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US 5,604,306 AGranted
Apparatus and method for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorDavid R. Schricker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting a plugged condition of an air filter uses a computer based model of the air restriction.
Claims12
An apparatus for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine having an intake manifold, including:
- means for sensing filtered air pressure and responsively producing a filtered air pressure signal;
- means for sensing intake manifold pressure and responsively producing an intake manifold pressure signal;
- means for sensing intake manifold temperature and responsively producing an intake manifold temperature signal;
- means for receiving said intake manifold pressure and temperature signals, responsively determining a density of air at the intake manifold, and producing an air density signal;
- means for detecting a low load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said low load condition and producing a low load mass flow air signal;
- means for detecting a high load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said high load condition and producing a high load mass flow air signal;
- means for receiving said low load and high load condition mass air flow signals and said filtered air pressure signal, responsively determining a restriction value, and responsively producing a restriction signal;
- and
- means for receiving said restriction signal and responsively detecting a plugged condition of the air filter.
6 more elements
A method for detecting a plugged air filter on an engine having an intake manifold, including the steps of:
- sensing filtered air pressure and responsively producing a filtered air pressure signal;
- sensing intake manifold pressure and responsively producing an intake manifold pressure signal;
- sensing intake manifold temperature and responsively producing an intake manifold temperature signal;
- receiving said intake manifold pressure and temperature signals, responsively determining a density of air at the intake manifold, and producing an air density signal;
- detecting a low load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said low load condition and producing a low load mass flow air signal;
- detecting a high load condition of the engine, receiving said air density signal, responsively determining a mass flow of air through the engine at said high load condition and producing a high load mass flow air signal;
- receiving said low load and high load condition mass air flow signals and said filtered air pressure signal, responsively determining a restriction value, and responsively producing a restriction signal;
- and
- receiving said restriction signal and responsively detecting a plugged condition of the air filter.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.