Instrumented piston for an internal combustion engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJay L. Richerson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piston assembly for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston assembly includes a piston crown including an upper surface defining a bowl region, a side portion and a lower surface, a piston skirt depending from the side portion of the piston crown, a sensor, at least partially coated by a visualization material, disposed within the piston crown at a location proximate to the bowl region, and a sensor data telemetry system coupled to the sensor. Methods for manufacturing a piston assembly for an internal combustion engine are also provided.
Claims20
A piston assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a piston crown including an upper surface defining a bowl region, a side portion and a lower surface;
- a piston skirt depending from the side portion of the piston crown;
- a sensor, at least partially coated by a visualization material, disposed within the piston crown at a location proximate to the bowl region;
- and
- a sensor data telemetry system coupled to the sensor,
- wherein the piston crown is structured and configured such that the piston crown comprises at least one of:
- a passage formed during a piston casting process and the sensor is arranged in the passage, the passage extending toward the lower surface of the piston crown;
- and the sensor arranged and structurally embedded within material of the piston crown during the piston casting process.
A piston assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a piston crown including an upper surface defining a bowl region, a side portion and a lower surface;
- a piston skirt depending from the side portion of the piston crown;
- a sensor, at least partially coated by a visualization material, disposed within the piston crown at a location proximate to the bowl region;
- and
- a sensor data telemetry system coupled to the sensor,
- wherein the sensor data telemetry system comprises a wireless sensor data telemetry system, a wireless power module arranged in the piston, and a power source arranged in a cylinder wall that inductively couples power to the wireless power module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.