Patent · US Expired

Air intake heating and diagnostic system for internal combustion engines

US5482013A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
24References
64Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 23, 1994
Grant dateJan 9, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/12
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An air intake heating and diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes a microprocessor based controller for activating electrical heating elements for a preheat time period prior to starting the engine and for a postheat time period after starting the engine. The controller receives inputs corresponding to intake manifold air temperature, battery temperature, vehicle speed, engine speed, and key switch position. The system continuously monitors the integrity of the various sensors, monitors the functionality of the heating elements during the postheat time period, and warns the vehicle operator by illuminating a "check engine" lamp if certain fault conditions are detected. In both cases, the controller sets fault flags within the controller memory corresponding to the detected fault conditions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.