Sensor and method for detecting misfires in internal combustion engines
US5383350A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02P2017/128
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sensor (10) detects misfires of combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine by monitoring the exhaust from the engine. The sensor (10) comprises a spark gap (18) to be situated in exhaust from the engine and a transformer assembly (34). The transformer assembly (34) has an ignition transformer (41a) for providing a potential difference between the electrodes (18a, 18b) of the spark gap (18) and a detection transformer (41b) for sensing the occurrence of an arc across the spark gap (18). An ignition pulse shaper (68) provides an ignition pulse to the ignition transformer (41a) upon receiving a trigger signal from an engine control system (66), and a detection pulse shaper (72) monitors the detection transformer (41b) and forwards an arc detection signal to the engine control system (66) upon detecting an arc across the electrodes (18a, 18b) of the spark gap (18). Proper ignition in the internal combustion engine is presumed when the arc is generated across the electrodes (18a, 18b), and a misfire is presumed in the internal combustion engine in the absence of the arc across the spark gap (18).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.