Abstract:
The disclosure describes apparatus for disabling selected cylinders of an internal combustion engine for diagnostic purposes. The system and apparatus are preferably used in connection with an engine that includes a source of periodic cycles of ignition signals. When used with such an engine, the apparatus prevents one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components, such as spark plugs, which normally receive the ignition signals. In order to achieve this purpose, the preferred apparatus embodiment described in the disclosure comprises a clock pulse generator that generates a uniform pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal from the engine. Counting means, such as bistable flip-flop circuits, are used to produce counting states representative of the number of pulses received from the clock pulse generator. Adjustable resetting means are used to reset the counting means to a predetermined counting state after the counting means has counted through a predetermined number of counting states, such as the number of cylinders in the engine being diagnosed. Removable setting means are employed to set the counting means to an initial counting state in response to the receipt of an ignition signal from a predetermined engine component, such as a spark plug. Adjustable selecting means generate a disabling pulse in response to a predetermined counting state of the counter, so that a particular cylinder of the engine may be disabled. A disabling device, such as a triac, responsive to the disabling pulse, conditions a predetermined ignition signal in each engine cycle so that the corresponding engine cylinder is disabled, thereby aiding the diagnosis of the engine.
Abstract:
A reliable trigger signal may be produced from a periodic electrical signal having several voltage peaks in each cycle by providing a controlled rectifier that is switched to its conductive state by the receipt of one of the voltage peaks. The switching of the controlled rectifier energizes a signal generator that returns the controlled rectifier to its nonconductive state only after the occurrence of all voltage peaks in each cycle. As a result, only one trigger signal is produced in each cycle. The signal generator is controlled by a timing circuit that is charged to a progressively higher voltage as the cyclical repetition rate of the periodic electrical signal increases, thereby decreasing the time in each cycle in which the controlled rectifier conducts.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for analyzing the charging, starting and battery systems of a vehicle by using an analyzer connected by three cables to the systems being analyzed. The apparatus includes a DC voltmeter, an AC voltmeter, a DC ammeter, a load resistor, and an isolating resistor that are interconnected in the systems under test in various combinations by a single master switch to enable measurement of various parameters in the systems under test. Each cable preferably includes a current conductor and a voltage-sensing lead to enable measurement of voltage drops across elements of the systems under test without introducing errors resulting from voltage drops in the current conductors.
Abstract:
Method of analyzing the exhaust from an internal combustion engine that is fitted with a conventional exhaust pipe. The method utilizes an analyzer capable of indicating the concentration of at least one component of the exhaust which is transmitted to the analyzer through a conduit. The preferred form of the method includes the steps of heating the air inside the conduit while the conduit is not being used for exhaust analysis and transmitting the heated air into the analyzer. When engine exhaust is to be analyzed, the conduit is placed adjacent the exhaust pipe and the exhaust is transmitted from the tail pipe through the conduit into the analyzer so that the concentration of at least one component of the exhaust is indicated. The heating of the air inside the conduit prevents condensation of moisture in the conduit and the transfer of moisture to the analyzer, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the analysis.
Abstract:
The measurement of combustible gases comprises passing a stream of gas containing the combustible gases over a conductive metal wire coated with a thin catalytic coating of a mixture of thorium oxide and black palladium powder and/or black platinum powder. Electrical current is passed through the conductor wire to raise the temperature of the wire to a first temperature at which the oxidation of the combustible gases is initiated in the presence of the catalytic effect produced by the coating. The oxidation of the combustible gases substantially elevates the temperature of the conductor wire, changing its electrical resistance, the amount of heat generated during oxidation being directly proportional to the quantity of combustible gases in the gas stream. The metal conductor wire is preferably formed of a base metal in which the change in resistivity between the first and elevated temperatures is substantially equal to or greater than the change in resistivity of platinum between those temperatures.
Abstract:
Precision adjustable excursion limiters for a moveable element include a pair of arms pivotally mounted on an indicator drive assembly cover plate. One end of the arms are pivotally mounted to and extend through the cover plate to provide for selective movement of the arms from the front of the plate and a bumper extends from the other end of the arms and is selectively moveable in the path of movement of the indicator element to limit movement of the element.