Method and system for assessing engine faults

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11053835-B2
Application number	US-201816980388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2018
Priority date	May 10, 2018
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A method and system are provided for assessing engine faults. The method includes measuring actual diesel particulate filter (DPF) soot loading, determining expected DPF soot loading, aid determining that a possible engin component fault is an actual engine component fault by determining that measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the expected DPF soot loading.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for assessing engine faults, comprising:
measuring a rate of actual diesel particulate filter (DPF) soot loading;
determining a rate of expected DPF soot loading;
determining that a possible engine component fault is an actual engine component fault by determining that the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the expected DPF soot loading by a first predetermined amount;
characterizing a possible engine component fault as a false fault when the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading is less than the rate of expected DPF soot loading or exceeds the expected DPF soot loading by an amount less than the first predetermined amount; and
responding to a determination that a possible engine component fault is a false fault by taking mitigating action appropriate to ensure recordation of the false fault.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , comprising
characterizing a determined actual engine component fault as a true limit when the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by an amount equal to or greater than a second predetermined amount, and
responding to a determination that a determined actual engine component fault is a true fault by taking immediate action appropriate to restrict engine operation to avoid engine failure.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the immediate action comprises at least one of shutting the engine down and notifying an operator of a true fault and of a severity of the true fault.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 , comprising
characterizing a determined actual engine component fault as a non-major fault when the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by less than the second predetermined at amount, and
responding to a determination that a determined actual engine component fault is a non-major fault by taking mitigating action appropriate to ensure correction of non-major fault.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the mitigating action appropriate to ensure correction of the non-major fault comprises performing an inspection of the the DPF.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the mitigating action appropriate to ensure correction of the non-major fault comprises performing an inspection of the engine and an exhaust aftertreatment system.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 , comprising the steps of measuring the rate of actual DPF soot loading, determining the rate of expected DPF soot loading, and determining that the possible engine component fault is an actual engine component fault by determining that the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by the first predetermined amount at a plurality of engine loading conditions.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the rate of actual DPF soot loading is measured by an RF sensor.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the rate of expected DPF soot loading is based on at least one of a soot loading model, a soot loading map, and computer or machine learned soot production expectations.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the possible engine component fault is detected by monitoring engine components for faults.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 , comprising diagnosing component wear not constituting an actual fault upon determining that the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by an amount greater than zero but by less than the first predetermined amount, and upon identifying at least one of decreased fuel economy and excessive oil sage.

12. A system for assessing engine faults, comprising:
means for measuring a rate of actual diesel particulate filter (DPF) soot loading; and processing circuitry configured for determining a rate of expected DPF soot loading, wherein the processing circuitry is configured for
determining that a possible engine component fault is an actual engine component fault by determining that, the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by a first predetermined amount,
characterizing a possible engine component fault as a false fault when the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading is less than the rate of expected DPF soot loading or exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by an amount less than the first predetermined amount, and
responding to a determination that a possible engine component fault is a false fault by taking mitigating action appropriate to ensure recordation of the false fault.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured for
characterizing a determined actual engine component fault as a true fault when the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the expected DPF soot loading by an amount equal to or greater than a second predetermined amount, and
responding to a determination that a determined actual engine component fault is a true limit by taking immediate action appropriate to restrict engine operation to avoid engine failure.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the immediate action comprises at least one of shutting the engine down and notifying an operator of a true fault and of a severity of the true fault.

15. The system as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured for
characterizing a determined actual engine component fault as a non-major fault when the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading by more than the first predetermined amount and less than the second predetermined amount, and
responding to a determination that a determined actual engine component fault is a non-major fault by taking mitigating action appropriate to ensure correction of the non-major fault.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the mitigating action comprises performing a regeneration of the DPF.

17. The system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the mitigating action comprises performing an inspection of the engine and an exhaust aftertreatment system.

18. The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the engine to operate at a plurality of different engine loading conditions, the means for measuring the rate of actual DPF soot loading measures the rate of actual DPF soot loading at the different engine loading conditions, the processing circuitry is configured to determine the rate of expected DPF soot loading at the different engine loading conditions, and the processing circuitry is configured for determining that the possible engine component fault is an actual engine component fault by determining that the rate of measured actual DPF soot loading exceeds the rate of expected DPF soot loading at the different engine loading conditions.

19. The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the means for measuring the rate of actual DPF soot loading comprises an RF sensor.

20. The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the rate of expected DPF soot loading based on at least one of a soot loading model, a soot loading map, and computer or machine learned soot production expectations.

21. The system as set forth in claim 12 , comprising means for monitoring one or more engine components for faults and for sending a signal to the processing circuitry upon detection of the p

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp
• Geyer Stephen
• Hoover Dale

Inventors

• Geyer Stephen
• Hoover Dale

Classifications

• F01N3/023

  using means for regenerating the filters, e.g. by burning trapped particles · CPC title

• F02D41/1466

  the characteristics being a soot concentration or content · CPC title

• F01N2560/05

  the means being a particulate sensor · CPC title

• F01N3/021 Primary

  by means of filters · CPC title

• F01N2900/1606

  Particle filter loading or soot amount · CPC title