Cylinder head crack detection system
AssigneeProgress Rail Locomotive Inc.
InventorsAdarsh G. Nair, Raji Rexavier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crack detection system for a cylinder head associated with an internal combustion engine of a locomotive is disclosed. The crack detection system comprises: a closed-loop coolant system for cooling the cylinder head; a sensor assembly including a pressure sensor, and a speed sensor; and a controller in communication with the sensor assembly. The controller is configured to monitor a coolant pressure feedback and an engine duty cycle of the internal combustion engine. The controller is further configured to communicate an alert signal indicative of an existence of a crack in the cylinder head when: coolant pressure signals are greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold; a pressure decay is calculated greater than a third threshold.
Claims20
A crack detection system for a cylinder head associated with an internal combustion engine of a locomotive, comprising:
- a closed-loop coolant system for cooling the cylinder head;
- a sensor assembly including a pressure sensor, and a speed sensor;
- and
- a controller in communication with the sensor assembly and configured to monitor a coolant pressure feedback, and an engine duty cycle of the internal combustion engine,
- the controller further configured to communicate an alert signal indicative of an existence of a crack in the cylinder head when:
- coolant pressure signals are greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold;
- and
- a pressure decay is calculated greater than a third threshold.
A locomotive comprising:
- a frame;
- a prime mover mounted on the frame;
- a ground engaging element supporting the frame;
- a cab;
- and
- a crack detection system for a cylinder head associated with the prime mover, including:
- a closed-loop coolant system for cooling the cylinder head;
- a sensor assembly including a pressure sensor, an oil quality sensor, and a speed sensor;
- and
- a controller in communication with the sensor assembly and configured to monitor a coolant pressure feedback, an engine duty cycle of the prime mover, and a sodium content in the prime mover,
- the controller further configured to communicate an alert signal indicative of an existence of a crack in the cylinder head detected when:
- coolant pressure signals are greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold;
- and
- a pressure decay is calculated greater than a third threshold.
A method for detecting and classifying cracks in a cylinder head of a prime mover in a locomotive, the method comprising:
- providing a frame, a ground engaging element supporting the frame, the prime mover mounted in the frame, a controller, a closed-loop coolant system associated with the cylinder head, a sensor assembly in communication with the controller, the sensor assembly including a pressure sensor and a speed sensor;
- operating the prime mover;
- cooling the cylinder head using the closed-loop coolant system and monitoring a coolant pressure feedback via the pressure sensor;
- monitoring, via the controller receiving signals from the sensor assembly, continuously for coolant pressure signals, and an engine duty cycle of the prime mover;
- identifying existence of cracks in the cylinder head from signals received by the controller when the coolant pressure signals are greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold;
- classifying a location of the cracks in a right bank of the cylinder head when the controller calculates a pressure decay, via the pressure sensor, greater than a third threshold and greater than a fourth threshold;
- classifying the location of the cracks in a left bank of the cylinder head when the controller calculates the pressure decay, via the pressure sensor, greater than the third threshold and less than the fourth threshold;
- and
- alerting existence of cracks to an operator of the locomotive, via communicating an alert signal by the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.