Device and method for cold testing engine component operation
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsDavid J. Chesney, Roderick Alexander Simpson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of determining a condition of a component (e.g., valves) of an engine having a manifold air pressure sensor during a cold test includes providing pressurized air to an intake of the engine. The method includes rotating a crankshaft of the engine. The method includes measuring pressures with the manifold air pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position. The method includes comparing the pressures with a predetermined baseline. The method includes indicating a condition of the component based on the comparison of the pressures with the baseline.
Claims22
A method of determining valve positions for an engine having an air pressure sensor, the method comprising:
- performing a cold test, the cold test including:
- operating an electric motor that is drivingly coupled to a crankshaft of the engine such that the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor;
- providing either pressurized air or vacuum to the engine via a source of pressurized air or vacuum, the source being connected to either an air intake manifold of the engine or an exhaust manifold of the engine, the pressurized air or vacuum being provided to the engine via the air intake manifold or the exhaust manifold while the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor;
- cycling a cylinder deactivation mode of the engine between an on condition and an off condition at least once while the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor;
- and
- measuring intake or exhaust pressures with the pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position while the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor;
- comparing the pressures with predetermined baseline pressures for crankshaft rotational positions;
- and
- indicating valve positions based on the comparison of the pressures with the baseline pressures for crankshaft rotational positions.
A method of determining a condition of a component of an engine having an air pressure sensor during a cold test comprising:
- opening a throttle body to a wide open throttle position;
- setting an intake variable cam timing (VCT) and an exhaust VCT to a maximum valve overlap condition;
- operating a rotary power source that is drivingly coupled to a crankshaft of the engine such that the rotary power source rotates the crankshaft, wherein the rotary power source does not receive power from combustion within the engine;
- providing either pressurized air or vacuum to the engine via a source of pressurized air or vacuum while the crankshaft is rotated by the rotary power source, the source being connected to either the throttle body or an exhaust of the engine;
- measuring pressures with the pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position while the crankshaft is rotated by the rotary power source;
- comparing the pressures with predetermined baseline pressures for crankshaft rotational positions;
- and
- indicating a condition of the component based on the comparison of the pressures with the baseline pressures for crankshaft rotational positions.
A method of determining a condition of a turbocharger of an engine during a cold test, wherein the turbocharger is connected to an exhaust of the engine, the method comprising:
- rotating a crankshaft of the engine by operating an electric motor drivingly coupled to the crankshaft;
- providing either pressurized air or vacuum to the engine via a source of pressurized air or vacuum, the source being connected to either an air intake of the engine or an exhaust of the engine, the pressurized air or vacuum being provided to the engine while the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor;
- measuring pressures with a pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position while the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor, the pressure sensor being upstream of the turbocharger;
- comparing the pressures as a function of crankshaft position with predetermined baseline pressures for crankshaft positions;
- and
- indicating a condition of the turbocharger based on the comparison of the pressures as a function of crankshaft position with the baseline pressures for crankshaft positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.