US 10,047,644 B2 · Detection apparatus for at least one of temperature and pressure in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring at least one of temperature and pressure within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine can include an engine valve and a sensor. The internal combustion engine can include a valvetrain having rocker arm assembly, a camshaft, a valve, and a hydraulic lash adjuster. The engine valve can have a valve head and a valve stem extending from the valve head in an axial direction. The valve head can have a valve face configured to be in pressure communication with an engine cylinder. The valve stem can have an outer surface with a cylindrical portion and a variably-shaped portion. The variably-shaped portion can define a target detectable by the sensor and the sensor can be installed adjacent to the target. Alternatively, the sensor can be positioned to detect a level of force at some point along the valvetrain.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for measuring at least one of temperature and pressure within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine valve having a valve head and a valve stem extending from the valve head in an axial direction, the valve head having a valve face configured to be in pressure communication with an engine cylinder, the valve stem configured to extend through an opening in a valve guide secured to an engine block of the internal combustion engine, the valve stem having an outer surface with a cylindrical portion and a variably-shaped portion;
and
a proximity sensor installed in the internal combustion engine adjacent to the variably-shaped portion of the outer surface of the valve stem, the proximity sensor configured to detect axial displacement of the valve stem resulting from one of a change in temperature of the valve stem and a change in pressure acting on the valve face.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/973,005Filed 17 Dec 2015 · continuation

Priority

16 Aug 2013

Published

US 2016/0115830 A128 Apr 2016

Granted

14 Aug 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F01L 3/08
Lift-valve, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the…:…
G01K 13/00
Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
G01L 23/04
Devices or apparatus for measuring or indicating or recording rapid changes, such as oscillations, in the pressure of steam, gas, or liquid;…:…
G01L 23/14
Operated electrically: by electromagnetic elements

Family

Application61/866,663Us provisional application · filed 16 Aug 2013

Application61/866,666Us provisional application · filed 16 Aug 2013

Application61/873,591Us provisional application · filed 4 Sep 2013

Application61/878,414Us provisional application · filed 16 Sep 2013

PCT/US2014/051036Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Aug 2014

US 2016/0115830 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Apr 2016

US 10,047,644 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Detection apparatus for at least one of temperature and pressure in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Detection apparatus for at least one of temperature and pressure in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15