Patent Application
20220301366
Pressure measuring tools, particularly pressure measuring tools for automotive use, are known in the art. Generally, individual pressure measuring devices are needed for measuring each of fuel pressure, power steering, engine oil pressure, transmission oil pressure, compression, diesel compression, high pressure oil systems, and diesel fuel pressure. Each of these systems has its own range of pressures (e.g., 0-100 psi for fuel pressure, 0-2000 psi for power steering) so that a single pressure measuring device is impractical.
Accordingly, the art of pressure measuring devices would benefit from a pressure measuring device/system that is capable of measuring the pressures of multiple systems in an automobile (or in other environments, such as an industrial or manufacturing environment) and one that is capable of displaying, charting, and/or recording the measured pressure values.
Systems in the prior art of wired pressure testers sometimes require an independent computer to view data, or require a multimeter to view data. Other pressure testers cannot record data, and only display live data and min/max values.
Typical prior art pressure testers have a hose extending from a pressure gauge to the application. That hose contains a fluid which must be emptied after each test. In the present invention, an adapter is coupled directly to a transducer to minimize fluid captured compared to the prior art.
The wired pressure tester is a handheld and portable digital automotive pressure gauge. It was designed to replace the analog gauges that are featured in many diagnostic test kits. The present invention relates to a pressure measuring device/system that is capable of measuring the pressures of multiple systems in an automobile, including cylinder pressure, fuel pressure, transmission oil pressure, and engine oil pressure, and is capable of displaying and/or recording the measured pressure values, and log the data.
The present invention is a handheld and portable digital automotive pressure gauge. It provides a more accurate reading with the ability to record diagnostic tests and replay them for further analysis. This allows for road tests that avoid having the mechanic be distracted from trying to read an analog gauge.
The pressure measuring system comprises a pressure measuring sensor configured to communicate with an onboard computer.
A technician can record data from real time operating conditions as a vehicle is driven down the road. This is advantageous because oftentimes operating conditions cannot be duplicated in a bay of a service center. A sensor is deployed, and using couplings to an engine, the engine can be monitored on the fly.
The wired pressure tester uses a length of cable to connect to a handheld device that displays and logs the pressure readings. The device can use different transducers (e.g., 300, 1000, and 5000 psi). The unit has a slot for data storage (such as a microSD card) which allows for recording and playback of various tests. Unit can track the minimum and maximum recorded data points. In a preferred embodiment, sample rates of ˜12 samples per second are taken and stored.
Applications and uses include testing for:
Additional features of the present invention are an ability to choose between digital needle gauge or a live graph display, automatic tracking of Min/Max values with ability to reset them, 1% full scale accuracy with transducers, minimal length of hose reduces fluid lost, choice of pressure range, the ability to easily add length to wire for more remote readings, and that recordings are saved (e.g., to a microSD card) which can be used to easily import the data for post processing.
Disclosed is a testing system for measuring target operational parameters of a motor vehicle, the testing system comprising a housing; a communicative coupling carried by said housing; one of a series of transducers selectively carried by said communicative coupling, said series of transducers comprising a lower pressure transducer, a medium pressure transducer, and a higher pressure transducer; one of said transducers coupled to a targeted operational parameter of said motor vehicle, said targeted operational parameter comprising at least one of fuel pressure, power steering, engine oil pressure, transmission oil pressure, compression, diesel compression, high pressure oil systems, and diesel fuel pressure; a user interface carried by said housing; a series of signals sent from said transducer to a digital display, said digital display carried by said housing and communicatively coupled to said user interface; said digital display receiving said series of signals, displaying one of said series of signals as at least one of a digital needle gauge and a live graph display, and selectively displaying said series of signals in a chart with one axis of said chart comprising said signal and another axis of said chart comprising time; said housing carrying a digital storage medium, said digital storage medium logging said series of signals, saving said series of signals, and communicating said series of signals to said digital display.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
The present invention is directed to vehicle monitoring systems, which can for instance be used to measure pressures in automotive/transportation applications. Referring now to
Transducer 22 is interchangeably coupled with data cable 24. Data cable 24 is preferably a length at least extend from an engine compartment of a vehicle to the interior passenger compartment of the vehicle. Male coupling 26 of the data cable 24 couples the data cable with the handheld pressure testing display and command unit 10.
Turning to
Turning to
Referring to further menu items, in a preferred embodiment these can be for: 1) Units—to switch measurement units (e.g., psi, in/Hg, kpA, mm/hg, or bars); 2) Cylinder—to allow a user to select how many cylinders the engine has; for instance, in a four cylinder engine, all four cylinders could be contained in log files. A Record button can be set to begin a test. A Graph button can bring up a test result graphical reading in real time. This data can ultimately be saved as the log.
Different adaptors 16 can be attached to different areas of inquiry in the vehicle. For instance, a fuel line, spark plug hole, or anywhere else in the vehicle of interest can receive the adaptor 16. A plurality of adaptors 16 can be provided; for instance, a standard fuel setup with pressure bleed off, which can work with different fuel adaptors; fuel injection; inline or direct port adaptors; or a Universal interchange connector. For compression, compression adaptors can be used, or units available from Lang Tools with SKU numbers 73106, 73109, 73110 for example, each of which is incorporated by reference.
Because the handheld pressure testing display and command unit 10 has a longer data cable 24 extending from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment of a vehicle, handheld pressure testing display and command unit 10 can receive data while the vehicle is running and/or underway. In this manner, readout of the handheld pressure testing display and command unit 10 is displayed at display 34, and can be logged or monitored. One advantage of the present invention is the ability to remotely read measurements from an interior of the vehicle engine compartment while the vehicle is underway.
The pressure measurements taken by the transducer are in an exemplary embodiment, taken in 12 readings per second intervals; however, smaller or larger intervals are also possible.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
