Engine Damage Prediction via Liner Polish Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines face damage due to liner polish, which is not effectively monitored or addressed by existing technologies, leading to potential failure and component damage.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising a memory and an electronic control module that determines a load factor, end of injection factor, and liner polish rate to calculate current engine damage based on previous damage and time, allowing for remedial actions to be taken.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If liner polish is allowed to occur during engine operation, then the engine can continue running without interruption, but piston damage and component failure will increase over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine operation continuityVSAvoidpiston damage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating the liner polish rate and predicting future damage levels before actual damage occurs. The controller monitors operating conditions (load factor, end of injection factor) and computes the polish rate to determine when damage thresholds will be reached, enabling preventive maintenance scheduling before piston damage occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring engine operating conditions (load factor, end of injection factor), calculating the liner polish rate based on these conditions, and using this information to predict future damage levels. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to adjust maintenance scheduling based on actual wear accumulation rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If the engine operates under high load conditions, then power output increases, but the liner polish rate accelerates leading to faster damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine power outputVSAvoidliner polish rate

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies parameter changes by calculating the liner polish rate as a function of operating parameters (load factor, end of injection factor). By monitoring how these parameters change over time and their effect on the polish rate, the system can predict damage accumulation under varying power conditions and schedule maintenance appropriately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10161308B2System for determining damage based on liner polish

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

A machine may comprise a memory configured to store liner polish information; and an electronic control module. The electronic control module may be configured to: determine a load factor based on an amount of load on the engine; determine an end of injection factor associated with the engine; determine a liner polish rate based on the load factor and the end of injection factor; obtain, from the liner polish information stored in the memory, information identifying a previous amount of damage to the engine; determine an amount of time between a current time and a time when the previous amount of damage was calculated; calculate a current amount of damage to the engine based on the previous amount of liner polish, the amount of time, and the liner polish rate; and take a remedial action based on the current amount of damage.