Adjustable Gas Probe Hood for Fast Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas probes for internal combustion engines face challenges with high response times and limited adaptability to different conduit sizes, leading to inefficient and inaccurate gas property measurements, particularly in diesel engines with low gas flow rates.

Innovation Solution

A probe design featuring a cover and internal cage that can transition between two positions through translation and/or rotation, allowing for adjustable orifice alignment to optimize gas flow and reduce response times, regardless of conduit size, by varying the gas passage area between the external and internal environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large-diameter selective reduction catalyst core is used for diesel engines, then the sensor can be installed, but the gas flow rates at the sensor become low resulting in long response times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor installation capabilityVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The probe incorporates a movable hood that can transition between retracted and extended positions. When extended, the hood increases the gas passage area to enhance gas flow to the sensor, thereby reducing response time. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to low flow rate conditions in large-diameter catalyst cores while maintaining reliable installation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If different probe architectures are used for different conduit sizes, then measurements can be optimized for each size, but the number of probe types required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas property measurement accuracyVSAvoidprobe type diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The probe design integrates multiple functions into a single device: the hood can be positioned in multiple states (retracted, extended, at different angles) to adapt to various conduit sizes and gas flow conditions. This multi-position capability allows one probe type to serve multiple applications, eliminating the need for different probe architectures for different conduit sizes while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If the hood is extended to increase gas passage area, then response time is reduced, but the probe size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidprobe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hood is designed to nest within or alongside the probe body when in the retracted position, minimizing the overall probe size. When gas flow enhancement is needed, the hood extends to increase the gas passage area. This nested configuration allows the probe to maintain a compact form factor while providing the capability to reduce response time when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enables rapid, precise, and reliable gas property measurements across various conduit sizes, reducing the diversity of probe types needed and improving response times, especially in low-flow applications, ensuring responsive engine regulation for pollution control.

Implementation Method 1

a hood (30) for collecting gases from an incident flow, with second gas inlet ports (31, 34) for the admission of gases from the incident flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3667306B1Probe for measuring a property of a gas
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 RENAULT SA
  • EP3667306B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3667306B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3667306B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a probe (10) for measuring a property of a gas (2) for an internal combustion engine (1), characterized in that the inner cage and the hood are arranged relative to each other so as to be able to be configured in a first position in which a first cross-sectional area of ​​gas passage (2) between the external environment and the internal environment is created, or in a second position in which a second cross-sectional area of ​​gas passage (2) between the external environment and the internal environment is created, the second area being greater than the first area.