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US 5,094,198 AGranted
Air intake heating method and device for internal combustion engines
AssigneeCummins Electronics Company, Inc.
InventorsPaul M. Trotta, Paul J. Ebaugh, Donald T. Barnett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air intake heating system and method for heating intake air for internal combustion engines is disclosed including a microprocessor based controller, intake manifold air temperature monitoring means, engine speed monitoring means, and electrical air heating elements actuated by the controller in response to various combinations of sensed engine speed, sensed intake manifold air temperature and sensed battery condition. Air intake heating is provided to assist cold weather starting of engines as well as for minimizing white smoke pollutants produced by diesel engines after starting of the engine and as required thereafter during engine operation.
Claims34
An air intake heating system for use with an internal combustion engine having a battery and corresponding charging system, said air intake heating system comprising:
- (a) temperature monitoring means for monitoring intake manifold air temperature, said temperature monitoring means producing a temperature signal corresponding to the intake manifold air temperature;
- (b) engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of said engine, said engine speed monitoring means producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of said engine;
- (c) electrical air intake heating means for heating intake manifold air;
- (d) first circuit means responsive to said temperature signal and said speed signal, said first circuit means producing a first heating signal when said temperature signal is below a predetermined preheat limit and said speed signal is below a predetermined cranking limit;
- (e) second circuit means responsive to said temperature signal and said speed signal, said second circuit means producing a second heating signal when said temperature signal is below a predetermined postheat limit and said speed signal is above a predetermined running limit;
- (f) third circuit means responsive to said temperature signal and said speed signal, said third circuit means producing a third heating signal when said temperature signal is below a predetermined recycle limit and said speed signal is above a predetermined running limit;
- and
- (g) fourth circuit means responsive to said first, second and third heating signals, said fourth circuit means supplying a power signal from said battery to said electrical air intake heating means in response to said first, second and third heating signals.
5 more elements
An air intake heating system for use with an internal combustion engine having a battery and corresponding charging system, said air intake heating system conmprising:
- (a) temperature monitoring means for monitoring intake manifold air temperature, said temperature monitoring means producing a temperature signal corresponding to the intake manifold air temperature;
- (b) engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of said engine, said engine speed monitoring means producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of said engine;
- (c) electrical air intake heating means for heating intake manifold air;
- and
- (d) 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 said speed signal and including;
- a first mode wherein said electronic control means responds to said temperature signal and said speed signal by supplying a first heating signal to said electrical air intake heating means when said temperature signal is below a predetermined preheat limit and said speed signal is below a predetermined cranking limit;
- a second mode wherein said electronic control means responds to said temperature signal and said speed signal by supplying a second heating signal to said electrical air intake heating means when said temperature signal is below a predetermined postheat limit and said speed signal is above a predetermined running limit;
- and
- a third mode wherein said electronic control means repsonds to said temperature signal and said speed signal by supplying a third heating signal to said electrical air intake heating means when said temperature signal is below a predetermined recycle limit and said speed signal is above a redetermined running limit.
6 more elements
A method for heating intake manifold air of an internal combustion engine having a battery and corresponding charging system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing intake manifold air temperature;
- (b) sensing rotational speed of said engine;
- (c) heating said intake manifold air when said sensed air temperature is below a predetermined preheat temperature and said sensed speed is below a predetermined cranking speed;
- (d) heating said intake manifold air when said sensed air temperature is below a predetermined postheat temperature and said sensed speed is above a predetermined running speed;
- (e) heating said intake manifold air when said sensed temperature is below a predetermined recycle limit and said sensed speed is above a predetermined running speed.
2 more elements
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) engine speed monitoring means for monitoring rotational speed of said engine, said engine speed monitoring means producing an engine speed signal corresponding to the rotational speed of said engine;
- (d) key switch means for starting and stopping said engine, said key switch means producing a key signal indicating position of said key switch means;
- (e) electronic control means for controlling system functions, said control means having a first input, a second input, a third 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, said speed signal supplied to said second input, and said key signal supplied to said third 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 means is activated if said temperature signal indicates engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined preheat limit and said speed signal indicates said engine rotational speed is below a predetermined cranking limit;
- activating said heater output means when said key switch means is activated if said temperature signal indicates engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined postheat limit and said speed signal indicates engine speed is above a predetermined running limit;
- and
- repetitively activating and deactivating said heater output means when said key switch means is activated if said temperature signal indicates engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined recycle limit and said speed signal indicates said engine coolant temperature is above a predetermined running limit;
- and
- (f) power supply means for supplying electrical power to said control means and said electrical air intake heater means.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.