Combustion monitoring apparatus for internal combustion engine
US5925819A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02P2017/125
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A combustion monitoring apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which is designed to distinguish abnormal combustion conditions from a normal combustion conditions using a combustion ion current included in a current flowing through plug electrodes of a spark plug, resulting from motion of ions between the plug electrodes which are produced by combustion. For example, if a maximum value of the combustion ion current during one combustion cycle is smaller than a given value, it is determined that a misfire has occurred. If an attenuation time from generation of the current flowing through the plug electrodes until a variation in the current is decreased to a given value is shorter than a given time period, it is determined that a flame has been blown out before combustion is completed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.