Method and system for identifying abnormal valve performance in an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566569-B1
Application number	US-202117453124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 1, 2021
Priority date	Nov 1, 2021
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

Systems and techniques for identifying abnormal exhaust valve performance of an internal combustion engine may include receiving exhaust passage temperature signals from a plurality of exhaust passage temperature sensors, each exhaust passage being fluidly connected to one or more exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective exhaust passage temperatures. The method may further include comparing one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, identifying a caution exhaust passage temperature, from one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, that deviates from one or more of the other one or more exhaust passage temperatures, and outputting an abnormal exhaust valve performance indication based on identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for identifying abnormal exhaust valve performance of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
receiving exhaust passage temperature signals from a plurality of exhaust passage temperature sensors, each exhaust passage being fluidly connected downstream of one or more exhaust valves of a same cylinder of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective exhaust passage temperatures;
comparing one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures;
identifying a caution exhaust passage temperature, from one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, that deviates from one or more of the other one or more exhaust passage temperatures; and
outputting an abnormal exhaust valve performance indication based on identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing one or more exhaust passage temperatures further comprises determining a representative temperature based on the exhaust passage temperatures and comparing one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures to the representative temperature, and the method further comprising identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature is greater than at least a warning threshold temperature above the representative temperature.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of exhaust passages correspond to a first bank of cylinders in the internal combustion engine, the method further comprising:
receiving second exhaust passage temperature signals from each of a plurality of second exhaust passages corresponding to a second bank of cylinders in the internal combustion engine, each second exhaust passage connected to one or more second exhaust valves, the second exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective second exhaust passage temperatures;
determining a second representative temperature based on each of the second exhaust passage temperatures; and
comparing one or more of the second exhaust passage temperatures to the second representative temperature, wherein identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature further comprises identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature from one or more of the second exhaust passage temperatures.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the representative temperature is a mean of at least two of the exhaust passage temperatures.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the representative temperature is determined based on a mathematical relationship between each of the exhaust passage temperatures.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising modifying an amount of fuel injected by a fuel injector based on the exhaust passage temperature exceeding a modification threshold temperature above the representative temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of a warning threshold temperature or the modification threshold temperature are based on the representative temperature.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a higher representative temperature corresponds to a higher warning threshold temperature or modification threshold temperature and a relatively lower representative temperature corresponds to a lower warning threshold temperature or modification threshold temperature.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust passage temperature signals are detected by respective exhaust passage temperature sensors secured to each exhaust passage.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising outputting an abnormal exhaust valve performance warning based on the abnormal exhaust valve performance indication wherein the warning identifies an engine cylinder corresponding to the caution exhaust passage temperature.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the abnormal exhaust valve performance warning is output prospective of an incomplete closure condition or valve fracture of an exhaust valve associated with the caution exhaust passage temperature.

12. A method for identifying abnormal valve performance of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
determining that the internal combustion engine is operating below a predetermined engine load, below a predetermined engine speed, or both;
receiving valve temperature signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, the valve temperature signals corresponding to respective valve temperatures;
determining a representative temperature based on the valve temperatures;
in response to determining that the internal combustion engine is operating below the predetermined engine load, below the predetermined engine speed, or both, identifying when one or more of the valve temperatures is greater than a threshold temperature above the representative temperature; and
outputting an abnormal valve performance indication based on identifying the one or more valve temperatures is greater than the threshold temperature.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of valves correspond to a first bank of cylinders in the internal combustion engine and further comprising:
receiving second valve temperature signals from each of a plurality of second valves corresponding to a second bank of cylinders in the internal combustion engine, the second valve temperature signals being indicative of respective second valve temperatures;
determining a second representative temperature based on each of the second valve temperatures; and
comparing one or more of the second valve temperatures to the second representative temperature, wherein identifying when one or more of the valve temperatures is greater than a threshold temperature above the representative temperature further comprises identifying when one or more of the second valve temperatures is greater than a threshold temperature above the representative temperature and outputting an abnormal valve performance is further based on the one or more second valve temperatures.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined engine speed is less than approximately 40% of a maximum engine speed.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting the representative temperature based on the valve temperatures.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising reducing an amount of fuel injected by a fuel injector based on the valve temperature exceeding a modification threshold temperature that is higher than the representative temperature.

17. An abnormal exhaust valve performance detection system, comprising:
an internal combustion engine comprising:
a plurality of exhaust passages, each exhaust passage being connected to one or more exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine;
a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor secured to a respective exhaust passage; and

a control unit configured to:
receive exhaust passage temperature signals from each of the plurality of temperature sensors, the exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective exhaust passage temperatures;
determine a representative temperature based on each of the exhaust passage temperatures;
compare one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures to the representative temperature;
identify a caution exhaust passage temperature, from one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, that is greater than at least a threshold temperature above the representative temperature, based on the comparison; and
output an abnormal exhaust valve performance indication based on identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature wherein the abnormal exhaust valve performance indication identifies an engine cylinder corresponding to the

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Kennedy Joseph L
• Ankersen Nathan
• Rush Ryan A

Classifications

• F02D41/22 Primary

  Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} · CPC title

• F02D35/0092 Primary

  by means of fuel injection · CPC title

• F02D2200/101

  Engine speed · CPC title

• F02D41/345

  Controlling injection timing (F02D41/365 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02D41/1446

  the characteristics being exhaust temperatures · CPC title