Air intake heater system for internal combustion engines
AssigneeCummins Electronics Company, Inc.
InventorsPatrick R. Shea, Robert T. Niemczyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air intake heater system for internal combustion engines is disclosed including a microprocessor controller, intake manifold air temperature sensing means, water in fuel sensors, electrical air heating elements actuated by the microprocessor, and system status indicators. Additionally, fuel injector timing is altered by the microprocessor depending upon intake manifold air temperature. Air intake heating is provided to assist cold weather starting of engines as well as for minimizing white smoke pollutants produced by diesel engines. Power consumption of the device is maintained below a predetermined level by judicious use of the microprocessor controller in conjunction with the electrical heating elements.
Claims17
An air intake heater system for use with an internal combustion engine having a battery and corresponding charging system, said air intake heater system comprising:
- (a) electrical air intake heater means for heating intake manifold air;
- (b) temperature monitoring means for monitoring intake manifold air temperature, said temperature monitoring means producing a temperature signal corresponding to intake manifold air temperature;
- (c) first circuit means responsive to said temperature signal and producing a first signal of variable duration based upon said temperature signal;
- (d) second circuit means responsive to said temperature signal and producing a second signal of variable duration based upon said temperature signal when said battery voltage exceeds a predetermined limit;
- and
- (e) third circuit means responsive to said first and said second signals, said third circuit means supplying a power signal from said battery to said electrical air intake heater means in response to said first and second signals.
An air intake heater system for use with an internal combustion engine having a battery and corresponding charging system, said intake air heater system comprising:
- (a) electrical air intake heater means for heating intake manifold air;
- (b) temperature monitoring means for monitoring intake manifold air temperature, said temperature monitoring means producing a temperature signal corresponding to intake manifold air temperature;
- (c) electronic control means for controlling system functions, said battery supplying a power signal to said electronic control means, said electronic control means connected to said temperature signal and responding to said temperature signal by supplying a first heater signal to said electrical air intake heater means when said temperature is below a predetermined limit, said first heater signal having a variable duration corresponding to said temperature signal, said electronic control means also supplying a second heater signal to said electronic air intake heater means when said power signal exceeds a predetermined voltage, said second heater signal also having a variable duration corresponding to said temperature signal.
An intake air heater system for use with an internal combustion engine comprising:
- (a) electrical air intake heater means for heating intake manifold air;
- (b) temperature monitoring means for monitoring engine coolant temperature, said temperature monitoring means producing a temperature signal corresponding to engine coolant temperature;
- (c) key switch means for starting and stopping said engine, said ignition switch means producing a key signal indicating the position of said key switch means;
- (d) electronic control means for controlling system functions, said control means having a first input, a second input, and first heater control means for supplying a power output signal to said air intake heater means, said temperature signal supplied to said first input and said key signal supplied to said second input, said control means being designed and arranged to respond to said key switch means by:
- activating said heater output means when said key switch is activated if said temperature signal indicates engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined limit;
- and
- repetitively activating and deactivating said heater output means when said key signal exceeds a predetermined voltage and said temperature signal indicates coolant temperature is below a predetermined limit;
- and
- (e) power supply means for supplying electrical power to said control means and said temperature monitoring means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.