초록 ▼

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system is disclosed for monitoring the backpressure produced by a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine. When the backpressure of the engine exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating that the particulate filter should be serviced soon,

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system is disclosed for monitoring the backpressure produced by a particulate filter of an internal combustion engine. When the backpressure of the engine exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating that the particulate filter should be serviced soon, an input to the electronic control module (ECM) indicating the intake manifold boost pressure is shunted to ground, thereby giving the ECM a false indication that no boost is being applied to the intake manifold. This will cause the ECM, according to its normal engine management software, to derate the engine performance to a “no air torque setting”, thereby limiting the amount of torque that the vehicle operator can extract from the engine. This decreased performance of the engine provides a very high incentive to the vehicle operator to bring the vehicle in for servicing, at which point the particulate filter can be serviced. Upon servicing of the particulate filter, the backpressure threshold condition is no longer met, the input line to the ECM from the boost pressure sensor is no longer shunted to ground, and engine operation is returned to normal. Other embodiments of the present invention contemplate the use of engine performance derating in order to provide the vehicle operator with an incentive to have any sensed engine or vehicle condition serviced.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for derating an engine comprising an exhaust manifold and a particulate filter, said derating to encourage servicing of a vehicle containing the engine, comprising the steps of:a) sensing a backpressure between the exhaust manifold and the particulate filter; b) determining if said sense

1. A method for derating an engine comprising an exhaust manifold and a particulate filter, said derating to encourage servicing of a vehicle containing the engine, comprising the steps of:a) sensing a backpressure between the exhaust manifold and the particulate filter; b) determining if said sensed backpressure exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and c) derating a performance characteristic of the engine if said sensed backpressure exceeds the first predetermined threshold. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:d) determining if said sensed backpressure exceeds a second predetermined threshold, wherein the second predetermined threshold is lower than the first predetermined threshold; and e) communicating a warning to a driver of the vehicle if said sensed backpressure exceeds the second predetermined threshold. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:f) determining if said sensed backpressure exceeds a third predetermined threshold, wherein the third predetermined threshold is lower than the first predetermined threshold and higher than the second predetermined threshold; and g) communicating a warning to a driver of the vehicle if said sensed backpressure exceeds the third predetermined threshold. 4. A method for derating an engine to encourage servicing of a vehicle containing the engine, comprising the steps of:a) sensing a condition indicating that the vehicle requires servicing; said sensed condition comprises an exhuast manifold backpressure exceeding a first predetermined threshold; and b) derating a performance characteristic of the engine in response to sensing said condition. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises reducing a turbocharger boost of the engine.6. An internal combustion engine, comprising:at least one cylinder; an intake manifold coupled to said at least one cylinder; an exhaust manifold coupled to said at least one cylinder; a particulate filter coupled to said exhaust manifold; a first pressure sensor operative to sense an exhaust backpressure between the exhaust manifold and the particulate filter, said first pressure sensor having a first pressure sensor output; a second pressure sensor operative to sense a pressure within the intake manifold, said second pressure sensor having a second pressure sensor output; an engine control module (ECM) comprising: a first ECM input coupled to the first pressure sensor output; a second ECM input coupled to the second pressure sensor output; and a first ECM output; and a torque limiting device coupled between the first ECM output and the second ECM input; wherein the ECM compares the first pressure sensor output to a first predetermined threshold and changes the first ECM output if the first pressure sensor output exceeds a first predetermined threshold, wherein changing the first ECM output causes the torque limiting device to change the second ECM input; wherein changing the second ECM input causes the ECM to derate the engine. 7. The internal combustion engine of claim 6, further comprising:a turbocharger coupled between the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold; wherein the ECM derates the engine by reducing a boost created by the turbocharger. 8. The internal combustion engine of claim 6, further comprising:a second ECM output; and a first warning light coupled to the second ECM output; wherein the ECM compares the first pressure sensor output to a second predetermined threshold and changes the second ECM output if the first pressure sensor output exceeds a second predetermined threshold, wherein changing the second ECM output causes the first warning light to illuminate. 9. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, further comprising:a third ECM output; and a second warning light coupled to the third ECM output; wherein the ECM compares the first pressure sensor output to a third predetermined threshold and changes the third ECM output if the first pressure sensor output exceeds a third predetermined threshold, wherein changing the third ECM output causes the second warning light to illuminate. 10. The internal combustion engine of claim 9, wherein the third predetermined threshold is lower than the first predetermined threshold and higher than the second predetermined threshold.11. The internal combustion engine of claim 6, wherein said torque limiting device comprises:a resistor having a first resistor terminal coupled to said second ECM input and having a second resistor terminal; and a switch having a first switch terminal coupled to the second resistor terminal and having a second switch terminal coupled to ground; wherein the switch is activated by said first ECM output. 12. An internal combustion engine, comprising:at least one cylinder; an intake manifold coupled to said at least one cylinder; an exhaust manifold coupled to said at least one cylinder; a first sensor operative to sense a condition indicating that the engine requires servicing said first sensor having a first sensor output and said condition comprises an exhaust backpressure; an engine control module (ECM) comprising a first ECM input coupled to the first sensor output; and the ECM derates the engine when the first sensor output indicates that the engine requires servicing. 13. The internal combustion engine of claim 12, wherein the ECM derates the engine by reducing a turbocharger boost.