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:
Sep. 12, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2004
John R. Gladden, Lafayette, IN (US);
John R. Gladden, Lafayette, IN (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
In order to accurately determine a life of a turbocharger, the specific use, herein referred to as a 'duty cycle' of the turbocharger, should be monitored. However, in order to directly monitor the duty cycle of the turbocharger, there are additional costs of assembly and installation of a turbocharger rotational speed sensor. The present invention determines a life of a turbocharger by indirectly monitoring the duty cycle of the turbocharger through sensors that generally serve a pre-existing purpose within a vehicle or machine. A compressor inlet pressure sensor and compressor outlet pressure sensor are in communication with an electronic control module that includes a life determining algorithm. The life determining algorithm determines the life of the turbocharger based on a relationship between a sensed compressor inlet pressure and a sensed compressor outlet pressure. By monitoring the relationship between the sensed compressor inlet pressure and the sensed compressor outlet temperature, the fatigue and the creep of at least one component of the turbocharger is monitored.