Portable mass airflow training module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11960309-B2
Application number	US-202117494181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2021
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

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 MAF control appliance for simulating an engine control module of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a throttle control for positioning a throttle control valve comprising a throttle assembly;
a sensor logic for interpreting data received from a MAF sensor;
one or more hardware processors for processing signals received from the throttle control 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.

2. The MAF control appliance of claim 1 , wherein the sensor logic comprises one or more modules and logic for receiving electronic signals from the MAF sensor.

3. The MAF control appliance of claim 2 , wherein the sensor logic is configured for interpreting the electronic signals in terms of physical quantities.

4. The MAF control appliance of claim 3 , wherein the physical quantities comprise any one or more of mass airflow, throttle position, air velocity, differential air pressure, and filter air velocity.

5. The MAF control appliance of claim 1 , wherein the throttle control includes any one more of a frequency generator, a duty cycle modulator, a throttle controller, a position feedback, and a PID controller.

6. The MAF control appliance of claim 5 , wherein the PID controller is configured for generating an input signal to the duty cycle modulator based on a difference between an actual throttle position and a desired throttle position.

7. The MAF control appliance of claim 6 , wherein the throttle control is configured for supplying electric power to a motor for moving a throttle control valve to the desired throttle position.

8. A throttle control for positioning a throttle control valve comprising a throttle assembly, comprising: a frequency generator; a duty cycle modulator; a throttle controller; a position feedback; and a PID controller.

9. The throttle control of claim 8 , wherein the PID controller indicates a difference between an actual throttle position and a desired throttle position to the duty cycle modulator.

10. The throttle control of claim 9 , wherein the throttle control causes a motor to move the throttle control valve to the desired throttle position.

11. The throttle control of claim 10 , wherein the throttle control includes a drive circuit that generates a PWM drive signal to operate the motor.

12. The throttle control of claim 11 , wherein the drive circuit comprises a transistor and a relay.

13. The throttle control of claim 12 , wherein the duty cycle modulator includes one or more processors for regulating an electric current directed to the motor.

14. The throttle control of claim 8 , wherein the throttle assembly comprises: a throttle valve; a plenum chamber; a throttle housing; and a throttle position sensor.

15. The throttle control of claim 14 , wherein the throttle position sensor configured to monitor the actual position of the throttle valve.

16. The throttle control of claim 15 , wherein the throttle position sensor is coupled with a butterfly spindle/shaft comprising the throttle valve.

17. The throttle control of claim 16 , wherein a closed-throttle position sensor is included to indicate that the throttle valve is completely closed.

18. An apparatus for simulating an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a filter-housing for receiving an airflow;
an in-line blower for drawing the airflow through an air filter;
a throttle valve for regulating the airflow;
a differential pressure sensor coupled with the filter-housing; and
an air velocity sensor coupled with the filter-housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a difference between ambient air pressure and an air pressure within the filter-housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the air velocity sensor is configured to measure a speed of the airflow through the air filter.

Assignees

• K&N Eng Inc

Inventors

• Mcclanahan Mac
• Williams Steve
• Valles Joel

Classifications

• G05D7/0635 Primary

  by action on throttling means (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · CPC title

• G01M15/05

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

• G05B6/02

  electric · CPC title

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title