cylinders and the expansion stroke interval for the second bank of cylinders are ratio to the maximum delta value measured from among all cylinders to provide the relative compression ratio of each as a percentage of the maximum; alternately, the measured delta speed magnitude of each cylinder is ratio to the average of the delta signal values excluding the minimum delta value with each ratio limited to a unity, or 100% value.

Relative compression of an asymmetric internal combustion engine

The exhaust back-pressure of an internal combustion (IC) engine is used to provide an indication of the relative combustion efficiency of the engine's cylinders. The instantaneous values of back-pressure are sensed at selected, sub-cyclic crankshaft angular intervals, within a full engine cycle, each angle interval being substantially less than that associated with a cylinder sub-cycle, each sensed value of back-pressure being identified by the sensed angle position to provide an indication of the sub-cyclic fluctuation in back-pressure as they occur at known cylinder exhaust stroke cycles within the engine cycle, thereby providing identification of each sub-cyclic back-pressure pulse as being associated with a particular engine cylinder, the relative magnitudes of the back-pressure pulses being compared with each other to provide indices of the relative combustion efficiency of each cylinder.

Relative exhaust back-pressure of an internal combustion engine

The relative power contribution of each cylinder in an internal combustion (IC) engine which is connected through a common drive shaft to an engine load and which is running at a selected speed, is provided as the relative magnitudes of each cylinder's contribution to the fluctuations in a sub-cyclic net torque signal provided as the difference torque value between an instantaneous sub-cyclic engine torque signal and an instantaneous sub-cyclic load torque signal.

Relative power contribution of an internal combustion engine

Measurement of the operation of the accelerator pump of an internal combustion (IC) engine is provided while the engine is running under load by snapping the engine throttle from a steady state throttle position to a full throttle position and back within a time interval less than the response time of the engine power valve (enrichment valve), and comparing the relative magnitudes of the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) constituents of the engine exhaust gas measured before and after the snap acceleration to provide an indication of the performance of the accelerator pump.

Snap acceleration test for an internal combustion engine

The instantaneous values of intake manifold vacuum in an internal combustion (IC) engine running under load are measured to provide an indication of the relative performance and relative suction ability of each cylinder in the engine. The instantaneous values of manifold vacuum are sensed at selected, sub-cyclic crankshaft angle intervals within a full engine cycle, each angle interval being substantial less than that associated with a cylinder sub-cycle, each sensed value of manifold vacuum being identified by the sensed angle position to provide an indication of the sub-cyclic fluctuations in manifold vacuum as they occur at known cylinder intake strokes within the engine cycle, thereby providing identification of each sub-cyclic fluctuation in manifold vacuum as being associated with a particular cylinder, the relative magnitudes of the manifold vacuum fluctuations providing a relative indication of each cylinder's performance and suction ability within a common engine cycle.

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Newington, CT, United States of America

Rinaldo R Tedeschi