System and method for valve seat gap evaluation
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsLee B. Moonen, John S. Agapiou, Daniel L. Simon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of detecting a gap between a valve seat insert and a port in a cylinder head may include heating the valve seat insert and the cylinder head and generating a thermal image of the valve seat insert and the cylinder head at an interface between the valve seat insert and corresponding port in the cylinder head housing the valve seat insert. The thermal image may be evaluated to determine the magnitude of a gap between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head based on a temperature at the interface between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head.
Claims20
An engine valve seat gap evaluation system comprising:
- a thermal camera assembly including an infrared sensor;
- a fixture having a first end coupled to the thermal camera assembly;
- and
- a mirror coupled to a second end of the fixture opposite the first end and adapted to be located within an engine port to direct infrared radiation from a gap between a cylinder head and a valve seat insert to the infrared sensor.
A method of detecting a gap between a valve seat insert and a port in a cylinder head comprising:
- heating the valve seat insert and the cylinder head;
- generating a thermal image of the valve seat insert and the cylinder head at an interface between the valve seat insert and corresponding port in the cylinder head housing the valve seat insert;
- and
- evaluating the thermal image to determine the magnitude of a gap between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head based on a temperature at the interface between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head.
A method of detecting a gap between a valve seat insert and a port in a cylinder head comprising:
- heating the valve seat insert and the cylinder head;
- locating a mirror coupled to a first end of a fixture within the port at an interface between the valve seat insert and corresponding port in the cylinder head housing the valve seat insert and reflecting infrared radiation around an entire circumference of the interface to an infrared sensor of a thermal camera assembly coupled to a second end of the fixture;
- generating a thermal image of the interface via the thermal camera assembly;
- and
- evaluating the thermal image to determine the magnitude of a gap between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head based on a temperature at the interface between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.