Engine system utilizing cloud based engine optimization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016131069-A1
Application number	US-201414537071-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 10, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cloud based engine optimization system is disclosed. The system may have an engine. The system may also have a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of an amount of power generated by the engine and a speed sensor configured to generate a speed signal indicative of a speed of the engine. The system may also have a controller configured to receive the sensor signal and the speed signal. The controller may also be configured to upload the operating histogram to a server and receive, from the server, a calibration parameter set. In addition, the controller may be configured to apply the received calibration parameter set to the engine. The server may be configured to generate the calibration parameter set that reduces both a fuel consumption amount for the engine and an amount of emissions discharged by the engine when performing operations corresponding to the operating histogram.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cloud based engine optimization system, comprising:
an engine; a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of an amount of power generated by the engine; a speed sensor configured to generate a speed signal indicative of a speed of the engine; and a controller configured to:
receive the sensor signal and the speed signal;
generate an operating histogram based on the sensor signal and the speed signal;
upload the operating histogram to a server;
receive, from the server, a calibration parameter set; and
apply the received calibration parameter set to the engine; and
the server being configured to:
receive the operating histogram from the controller;
generate the calibration parameter set that reduces both a fuel consumption amount for the engine and an amount of emissions discharged by the engine when performing operations corresponding to the operating histogram; and
transmit the calibration parameter set to the controller.

2 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the operating histogram by:
initializing a timer for a first period of time; receiving the sensor signal and the speed signal during the first period of time; and identifying a plurality of engine operating points based on the sensor signal and the speed signal, each operating point including:
the speed of the engine;
an amount of power generated by the engine at the speed; and
an amount of time of engine operation at the speed.

3 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 2 , wherein the server is configured to generate the calibration parameter set by:
determining amounts of time spent by the engine at the engine operating points; determining a maximum time from the amounts of time; determining a minimum time from the amounts of time identifying a first operating point corresponding to the maximum time; identifying a second operating point corresponding to the minimum time; and determining control parameters for the engine that:
reduce a first fuel consumption amount at the first operating point; and
reduce a first amount of emissions at the second operating point.

4 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 3 , wherein:
the calibration parameter set comprises fuel consumption rates at the engine operating points; and the controller determines the fuel consumption amount based on the fuel consumption rates and the amounts of time.

5 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to regenerate the operating histogram after the first period of time.

6 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to:
initialize the timer for a second period of time; receive the sensor signal and the speed signal during the second period of time update the operating histogram after the second period of time; and upload the updated operating histogram to the server.

7 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the sensor signal and the speed signal at fixed time intervals during the first period of time.

8 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 7 , wherein the time intervals are non-uniform.

9 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 1 , wherein the engine rating comprises values of one or more control parameters for the engine, the control parameters including a number of fuel injectors, an amount of fuel injection from the fuel injectors, a period of time between fuel injections, a pressure of the fuel injections, an amount of exhaust gas recirculation in the engine, an amount of reductant injected in an after-treatment system of the engine, and an amount of boost received from a turbocharger associated with the engine.

10 . The cloud based engine optimization system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a fuel sensor.

11 . A method of optimizing an operation of an engine, comprising:
receiving, from a sensor, a sensor signal indicative of an amount of power generated by the engine; receiving, from a speed sensor, a speed signal indicative of a speed of the engine; generating, using a controller, an operating histogram based on the sensor signal and the speed signal; uploading the operating histogram to a server; receiving, from the server, a calibration parameter set that reduces both a fuel consumption amount for the engine and an amount of emissions discharged by the engine when performing operations corresponding to the operating histogram; and applying the received calibration parameter set to the engine.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the operating histogram includes:
initializing a timer for a first period of time; receiving the sensor signal and the speed signal during the first period of time; and identifying a plurality of engine operating points based on the sensor signal and the speed signal, each operating point including:
the speed of the engine;
an amount of power generated by the engine at the speed; and
an amount of time of engine operation at the speed.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further including updating the operating histogram after the first period of time.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein updating the operating histogram includes:
initializing the timer for a second period of time; receiving the sensor signal and the speed signal during the second period of time; and generating the updated operating histogram based on the sensor signal and the speed signal after the second period of time has elapsed.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein generating the operating histogram includes storing the sensor signal and the speed signal at predetermined time intervals during the first period of time.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the time intervals are uniform.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein applying the engine rating comprises setting values of one or more control parameters for the engine, the control parameters including a number of fuel injectors, an amount of fuel injection from the fuel injectors, a period of time between fuel injections, a pressure of the fuel injections, an amount of exhaust gas recirculation in the engine, an amount of reductant injected in an after-treatment system of the engine, and an amount of boost received from a turbocharger associated with the engine.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the controller is an on-board controller, and the method further includes:
determining the calibration parameter set using the server; and transmitting the calibration parameter set to the on-board controller.

19 . An engine, comprising:
an engine block; a crankshaft rotatingly disposed within the engine block; at least one combustion chamber disposed within the engine block; a fuel injector configured to inject fuel into the at least one combustion chamber; a piston disposed reciprocatingly within the at least one combustion chamber, the piston being configured to rotate the crankshaft; a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of a power generated by the engine; a speed sensor configured to generate a speed signal indicative of a speed of the engine; and an on-board controller configured to:
receive the sensor signal and the speed signal;
generate an operating histogram based on the sensor signal and the speed signal;
upload the operating histogr

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Wackerle Christopher K
• Ribordy Jeffrey J
• Hardy William L
• Applegren Timothy E
• Bond Michael S

Classifications

• F02D41/26 Primary

  using computer, e.g. microprocessor · CPC title

• F02D41/2425

  Particular ways of programming the data · CPC title

• F02D41/2429

  Methods of calibrating or learning · CPC title

• F02D2200/101

  Engine speed · CPC title

• F02D41/2422 Primary

  Selective use of one or more tables · CPC title