Power based field testing of diesel engines
OwnerFrancis Jay Capristoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for accurately determining fuel efficiency in diesel engines of vehicles, as they exist on the job. In determining the efficiency, work done by the vehicle in combination with accurately measured fuel consumption enables calculation of the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. The method of the invention is of use in determining a baseline fuel efficiency for use in evaluating the effectiveness of fuel efficiency related improvements to the engine or vehicle. Following making the improvements, additional fuel efficiency tests using the method of the invention are carried out for comparing the new fuel efficiency with the baseline fuel efficiency. In some applications GPS systems are used for determining work done by the vehicle.
Claims6
A method for determining efficiency of fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine powered vehicle, comprising:
- measuring RPM's of a drive shaft of the vehicle every X second for a period of Y seconds and determining an average RPM;
- measuring a torque value of the drive shaft of the vehicle every X seconds for a period of Y seconds and determining an average torque;
- measuring fuel consumption of the engine every X second for a period of Y seconds and determining an average fuel consumption;
- and
- calculating a horsepower of the drive shaft of the vehicle as ((average torque)(average RPM))/(5252)=(HP), and calculating efficiency of fuel consumption as (average fuel consumption)/(HP).
A method for determining efficiency of fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine powered vehicle operating at a constant gross weight, comprising:
- 1) measuring the vehicle's speed, direction of movement and elevation change every X second for a period of Y seconds with use of a GPS tracking software system;
- 2) calculating work done over the Y seconds with use of measurements obtained in step 1) and a gross weight of the vehicle;
- 3) measuring fuel consumption of the engine every X second for a period of Y seconds and determining an average fuel consumption;
- and
- 4) calculating fuel consumption efficiency based on work done over the period of Y seconds divided by the average fuel consumption by the engine over the period of Y seconds.
A method for determining efficiency of fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine powered vehicle, during operation of the vehicle within a site to excavate material from the site, wherein the vehicle has a base weight and material from the site loaded and unloaded on the vehicle varies a gross weight and resistive load of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- 1) measuring the vehicle's speed, direction of movement and elevation change every X second for a period of Y seconds with use of a GPS tracking software system;
- 2) calculating a first work done with use of measurements obtained in step 1) and the vehicle's base weight;
- 3) measuring fuel consumption of the engine every second for a period of Y seconds and determining an average fuel consumption;
- 4) repeating steps 1-3 over a total test period;
- 5) measuring the volume of material excavated from the site over the total test period with use of a GPS image scanning software system;
- 6) calculating a second work done with use of measurements obtained in step 5) along with a density value of the material;
- and 7) calculating fuel consumption efficiency based on the sum of the first work done and second work done over the total test period divided by the fuel consumption by the engine over the total test period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.