Internal combustion engine with starting air system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689365-B2
Application number	US-201514656702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder for combusting a mixture of fuel and air therein, and a starting air system configured to provide pressurized starting air to the cylinder and to monitor operability of the starting air system. The starting air system may include a pressurized starting air source, a starting air manifold, a starting air venting valve, and a sensing device. The pressurized starting air source is configured to store pressurized starting air. The starting air manifold is fluidly connected to the pressurized starting air source. The starting air venting valve is fluidly connected to the starting air manifold and configured to vent the starting air system. The sensing device is configured to detect a parameter that measures a condition within the starting air system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder for combusting a mixture of fuel and air therein; and
a starting air system configured to provide pressurized starting air to the cylinder, the starting air system comprising:
a pressurized starting air container configured to store pressurized starting air;
a starting air manifold fluidly connected to the pressurized starting air container;
a main starting valve interconnecting the pressurized starting air container and the starting air manifold, the main starting valve being configured to allow or disallow the pressurized starting air to flow from the pressurized starting air container into the starting air manifold;
a starting air check valve disposed downstream of the main starting valve and configured to prevent backflow of pressurized starting air from the starting air manifold into the pressurized starting air container;
a starting air venting valve fluidly connected to the starting air manifold and configured to vent the starting air system; and
a sensor disposed downstream of the starting air check valve and upstream of the cylinder, the sensor being configured to detect a parameter indicative of a condition within the starting air system.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor, wherein the controller includes:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
determine whether the detected parameter is out of a predetermined parameter range; and
when the detected parameter is determined to be out of the predetermined parameter range, perform at least one of:
outputting a signal indicating a malfunction of the starting air system has occurred;
changing a type of the fuel combusted by the cylinder;
switching off the internal combustion engine; and
switching the internal combustion engine into an emergency operating mode.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:
a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within the starting air system;
a methane sensor configured to measure a methane concentration within the starting air system;
a CO 2 sensor configured to measure a CO 2 concentration within the starting air system; or
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature within the starting air system.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the starting air system further comprises a starting air venting line fluidly connecting the starting air manifold to the starting air venting valve.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the starting air venting valve is a solenoid venting valve.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the starting air venting valve is fluidly connected to a venting device, the venting device being configured to fluidly connect to a crankcase of the internal combustion engine and to vent the crankcase.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the starting air system further comprises:
a starting air duct associated with the cylinder and configured to fluidly connect to the starting air manifold; and
a cylinder starting valve disposed in the starting air duct.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor, wherein the controller includes:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
determine whether a change of the detected parameter during a predetermined period of time exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
when the change of the detected parameter during the predetermined period of time is determined to exceed the predetermined threshold; perform at least one of:
outputting a signal indicating a malfunction of the starting air system has occurred;
changing a type of the fuel combusted by the cylinder;
switching off the internal combustion engine; and
switching the internal combustion engine into an emergency operating mode.

9. A starting air system for providing pressurized starting air to an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder for combusting a mixture of fuel and air therein, the starting air system comprising:
a pressurized starting air container configured to store pressurized starting air;
a starting air manifold fluidly connected to the pressurized starting air container;
a main starting valve interconnecting the pressurized starting air container and the starting air manifold, the main starting valve being configured to allow or disallow the pressurized starting air to flow from the pressurized starting air container into the starting air manifold;
a starting air check valve disposed downstream of the main starting valve and configured to prevent backflow of pressurized starting air from the starting air manifold into the pressurized starting air container;
a starting air venting valve fluidly connected to the starting air manifold and configured to vent the starting air system; and
a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a condition within the starting air system.

10. The starting air system of claim 9 , further comprising a starting air venting line fluidly connecting the starting air manifold to the starting air venting valve.

11. The starting air system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a starting air duct associated with the cylinder and configured to fluidly connect to the starting air manifold; and
a cylinder starting valve disposed in the starting air duct.

12. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder for combusting a mixture of fuel and air therein, and a starting air system configured to provide pressurized starting air to the cylinder and comprising: a pressurized starting air container storing pressurized starting air, a starting air manifold fluidly connected to the pressurized starting air container, a main starting valve interconnecting the pressurized starting air container and the starting air manifold, a starting air check valve disposed downstream of the main starting valve and configured to prevent backflow of pressurized starting air from the starting air manifold into the pressurized starting air container, a starting air venting valve fluidly connected to the starting air manifold and configured to vent the starting air system, a cylinder starting valve associated with the cylinder, a sensor disposed downstream of the starting air check valve and upstream of the cylinder starting valve, and a controller coupled with the main starting valve, the starting air venting valve, the cylinder starting valve, and the sensor, the method comprising:
after the internal combustion engine is started, closing, by the controller, the main starting valve, the starting air venting valve, and the cylinder starting valve to form a closed volume in the starting air system upstream of the cylinder starting valve;
detecting, by the sensor, a parameter indicative of a condition within the closed volume;
determining, by the controller, the detected parameter meets a predetermined criterion; and
outputting, by the controller, a signal indicating leakage of the cylinder starting valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
prior to detecting the parameter, opening, by the controller, the starting air venting valve to reduce a pressure in the closed volume to a predetermined pressure.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein detecting the parameter comprise

Assignees

• Caterpillar Motoren Gmbh & Co

Inventors

• Bleyer Benjamin

Classifications

• F02D41/22

  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

• F02N15/10

  Safety devices not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F02N9/04 Primary

  the pressure fluid being generated otherwise, e.g. by compressing air · CPC title

• F02N11/108

  for diagnosis of the starter or its components · CPC title

• F02D41/0025

  Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures · CPC title