The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 01, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2002
Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal combustion conditions in lean burn reciprocating engines
Matthew Viele, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Luigi P. Tozzi, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Woodward Governor Company, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method to detect abnormal combustion conditions for use as a feedback control of a lean burn reciprocating engine using ionization signals is presented. The system receives a succession of ionization signals for successive cycles of a running engine and processes a plurality of related ionization signals for signal stability. The ionization signals are checked to determine if an abnormal combustion condition such as knock or misfire has occurred. The variation of an ionization signal that changes with respect to an engine parameter over a combustion event of the lean burn reciprocating engine operating with an air to fuel ratio corresponding to a lambda (&lgr;) greater than 1.4 is measured and a floating bounded space is associated with the ionization signal. An indication that the abnormal combustion condition has been detected is provided if a portion of the ionization signal is within the floating bounded space.