Apparatus and method for monitoring engine conditions, using magnetostrictive sensors

An apparatus for sensing combustive and mechanical events occurring throughout an operating internal combustion engine through measurement of mechanical stress waves within the entire structural mass of said engine, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetostrictive sensor positioned in removable mechanical contact with said structural mass of said engine, said magnetostrictive sensor capable of detecting and translating said mechanical stress waves within said entire structural mass of said engine into a signal;
• a signal conditioner for filtering and amplifying said signal from said magnetostrictive sensor:
• means for identifying a positional condition of said operating internal combustion engine to facilitate identification of a source of said stress waves within said structural mass;
• means for comparing said amplified signal with a recorded reference signal, said recorded reference signal representing an initial condition of said engine;
• and
• means for associating characteristic differences between said amplified signal and said reference signal with specific anomalous events within said engine, said characteristic differences being previously associated with such anomalous events.