Portable mass airflow training module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11144074-B2
Application number	US-202016867787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2020
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a portable mass airflow (MAF) training module configured to simulate an air intake into an internal combustion engine. An in-line blower draws an airflow through an air filter by way of a first air duct and a second air duct. A throttle assembly is coupled between the first air duct and the second air duct. The throttle assembly includes a throttle plate that may be rotated to regulate the airflow. The power output of the in-line blower is variable to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine. A MAF sensor and a duct velocity sensor are configured to provide airflow information. The portable MAF training module enables a practitioner to select a desired throttle setting and observe a resultant mass airflow through the portable MAF training module that is measured by the MAF sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable mass airflow training module for simulating an air intake of an internal combustion engine, the training module comprising:
an in-line blower for causing an airflow through an air filter;
a MAF sensor for measuring an airflow mass through the air filter; and
a throttle assembly for regulating the airflow through the air filter.

2. The training module of claim 1 , further including a filter-housing for receiving the airflow exiting the air filter.

3. The training module of claim 2 , wherein a differential pressure sensor is coupled with the filter-housing for measuring a difference between ambient air pressure and an air pressure within the filter-housing.

4. The training module of claim 2 , wherein an air velocity sensor is coupled with the filter-housing region for measuring the speed of the airflow through the air filter.

5. The training module of claim 1 , wherein the in-line blower is configured to output a variable power so as to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine.

6. The training module of claim 1 , wherein the throttle assembly includes a throttle plate that may be rotated for regulating the airflow through the training module.

7. The training module of claim 6 , wherein a throttle position sensor comprising the throttle assembly is coupled with the throttle plate and configured to directly monitor a position of the throttle plate.

8. The training module of claim 1 , further including a throttle control circuit that includes at least a frequency generator, a duty cycle modulator, a throttle controller, a position feedback, and a PID controller.

9. The training module of claim 8 , wherein the PID controller is configured to generate an input signal to the duty cycle modulator based on a difference between an actual throttle position and a desired throttle position.

10. The training module of claim 9 , wherein the throttle controller is configured to supply electric power to a motor configured to move a throttle control valve to the desired throttle position.

11. The training module of claim 1 , further including a MAF control appliance for simulating an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle.

12. The training module of claim 11 , wherein the MAF control appliance comprises:
a throttle controller for positioning a throttle control valve comprising the throttle assembly;
a sensor logic for interpreting MAF sensor data;
one or more hardware processors for processing signals received from the throttle controller and the sensor logic;
a user interface logic for displaying received signals on an electronic device by way of a communication link; and
a memory.

13. A method for a portable mass airflow training module to simulate an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
causing an airflow through an air filter;
regulating the airflow through the air filter; and
measuring an airflow mass through the air filter.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein causing includes configuring an in-line blower to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein regulating includes rotating a throttle plate comprising a throttle assembly to control the airflow through the air filter.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating includes using a throttle position sensor comprising the throttle assembly to directly monitor a position of the throttle plate.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein measuring includes placing a MAF sensor in contact with the airflow.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein measuring includes simulating an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle by way of a MAF control appliance.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein measuring includes using a sensor logic comprising the MAF control appliance to interpret MAF sensor data.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein measuring includes using a GUI on an electronic device to select a desired throttle setting and observe a resultant mass airflow that is detected by the MAF sensor.

Assignees

• K&N Eng Inc

Inventors

• Mcclanahan Mac
• Williams Steve
• Valles Joel

Classifications

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title

• G09B25/02

  of industrial processes; of machinery · CPC title

• G05B6/02

  electric · CPC title

• G09B9/00

  Simulators for teaching or training purposes (for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; {protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131}) · CPC title

• G01M15/05

  by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters · CPC title